Timeline: American Bandstand

Even if you already know that ABC's American Bandstand was the MTV before MTV (or even the YouTube before YouTube), the extent of its influence, when taken all at once, is still phenomenal. Doo-wop, teen idols, psychedelic rock, disco, even hip-hop -- Dick Clark and his show were there for all of it. But it took some luck and some guts to get it on the air in the first place. Read all about the amazing and influential history of American Bandstand here.