From 1965 through 1968 Detroit could challenge Dick Clark’s American Bandstand dominance. The two local dance programs we remember are Club 1270 and Swingin Time. Channel 7 was home to the program named after the frequency of their sister station. Club 1270 was hosted by Lee Alan, Joel Sebastian and Dave Prince and during it’s brief run it showcased the talents of everyone from local boy Jamie Coe to mega-stars like Leslie Gore and the Rolling Stones. Across the river, CKLW showcased the talents of Keener alum Robin Seymour on Swingin Time. With production coordinator Art Cervi, who would later become a star in his own right as Detroit’s incarnation of Bozo, Swingin Time mirrored Bandstand in format and with the broad list of current and future rock stars who performed before Channel 9’s cameras.

No video record of Club 1270 exists on the Internet, but a number of clips from Swingin Time can be found. Robyn Seymour wisely saved a number of kinescopes of the show providing a rare historical look at the nacient talents of the likes of Bob Seger and James Brown.

Here are two clips to turn back the hands of time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLEf6ydEnr4