Payola, the practice of paying disc-jockeys for promoting certain songs and recording stars, was headline news on April 29, 1960. Clark's popular American Bandstand had been part of the teenage culture for at least 5 years. In addition to owning the publishing rights to dozens of hit songs, Clark had a financial interest in many of the talents he promoted. Still, he swore that he never accepted "gifts" to promote records and got off without penalty. Others, who admitted to the practice, like Allen Freed, one of the first major market personalities to play rock 'n roll, had his career destroyed. The "do-gooders" in Washington played their double-standard policies effectively, while many essentially participated in the exact same thing through what they politely called "lobbyists." The entire "payola scandal" remains a dark moment in broadcasting history.
On the bright side, it was baseball season and Dubuque's Packers were preparing for opening night at Petrakis Park.
Remember Moonlight Gardens outside of East Dubuque? Lakeside in Guttenburg was always a popular regional ballroom. The Bunker Hill Golf Course included a dining room. And, the Dubuque County Amvets Club near the fairgrounds featured live entertainment with the Greenwood boys and KDTH DJ & Organist Bobby Gribben.
You could still dance at Melody Mill for $1.00 on most nights. Joey Paradiso's Orchestra played for the KC Ball for $1.25 per person.
The week before, "Miss Dynamite," Brenda Lee made one of her many performances at Melody Mill.
With the "boating season" approaching, Dubuque Boat & Boiler at the Dubuque Ice Harbor was selling Turbocraft "Jet-Powered" boats.
Ozark Airlines provided service to Dubuque from 1955 to 1981. This was their local schedule. (Sorry for the blurry condition of the TH archive on-line)
The state of race relations in our country was still very troubled.
And, parents with young musicians creating a "rock band" could get a good laugh from this cartoon.
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