above picture taken in 1997.
In addition to all the joy we were given through watching episodes of Early American Bandstand, there were many positive spin-offs as a result of the show--not a record spin-off or even other shows that came as a result. No, this was a more important definition of spin-off: " (1) something good that happens unexpectedly as a result of something else)." I would say the greatest spin-offs were the life-long friendships that resulted. We have all heard of the great friendships that Dick Clark made with performers like Bobby Darin and Jackie Wilson and so many others. Many of the Regulars formed long-standing friendships with each other and kept in touch through the years. Many fans connected in life back then and are still doing so as of today. And many who simply went to the show a few times ended up often having friendships as a result. And that brings us to the picture with my topic today. I bet some of you had already figured out who these two beautiful ladies are. Yes, they are Bonnie Baker (on the left) and Terry Tolas (on the right)--two special ladies to this website who developed a friendship back in the early days of American Bandstand--a friendship that continues to this day. I think Bonnie has a real Doris Day look and Terry looks like Julia Louis-Dreyfus of Seinfeld. Oh to be this photogenic! Bonnie and Terry have provided their private/personal collections to be shown here for all of you and they continue to do so in the friendship circle of American Bandstand--without monetary reward or the expectation of such. That is real friendship. They have shared these treasures out of the goodness of their hearts. They and many other contributors have helped to make my website Tribute what it is today. I will never forget my first two contributors to the AB Tribute--Marian Driscoll and Eleanor Ligman. Without all these contributors and many more through the years, my website would just be another little one trying to find its place in the cyber world. I am forever appreciative of all the good people who are the real essence of this website. The defining "reality" of the show was the good that spun off from it--the friendships created, lasting hit songs that instantly take us back to our memories, pictures to relate to and say--"I remember that day" or "I remember seeing that in the first AB related magazines or yearbooks that I excitedly waited to arrive in the mail." No matter what we obtain today, it will never be quite like those first feelings--much like first love. They stay with us forever. THIS IS WHAT AMERICAN BANDSTAND MEANS TO MOST OF ITS FANS. It is up to all of us who feel that way to not allow the history of American Bandstand to be seen from any jaded or dysfunctional viewpoints.
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