1946

 
Mr. “ROCK ’N’ ROLL” Alan Freed on the set of The Big Beat TV show

In 1957, Alan Freed was given a weekly prime-time TV series, The Big Beat, which 
predated American Bandstand, on ABC. It was scheduled for a Summer run, with
the understanding that if there were enough viewers, the show would continue into
the 1957-58 television season. It was suddenly canceled after the fourth episode
when Frankie Lymon, of Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers, was seen dancing
with a white girl from the studio audience after performing his number. The incident reportedly offended the management of ABC’s local affiliates in the southern states,
and led to the show’s immediate cancellation despite its growing popularity and
strong ratings.

Frankie Lymon (seated) and the Teenagers

Dick Dale (Richard Anthony Monsour) was a great influence to such
guitarists as Jimi Henderix and Eddie Van Halen due to the speed of
his single-note staccato picking technique.