Arts & Entertainment
Memoir claims ‘American Bandstand’ dancers were closeted
the book says most dancers weren’t straight
(Screenshot via YouTube.)
“American Bandstand” was the first reality show craze for high schoolers in the ’50s and ’60s who would rush home to watch their favorite couples dance on screen. Although all the pairings were heterosexual the truth was that when the cameras switched off the dancers, both male and female, were living gay double lives.
Arlene Sullivan, one-half of the popular Arlene and Kenny dance couple, and Ray Smith have written a tell-all memoir “Bandstand Diaries” about their days as the coveted “Bandstand” dancers. Sullivan and Smith say that most of the dancers were gay.
“I knew I was different early on, but being with all these [‘Bandstand’] friends, I came to terms with my feelings. I kissed a girl, and I liked it!” Sullivan, 74, told the New York Post.
Smith, who knew he was gay when he joined the show, found himself in a similar situation and said he was “shocked” to find his fellow dancers were also gay.
“The one thing that really shocked me,” Smith told the New York Post, “was that those boys who were 14 and 15 and 16 were sleeping with each other.”
Sullivan says the dancers would hang out at Rittenhouse Square, the “Gayborhood” in Philadelphia. However, host Dick Clark never wanted anyone to know about his dancer’s secret lives possibly for fear of the show getting canceled. Sullivan and Smith even believe Clark sent members of the production team to spy on the teens and come back with a list of who was suspected to be gay.
“Parents across America would never, NEVER have allowed their kids to put ‘Bandstand’ on,” Sullivan writes.
“Bandstand Diaries” can be purchased here.
Several communities in the region have opted to beat the heat of a June Pride celebration in favor of a cooler affair in the coming months. Here is our list of LGBTQ Pride events scheduled throughout September and October in cities across Virginia and Maryland.
Virginia Pridefest
September 14
12-8 p.m.
Richmond, Va.
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Richmond’s annual Virginia Pridefest will be held at Bon Secours Training Center (2401 W. Leigh Street, Richmond, Va. 23220) this year with vendors, activities and performances from entertainers including Crystal Waters, Robin S, Tank and the Bangas, as well as RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants Mistress Isabelle Brooks and Kennedy Davenport. The event is free.
Following the festival, Godfreys (308 E. Grace Street) is hosting the “After Pride Beach Party” from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. with drag shows scheduled for 9 and 11 p.m. The cover for the afterparty is $5 at the door or $30 for VIP tickets on Eventbrite.
PRISM Pride Festival
September 14
12-4 p.m.
Waynesboro, Va.
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The Virginia town of Waynesboro is holding its very first Pride celebration downtown (19 N. Wayne Avenue, Waynesboro, Va. 22980) on Saturday. There will be vendors, a performance by Shagwüf, interactive downtown bingo and other activities.
Shenandoah Valley Pride
A performance at Shenandoah Valley Pride in 2023. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
September 21
1-5 p.m.
Harrisonburg, Va.
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The 10th annual Shenandoah Valley Pride Festival will be held at Court Square in downtown Harrisonburg, Va. on Saturday, Sept. 21. Attendees can expect music, drag performances, vendor booths and more.
Winchester Pride
A scene from last year’s Winchester Pride at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
October 5
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Winchester, Va.
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The sixth annual Winchester Pride festival is being held at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (901 Amherst Street, Winchester, Va. 22601) on Saturday, October 5. The event is free.
An afterparty is scheduled for the evening at The Monument VA in downtown Winchester (186 N. Loudoun Street) with doors opening at 8 and a drag show beginning at 9 p.m. Tickets are $30 and may be purchased here. The afterparty is 21+.
Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival
October 5
2 – 6 p.m.
Havre de Grace, Md.
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The sixth annual Upper Chesapeake Bay Pride Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 5 in Havre de Grace, Md. at Concord Point Park (701 Concord Street). The event is free and family-friendly with live music, drag performances, food trucks, vendors and artists.
Laurel Pride
October 12
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Laurel, Md.
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The third annual Laurel Pride will be held on Saturday, October 12 at Granville Guide Park (8300 Mulberry Street) in Laurel, Md.
SWVA Pride Fest
October 12
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Salem, Va.
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Southwest Virginia Pride (SWVA Pride) will be held at Salem Civic Center (1001 Roanoke Boulevard) in Salem, Va. on Saturday, October 12. There will be live music, entertainment, vendors, a family zone and a petting zoo, among other attractions at the free event.
TriPride
October 12
11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Bristol, Va.
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The TriPride Parade and Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 12 at Cumberland Square Park (200 Lee Street) in Bristol, Va. The event is free, but tickets from Eventbrite are required for entry. There will be live performances, vendors, food trucks, health services and more as the “tri-cities” of Bristol (Va.), Kingsport and Johnson City (Tenn.) celebrate the LGBTQ community. The parade is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
Pride Franklin County
October 13
12 – 5 p.m.
Chambersburg, Pa.
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Pride Franklin County is being held at Wilson College (1015 Philadelphia Avenue) in Chambersburg, Pa. on Sunday, October 13.
Pride Southern Maryland
October 13
11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Lexington Park, Md.
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The seventh annual Pride Southern Maryland will be held on Sunday, October 13 at Lexington Manor Passive Park (21675 South Coral Drive) in Lexington Park, Md. The event will feature live performances, drag, a dedicated kids zone, speakers, vendors, food trucks and more, according to organizers.
HoCo Pride
October 13
12 – 4 p.m.
Columbia, Md.
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The fifth annual HoCo Pride — Howard County Pride — is scheduled for Sunday, October 13 at Marriweather Park at Symphony Woods (10431 Little Patuxent Parkway) in Columbia, Md. You can expect live performances, vendors, food trucks, community information and family-friendly fun at the park on Sunday.
Staunton Pride
October 26
12 – 5 p.m.
Staunton, Va.
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Staunton Pride is scheduled for Saturday, October 26 at the GHP Bandstand Area (600 Chruchville Avenue) in Staunton, Va. Expect live performances, vendors and more.
The Human Rights Campaign held its National Dinner at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday, Sept. 7. Speakers included Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) and HRC President Kelley Robinson.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Arts & Entertainment
2024 Best of LGBTQ DC Readers’ Choice Award Finalist Voting
It is time to celebrate the best of LGBTQ+ DC! You nominated and now we have our finalists. Vote for your favorites in our 2024 Best of LGBTQ DC categories through September 23rd. Our 2024 Best of LGBTQ DC will be announced at the Best of LGBTQ DC Awards Party on October 17th and our special issue will come out on Friday, October 18th.
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