I'm no longer AWOL, so lets celebrate with Gail Farrell photos

Yeah, I know.....it's been a long time since I last posted here.

After six years of blogging Welk stuff, I knew the time came when I run dry of stuff to post without repeating myself.

Trust me, if you're in my shoes.....you would know.

And what better way to celebrate from being in exile by posting plenty of pictures of the lovely Gail Farrell, since it was her birthday today.

Happy Birthday Gail!

 

I'm no longer AWOL, so lets celebrate with Gail Farrell photos

Salute to Harry Warren '72

Happy Fourth of July Week everyone!

Like I promised, I bring you the Salute To Harry Warren episode from 1972, which aired two weeks ago on your local public television station.

Highlights from the show include......

Ken Delo goes to Wal-Mart.....

Gail and Dale waiting for the evening train.....

....and Lulu's back in town. Happy, happy, joy, joy.


MUSIC OF HARRY WARREN - October 7, 1972

1. LULLABY OF BROADWAY - Joe, Tanya, Dick, Gail, Bobby, Cissy, Jimmy, Norma, Ken and Mary Lou
2. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE A WALK? - Guy Hovis and Ralna English
3. CHEERFUL LITTLE EARFUL - the orchestra
4. I FOUND A MILLION DOLLAR BABY (IN A FIVE-AND-TEN CENT STORE) - Ken Delo
5. THE KISS POLKA - Myron Floren on accordion

6. I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU - Norma Zimmer
7. 42nd STREET - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King
8. SEPTEMBER IN THE RAIN - Bob Ralston on piano
9. I LOVE MY BABY (MY BABY LOVES ME) - Jimmy Roberts
10. THE SHADOW WALTZ - the orchestra with Lawrence dancing with Cissy King

11. YOU MUST HAVE BEEN A BEAUTIFUL BABY - Tanya Falan
12. SHUFFLE OFF TO BUFFALO - the orchestra
13. CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO - Clay Hart
14. THE MORE I SEE YOU - Joe Feeney with Bob Ralston on piano
15. WITH PLENTY OF MONEY AND YOU - danced by Arthur Duncan

16. YOU'LL NEVER KNOW - Ralna English
17. JEEPERS CREEPERS - Bob Lido (also on violin) with Bob Smale at piano
18. REMEMBER ME? - Gail Farrell and Dick Dale
19. ON THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA AND THE SANTA FE - Sandi Griffiths and Sally Flynn with Guy, Arthur, Ralna, Cissy, Tanya, Clay, Norma and Jimmy
20. LULU'S BACK IN TOWN - sung and danced by Jack Imel, Bobby Burgess, Mary Lou Metzger with Joe Feeney, Ken Delo, Bob Ralston and Charlie Parlato

A terrific episode all around, very easy on the eyes and the ears too!

Plus the fact that Sandi and Sally wore mini skirts and go-go boots helped as well.

  
Sitting in the audience for tonight's show was Ralna's parents, you can tell that they were mighty proud of their daughter. Especially when she sang "You'll Never Know" in the solo spot with passion, gusto and heart.

  
And Harry Warren himself was also in the audience, he also had to be very proud of the Music Makers saluting his work.

So until next time, keep a song in your heart and if you shuffle off to Buffalo, avoid the rush hour traffic on the New York Thruway.  

Salute to Harry Warren '72

Easter Parade '79

Greetings everyone, hope you all had a pleasant Easter weekend!

As you can guess, the subject of last Saturday's Welk episode was Easter so put on your grey bonnet and lets go to the highlights!

Barbara Boylan pretends she's the Columbia Pictures logo.....

Neil Levang plays the guitar.....

.....and the Trio are playing with flowers.

EASTER PARADE - April 14, 1979

1. EASTER PARADE - Gail, Joe, Norma, Jimmy, Guy, Ralna, Sherry, Roger, Sheila, David, Mary Lou, Ken, Kathie, Larry, Anacani, Curt
2. ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE - the orchestra
3. HE TOUCHED ME - Tom Netherton
4. DO LORD - Sheila and Sherry Aldridge with Roger and David Otwell
5. THE LORD'S COURT - Myron Floren on accordion with orchestra

6. GIMMIE THAT OLD TIME RELIGION - Guy Hovis & Ralna English with Curt, Kathie, Ken, Mary Lou, Jimmy, Gail, Joe, Sherry

7. I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING - Anacani
8. A PRETTY GIRL IS LIKE A MELODY - danced by Bobby Burgess & Barbara Boylan
9. SPRING IS HERE - Kathie Sullivan
10. LOVE LIFTED ME - Henry Cuesta on clarinet with orchestra

11. MEDLEY OF SONGS FROM "FIDDLER ON THE ROOF" - the orchestra
12. SUNRISE, SUNSET - Joe Feeney
13. THE OLD RUGGED CROSS - Norma Zimmer
14. THE BELLS OF ST. MARY'S - the orchestra
15. TIPTOE THROUGH THE TULIPS - Sandi Griffiths, Gail Farrell, Mary Lou Metzger

16. SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS - Bob Ralston at the piano
17. APRIL SHOWERS - Jimmy Roberts with Bob Smale at the piano
18. ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET - Ken Delo
19. PUT ON YOUR OLD GREY BONNET - danced by Arthur Duncan
20. MEDLEY OF HYMNS - entire cast with Bob Ralston at the organ and conducted by Bob Ballard

I really enjoyed the show, especially Sandi, Gail and Mary Lou's number. You can tell that the girls were really into it.

One thing about the wardrobe in the opening number "Easter Parade", I doubt that anyone dresses like that anymore, even in the 1970s.

Regardless of how anyone dresses, the spirit of Easter remains the same and that consists of family, friends, tradition and religion. I hope that never changes.

In the meantime, keep a song in your heart and don't get a tummy ache from biting the head off that chocolate bunny! 

Easter Parade '79

Memories of Nat King Cole

This week's Welk episode is best described as Unforgetable.

In case you guessed it by now, it's a salute to the iconic singer Nat King Cole!

Highlights from this episode include....

.....Tanya singing whenever there's a full moon

.....pondering of if there's musical discounts from Geico

.....and Dick Dale gets romantic with Gail Farrell.

MEMORIES OF NAT KING COLE - October 6, 1973

1. L-O-V-E - Ralna, Mary Lou, Gail, Sandi, Anacani, Tanya, Guy, Ken, Arthur, Larry, Joe and Jimmy
2. NATURE BOY - danced by Cissy King and Bobby Burgess
3. AUTUMN LEAVES - Norma Zimmer
4. DANCE, BALLERINA, DANCE - the orchestra
5. ANSWER ME MY LOVE - Guy Hovis and Ralna English

  
6. WITH A LITTLE BIT OF LUCK - Myron Floren on accordion with Bobby and Cissy dancing
7. PAPER MOON - Tanya Falan
8. MONA LISA - Ken Delo with Bob Smale at the piano
9. ROUTE 66 - Dick Dale, Kenny Trimble and Charlie Parlato with dancing by Bobby Burgess, Arthur Duncan and Jack Imel
10. VAYA CON DIOS - Anacani

11. SMILE - Jimmy Roberts
12. PRETEND - the orchestra
13. RAMBLIN' ROSE - Clay Hart and his guitar
14. WALKIN' MY BABY BACK HOME - Dick Dale and Gail Farrell
15. STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT - Arthur Duncan tap dancing

16. TOO YOUNG - Sandi Griffiths with Tanya, Anacani, Ralna, Norma, Mary Lou and Gail
17. SWEET LORRAINE - Henry Cuesta on clarinet with Bob Havens on trombone and the rhythm section
18. NON DIMENTICAR - Joe Feeney with Bob Ralston at the Thomas Organ
19. LAZY, HAZY, CRAZY DAYS OF SUMMER - Larry Hooper with Mary Lou, Arthur, Norma, Jimmy, Sandi, Tanya, Dick, Anacani, Guy, Ralna, Bobby, Cissy, Ken and Gail

A fine and fitting tribute to one of the world's best singers, who we lost way too soon....

One thing is for sure, and we can all take comfort in this. Like Lawrence Welk, the legacy of Nat King Cole lives on with his recordings and tapes of his television appearances, ensuring that younger generations can enjoy what music is really all about.

So until next time, keep a song in your heart and always remember to straighten up and fly right! 

Memories of Nat King Cole

Salute to Fred Astaire

Time to put on your top hat and tails along with your dancing shoes because this week, the Champagne Music makers pay tribute to Fred Astaire!

Here's some of the highlights from the show.....

Gail and Ava team up while wearing dresses combining Ol' Bavaria and Big City Sophistication....

Jack Imel plays with his marimbas....

......and George Cates plays with his baton.

SALUTE TO FRED ASTAIRE - September 27, 1980

1. IT'S S'WONDERFUL - Sheila, Sherry, Anacani, Gail, Kathie, Ava, Curt (Ramsey), Jimmy (Roberts), Ken, Jim, David, Roger, Joe
2. THE CARIOCA - danced by Bobby Burgess and Elaine Balden
3. A FINE ROMANCE - Guy Hovis
4. FLYING DOWN TO RIO - Anacani
5. I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO CHANGE MY PLAN - the orchestra

6. SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES - Tom Netherton with Bob Ralston at piano
7. I LOVE A PIANO - Ava Barber and Gail Farrell also on piano
8. LIMEHOUSE BLUES - Jack Imel and his marimbas
9. THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT - Jim Turner and his guitar
10. SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE - the orchestra

11. DANCING IN THE DARK - the orchestra conducted by George Cates
12. HOW ARE THINGS IN GLOCCA MORRA? - Joe Feeney with Bob Ralston on Hammond Organ
13. BLUE SKIES - Bob Havens on trombone and Arthur Duncan dancing
14. THREE LITTLE WORDS - Sheila and Sherry Aldridge with David and Roger Otwell

15. I GOT MY LOVE TO KEEP ME WARM - the orchestra
16. YOU AND THE NIGHT AND THE MUSIC - Kathie Sullivan with Myron Floren on accordion
17. CHEEK TO CHEEK - Ken Delo
18. I LOVE LOUISA - Myron Floren on accordion with Ava, Kathie, Gail, Sherry, Anacani, Sheila, Joe, Roger, David, Jim, Guy and Jimmy along with Bobby and Elaine dancing

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Both Ralna English and Mary Lou Metzger do not appear in this episode.

I knew that around the time of taping (mid-1980) that Ralna's absence was attributed to personal issues going through, but I was surprised that Mary Lou also didn't appear. This is one of the very rare occasions during her tenure that happened.

Still, this week's episode was a fun, pleasant and fitting salute to one of Hollywood's greatest song-and-dance men like Fred Astaire. They just don't have talent and class today like they did back then.

Until next time, keep a song in your heart and may the days of your lives be s'wonderful!

Salute to Fred Astaire

Come taste the wine with Gail and Ron!

If you're a Welk fan and you live anywhere near the California town of Martinez, this is right up your alley!

Gail Farrell and Ron Anderson will be at the town's Fall Wine Stroll this Saturday. They will be signing autographs and chatting with fans over at the Old Town Clock Repair.

More details can be found at the following article from the Martinez Town Gazette.

Come taste the wine with Gail and Ron!

Meanwhile, down on the farm

From the Down On The Farm episode which aired a few weeks back, here's Bob Lido and the Music Makers as they sing about the assortment of animals found on Old MacDonald's farm!

 

Meanwhile, down on the farm

Six Degrees of Gail Farrell #8

The time is right, and I know you're ready for it!

It's time for another edition of Six Degrees of Gail Farrell!

And today, we'll attempt to link Gail with famed attorney Clarence Darrow!

And here we go.....

1. CLARENCE DARROW defended John Scopes in the famous Tennessee vs. Scopes trail in 1925 which was coined the Scopes Monkey Trail by journalist H.L. MENCKEN.

2. MENCKEN was best friends with author F. SCOTT FITZGERALD who wrote the novel "The Great Gatsby"

3. FITZGERALD'S Gatsby was later made into a movie in 1974 that starred ROBERT REDFORD as Jay Gatsby

4. REDFORD later starred in "All The President's Men" in 1976 which also starred the character actor JACK WARDEN

5. WARDEN was a guest on THE TONIGHT SHOW with Johnny Carson, which bandleader Lawrence Welk at one point was also a guest.

6. And one of the stars on the Welk Show, none other than Gail Farrell!


Always keep a song in your heart and if you ever inherit the wind, make sure it is a cool breeze!

Six Degrees of Gail Farrell #8

In a Penny Arcade

From 1978, here's the trio of Sandi, Gail and Mary Lou along with some stuffed, furry friends as they sing one of the lost hits from the 1970s.

It's a little ditty about fun at a penny arcade.

In a Penny Arcade

Live from Hawaii, it's Caption This!

Featuring Gail Farrell, Mary Lou Metzger and Charlie Parlato!

Add your own funny or clever (even both!) caption to this picture, just by clicking on the comments link below.

Live from Hawaii, it's Caption This!

Have you ever met a real live girl?

Dick Dale has, here in this musical number with Gail Farrell from 1971 singing about being with a real live girl.

 

Have you ever met a real live girl?