Dick Clark, who died Wednesday at age 82, is widely -- and legitimately -- lauded as the man who made rock 'n' roll safe for mainstream America with the clean-cut image of 'American Bandstand' upon its national premiere in 1957.
But four months before 'Bandstand' made the jump from its previous status as a popular local show out of Philadelphia, a watershed moment in the generational divide between rock 'n' roll-loving teens and their fretful parents took place on, of all places, 'The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.'
On April 10, 1957, then-16-year-old Ricky Nelson, the youngest member of the popular clan introduced each week as 'America's favorite family,' showcased his love for the music that was sending adults around the country into conniptions in the wake of controversial appearances by Elvis Presley, whose pelvic gyrations were viewed as lewd by hordes of grown-ups.
Ed Sullivan's endorsement of Presley as 'a real decent, fine boy' in 1956 helped calm some fears, but many in positions of authority remained wary, or outright hostile, after watching Presley on his first national appearance in January 1956 on 'The Dorsey Brothers Stage Show,' then subsequently on 'The Steve Allen Show' and then 'The Ed Sullivan Show.'
After those shows, rock and TV remained a fitful marriage at best. When the music surfaced on 'The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet,' however, the landscape changed dramatically.
The Nelsons were as wholesome as could be. Millions of Americans, first on radio, then on television, heard and watched Ozzie and Harriet's handsome young sons, David and Ricky, grow up before their eyes.
Ricky's passion for rock 'n' roll was no mere plot device. Outside the show, like scads of other teens, he was lapping up the hits of Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard and rock's other originators.
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