Zacherley's TV dance party featuring the Box Tops "The Letter"

[@Drumcam]

Wow! This brings back memories! I was the drummer in "The Coachmen." We won a band contest on Disco Teen. The prize: We opened for The Rolling Stones at Symphony Hall in Newark, NJ! I was like 15 years old!! The kids in the audience knew us from the show and screamed and asked for autographs! I remember Zacherley back stage as a consummate gentleman. Thanks, Zacherley, for the thrill of a lifetime!

[@LannieLord]

Wow !

[@woolfy02]

I'm jealous! haha I'd love to grow up to experience this the 60's and or Disc-o-teen.

[@keithplunk6611]

I didn't realize how young the Box Tops were. It must have been really exciting to have been successful that young...but what goes up must come down. That is harsh to a young musician. Everybody is not Paul McCartney...yet they still managed to have post successful ventures. I used to want to be like that...now I am convinced that too much, too easy, too soon is... in a lot of ways bad on the adolescent ego. Chasing that high can be dauntingly disappointing to a kid. But it is not all bad to be on top...if only for a spell. You rock...then you roll...sometimes downhill. Still it is cool to hear a great song go up to #1 on the charts! Very cool to be a part of that! Very cool!!! 😎

[@PoGirlShines]

I never got to see Zacherley's show but I got his album as a kid "Dinner at Drac's" I believe.

[@daisywrabbit]

6:04 I love that Alex didn’t want to kiss her hand. What a creepy host.

[@dotell3359]

When this song came out I was on my way to Vietnam. I will never forget it.

[@arthurbonito5001]

Wow, i worked many many Years in that Studio A !!

[@sisterdiggins]

WOW!!! What a treat! Zacherley AND the Box Tops!!! Awesome,thanks

[@alanspagnolia9474]

I remember buying this 45 (new, of course) at Woolworth's. Anyone out there remember buying their top 40 45's there, in the 1960's ?

[@patrickcrane3628]

Never seen the dance show. But did watch him on chiller theatre........ best memories of the cool ghoul ,when he was a DJ on WNEW in NYC. He was the perfect combination of weird- strange -coolness. Especially to a high school kid smoking pot, late at night, in his bedroom, listening to this dude . REST IN PEACE JOHN ZACHERLY

[@cynthiapickett7403]

Love local teen-dance shows of the 1960s and early 1970s!

[@chrisfreeman9960]

I do too! I'm from L.A. We had some great dance shows back then, like "9th Street West", "Lloyd Thaxton", and Casey Casum's program "Shebang!". Three dance shows on every day of the week.

[@dasiavue]

I was one of the dancers on the show too. I still dance just as goofy too. I remember Barry Landers who produced the show too. I love how low budget it was.

[@MusicandDancing4Ever]

Tell us about your experience?

[@timujin02]

This is hilarious! The music and the dancing are as I remember them in High School -- Super! I love it!!

[@marissas7282]

Love it....great times. We had all kinds of societal upheaval going on, and we just danced on!

[@jeffell]

I came here for the Boxtops, and found this great 1967 teen dance show. Zacherle was campy, and campy was in during the1960s.

[@JohnLnyc]

jeffell he’s not “campy” he’s really like that

[@TET2005]

Guys don't keep looking back in time... just cherish the present... this is the best time you ever have...

[@TralfazConstruction]

Those are my findings too after decades of casual research. I _literally_ just thought of what you stated last week.

[@dbrev10]

Covid 19 and a very divided United States...good times!

[@melodymakermark]

There’s plenty of room in our lives for nostalgia. I lived times like this video, and with tech in recent years, I can relive it. I keep an eye on today and look toward tomorrow, too.

[@LuvdCaps]

OMG it's Zachary! I remember watching him on the tv. Geez, now I really feel older than dirt. Great video!

[@a.a.armstrong5326]

Groovy, baby. I love you Uncle John!!!! xoxoxox Miss you Cool Ghoul!

[@janiceconti8880]

I was listening to Mark Simone on WABC Saturday show tonite and he had Zacharley on for Halloween- wonderful memories as my girlfriends and I were regulars on this teen dance show - great times - Zach was the best - alot of fun -KOOL guy. I have different souveniers that Zach was given by fans in my scrapbook - was supposed to go the night Doors was on and that is when the Newark Riots broke out so couldn't go - I am the farmer girl with the straw hat on at 3.55 - was 16 - WOW - what a blast !

[@strebis6]

Janice Conti are you the one that Zach pushes back. Looks like it was a lot of fun.

[@alekhidell4544]

great dancer.

[@jms6959]

I LOVE the dance style!

[@sharilgreer]

My band from New Jersey, Lady and the Tramps, performed on this show! What a blast it was. We won that week and got to come back and perform again. John Zackerley was a hoot, and saw him again 20 years later in NYC. Fun stuff, and great honor to be amongst those that had this great platform to perform! I believe it was 1967.

[@MusicandDancing4Ever]

This show really depicted how the teens were in the late 60s, the wild, free dances, the clothes, the peace signs, the hippie girls, you didn’t see this in American bandstand. Dick Clark wanted to keep that show conservative, not to upset parents. So the girls dressed prim and proper, no pants, couldn’t dance too sexy, couldn’t shake and shimmy too much, no throwing up peace signs. So this show is a true depiction of young life in the late 60s. I enjoy this show. There are two full episodes just added, check it out, you’ll love it, can’t stop watching it.

[@daisywrabbit]

The kids are great. I love all of them. I guess being a teen in that time also meant enduring sexual harassment from creepy older men.

[@howardluloff388]

What a find! I never saw Disc-O-Teen growing up in New Jersey in the mid 60s on Channel 47 before they went all Spanish but it was a variation on American Bandstand. It showed that Zacherley was more than a horror movie host.

[@queen1priss]

Me and Linda Masko at 3:02 minutes dancing on the box and in the background during the interview with the Box Tops! Just found this...miss you Linda!

[@strebis6]

queen1priss s I see you with the long blonde hair, right? Do you have any behind the scenes stories you can share? I take it you haven't spoken to your friend Linda in a while? Take care, great video!

[@prestcoldandy910]

You were very beautiful young ladies , hope you are both happy and well

[@queen1priss]

@@strebis6 Hello! Just saw your question! No I am the brunette on the right. My friend Linda is the blonde. Sadly, Linda just passed away last Saturday. We were like sisters. Her father used to drive us to the show several times. LOVED Zacharly! Thank you!

[@queen1priss]

@@strebis6 Interested to know why you would think I am the blonde? LOL!

[@queen1priss]

@@prestcoldandy910 Thank you Andy! I'm the brunette on the right. Linda my best friend, is on the left. Sadly, Linda passed away just last Saturday.

[@004752]

Seeing Zach brings back so many great memories from the 1960's. So many of us grew up with him- starting watching him host monster movies, then Dico-O-Teen,, and then on WNEW FM. He was a true original. Thanks for posting this great clip and making me smile.

[@PaulSmith-pz9eq]

I never saw this great show but I watched American Bandstand all the time. Grew up outside Philadelphia listening to Jerry Blavit the DJ. I was 14 in 1967 and I loved growing up in the 60’s and the 70’s . The Jersey shore and boardwalk in the summer and then in 1971 I was drafted. I was so very lucky to grow up in that time period. Loved the Boxtops !

[@kwazydude]

I used to take the bus down Bloomfield Ave. & danced on this show twice. Great memories! Zach had an office looking down on the dance floor. I'm sorry I lost the 2 autographed pictures he gave me!

[@jsilence418]

I watch this about once a year what a blast! I wouldn't mind seeing others !

[@musicalme27]

Great song!

[@philiptucci2458]

very beautiful song, real classic, great music & memories of life, very special sound

[@daneavagliano9866]

My Band played on this show twice I was 12 or 13 year's old. Loved the show.I did a Fisher Bread T.V Commercial with another Band Member and Zacherley.

[@LinaWina]

*sigh* I wish I had grown up in his era so I could have seen more of him. Thanks so much for this video! You gave me and my parents a treat!

[@oldiesgeek454]

Great quality. You can tell it's the original broadcast video tape, and not a grainy kinescope.

[@friendlier]

Chilton's got such laid back style, even at this tender age.

[@joebeans1954]

I was on this set as a kid in the 60s in Newark,NJ

[@homemoviescolorado]

Thanks for posting this. I hope more can be found. I danced on the show a few times and got autographs from Zach and from Keith (Hey 98.6)

[@jsilence418]

An awesome piece of the sixties, thanks.

[@johnmitchelljr]

Good clean nostalgic fun. Thank you.

[@chrisshenzo2594]

What a great clip! Stood next to and conversed with Zacherley during a Fillmore East Johnny Winter And show, and seeing him in his Hellement with the legendary & still sorely missed Alex Chilton is extraordinary. We miss Zach as much also...what a time!

[@briang9581]

Thanks for posting. I’m looking for a show like this. It would also have been filmed in Newark, but at least 10 years earlier. My dad appeared on this earlier show and was questioned briefly on camera.

[@hankster671]

My Band, The Lost Souls appeared in "66' ,I think. Thanks for posting this. It brings back some grerat memories

[@triumphmanful]

Geez those kids danced weird ! I was probably doing it too. But I don't recall dancing like that. Got drafted Nov. 21, 1967. So I missed Woodstock and all that fun ! Loved Zacherly, he was so cool !

[@bobbywall172]

Drafted in 69,, buddys went to Woodstock, I remember this dance here, moons dance land in Madison, mayodan, N.C.

[@triumphmanful]

@@bobbywall172 You missed all the fun. 67-69 was a heel of a time ! The only woodstock I recall was that of my M-14 .

[@martind586]

Number 1 song for 4 weeks in the usa in 1967 September 17 - October 14 1967 Box Tops - The Letter

[@donnamortensen3120]

Went to the show from Queens to support the band The Tremolos. Watched everything Zacherley was on and even got to meet him by chance with No Makeup!!! Handsome man!

[@spectrumlocalb191]

Anyone that does not like John Zacherly you would just not be great to be around.Zacherly is a legend and one of the greatest guys to meet in person

[@richwerntz1564]

I played there with my band in 1965 we were from Newark nj my band was called the Kids inc. we were all 13 yrs old

[@rjplamf61]

I want it to be 1967.

[@PaulSmith-pz9eq]

Yes .. I do as well ! I want to go back ! Does anybody else want to go back with me ?

[@dailyflash]

So, so, SO innocent!

[@MsCrazybeatlesfan]

this is a gem thanxs 4 sharing

[@danielmchale9793]

alot of beautiful young ladies in the 60s sweet and kind attitudes gets me in a good mood

[@strebis6]

Well she wrote me a letter, said she couldn't live without anymore. Lister mister, can't you see I got to get back to my baby once a more. ALEX CHILTON IS A COOL DUDE! I LOVE THIS VIDEO! It's funny when Alex's introduces the human queen at 5:55 RIP Alex

[@stuartsilman639]

Yes I was there the best times ever!

[@precisionbrown6829]

Nice jacket Zack! The Box Tops! Circa 1968 oops 1967 lol The Dracula Hilton 😂 They’re all dancing kinda like Elaine from Seinfeld lol

[@bobbywall172]

This makes me feel good, my time back then, loved the box-tops and dancing here in N.C.🤩🤩

[@jsilence418]

Actually wouldn't mind seeing a few more of these !

[@philipjciriello5938]

The man was a trip. I rolled when he said, "i have to carry this thing all the way to Saddlebrook"!

[@farwayout]

Am wondering "WHY" was'nt this fantastic dance show aired nationally instead of just a regional show? John Zacherle is an awesome and very likeable host! Thank you for posting this GROOVY video!!

[@tigerpilot32]

I was the photographer the camera panned by at 9:20. Still have the slides I took on the show, along with the last show. Zack and the girls were the best. Unfortunately there will probably be another Discoteen. What a great memory that show was.

[@vonaly]

So you're the photographer! I've just recently discovered these Discoteen videos and have been wondering if that photographer still has those photos. Do you have them posted online anywhere? Would love to see them! Take Care

[@MsGabriella41789]

I would also LOVE to see these photos if you would share? My mom was a dancer in the videos and it would be really neat to see and discuss your experience!

[@joepetrizzo4924]

COOL GHOULLLL, MR JOHN ZACHERLE, USED TO WATCH HIM BACK IN THE 1960'S HE WAS THE COOL GHOUL ALRIGHT, R.I.P. JOHN REST IN THE BIG GHOUL IN THE SKY. 💔💔💔💔💔

[@alexandersilvestreromero2701]

So beautiful dance andmusic from 60.. Thanks from peruvian

[@toniann6860]

this is awesome

[@ogredad55]

Zach is so cool! I didn't learn of him until 1966. Me and a neighbor found Zacherley's Monster Mash album at a grocery store for 99¢. What a deal! I never knew until after I was married that he hosted horror movies. I have a VHS tape titled, "Zacherley Hosts the Best Of the Worst in Horror and Science Fiction." I would eat my right hand before I would ever part with it. What am I saying!? LOL 🙂Thanx 4 sharing this!

[@akattack]

So great

[@bejingmao]

strangely fascinating to watch this. his presentation is so loose. and all that hand kissing of young girls - he could never get away with that now. if fact, when I was a young teen, I could hardly believe he could get away with all the hand kissing. of course, who would turn him down? but I was so f***ing jealous of that. Grrrr! and that song. I mysteriously liked it at the time. haven't heard it in decades. there is something oddly captivating about it. the melody, the chord changes, the changes from minor to major, the chorus coming in so distinctively, and way the lyrics and vocal rhythms worked with the music, still find it very respectable as a song composition.

[@IDLERACER]

When this aired, I was probably around the same age as that little kid at 2:48 in the Dumbo costume. It's so much more fun watching clips from these crude local shows than it is clips from Shindig and Hullabaloo. Everything is just so...so...unrehearsed!

[@hammeredcrapvideos]

Bizarre and fascinating...

[@garymaher]

OMG Zacherle is so stoned!

[@mikemccarthy1352]

AMAZING. Meanwhile back in Memphis (Box Tops home town), the horror host Sivad was performing live and singing with The Guilloteens.

[@briva]

RIP Alex Chilton

[@strebis6]

RIP Zacherle Happy Halloween!

[@michaelmcgee8543]

You know I never knew about Zachary until years later in Famous monsters of filmland magazine. It's good that videos like this are preserved instead of the kinescope. This was hot in the days when the color tape was still expensive due to the fact that a lot of people did not have color. t.v sets yet . not even in 67.

[@oluhamilton2121]

'The Letter' actually ROCKED.

[@farmhand6524]

Doing homework listening to the Box Tops and DJ Johnny Rabbit on KXOK St. Louis in those days. Street dances were popular and great fun but lots of fist to cuff. Thank you for uploading this for us 321Alucard.

[@catdaddy3302]

farmhand I used to pick up Johnny Rabbit in Mississippi in the 60s.

[@davidkkten3494]

Thanks so much for the upload and the memories. I met Zack at the WPIX studios but was too too shy to say anything to him. Did get a big smile from him though. What a true gentleman he was. Loved him on TV and on the radio. He will always be the coolest ghoul.

[@allen63b]

Forty years too late I know but I want an invite for that party!

[@loafy128]

This is so cool,the dancing is to cool also,i love it.

[@neonatalpenguin]

Anyone get the impression Alex Chilton doesn't want to be there.

[@MrStereo10]

Can we get more of this!!???

[@vanrawr3012]

Seriously! Someone please sell me some copies of this stuff.

[@robjune14]

What a concept! I wish we had something like this in Australia!

[@MusicandDancing4Ever]

Does a full episode of this exist? There was a full episode of this but it’s not on KZbin anymore. My mom was on that episode, would love a copy.

[@VJ1tv]

ha ha ha, what a great improv Zackerly is. "the Dracula Hilton"...LOL.

[@jsilence418]

I keep coming back to this clip love it ! thanks.

[@mcdonnell220]

R.I. P. Alex....Only 59 years old.

[@Jsyz99]

RIP Zacherley.

[@strebis6]

J

[@GBS1043]

Too much..This is priceless...

[@17865329]

I really don't think Chilton and the group were rude at ALL here, they were very tolerant of the silly stuff, which got more annoying than funny after awhile. Ask them a REAL question for Chrissakes.

[@Anglynn74]

my mother danced on this show in the late 60s

[@fromthesidelines]

It had to be before the end of 1967, as the series ended that year.

[@SILENTLY9]

WHAT DID SHE HAVE ON AS A COSTUME ?

[@MsGabriella41789]

My mom was a dancer on this show as well :)

[@drrazorblade]

amazing i love zacherle

[@richardzion1828]

Guys a trip!

[@ksteiger]

This is one strange damn clip... Alex Chilton turning horn dog with the high school girls, lol...

[@BadfingerBoogieBarb]

Alex was only 17 himself.

[@samuelpajoa215]

Groovy man!

[@Hawkeye752]

I always liked his beach parties...

[@whiteeagle111]

I've been friends with John Zacherle for many years and he is a wonderful man. I am an artist and a few years ago created a collage based on his famous "Cool Ghoul" photo portrait. My girlfriend Francine & I recently had brunch with him in NYC and took some nice photographs. If any Zacherle fans would like to view these images go to the "Photo Section" of "The UFO Roundtable" on "Meetup" then click "Interesting Photographs 2010. Enjoy.

[@KingOFuh]

Memories of Mel's Rockpile

[@LuvdCaps]

Yes I know it's Zacherly, but Zachery is what I called him. I was just a kid after all. ;) Very cool video.

[@sonnyporemba1962]

Excellent!!!

[@GooglelyTube]

LOL! 5:12 "Let's talk down here so they can just see the top of your head." And then he does it! This is great.

[@A_10_PaAng_111]

The Original Dr. Shock!! I love it!!

[@andan04]

5:16 Chilton would later prove this statement to be false.

[@wmbrown6]

And of course, after "Disc-O-Teen" ended, WNJU moved more towards becoming a Spanish-language outlet. As to the cameras used on the program, they were RCA TK-60's.

[@whiteeagle111]

Zacherle is great !

[@horarwgt]

What an incredible find -- and the tape is in such great shape after 41 years! "The Letter" was The Box Tops' first of ten hits and reached #1 in the fall of 1967. Amazingly, after it, the group members were not allowed by their label to play on their hits! On disc, they were replaced in the studio by session musicians! Only lead singer Alex Chilton actually performed on "Cry Like A Baby," "Soul Deep" or the other Box Tops classics. As for Zach, his "Dinner With Drac" reached #6 in 1958.