Sha Na Na

How odd it is that some people still think that Sha Na Na emerged and made their mark on the movie GREASE which later led to this short lived variety show.

Before GREASE (1978), HAPPY DAYS (1974) and American Graffiti (1973), there was Sha Na Na, who formed in 1968 and played in Woodstock in 1969. They also had a slew of singles and 3 albums to their credit before their label (Kama Sutra) released THE GOLDEN AGE OF ROCK 'N' ROLL on a 2-album set in 1973.

Flash Cadillac & the Continental Kids may had appeared on American Graffiti and in 1975 as Fish & the Fins on HAPPY DAYS. But they got there by pretty much copying the style of Sha Na Na! While I was not too wild about variety shows nor was I too wild about acts that would lipsinque, Sha Na Na were the exception to the rule. Their blend of comedy and music made their variety show a hit with their fan base, which also included us critics out there on the fringe, drawn to their brand of entertainment, like a moth to a light. Even my mother, whose teenage years were spent during the "big band era" (and not a fan of rock & roll) enjoyed this show.

One classic performance was a version of "A Lover's Question" (by Clyde McPhatter-1958/Atlantic Records). The setting looked like something out of THE WEST SIDE STORY. And each of the members was sitting on a window sill or on a fire escape! Classic rock 'n' roll as we like to remember it! Grease for peace!!!

Sha Na Na were a group of Columbia University students who formed in 1968 and rose to popularity after performing at Woodstock, but it was their appearance in the blockbuster success GREASE that led to the creation of this variety show built around the band. The comedy sketches performed by the band were all based in a 50's "West Side Story" reality (on a sound stage) and in front of an "almost live" audience. Likely formulated to cash in on the 50's revival movement begun with American GRAFITI and HAPPY DAYS, it's perhaps surprising that it lasted as long as it did -a brief three and a half seasons. It may not have been as professional as Donnie & Marie or even the Mandrell Sisters, but what it lacked in budget it more than made up for in chutzpah. The "greaser" styled ensemble did a fair job on the comedy, which clicked mostly with youngsters, but the real highlight of this regional weekly program was the music., which appealed to older audiences nostalgic for the uncomplicated rock 'n roll music of the 50s.The band always performed at least one song in a straight-forward live manner, and usually several other songs throughout the program during the comedy vignettes (ala the Monkees). The writing was simple (perhaps even juvenile) but entertaining, as the program's target audience was probably also watching the (superior) Muppet Show, and the (inferior) Hudson Brothers, and Sha Na Na fit neatly between the two in terms of quality, and provided an alternative to the nursing home muzak of Lawrence Welk. The breakout star of the group was Jon "Bowzer" Bauman, whose basso profondo vocal register was so low as to be a novelty in and of itself. He went on to numerous acting roles and game show gigs. The television show helped the band sell a handful of records, and bushels of live concert tickets throughout its late 70's / early 80's run. For better or worse, Sha Na Na served as a cultural bridge for the generation between the New York Dolls (with whom they shared the Filmore East stage on more than one occasion) and new wave; it's hard to imagine the success of rockabilly revivalists The Stray Cats, without giving a little credit to the relentlessly touring Sha Na Na. All in all, it was good clean fun for the whole family -a sort of doo-wop version of HEE HAW.

I started watching this show as a kid . Bowzer was my all-time favorite with his wacky attitude, and Johnny was cute:-) The 10 guys were really wonderful with all their songs & that lady that heckled the guys from her window was pretty funny.Soupy Sales starred on the show starting in Season 3 as both Officer Fussy & "Armond Fussy Director of Greaser Hall" (Sadly in 1988 Dave "Chico" Ryan passed away."Dirty"Dan McBride joined Chico in 2009. Denny passed away in 2015 R.I.P Chico Danny & Denny. )

Their guests ranged from singers that sang in the 50s (like the Crystals) to comedians (like Henny Youngman & Billy Crystal) & even a few country singers (like Barbara Mandrell.Bowzer guest starred on her show some time later.) Grease for peace!

With ever episode of Sha Na Na, we laughed a little, learned a little, and sang a little. Admittedly, I was like five years old when I saw this show on TV, but I thought it was, as they say "wicked awesome." They should release this on DVD for sure.

This was a great show. We loved watching the 50's come alive each week as the band brought back some of the greatest music ever made. Sha Na Na was the GREATEST tribute band ever assembled because they didn't just salute a single band- they saluted an entire decade of music! Boy, just think of the great music of the 50's, with so many great songs! That's what Sha Na Na meant to so many of us- they were our connection to the music of the 50's. There was such personality to the band- and Bowzer was the "leader of the pack." He had a great way of making each show so much fun. Sha Na Na is still touring and I'd recommend seeing them as a fun way to see what music used to be like- FUN!