In 1956 a radio disc jockey, Dick Clark, began hosting a TV show called Bandstand which featured kids from local high schools dancing to rock and roll music. The show was broadcast from Philadelphia. The music was not widely accepted by adults at the time and this show helped to popularize the music with older generations. The show was so popular, it soon became American Bandstand and was nationally broadcasted.

My father, through connections, got my friend and I coveted passes to get in without standing in the line which didn’t necessarily mean you would get in without being a “regular.” It was very exciting for a teenager to be on “TV.” I have kept my “membership card” as a fond memory.