The Lawrence Welk Show

FROM Hollywood....IT'S THE LAWRENCE WELK SHOW!!!!

This was the second longest-running musical variety program in the history of television and righteously so. It began on ABC-TV in the fall of 1955,under the title "The Dodge Musical Hour Starring Lawrence Welk",which at the time ABC was just a up and coming network which in turn his show became the steppingstone for the American Broadcasting Company's prime success which Lawrence Welk help start for that network! However,the earlier episodes of The Lawrence Welk Show were in classic black and white from 1955 until 1966. The show made the transition to color in the fall of 1966 and that same formula that Lawrence Welk had would remain from 1966 until 1971. However,his show would remain on ABC-TV for an astounding seventeen years on the air until its final episode in 1971. Lawrence Welk's musical variety show during its 17 year-run on network television is right up there with "Lassie",and "Murder,She Wrote",for the duration of its longitivity.

After ABC-TV cancelled "The Lawrence Welk Show" in the spring of 1971,the series found a new life when it was picked up for syndication where it remained for another eleven years on the air from 1971 until 1982. It all "The Lawrence Welk Show" was a Saturday night fixture in the homes of America for an astounding 27 years on television(The years on ABC-TV from 1955 until 1971,and in syndication from 1971 until 1982). After an astounding 27 years on television,"The Lawrence Welk Show" was picked up again in 1982,only this time around went from syndication programming to public television,where repeats of the show which include episodes from the mid-1960's and some of the 1970's and early 1980's have been seen since. About the show itself,this was a brilliant variety indeed that sent its viewers back to a time when variety shows were solid family entertainment and that is what you got with this show. Lawrence Welk was the quintessential band-leader who preserved big band music which at a period in American History reflected a taste to what Middle America was like at that time. It may have fallen out of favor,but lets face it,this was a show where good musicians and dancers were very professional,especially with some of Lawrence Welk's polka tunes and big musical numbers. However,the show did everything from classic American ballads,and other musical numbers from different countries. It maybe known for some of the tacky wardrobe of its day(see some of the episodes from the 1970's if you really what to find out)and outlandish musical numbers and watered-down dance routines. But in all solid family entertainment every Saturday night,and that is what you got with Lawrence Welk's musical variety program,which lasted three decades on television and to this day it is still being shown on public television stations across the country.

I used to be forced to watch this show every saturday night or else go to my room and read. My mother just had to see Lawrence'a Walk'a and his'a Cham'apayne'a Band'a. I always wondered why he talked so weird, turns out his folks were from Germany or some place so he picked up their accent. I couldn't stand the show back in the 50's, but now wish I could see some of the old re-runs. Welk had some good musicians and dancers, and they always put on a very professional show. However, I could not stand Joe Feeney, the Irish tenor. He was most assuredly not wunnerful'a, wunnerful'a.

After a few years on local television, Lawrence Welk continues to host his Saturday evening song and dance variety program before a national audience for another 27 years (1955-82).

Wholesome, nostalgic, quality presentation become the order of the day, as Lawrence Welk, with his thick Germanic accent, introduces his Orchestra, singers and dancers, and sometimes comedy sketches each week, usually taking time out for one instrumental number to welcome a string of lovely audience females to spin around the dance floor.

Episodes often spotlight one select theme, with an occasional tribute to a famous songwriter, as Jerome Kern, Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer or Harry Warren, or a tribute to a music genre, as Swing Bands, Country & Western, Patriotic Songs, Hymns or Show Tunes, or a tribute to a holiday or season, colors, states, flowers... oh, just about anything healthy and wholesome, with fashionable costuming to suit the occasion.

Lovely soprano Norma Zimmer joins the cast as Welk's "Champagne Lady" near the end of 1960, and thankfully doesn't follow up on her plans for an early retirement, which is often discussed for more then two decades throughout the program's run.

Other recognizable singers who achieve fame for many fine performances upon "The Lawrence Welk Show" include Jimmy Roberts, Bob Ralston, Bob Lido, Joe Feeney, (Dianne, Peggy, Kathy and Janet) the Lennon Sisters, Guy Hovis and Ralna English, Gail Farrell, Dick Dale and Tom Netherton plus many orchestra members and other vocalists (although it may be considered a mixed bag of sorts in that regard).

Myron Floren, the "Happy Norwegian" accordionist, stands out from the band with his friendly perpetual smile, while capably accompanying the orchestra, while standing in a well-deserved spotlight of his very own.

Jo Ann Castle also performs before the spotlight with her dynamic piano arrangements, her instrument often decorated for every event, and even igniting in flames on occasion.

Arthur Duncan steps to the beat with his famous tap dancing routines during his weekly segments, as do Bobby Burgess and Cissy King with their range of meticulously-choreographed dances, ranging from Ballroom to Country. Bobby remains upon the program a bit longer than Cissy and, therefore, has other dance partners, but when it comes to performance, these three (Arthur, Bobby and Cissy) rank right up there with the best of the all-time greats.

So, this series lives up to its promises of quality entertainment, spanning the 1950's with the 1980's, and holds up quite well today in PBS rerun packages, which are introduced by "Lawrence Welk Show" alumni, who also offer interesting behind-the-scenes commentary in lieu of commercial breaks.

I first saw this show in my grandparents' house in Binghamton, NY in the 1960s, and enjoyed The Lennon Sisters. This show was so fun to watch! When I got hooked on the show again in Texas in 1996, I took a liking to the peppery singer Bob Lido.

Perhaps the show seemed like old hat in 1974. However, when it ran on ABC from 1955 to 1971, it really reflected the tastes of much of Middle America, to which I belonged to. The 1960s did not just belong to the Flower Children; it belonged just as much to those who liked the performers on this show (as well as other shows, such as The F.B.I.). And I condemn no side; I am a Green Party type who likes this sort of show. I especially like the older episodes, and am fond of Alice Lon.

This show should be praised for preserving big band music at a time when it had fallen out of favor. And so many of the performers should be recognized for their efforts. I am sorry Bob Lido is gone, but at least Dick Dale, Anacani, Ken Delo and--yes--Joe Feeney are still around to provide great performances. I also enjoy Bobby Burgess, Mary Lou Metzger and the others as well, too.

May this show keep running on PBS for many years to come!!

When I was a 5 or 6 year-old child in the 1960's in South Dakota, I would watch The Lawrence Welk show with my parents on Saturday nights. Then when I was a teenager in the 1970's, I didn't think it was a "cool" show. When my daughter was a 5-6 year old child in the 1990's, we would dance together to The Lawrence Welk show. Now that she's a teenager in the 2000's, she thinks, as I did 30 years earlier, that it's not cool (although I think her term is "lame"). But I still enjoy watching it on PBS. It would be interesting to wonder whether my daughter will also start watching it again for nostalgia reasons when she's in her 30's and 40's and remember watching it with her Dad 30 or 40 years earlier (assuming it's still on PBS then).