Teenarama: Interviews with Donald Thoms and Arlene Kozak

Object Details

Creator: Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture

Scope and Contents: Donald Thoms, a former performer on 'The Buddy Dean Show,' explained how he became a teenage dancer on the show; how people in his school and neighborhood reacted to his participation in the show; and his feelings about the segregation practices of the show. Arlene Kozak spoke about Buddy Dean, 'The Buddy Dean Show,' and her role as a producer for the show. She explained how the teenagers were selected for the show, the segregation of the show, and the social interaction between white teens and black teens. Additionally, she discussed television station's (WJZ-Baltimore) reaction to the possibility of integrating 'The Buddy Dean Show.' The interviews were part of the research for the documentary 'Dance Party: The Teenarama Story.' After the interviews, there is footage of production materials related to the film 'Hairspray' and exterior shots of The Senator in Baltimore, Maryland.; Interviews and b-roll footage. Part of the Teenarama Collection. Timecode burnt into image. Undated.

Date: circa 1998

Extent: 1 Video recording (VHS)

Type: Archival materials; Video recordings

Topic: African Americans; Dance; D.C. hand dance; Teenagers; Television programs; African Americans on television; Segregation

Place: Baltimore (Md.); Washington (D.C.); United States

Collection Rights: Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Citation: Teenarama: Interviews with Donald Thoms and Arlene Kozak, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.

Identifier: ACMA.06-055, Item ACMA AV005285

Related Content

1 result(s)

Kendall Productions Records

Scope and Contents

The records of Kendall Productions measure 4.6 cubic feet and date from 1952 to 2006, with the bulk of material dating from 1997-2004. The records contain the administrative files, research, project files, photographs, and audiovisual material produced during the creation of the documentary Dance Party: The Teenarama Story. Administrative records include committee records, project assessments, budget files, promotional material, correspondence, and material related to individuals working on the documentary. Material within the series directly relate to the production processes of Dance Party: The Teenarama Story. Restricted files within the series have been indicated at the folder level. The administrative records were previously scattered throughout the collection. Research files include biographical information, the history of television broadcasting in Washington D.C., community history, background on Teenarama, and race relations from 1940 through the 1960s. The research file subjects were originally labeled by the creators, and their subject designations have been maintained where relevant. Material includes newsclippings, informational booklets, notes, pamphlets, unpublished essays or write-ups, and prints of website pages. Project files include interview transcripts and copies of questions for interviewees, documentary scripts, event fliers, equipment request forms, and realia. Event material relates to the production of Dance Party: The Teenarama Story, and not events related to the release or showings of the finished documentary. Photographs document people who were a part of the Teenarama show, cast reunion events, and the documentary filming or recording processes. Folder titles were given by the creators and have been maintained. They are organized alphabetically by folder title. Audiovisual material contains 63 items, a majority of which are VHS tapes. Material includes clips and edits of Dance Party: The Teenarama Story. Objects are listed alphabetically by their labels. Playback equipment is available.

Historical Note

The documentary film Dance Party: The Teenarama Story first broadcast in 2006 on the Howard University public television station WHUT in Washington D.C. The film traced the history and development of the television show Teenarama that aired from March 7, 1963 to November 20, 1970. Teenarama originated as the Teenarama Dance Party radio program broadcast on WOOK Radio in Washington D.C. and became a television program after WOOK Radio received a license to operate a television station. The program premiered as a teen dance show for Black teenagers in the Washington D.C. and surrounding metropolitan area, featuring popular songs. The show's programming was first created by Cal Hackett and Al Jefferson. Bob King hosted the show from 1963-1965. Following King's departure, the show rotated hosts such as Leon Isaac Kennedy, Moon Man, and Daniel "Hollywood Breeze" Clayton. Guest performers on the show included James Brown, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Major Lance, Mary Wells, Aretha Franklin, Lou Rawls, Billy Stewart, Martha and The Vandellas, the Supremes, and the Four Seasons, among others. The program broadcasted live six days a week, the first of its kind in the country catering specifically to a Black audience. The documentary about Teenarama was created by Beverly Lindsay-Johnson, Herb Grimes, and the National Hand Dance Association, and was funded in part by grants through the Humanities Council of Washington D.C.,The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, The Dudley Foundation and private donations. The film uses Teenarama to tell the story of teen dance television shows, youth and pop culture, race, and television history. The documentary is narrated by Martha Reeves of Martha and The Vandellas.

Date

1952-2006

bulk 1997-2004

Extent

4.6 Cubic feet (3 cartons, 2 oversized boxes)

Provenance

Donated by Beverly Lindsey-Johnson in 2006.

Rights

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Citation

Kendall Productions records, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution, gift of Beverly Lindsey-Johnson.

Type

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photographic prints

Scripts (documents)

Notes

Audiocassettes

Compact discs

Research

Photographs

Questionnaires

Letters (correspondence)

Interviews

Federal government records

Clippings

Videocassettes

Topic

African American radio stations

Television stations

Teen television programs

African Americans -- Social life and customs

African Americans on television

Dance in motion pictures, television, etc.

Place

Washington (D.C.)

Identifier

ACMA.06-055