Sunday, March 28, 2010

The 30th anniversary of Lawrence Welk's 25th anniversary on TV

Ah 1980, a simpler time back then.....

People were asking "Who Shot JR?", the US Olympic Hockey team believed in miracles, and three men; Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and John Anderson fought for who would be President of the USA.

Also, thirty years ago....Lawrence Welk and his Champagne Music Makers celebrated their 25th anniversary on national television.

 
Highlights from this landmark episode include.....


Dick Dale and Kathie Sullivan getting interrupted by fingers and hands....

The Trio clapping to Calcutta


....and one huge champagne glass.


25th ANNIVERSARY ON TELEVISION - March 15, 1980

1. THE ANNIVERSARY SONG - orchestra with Sheila, Sherry, Sandi, Gail, Mary Lou, Kathie, Ava, Roger, David, Elaine, Bobby, Joe (Feeney), Jim, Tom, Ken, Jimmy, danced by Lawrence and Norma
2. SAY IT WITH MUSIC - the orchestra
3. SLEEP - Jack Imel on the marimba and dancing
4. OH SHENANDOAH - Jim Turner, Ava Barber, Sheila and Sherry Aldridge & David & Roger Otwell
5. TICO TICO - Myron Floren on accordion

 
6. MAKE BELIEVE - Norma Zimmer & Jimmy Roberts
7. I'LL NEVER SMILE AGAIN - Dick Dale, Mary Lou Metzger, Charlie Parlato, Gail Farrell and Curt Ramsey with Barney Liddell on trombone
8. I'M FOREVER BLOWING BUBBLES - danced by Bobby Burgess and Elaine Balden
9. AMAZING GRACE - Tom Netherton with Bob Smale at the piano
10. CALCUTTA - orchestra featuring Bob Ralston on the harpischord and Myron Floren on accordion with "La Las" by Sandi, Gail and Mary Lou


11. MY NORTH DAKOTA HOME - orchestra conducted by George Cates with Kathie, Sheila, Sherry, Sandi, Gail, Mary Lou, David, Roger, Joe, Jim, Ken, Jimmy and Tom
12. GET HAPPY - Bob Lido and his fiddle
13. LA PALOMA - Anacani
14. REAL LIVE GIRL - Dick Dale with Norma, Gail, Sandi, Sherry and Kathie


15. EVERY STREET'S A BOULEVARD (IN OLD NEW YORK) - sung and danced by Arthur Duncan and Ken Delo
16. HOOP DEE DOO - Sandi Griffiths, Gail Farrell and Mary Lou Metzger
17. MY BILL - Kathie Sullivan with Bob Smale at the piano
18. THANK YOU VERY MUCH - Norma, Gail, Sandi, Mary Lou, Elaine, Sheila, Sherry, Anacani, Ava, Joe, David, Roger, Tom, Jim, Ken, Jimmy and Bobby


Truly a wunnerful, wunnerful episode.....everyone was dressed to the tens putting in that extra effort of enthusiasm and hard work into their numbers.

Actually, back in 1980....it was their 29th year on television overall, the first four years (1951-55) were on local Los Angeles station KTLA, then it was onto a national audience first with ABC from 1955 to 1971 and then to first run national syndication.

After the first run episodes ended in 1982, there was Memories With Lawrence Welk right up until 1987 when it found it's present home on PBS to this day.

As I write, the Welk show has been running for 59 years....what an accomplishment!

 
So until next week, keep a song in your heart and if you want to say something at all, just say it with music!
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1 comment:

kregg said...

Great episode! I love that BIG champagne glass. But where were Guy and Ralna?