Is Where the Action Is coming back?
Where the Action Is (1965–1966) — family · music on ABC
The answer: Concluded June 16, 1966.
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2seasons
251episodes
About Where the Action Is
Where the Action Is or (WTAI) was a music-based television variety show in the United States from 1965–67. It was carried by the ABC network and aired each weekday afternoon. Created by Dick Clark as a spin-off of American Bandstand, Where the Action Is premiered on June 27, 1965.
Originally intended as a summer replacement and broadcast at 2 P.M. EDT, the show was successful enough for it to continue throughout the 1965-66 TV season, with a change in time period to 4:30 P.M. Eastern time following the horror soap opera Dark Shadows. Both programs attracted a young audience who watch the shows after school.
The show's theme song, "Action", became a hit single for Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon, peaking on the charts (#13) in September 1965. Most of the telecasts, all of which were produced in black-and-white, were taped at various locales inSouthern California although a handful of segments were taped elsewhere in the country. The theme song was written by Steve Venet and Tommy Boyce. Later Boyce co-wrote songs for The Monkees.
The program had its own stable of performers, most notably Paul Revere & the Raiders, who served as the de factohouse band. When the group departed the show in 1966, they were replaced by The Robbs. Other regular performers on Action included the dance troupe Pete Manifee and the Action Kids. Individual episodes featured a wide range of guest performers, as detailed below.
Also appearing were Steve Alaimo, Keith Allison, and Linda Scott. Ms. Scott had a few hit singles as a teenager in the early 1960s; she was only 20 when "Action" premiered.
The weekday program was cancelled on March 31, 1967, with the network giving its local affiliates the time slot. However, members of the program's mainstay band Paul Revere and the Raiders (with lead vocalist Mark Lindsay) hosted very similar follow-up shows; both Revere and Lindsay hosted Happening '68, a Saturday afternoon follow-up toAmerican Bandstand, and a weekday version of the same show, It's Happening, from 1968 to 1969. Both shows were produced by Dick Clark's production company for ABC.
Where the Action Is episode schedule
251 aired
Aired · 251
| Date | Ep. | Title |
|---|---|---|
| June 16, 1966 | S2·E198 | Bobby Goldsboro / The Sunrays |
| June 15, 1966 | S2·E197 | Gary Lewis and the Playboys |
| June 14, 1966 | S2·E196 | Bob Lind / Pinkerton's Assorted Colours |
| June 13, 1966 | S2·E195 | James Brown / The Deuces Wild |
| June 10, 1966 | S2·E194 | The Fortunes / Roy Orbison |
| June 9, 1966 | S2·E193 | Mel Carter / The McCoys |
| June 8, 1966 | S2·E192 | Jackie DeShannon / The Mob |
| June 7, 1966 | S2·E191 | The Leaves / Keith Green |
| June 6, 1966 | S2·E190 | B.J. Thomas / The Knickerbockers |
| June 3, 1966 | S2·E189 | Otis Redding / The Action |
| June 2, 1966 | S2·E188 | Susan Rafey / Andy Malone / Karen Verros |
| June 1, 1966 | S2·E187 | Maxine Brown / Freddy Cannon |
| May 31, 1966 | S2·E186 | Norma Tanega / The Tokens |
| May 30, 1966 | S2·E185 | The Silkie / Edwin Starr |
| May 27, 1966 | S2·E184 | Petula Clark |
| May 26, 1966 | S2·E183 | Righteous Brothers / Teddy & the Pandas / We Three |
| May 25, 1966 | S2·E182 | Chris Montez |
| May 24, 1966 | S2·E181 | Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels |
| May 23, 1966 | S2·E180 | Sam and Dave / Knickerbockers |
| May 20, 1966 | S2·E179 | Bobby Goldsboro / Gerry & the Pacemakers |
| May 19, 1966 | S2·E178 | Billy Joe Royal / Freddie & the Dreamers |
| May 18, 1966 | S2·E177 | The Outsiders |
| May 17, 1966 | S2·E176 | The Five Americans / Knickerbockers |
| May 16, 1966 | S2·E175 | The Who / Gene Pitney |
| May 13, 1966 | S2·E174 | Paul Revere and the Raiders |
| May 12, 1966 | S2·E173 | Shadows of Knight / Stevie Wonder |
| May 11, 1966 | S2·E172 | Marianne Faithfull / Yardbirds / Gary Farr & the T-Bones |
| May 10, 1966 | S2·E171 | Gary Lewis & the Playboys / Susan Rafey |
| May 9, 1966 | S2·E170 | Martha & the Vandellas / Barry Ryan |
| May 6, 1966 | S2·E169 | Righteous Brothers / Dick & DeeDee |
Show next 200 of 221 earlier episodes
| May 5, 1966 | S2·E168 | The Zombies / Don Grady |
| May 4, 1966 | S2·E167 | The Beau Brummels / Cindy Malone |
| May 3, 1966 | S2·E166 | The Mindbenders / Gloria Jones |
| May 2, 1966 | S2·E165 | Marianne Faithfull / The Temptations |
| April 29, 1966 | S2·E164 | Mamas and the Papas / Doris Troy |
| April 28, 1966 | S2·E163 | The Bantams / Little Dion / Pamela Miller |
| April 27, 1966 | S2·E162 | Just Us / Dave Berry |
| April 26, 1966 | S2·E161 | Otis Redding / Karen Verros |
| April 25, 1966 | S2·E160 | Lou Christie / Spencer Davis Group |
| April 22, 1966 | S2·E159 | Them / Tina Mason / Knickerbockers |
| April 21, 1966 | S2·E158 | Billy Preston / The Newbeats |
| April 20, 1966 | S2·E157 | Wayne Fontana / The Marketts |
| April 19, 1966 | S2·E156 | The Nashville Teens / Eddie Holman |
| April 18, 1966 | S2·E155 | Freddy Cannon / Maxine Brown |
| April 15, 1966 | S2·E154 | The Yardbirds / Keith Allison / Knickerbockers |
| April 14, 1966 | S2·E153 | The Measles / Norma Tanega |
| April 13, 1966 | S2·E152 | Toni Basil / M.F.Q. |
| April 12, 1966 | S2·E151 | Sir Douglas Quintet / Gloria Tracy |
| April 11, 1966 | S2·E150 | James Brown / Mickey Rooney Jr. |
| April 8, 1966 | S2·E149 | The Yardbirds / Chet Baker |
| April 7, 1966 | S2·E148 | Mamas and the Papas / Bobby Freeman |
| April 6, 1966 | S2·E147 | Martha and the Vandellas / Danny Hutton |
| April 5, 1966 | S2·E146 | The Kingsmen / Jimmie Rodgers |
| April 4, 1966 | S2·E145 | The Righteous Brothers / Randy Boone |
| April 1, 1966 | S2·E144 | The Temptations / B.J. Thomas |
| March 31, 1966 | S2·E143 | James Brown / Bobby Vee |
| March 30, 1966 | S2·E142 | Freddy Cannon / Wilson Pickett / Knickerbockers |
| March 29, 1966 | S2·E141 | The Ventures / Lou Christie |
| March 28, 1966 | S2·E140 | Stevie Wonder / Al Martino |
| March 25, 1966 | S2·E139 | Shirley Ellis / The Newbeats / Keith Allison |
| March 24, 1966 | S2·E138 | The Byrds / Ketty Lester |
| March 23, 1966 | S2·E137 | Bob Lind / The Markettes / Knickerbockers |
| March 22, 1966 | S2·E136 | Four Seasons / Buck Owens & the Buckaroos |
| March 21, 1966 | S2·E135 | Gary Lewis & the Playboys / Roy Clark |
| March 18, 1966 | S2·E134 | Len Barry / Everly Brothers / Knickerbockers |
| March 17, 1966 | S2·E133 | Barbara Mason / The Five Americans |
| March 16, 1966 | S2·E132 | Duane Eddy / The Checkmates |
| March 15, 1966 | S2·E131 | Bobby Fuller Four / Brook Benton |
| March 14, 1966 | S2·E130 | Chad and Jeremy / Jackie and Gayle |
| March 11, 1966 | S2·E129 | Chris Montez / The Spokesmen |
| March 10, 1966 | S2·E128 | The Mamas and the Papas / Round Robin |
| March 9, 1966 | S2·E127 | The Sunrays / Jimmie Rodgers |
| March 8, 1966 | S2·E126 | Bob Lind / The Dilliards |
| March 7, 1966 | S2·E125 | Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels / Steve Alaimo |
| March 4, 1966 | S2·E124 | James Brown / The Kingston Trio |
| March 3, 1966 | S2·E123 | Sonny and Cher / The Knickerbockers |
| March 2, 1966 | S2·E122 | Wilson Pickett / Vic Dana |
| March 1, 1966 | S2·E121 | Marvin Gaye / Lovin' Spoonful / Al Martino |
| February 28, 1966 | S2·E120 | The Everly Brothers / Joe Tex |
| February 25, 1966 | S2·E119 | The Four Seasons / Jewel Akens / Knickerbockers |
| February 24, 1966 | S2·E118 | The Young Rascals / Bobby Freeman |
| February 23, 1966 | S2·E117 | The Beau Brummels / Tommy Boyce |
| February 22, 1966 | S2·E116 | Tina Turner / Gary Lewis & the Playboys |
| February 21, 1966 | S2·E115 | The Byrds / Freddy Cannon |
| February 18, 1966 | S2·E114 | The Kingsmen / Neil Sedaka |
| February 17, 1966 | S2·E113 | Vic Dana / The T-Bones |
| February 16, 1966 | S2·E112 | The Castaways / Brook Benton |
| February 15, 1966 | S2·E111 | Marvin Gaye / The Knickerbockers |
| February 14, 1966 | S2·E110 | Mel Carter / Jimmie Rodgers |
| February 11, 1966 | S2·E109 | The Turtles / Chad and Jeremy |
| February 10, 1966 | S2·E108 | Ray Peterson / Len Barry |
| February 9, 1966 | S2·E107 | Bobby Rydell / The Astronauts |
| February 8, 1966 | S2·E106 | James Brown / Dick Kallman |
| February 7, 1966 | S2·E105 | Shirley Ellis / The Knickerbockers |
| February 4, 1966 | S2·E104 | Joe Tex / The Knickerbockers |
| February 3, 1966 | S2·E103 | The Lovin' Spoonful / Donna Loren |
| February 2, 1966 | S2·E102 | Peter and Gordon / Billy Joe Royal |
| February 1, 1966 | S2·E101 | The Knickerbockers / Jody Miller |
| January 31, 1966 | S2·E100 | The Kingston Trio / Steve Alaimo |
| January 28, 1966 | S2·E99 | Diane Renay / The T-Bones |
| January 27, 1966 | S2·E98 | The Four Seasons / Keith Allison |
| January 26, 1966 | S2·E97 | The Statler Brothers / Jackie Lee |
| January 25, 1966 | S2·E96 | Otis Redding / Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels - |
| January 24, 1966 | S2·E95 | Ben E. King / Dick and DeeDee |
| January 21, 1966 | S2·E94 | The Castaways / The Apollos |
| January 20, 1966 | S2·E93 | Marvin Gaye / The Five Americans |
| January 19, 1966 | S2·E92 | The Dixie Cups / Dion |
| January 18, 1966 | S2·E91 | The Everly Brothers / The Deep Six |
| January 17, 1966 | S2·E90 | The Vogues / Evie Sands |
| January 14, 1966 | S2·E89 | The Beau Brummels / Bobby Freeman |
| January 13, 1966 | S2·E88 | Barry Young / Joey Paige |
| January 12, 1966 | S2·E87 | The Astronauts / James Darren |
| January 11, 1966 | S2·E86 | Billy Joe Royal / Patti LaBelle & the Blue Belles |
| January 10, 1966 | S2·E85 | The Kingsmen |
| January 7, 1966 | S2·E84 | Bobby Rydell / The Dilliards |
| January 6, 1966 | S2·E83 | The Kingston Trio / Johnny Thunder |
| January 5, 1966 | S2·E82 | The Statler Brothers / Jackie Lee |
| January 4, 1966 | S2·E81 | Ben E. King / The Four Seasons |
| January 3, 1966 | S2·E80 | Freddy Cannon / The Vibrations |
| December 30, 1965 | S2·E79 | The Lovin' Spoonful / Lou Christie |
| December 29, 1965 | S2·E78 | The Vogues / Jody Miller / Steve Alaimo |
| December 28, 1965 | S2·E77 | Marvin Gaye / The Knickerbockers |
| December 27, 1965 | S2·E76 | Otis Redding / Dick & DeeDee / Linda Scott |
| December 24, 1965 | S2·E75 | Bobby Vee (1965 Christmas Eve Show) |
| December 23, 1965 | S2·E74 | Dusty Springfield / The Miracles |
| December 22, 1965 | S2·E73 | Sam the Sham & the Pharoahs / Ian Whitcomb |
| December 21, 1965 | S2·E72 | Little Richard / Keith Allison |
| December 20, 1965 | S2·E71 | James Brown |
| December 17, 1965 | S2·E70 | Little Anthony & the Imperials / Johnny Tillotson |
| December 16, 1965 | S2·E69 | Barbara Lewis / Tommy Roe |
| December 15, 1965 | S2·E68 | Freddy & the Dreamers / Dee Dee Sharp / Bobby Rydell |
| December 14, 1965 | S2·E67 | Mel Carter / Gloria Jones |
| December 13, 1965 | S2·E66 | The Miracles / Bobby Vee |
| December 10, 1965 | S2·E65 | The Animals / Dusty Springfield |
| December 9, 1965 | S2·E64 | Ian Whitcomb |
| December 8, 1965 | S2·E63 | James Brown / Tommy Sands / Steve Alaimo |
| December 7, 1965 | S2·E62 | Len Barry / David Jones |
| December 6, 1965 | S2·E61 | Dee Dee Sharp / Johnny Tillotson |
| December 3, 1965 | S2·E60 | Herman's Hermits |
| December 2, 1965 | S2·E59 | Tommy Roe / Gale Garnett |
| December 1, 1965 | S2·E58 | The Miracles / Steve Alaimo |
| November 30, 1965 | S2·E57 | Sam the Sham & the Pharoahs |
| November 29, 1965 | S2·E56 | Bobby Rydell |
| November 26, 1965 | S2·E55 | The Beau Brummels / Gloria Jones |
| November 25, 1965 | S2·E54 | Len Barry / Bobby Vee |
| November 24, 1965 | S2·E53 | James Brown / The Spokesmen |
| November 23, 1965 | S2·E52 | Dusty Springfield / Little Richard |
| November 22, 1965 | S2·E51 | Johnny Tillotson / Freddy Cannon |
| November 19, 1965 | S2·E50 | Freddie & the Dreamers / Glen Campbell |
| November 18, 1965 | S2·E49 | Little Anthony & the Imperials / Jo Ann Campbell |
| November 17, 1965 | S2·E48 | Eddy Rambeau / We Five |
| November 16, 1965 | S2·E47 | Barbara Lewis / Peter & Gordon |
| November 15, 1965 | S2·E46 | The Strangeloves / Mel Carter |
| November 12, 1965 | S2·E45 | Bobby Rydell / The Mojo Men |
| November 11, 1965 | S2·E44 | Mary Wells / Freddy Cannon |
| November 10, 1965 | S2·E43 | James Brown |
| November 9, 1965 | S2·E42 | Little Richard / Jackie DeShannon |
| November 8, 1965 | S2·E41 | Mel Carter / Bocky & the Visions |
| November 5, 1965 | S2·E40 | The Animals / The Shangri-Las |
| November 4, 1965 | S2·E39 | The Toys / Neil Sedaka |
| November 3, 1965 | S2·E38 | Freddy Cannon / Johnny Tillotson |
| November 2, 1965 | S2·E37 | The Everly Brothers / Roy Head |
| November 1, 1965 | S2·E36 | Dionne Warwick / The Sunrays |
| October 29, 1965 | S2·E35 | Bobby Vee / Linda Scott / Steve Alaimo |
| October 28, 1965 | S2·E34 | The Olympics |
| October 27, 1965 | S2·E33 | The Leaves / Bobby Rydell |
| October 26, 1965 | S2·E32 | The Beau Brummels / Vic Dana |
| October 25, 1965 | S2·E31 | The Animals / Jackie & Gayle |
| October 22, 1965 | S2·E30 | Peter & Gordon / The Vejetables |
| October 21, 1965 | S2·E29 | Freddy Cannon / Barbara Mason |
| October 20, 1965 | S2·E28 | Billy Joe Royal / The Royalettes |
| October 19, 1965 | S2·E27 | Dick and DeeDee / Edwin Starr |
| October 18, 1965 | S2·E26 | Del Shannon / Little Anthony & the Imperials |
| October 15, 1965 | S2·E25 | We Five / Vic Dana |
| October 14, 1965 | S2·E24 | The McCoys / Steve Alaimo |
| October 13, 1965 | S2·E23 | Charlie Rich |
| October 12, 1965 | S2·E22 | Everly Brothers / Mike Clifford |
| October 11, 1965 | S2·E21 | Mary Wells / Roy Head |
| October 8, 1965 | S2·E20 | The Castaways / Brenda Holloway |
| October 7, 1965 | S2·E19 | Ike and Tina Turner |
| October 6, 1965 | S2·E18 | Bobby Rydell / Jo Ann Campbell |
| October 5, 1965 | S2·E17 | Peter & Gordon / Derek Martin |
| October 4, 1965 | S2·E16 | We Five / Neil Sedaka |
| October 1, 1965 | S2·E15 | Billy Joe Royal / The Ikettes |
| September 30, 1965 | S2·E14 | Cannibal & the Headhunters / Lenny Welch |
| September 29, 1965 | S2·E13 | The McCoys / Vic Dana |
| September 28, 1965 | S2·E12 | Del Shannon / The Olympics / Jo Ann Campbell |
| September 27, 1965 | S2·E11 | Tina Turner / The Everly Brothers |
| September 24, 1965 | S2·E10 | Dobie Gray / Jackie DeShannon |
| September 23, 1965 | S2·E9 | Donovan / Dickie Lee |
| September 22, 1965 | S2·E8 | We Five / Round Robin |
| September 21, 1965 | S2·E7 | The Lovin' Spoonful / James Brown |
| September 20, 1965 | S2·E6 | Bobby Freeman / The Astors |
| September 17, 1965 | S2·E5 | Bobby Freeman / Ray Peterson |
| September 16, 1965 | S2·E4 | Donovan / Ketty Lester |
| September 15, 1965 | S2·E3 | James Brown / Joey Paige |
| September 14, 1965 | S2·E2 | The Impressions / Dickie Lee |
| September 13, 1965 | S2·E1 | Danny Hutton |
| September 10, 1965 | S1·E54 | The Lovin' Spoonful / Paul Petersen |
| September 9, 1965 | S1·E53 | We Five / The Drifters |
| September 8, 1965 | S1·E52 | James Brown / Bobby Goldsboro / Pat & Lolly Vegas |
| September 7, 1965 | S1·E51 | Sonny & Cher / Major Lance / Ronnie Dove |
| September 3, 1965 | S1·E50 | Donovan / Jackie DeShannon / Del Shannon |
| September 2, 1965 | S1·E49 | Sonny & Cher / Bobby Goldsboro / Liverpool Five |
| September 1, 1965 | S1·E48 | The Turtles / Peter & Gordon / Barbara Lewis |
| August 31, 1965 | S1·E47 | We Five / Gene Chandler |
| August 30, 1965 | S1·E46 | The Drifters / Del Shannon |
| August 27, 1965 | S1·E45 | James Brown / Brian Hyland |
| August 26, 1965 | S1·E44 | Duane Eddy / Peter & Gordon |
| August 25, 1965 | S1·E43 | The Newbeats / Ray Peterson |
| August 24, 1965 | S1·E42 | The Impressions / Ian Whitcomb / The Detergents |
| August 23, 1965 | S1·E41 | Gary U.S. Bonds / The Guiloteens |
| August 20, 1965 | S1·E40 | The Turtles / Paul Petersen |
| August 19, 1965 | S1·E39 | Bobby Rydell / The Velvettes |
| August 18, 1965 | S1·E38 | The Kinks |
| August 17, 1965 | S1·E37 | Jackie Wilson |
| August 16, 1965 | S1·E36 | Dee Dee Sharp / Ray Peterson |
| August 13, 1965 | S1·E35 | Sonny & Cher / Roosevelt Grier |
| August 12, 1965 | S1·E34 | The Hondells / Major Lance |
| August 11, 1965 | S1·E33 | The Dixie Cups / Ian Whitcomb |
| August 10, 1965 | S1·E32 | The Drifters / Brian Hyland |
| August 9, 1965 | S1·E31 | James Brown / April Stevens & Nino Tempo |
| August 6, 1965 | S1·E30 | The Crystals / Jackie DeShannon |
| August 5, 1965 | S1·E29 | The Byrds / Jewel Akens |
| August 4, 1965 | S1·E28 | Mel Carter / Sam the Sham & the Pharoahs |
| August 3, 1965 | S1·E27 | Joe Tex / Bobby Rydell |
| August 2, 1965 | S1·E26 | Eddie Hodges / The Vibrations |
| July 30, 1965 | S1·E25 | Aretha Franklin / Sonny & Cher |
| July 29, 1965 | S1·E24 | The Shangri-Las / Jimmy Clanton |
| July 28, 1965 | S1·E23 | Peter & Gordon |
…and 21 earlier episodes not shown. Long-running show.
