“Even so, there were times I saw freshness and beauty. I could smell the air, and I really loved rock ‘n’ roll. Tears were warm, and girls were beautiful, like dreams. I liked movie theaters, the darkness and intimacy, and I liked the deep, sad summer nights.”
― Haruki Murakami, Dance Dance Dance
Today, when I came home from work, instead of doing something useful and trying to make this world a better place I sat down and watched (for no reason) a bunch of old episodes of Shindig! on Youtube.
I’m old enough to actually remember the show, I think. Let’s see… the show aired from September, 1964 to January, 1966 so I was seven, eight and almost nine. I guess that’s old enough to remember, but not enough to understand. I remember Shindig!‘s folk-oriented predecessor Hootenanny too – though barely.
What I really remember, and really didn’t understand, were the Shindig! dancers.
The television is grainy and not very well preserved. But the music! I hate to sound like the old man shouting to get off of his lawn – but that stuff was so much better than what we have to listen to today.
So much better.
Bill Chance 
I was a decade ahead of you, and yet I have no memory at all of Shindig, even after watching the videos. American Bandstand, sure — but that’s it. ‘Hootenanny’ was a word I remember using, but that’s the only connection. Interesting.
Let’s see what I can remember – in 1964-65 I was living in New York state (West Point) and was watching too much TV. I guess moving every year or so, television was a constant that travelled with me. I remember getting up early on Saturdays and watching the Indian Chief test pattern until the morning cartoons came on. I remember seeing the Beatles fly into New York (I thought they were women at first) and seeing the Stones on Ed Sullivan. I guess it isn’t surprising I’d watch Shindig! – given my little-kid interest in TV and music.
I certainly remember the Indian Chief. My most vivid memory of early tv was the coronation of Elizabeth II — it was our first set, and of course it was black and white with a 12″ screen, and it sat up on four wooden legs. I thought the young queen looked like a fairy princess!
Pingback: The Great American Songbook | Bill Chance