Editing Shindig! (section)

==Synopsis==
[[File:Jimmy O'Neill Shindig.JPG|thumb|right|[[Jimmy O'Neill (DJ)|Jimmy O'Neill]] on the set of Shindig!, 1964.]]
''Shindig!'' was conceived as a short-notice replacement for ''[[Hootenanny (US TV series)|Hootenanny]],'' a series which specialized in [[American folk music revival|folk revival]] music. The folk revival had fizzled in 1964 as the result of the [[British Invasion]], which damaged the ratings for ''Hootenanny'' and prompted that show's cancellation.

''Shindig!'' focused on a broader variety of popular music than its predecessor and first aired for a half-hour every Wednesday evening, but was expanded to an hour in January 1965. In the fall of 1965, the show split into two half-hour telecasts, on Thursday and Saturday nights.

''Shindig!'''s premiere episode was actually the second pilot, and featured [[Sam Cooke]], [[The Everly Brothers]], and [[The Righteous Brothers]]. Later shows featured performances taped in Britain - A set was used at Twickenham Film Studios, where British acts performed live for the cameras, with the resultant footage flown back to be shown on the program. The first UK episode had [[The Beatles]] as the guests. The series later featured other "British invasion" bands and performers including [[The Who]], [[The Rolling Stones]], and [[Cilla Black]]. ''Shindig!'' continued to broadcast episodes with footage shot in London throughout its run.<ref name=shindig /> This meant many acts were seen on U.S television before they actually went to America (The Who in particular, who performed a unique early version of "[[My Generation]]" live, two months before the single version was recorded).

Many other popular performers of the day played on ''Shindig!'' including [[Tina Turner]], [[Lesley Gore]], [[Bo Diddley]],<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9e01e6df113af935a25751c0a9659c8b63&pagewanted=all Pioneer of a Beat Is Still Riffing for His Due], a February 2003 article from ''[[The New York Times]]''</ref> [[Sonny and Cher]], [[The Beach Boys]], [[James Brown]], [[Jackie Wilson]], [[The Supremes]], and [[The Ronettes]].

''Shindig!'''s success prompted [[NBC]] to air the similar series ''[[Hullabaloo (TV series)|Hullabaloo]]'' starting in January 1965 and other producers to launch syndicated rock music shows like ''[[Shivaree (TV series)|Shivaree]]'' and ''[[Hollywood a Go-Go]].''

In March 1965, [[Little Eva]] performed a live but short version of her hit song "[[The Loco-Motion]]". This is the only known video clip of her singing it.

Toward the end of the program's run, [[The Mamas and the Papas]] appeared in an episode featuring [[Barry McGuire]]. Although serving as his backup singers, the group introduced "[[California Dreamin']]" on that program, which launched its career.

''Shindig!'' is one of the few rock music shows of the era to still have all episodes available to watch.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}