Hollywood a Go Go

Hollywood a Go Go was a Los Angeles–based music variety show that ran in syndication from 1965 to 1966. The show was hosted by Sam Riddle, with music by The Sinners and dancing by The Gazzarri Dancers. It was filmed at the KHJ-TV studios in Los Angeles. Rights to surviving footage of the show (preserved on kinescope film) are now represented by Retro Video, Inc.

Hollywood a Go Go
Directed by	Joe Agnello
Starring	Sam Riddle
Country of origin	United States
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	52
Production
Executive producer	Al Burton
Camera setup	Eigel Pedersen Marsh Theemling Fred Anzalone Bill Buck Doug Schneider
Running time	60 mins.
Production company	Four Star Television
Original release
Network	Syndication
Release	1965 (1965) – 1966 (1966)

History

The program originated as a spinoff of the daily program 9th Street West called 9th Street a Go Go, which aired on Saturdays on KHJ-TV (Channel 9).^[1] The show proved to be such a success that it transformed into the nationally syndicated Hollywood a Go Go.^[2] The first episode of Hollywood a Go Go aired in February 1965.^[3] Its original syndicator was Four Star Television. The show ceased production in 1966, with some television stations airing the show as late as the summer of 1966. In its brief run (52 episodes), the show featured various well-known acts. The Sinners were the house band featuring Eddie Kaplan on lead guitar.

After viewing the debut episode in 1965, a Billboard reviewer wrote:

One gets the feeling of being amidst a Zulu uprising or witnessing a contemporary interpretation of Dante's Inferno. Host Sam Riddle...introduces his guests shouting at the top of his voice to the accompaniment of jungle drums (there must be a message in there somewhere). The set is reminiscent of a speakeasy or a prison yard with its stone wall backdrop...During the lip-synched performances of the guest artists, members of the Gazzari [sic] dancers swing, sway, weave and gyrate with flailing arms from a postage stamp sized stage, step ladders and other lofty perches...The tempo is mostly upbeat with the emphasis on the driving, breast-beating sounds. With more than half of this nation's population seen to be under 25 years of age, there is much practical economics in this programming.^[4]

List of performers

• Ike & Tina Turner
• The Rolling Stones
• The Everly Brothers
• Frankie Lymon
• Marvin Gaye
• Edwin Starr
• The Ronettes
• Del Shannon
• Bobby Vee
• Peter and Gordon
• Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
• The Challengers
• The Impressions
• James Brown
• Jackie Wilson
• Rick Nelson
• Lesley Gore
• Fontella Bass
• Wilson Pickett
• James Darren
• Tommy Roe
• Booker T & The MGs
• Bo Diddley
• Freddy Cannon
• Sonny & Cher
• Jackie DeShannon
• Sam the Sham
• The Byrds
• The Turtles
• The Toys
• The Beau Brummels
• Bobby Fuller Four
• The Knickerbockers
• The Fugitives
• Lou Christie
• Bob Lind
• Don Julian (musician)
• The Kingsmen
• Roy Head
• Bobby Freeman
• Billy Joe Royal
• The Association
• Glen Campbell
• P. J. Proby
• Chuck Berry
• Aretha Franklin
• The Clinger Sisters

External links

• GazzarriDancers.com – History of Hollywood A Go-Go
• GazzarriDancers.com – Hollywood A Go-Go episode guide with original Los Angeles air dates
• Film/TV licensing inquiries – Retro Video, Inc

Notes

1. Austen, Jake (2005). TV-a-Go-Go: Rock on TV from American Bandstand to American Idol. Chicago Review Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-1-56976-241-7.
2. Altschul, Craig (1965-02-04). "Makin' The Scene: Teenage TV Boom Nothing New; 'A Go Go' Dates To 'A When When'". Thousand Oaks Star. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-11-03.
3. "Acts Set For A Go Go". Thousand Oaks Star. February 4, 1965. p. 8.
4. Faggen, Gil (13 March 1965), "Hollywood A Go Go", Billboard, retrieved 30 July 2020