My mom was a huge fan of American Bandstand when she was growing up and her memories of the program are what got me started with this book project. I initially believed, as Dick Clark has claimed, that American Bandstand, was fully integrated in the 1950s, but my research turned up new evidence that led me to tell a different story. I try to convey this sense that history can be surprising to my students at Scripps College, where I am an Assistant Professor of American Studies. While I grew up in Minneapolis, I fell in love with Philadelphia while writing this book.

If you have memories of American Bandstand that you would like to share, or questions about my book, I'd love to hear from you.  You can e-mail me at mdelmont@scrippscollege.edu

To learn more about the author, please visit: http://mattdelmont.com

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