Bob Horn The Man Behind Bandstand
by Tyler Woods on Aug. 06, 2010, under Life
I had received a phone call the about a month ago. It was a male voice asking me if I did a story on Retroflections about Dick Clark. “Hmmm” I thought. What does this man want? I said, “Yes I did do something on Dick Clark. How can I help you?” He told me his name was Stan Blitz author of Bandstand the Untold Story: The Years Before Dick Clark and said, “I got a story for you.” And it got me thinking…
Who is Stanley Blitz? He had called me over the course of 6 weeks several times sharing his absolutely fascinating story about his research and desire to have the real Bandstand story told and have the public get to known the mastermind behind Bandstand, Bob Horn.
I had never heard of Horn until I did the story on Dick Clark and his name was just a flicker, however, after reading Blitz’s book, interviewing him and doing some of my own research, I realize what an injustice we have done to not give credit to the real mastermind behind Bandstand, Bob Horn.
And why you ask is this so important? I like what Stan Blitz said, “I am a person of principle and I like the truth.” Blitz spent a great deal of time getting the truth to the mystery and mayhem that surrounds Bandstand. In fact he interviewed over 300 people to find real answers to the Bandstand mystery.
So you may be saying, “So who cares?” Well if you love rock and roll like I love rock and roll, or like Mr. Blitz loves rock and roll, then knowing the truth is important. Let’s face it, Bandstand, which was originally call Bob Horns Bandstand, introduced us to rock and roll. Bob Horn bought rock and roll into the living rooms of American teens. It was at a time when young teens were restless and wanting something more in life than just settling for what their parents were doing. The 50s was almost like a revolution for teens, and Bob Horn knew it and he knew what to do!
Horn single handedly did Bandstand, first on radio, then TV 
and he did it five days a week for 2 hours, which back then was absolutely unheard of. In fact, had it not been for Horn, Bandstand would not exist, and I’m not sure about you, but I grew up with bandstand and it was a staple in my childhood. Because of Horn, Americans learned the true value of rock and roll music and the simple joy of getting down and dancing to the groove!
Sadly, by the time Bandstand was to go national, Horn was entering his 40’s. Not the pretty face one would want to see on national TV. In comes some trumped up charges against him, including statutory rape which he was acquitted for, and a host of other allegations. Horn’s name was charred and the industry would need a young pretty face to host the show on national TV. Well you guessed it, Dick Clark became that face and the rest is history.
Blitz believes that Bob Horn deserves of place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Because of the show, many artists got their start and they became famous. Blitz also believes The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should be in Philadelphia where rock and roll was originated rather than Ohio.
But than again who is Stan Blitz? He is a man who cares about the public getting the truth about how great Philadelphia music movement started. He is a man who believes truth should always come first and that truth is an ethic.
Stan still has contact with some of the original dancers from Bandstand and talks with people throughout the country about the roots of Bandstand and the rise and fall of Bob Horn. He is also working on a movie and starting a radio show in September in Las Cruces New Mexico where he now lives.
If you are a lover of rock and roll and its origins, I would encourage you to buy the book and read about the truth and the real truth. You can go to Amazon and get it, or feel free to drop me a line, and I will be glad to get you in touch with Stan and you can get it right through the man himself. He is down to earth and filled with the knowledge about the show that changed the way we looked at rock and roll music forever.
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