Early 'Bandstand' dancer MaryAnn Cuff LeGrand, 68

In 1999, when the Washington Post published a series on the 1950s, it quoted MaryAnn Cuff, a Philadelphian who danced regularly on American Bandstand.

"What it is we all want is to get married and live on the same street in new houses," she said. "We'll call it Bandstand Avenue."

MaryAnn Cuff LeGrand, 68, died Thursday, Dec. 2, of complications from reflex sympathetic dystrophy, a progressive neurological disorder, at Bethany Home in Alexandria, Minn.

From 1956 to 1961, after her classes ended at West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Girls, she hurried to the nearby WFIL-TV studio at 46th and Market Streets to dance to rock-and-roll and rhythm and blues five days a week.

She and other regulars, including Justine Carelli, Bob Clayton, Pat Molittieri, Kenny Rossi, Bunny Gibson, and Frani Giordano, didn't have to wait in line with other teens hoping to have a chance to appear on the show, which went national in 1957. The regulars also got to rate records, with comments to host Dick Clark such as, "It's got a good beat and you can dance to it."

Bandstand, which was broadcast from Philadelphia until moving to Los Angeles in 1964, helped promote the adolescent culture of the baby boom generation. The program featured popular performers and launched the careers of Philadelphia artists such as Chubby Checker, Bobby Rydell, Fabian, and Frankie Avalon.

After graduating from high School, Mrs. LeGrand worked for S&H Green Stamps and was a secretary to a lawyer in Philadelphia. In the 1960s she married Bob Babik. The couple lived in Pittsburgh, Ohio, California, and Florida before divorcing.

Mrs. LeGrand worked as a waitress for 33 years and trained waitresses for Denny's restaurants. She met Carl LeGrand at a Denny's in Fort Myers, Fla. They married in 1985 and moved to Minnesota in 2004.

Mrs. LeGrand was born in New York City. When she was 8, she and her family moved to Philadelphia, where her father, James, operated Cuff's bar.

In 1995, Mrs. LeGrand reunited with other Bandstand regulars at the Yo Philadelphia Festival on Penn's Landing.

She enjoyed camping, fishing, making crafts, and cooking, especially Italian food.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. LeGrand is survived by sons Bobby and Billy Babik; daughters Debbi Campbell and Deanna Sloan; stepchildren Darlya Johnson, Carlya Lee, Stacy Magbee, and Curt LeGrand; a sister; 14 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held this month in Minnesota.