1963 WHITE HOUSE CHRISTMAS CARD & PHOTO
(NEVER SENT)
Dick Clark's 'Caravan Of Stars'
had whistle-stopped its way across the country and run headlong into the eye of the storm in Dallas on November 22nd.
Two shows were canceled as the entire country bowed to their national tragedy, but there were a few things that Clark understood would not bow - those being: contracts, commitments and expenses.
The show rolled on.
Two shows were canceled as the entire country bowed to their national tragedy, but there were a few things that Clark understood would not bow - those being: contracts, commitments and expenses.
The show rolled on.
The tour that had launched itself with such high hopes and enthusiasm in early November slipped quietly into Virginia on December 7th to play its last engagement at the Norfolk Arena.
Once the tour completed; all of the stars would head their separate ways; arriving home in time to prepare for Christmas.
Most would reunite with family and friends - some would use those newly aquired Dick Clark dollars to buy gifts.
CHRISTMAS 1963
But, the world they'd left behind as they boarded those busses in early November would not be the same world they returned home to in December.
What should have been, for the returning stars; an exciting time to share stories of their amazing, life changing adventure - turned out to be a somber homecoming - its solemnity compounded by the bizarre fact that they'd been there, in Dallas, on that horrific day; mere blocks from the entire tragic event.
Suddenly, it didn't matter so much how wildly popular they, and their records were; the reality of their success couldn't possibly compete with this . .
THE SNIPER'S NEST
OSWALD'S SNIPER'S NEST
There could be no doubt that the assassin had hit his intended target that day in Dallas, but the recording industry soon discovered that there would be some immediate collateral damage.
'Timing is everything.'
1963 ROLEX OYSTER DATEJUST
The popular Philadelphia group, The Orlons; whose string of hits included: "The Wah-Watusi," "Don't Hang Up,"
"South Street," and "Not Me," released
another dance tune in September of '63.
"Crossfire!" was an energetic song that encouraged listeners to do the dance of the same name, and it climbed the Billboard charts steadily to the top 20. But once the president was shot, it became difficult for the public to abide the thought of doing a dance called crossfire, and the song was rarely heard again.
Another victim of unfortunate timing would be Phil Spector.
He released his, A Christmas Gift For You album on (of all days) November 22, 1963.
TO LISTEN TO 'SLEIGH RIDE,' BY THE RONETTES click this link:
TO LISTEN TO 'SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN,' BY THE CRYSTALS click this link:
http://youtu.be/B3zudVvBEB4
TO LISTEN TO 'FROSTY THE SNOWMAN,' BY THE RONETTES click this link:
It featured his entire Philles Records' roster of talent: The Crystals, Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans, Darlene Love, and The Ronettes.
The stories of his intense focus on the production of this album are legendary, and today it's considered an iconic, 'Wall of Sound' classic; but even the strong will of the quirky genius, Phil Spector could not compete with the assassination of the president, and at the time it was considered a failure.
I remember grumbling because I was forced to pay $6 for it at a Santa Ana used record store in the late '70's.
Sure would've been a nice return on my investment!
But . . no one in the recording industry could have been more blindsided by the assassination of the president than Vaughn Meader.
In October of '62 Meader recorded a comedy album called, The First Family, in which he impersonated (and spoofed) the president. By Christmas the album had sold over one million copies, and within a year of its recording that number had jumped to over seven million - unheard of for any LP record - let alone a comedy album.
Meader appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, and was featured in Life and Time magazines.
TO LISTEN TO EXCERPTS OF 'THE FIRST FAMILY' click this link:
The album won the Grammy for album of the year in 1963, and in the spring of '63 a sequel was released called, The First Family Volume Two which also sold well.
November of '63 found Meader back in the studio working on a new comedy album, unrelated to the Kennedys; and all looked bright until the 22nd.
Immediately after the assassination stores pulled his records, and all upcoming appearances were canceled.
It has been widely reported that on the evening of November 22nd, standup comedian Lenny Bruce went on with his nightclub show. Just hours after the assassination, Bruce walked out on stage, stood silent, and after several moments said, "Man, poor Vaughn Meader."
Meader's career never recovered.
HALF MAST FLAGS IN NYC (1963)
And what would become of the stars of the 1963 Caravan of Stars tour?
November, 1963
The answer lay just around the corner . .
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