The blogmaster's fantasy Welk episode: Salute to the British Music Hall

Basically, it's a show featuring a variety of entertainment that includes singing and specialty acts like magic tricks, animal and puppet acts.

I know what you're thinking, yes we do call it vaudeville in the USA.

But across the Atlantic in jolly ol' England, there's something different and special about this particular form of entertainment.

From the mid-19th century to World War II, the Music Hall was a very popular form of entertainment in the United Kingdom that featured a variety of singing stars such as Harry Champion, Stan Laurel (before Laurel & Hardy), Charles Coburn, Gracie Fields and Marie Lloyd.

 
Some of the more popular venues, many dating back to the Victorian era include The Canterbury, Leeds City Varieties and the London Palladium. Many of the songs used in these venues range from novelty to sentimental to patriotic war tunes.

Modern day television programs such as The Muppet Show and BBC's The Good Old Days capture the spirit of the Music Hall.

After some research, I though what it would be like if the Maestro's Musical Family took a crack at these songs, dressed in Victorian England outfits with the set looking like Leeds City?

I think that particular episode would go something like this....

SALUTE TO THE BRITISH MUSIC HALL - airdate perhaps in 1968

1. SING AS WE GO - Dick, Steve, Larry, Charlie, Joe, Jimmy, Bobby, Andra, Sandi, Sally, Jo Ann, Natalie, Tanya, Cissy
2. I'M HENERY THE EIGHTH I AM - Dick Dale
3. KEEP THE HOME FIRES BURNING - Dee Dee, Peggy, Kathy and Janet Lennon
4. GOODBYE, DOLLY GREY - the orchestra with Myron Floren at the accordion
5. THE BOY I LOVE IS UP IN THE GALLERY - Tanya Falan
6. BURLINGTON BERTIE FROM BOW - Larry Hooper
7. IT'S A LONG WAY TO TIPPERARY - Joe Feeney and Natalie Nevins
8. OH! MISTER PORTER - Andra Willis
9. LETS ALL GO DOWN TO THE STRAND - Jo Ann Castle at the honky tonk piano with vocals by Charlie Parlato, Kenny Trimble, Bob Lido and Jack Imel
10. DADDY WOULDN'T BUY ME A BOW WOW - Peggy Lennon

 
11. WAITING AT THE CHURCH - the orchestra, danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King
12. GORGONZOLA CHEESE - sung by Buddy Merrill and at guitar with Neil Levang
13. I DO LIKE TO BE BESIDE THE SEASIDE - Bob Ralston at the Thomas organ
14. BOILED BEEF AND CARROTS - sung and danced by Bobby Burgess, Arthur Duncan and Jack Imel
15. WE DON'T TO LOSE YOU (BUT WE THINK YOU OUGHT TO GO) - Jimmy Roberts
16. I'VE GOT A BIT OF A BLIGHTY ONE - Charlie Parlato with Jo Ann Castle, Janet and Kathy Lennon
17. HANDS, KNEES AND BOOMPS-A-DAISY - Sandi Griffiths and Sally Flynn with Janet and Kathy Lennon
18. UP THE APPLES AND PEARS - Bob Lido with the Lennon Sisters
19. I'VE GOT THE TIME, I'VE GOT THE PLACE (BUT IT'S HARD TO FIND THE GIRL) - Steve Smith
20. DOWN AT THE OLD BULL AND BUSH - Dick, Jimmy, Charlie, Bob (Lido), Bob (Ralston), Steve, Bobby, Larry, Joe, Myron, Jack, Andra, Tanya, Jo Ann, Sandi, Sally, Cissy, Natalie, Dee Dee, Peggy, Kathy and Janet