Clark became wealthy as a businessman , producing successful TV shows through Dick Clark Productions . NEW : Entertainers recall `` American Bandstand '' influence . Dick Clark died of a heart attack while at a Santa Monica hospital , his publicist says . TL;DR Clark started `` American Bandstand '' as a local TV show in Philadelphia in 1956 .
NEW : Entertainers recall `` American Bandstand '' influence . Dick Clark died of a heart attack while at a Santa Monica hospital , his publicist says . TL;DR Clark started `` American Bandstand '' as a local TV show in Philadelphia in 1956 .