The Milt Grant Show
Encyclopedia
The Milt Grant Show was a Washington, D.C.
teen dance party program aired on WTTG
from 1956 to 1961. It was hosted by a former radio deejay, who recognized the untapped potential of the teen rock and roll music market, and convinced the management to let him host a dance party show - but only if he sold the advertising himself.
According to a Washington Post article, "each show began with Mr. Grant calling 'Hi, kids!'
" 'Hi, Milt,' they answered.'
" 'What's our favorite drink?'
" 'Pepsi!' they shouted, in an early example of embedded advertising carefully crafted by Mr. Grant.' "
"Milt Grant was one of the most important pioneers of early rock-and-roll in Washington," said Mark Opsasnick, a cultural historian and the author of 'Capitol Rock.'" "When he started his music show in 1956, there was nothing like it on the [local] airwaves."
"The introduction of both "The Milt Grant Record Hop" on local television [in 1956] and disc jockey Don Dillard's "Record Club" program on local airwaves via WDON
were important milestones for local rock and roll. Both men brought rock music into homes of thousands and became local legends for bringing national stars to the Washington, D.C. area and raising record hops to heights of popularity never before attained. Through these and other on-air and in-person promotions, both men provided inspiration for local teen musicians by creating these outlets and sponsoring such events," states Opsasnick on page 67 of Capitol Rock.
According to Grant's Washington Post obituary, published May 3, 2007, "for five years, the 'Milt Grant Show' was a runaway success and soundly beat the Philadelphia-based 'American Bandstand
' when the two shows ran head-to-head."
After the show was canceled in 1961 by new station management, Metromedia
, who did not like the rock-and-roll programming, Grant entered a new phase of his broadcasting career when he formed a corporation that led to the launching of WDCA
, Channel 20, in 1966 on the then-barren UHF band. Grant immersed himself in management and never again appeared on camera as a personality. Ironically, WDCA and WTTG are now commonly-owned by the Fox Television Stations group.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
teen dance party program aired on WTTG
WTTG
WTTG, channel 5, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Fox Broadcasting Company, located in the American capital city of Washington, D.C...
from 1956 to 1961. It was hosted by a former radio deejay, who recognized the untapped potential of the teen rock and roll music market, and convinced the management to let him host a dance party show - but only if he sold the advertising himself.
According to a Washington Post article, "each show began with Mr. Grant calling 'Hi, kids!'
" 'Hi, Milt,' they answered.'
" 'What's our favorite drink?'
" 'Pepsi!' they shouted, in an early example of embedded advertising carefully crafted by Mr. Grant.' "
"Milt Grant was one of the most important pioneers of early rock-and-roll in Washington," said Mark Opsasnick, a cultural historian and the author of 'Capitol Rock.'" "When he started his music show in 1956, there was nothing like it on the [local] airwaves."
"The introduction of both "The Milt Grant Record Hop" on local television [in 1956] and disc jockey Don Dillard's "Record Club" program on local airwaves via WDON
WACA (AM)
WACA is a radio station broadcasting on 1540 kHz in the mediumwave AM band. It is a Spanish language news and talk station broadcasting as Radio America. Its transmitter is located in Wheaton, Maryland and it serves the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area...
were important milestones for local rock and roll. Both men brought rock music into homes of thousands and became local legends for bringing national stars to the Washington, D.C. area and raising record hops to heights of popularity never before attained. Through these and other on-air and in-person promotions, both men provided inspiration for local teen musicians by creating these outlets and sponsoring such events," states Opsasnick on page 67 of Capitol Rock.
According to Grant's Washington Post obituary, published May 3, 2007, "for five years, the 'Milt Grant Show' was a runaway success and soundly beat the Philadelphia-based 'American Bandstand
American Bandstand
American Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
' when the two shows ran head-to-head."
After the show was canceled in 1961 by new station management, Metromedia
Metromedia
Metromedia was a media company that owned radio and television stations in the United States from 1956 to 1986 and owned Orion Pictures from 1986-1997.- Overview :...
, who did not like the rock-and-roll programming, Grant entered a new phase of his broadcasting career when he formed a corporation that led to the launching of WDCA
WDCA
WDCA, virtual channel 20, is a television station in Washington, D.C.. Owned by Fox Television Stations, a division of the News Corporation, WDCA is a sister station to Fox network outlet WTTG , and is affiliated with the co-owned MyNetworkTV programming service...
, Channel 20, in 1966 on the then-barren UHF band. Grant immersed himself in management and never again appeared on camera as a personality. Ironically, WDCA and WTTG are now commonly-owned by the Fox Television Stations group.
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