American Bandstand 1965 – Roll Call - Lightnin’ Strikes, Lou Christie

Airdate: December 18, 1965

Today we jump back to a week before Christmas 1965!

Here is yet another song on Bandstand that is brand new and certainly not a hit yet. It’s always interesting to me seeing the kids dancing to classic songs like this (and many others) and realizing that this is probably the 1st time they have ever heard it.

As “Richard” Clark mentions, Lou Christie is back in the spotlight today after ”many hits in a row” (”The Gypsy Cried”, #24 in ’62 and ”Two Faces Have I”, #6 in ’63) and a 2 year stint in the army. “Lightnin’ Strikes” will enter the charts next week at #93 and on Feb. 19, 1966, which was Lou’s 23rd birthday, it will hit #1.

In the studio: Watch for a rare, quick glimpse of the giant ABC camera at 3:02. (dancing with that monster right up in your face is not for the faint of heart, lol) The Regulars spotted dancing today are: Frank Vanderpuil on the riser (1:28), Anita Prince & Famous Hooks (1:37), Norman Mull (’67 Dance Contest at 1:51), Steve Schreiner (roll call and 2:32). Theodosia Dayton (3:18), and Peggy Waggoner dancing next to Debbie Sewell (3:28.) Incidentally, this is the earliest footage I have of everyone I just mentioned except for Famous Hooks.

…..And with Christmas right around the corner, the biggest selling toys are “G.I. Joe Action Soldiers”, Tonka Trucks and the game “Operation” which had just been introduced this year. On Christmas morning, engineer Sherman Poppen of Muskegon, Michigan, created a toy for his kids to play in the snow by fastening 2 skis together so they could ride it like a surfboard. The next year Poppen sold the rights to his invention to the Brunswick Corporation, a company that made bowling equipment. Brunswick refined it and added lamination used on the wood in bowling lanes and…..the Snowboard was born.