Hullabaloo

'Hullabaloo' was a lot like 'Shindig', and lasted only a year and a half as well, debuting in January of 1965, and continuing until the Fall of 1966.

First broadcast as a half hour series, then as an hour show in the spring, then switching back again to a half hour in the fall of 1965, 'Hullabaloo' featured the Hullabaloo Dancers, The Peter Matz Orchestra ('The Carol Burnett Show' band), and (on the first few hour shows) Brian Epstein, the Beatles' manager, introducing new British acts in black and white segments (the rest of the show was in color). Instead of just one host, different guest-hosts were recruited each week for this NBC show.

Both of these shows, especially 'Shindig', captured some of the finest live performances by the best rock bands and soul performers coming up in the mid sixties, including Diana Ross and the Supremes, Otis Redding, the Beach Boys, and James Brown, and inspired the other music/dance shows that followed like 'Hollywood a Go Go', 'Where The Action Is' and 'Happenin' 68' (which took the format to the beach). Many of the videos we see of 60's performers come from these cool and campy series.

Ron Barkin

A great big thanks to TV Party.