Australian Bandstand. Prime time television. Spring 1960. The rock ‘n’ roll era was global. Australia had to have its own version of what Dick Clarke and other TV hosts were presenting on American primetime television as rock ‘n’ roll grew more and more popular in the 1950s.This was considered family entertainment and it was focused on Australian teenagers. That’s why, in every scene, the host, Brian Henderson, drank vast quantities of Coca-Cola., the major sponsor.

Australian rock ‘n’ roll TV was big and introduced several major stars including the Bee Gees.

This scene involves a very popular Australian rock & roller who was an imitator of Elvis Presley. His name was Jonny Devlin and he had come from New Zealand to perform on Australian Bandstand.

I am intrigued by rock ‘n’ roll and its history and how quickly the world of the late 1950s and 1960s adopted it as the most popular – pop music. At this time, for millions of teenage fans, especially girls, Elvis was King an so was Jonny.

Behind Jonny the dancers are doing the Lindy hop. Looking at it today, it is so innocent, as though these boys and girls had never physically touched each other before. And in my recollection as a teenage Lindy hop dancer, it was beyond sexy to watch the girls Lindy hop and indescribably exciting.