Buddy walks the line

We're officially in the middle of the week now....and to help you walk the straight and narrow to the weekend, here's Buddy Merrill with his version of Johnny Cash's hit song "I Walk The Line"

 

Tanya Falan Hairstyle of the Week - Growing Out Of Her Head

From 1969, her hair is on the rise.....literally

Strike Up The Band

The year was 1964....

Beatlemania has struck the land as the British Invasion of American Music was in full force.

In the midst of all this, Lawrence Welk and his Music Makers carry on by striking up the band, which happens to be this week's episode.

Highlights from the classic black & white episode include....

....behind the scenes at a taping of Norwegian Bandstand

....the coal mines hiring zoo animals to replace striking miners

.....and the Maestro discussing the Designated Hitter rule with the Commissioner of Baseball Ford Frick.

STRIKE UP THE BAND - May 16, 1964

1. STRIKE UP THE BAND - the orchestra
2. MY WONDERFUL ONE - Norma Zimmer & Jimmy Roberts
3. THE BUNNY HUG, VALENTINO TANGO, LAMDEB WALK & THE TWIST - danced by Bobby Burgess and Barbara Boylan
4. THIS COULD BE THE START OF SOMETHING BIG - Bob Ralston at the piano
5. SNUGGLED ON YOUR SHOULDER (CUDDLED IN YOUR ARMS) - sung and danced by Dick Dale and Dee Dee Lennon

 
6. A BLUES SERENADE - the orchestra
7. SUGAR BLUES - Norman Bailey on trumpet
8. COTTON FIELDS - Larry Hooper with Buddy Merrill and Neil Levang on guitar
9. SLIPPED DISC - Jack Imel on the marimba and Mahlon Clark on clarinet

10. THE HAPPY NORWEGIAN - Myron Floren and Jo Ann Castle on accordion with Buddy Hayes on tuba, Johnny Klein on drums, Neil Levang on banjo and Buddy Merrill on guitar
11. I LOVE THEE - Norma Zimmer
12. JOHNNY OSLO SHADISH - danced by Bobby and Barbara with Myron and Jo Ann on accordion
13. MOCKINGBIRD HILL - Kathy, Janet, Dee Dee and Peggy Lennon
14. THE WORLD IS WAITING FOR THE SUNRISE - Charlotte Harris an her cello with flautists Orie Amodeo, Bill Page and Russ Klein

15. LITTLE GREY HOME IN THE WEST - Joe Feeney with Frank Scott at the piano
16. AMERICAN PATROL - Jo Ann Castle at the honky tonk piano with Johnny Klein at drums and Neil Levang at banjo
17. SIXTEEN TONS - sung and danced by Bobby Burgess, Jack Imel and Arthur Duncan
18. I AM THE UNITED STATES - spoken word recitation by Aladdin
19. THE NATIONAL EMBLEM MARCH - the orchestra

This was a delightful, timeless episode, and I am very impressed with how well the video quality has held up after forty six years since it was first recorded.

Also, this was an rare example of early videotaping that survived, considering that back in 1964 it was a new and expensive way of recording. It was not uncommon for networks to tape over, or wipe programs in order to save money. Supposedly, producers and executives did not have the foresight to archive television programs which meant some episodes or even entire television series were lost forever.

However, Lawrence saw the value of preserving episodes of his show, and we are all thankful for his decision to this day.

There were many milestones in this week's show. It marked Dee Dee Lennon's return to the show after a four year hiatus of raising her family. This was also one of the first episodes that Arthur Duncan appeared as a regular member of the cast after guesting many times. And it was also great to see Ford Frick, who at the time was Commissioner of Major League Baseball attending the show as a member of the studio audience.

I wonder if the Maestro was pleading on Roger Maris' behalf of granting him true ownership of baseball's single season home rum record?

Anyway, until the next new episode comes along....keep a song in your heart and learn how to hit those tricky curveballs!

Cissy gets the Full Monty

Which she'll be doing from September 9th to October 10th at the Welk Theater in Escondido.

Cissy will be part of the stage production of The Full Monty held at the Welk Resort Theatre, she'll be playing the part of Jeanette.

To book your tickets to the show, just go to WELK RESORTS THEATRE: THE FULL MONTY

And congratulations Cissy....as they say in the biz' Break a Leg!

Lawrence Welk bubbles on, and on, and on.....

This article is from the archives of Palm Springs Life, first printed in January 1979 it's a well written piece by Helen Zukowski which goes in depth about the Maestro and his regulars.

A very special thanks goes out to my friend Peter MacNeil for providing us with the link to the piece below!

PALM SPRINGS LIFE: THE CHAMPAGNE MUSIC MAN BUBBLES ON, AND ON, AND ON...

Caption This!

Starring Lawrence Welk and friends!

You know what to do, click on comments link below to add a funny or clever (or both!) caption for this picture.

Erin Anderson for Arla Apetina

Erin Anderson has once again made her presence felt in the world of entertainment!
 

The last we heard from her, she was appearing in a stage production in LA titled "Bobby Bendon Gets By" and a small part in the CBS crime drama Criminal Minds.

Now, we hear that Gail Farrell's daughter is now appearing in advertisements for Arla Foods and Dairy Products.

Here's one of the commercials which is for their line of Apetina cheese, and as you can tell by the voice over at the end that the commercial is airing in Europe.

Guy Hovis orders a pizza

"I want one large with pepperoni, mushrooms, extra cheese....."

"....and no anchovies."

Jeepers Creepers

From 1965, here's the band playing some of that Dixieland Jazz with the song "Jeepers Creepers"

Featuring Bob Lido with the vocals....

With trumpet by Dick Cathcart...

Trombone by Bob Havens....

....and clarinet by Mahlon Clark

 

Tanya Falan Hairstyle of the Week - Love Is Blue

Or maybe it's the dress, which goes quite well with her hair this week....

Salute to Famous Resorts

Now that summer is here, thinking of getting it away from it all?

When you think of places like Atlantic City, Coney Island, Cedar Point and Put In Bay, you're thinking of famous resorts which happens to be the theme of this week's Lawrence Welk episode!

So get your bags packed and let's go to the highlights.....

Norma Zimmer auditions for a role in Hot Dog....The Movie

 
The Maestro attempts to set a World Record for dancing with the most ladies in a single musical number....

.....and MTV begins filming a new season of Jersey Shore down in Atlantic City.

FAMOUS RESORTS - April 15, 1972

1. THOSE FABULOUS PLACES - Guy, Ralna, Bob (Ralston), Sally, Dick, Sandi, Mary Lou, Jimmy, Cissy, Bobby, Gail and Joe
2. I'LL BE SEEING YOU - Norma Zimmer
3. CANADIAN SUNSET - orchestra
4. WISH YOU WERE HERE - Ken Delo and the flute section
5. OLD CAPE COD - Tanya Falan

 
6. IN ACAPULCO - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King
7. ON TOP OF OLD SMOKEY - Clay Hart with Ralna, Guy, Mary Lou, Gail, Ken and Jimmy
8. ON THE ALAMO - Peanuts Hucko on clarinet with orchestra
9. LET'S GET AWAY FROM IT ALL - Guy Hovis and Ralna English
10. LADY OF SPAIN - Myron Floren on accordion

11. HEIGH HO - Sandi Griffiths and Sally Flynn
12. MANHATTAN - orchestra
13. GOODBYE MY CONEY ISLAND BABY - sung and danced by Bobby Burgess, Jack Imel, Cissy King and Mary Lou Metzger
14. SPRINGTIME IN THE ROCKIES - Norma Zimmer and Jimmy Roberts
15. SAN FRANCISCO - tap danced by Arthur Duncan

16. ON THE BOARDWALK IN ATLANTIC CITY - Gail Farrell and Mary Lou Metzger with Guy, Ralna, Bob (Ralston), Sally, Ken, Sandi, Dick, Jimmy, Cissy, Bobby and Peanuts Hucko on clarinet, Johnny Klein on drums, Bob Havens on trombone and Johnny Zell on trumpet
17. SOMEWHERE IN IRELAND - Joe Feeney
18. GONNA BUILD A MOUNTAIN - Dick Dale
19. LITTLE GRASS SHACK IN KEALAKEKUA - Bob Smale on keyboards, Neil Levang on ukelele and Buddy Merrill on steel pedal guitar
20. THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC - Norma Zimmer with Joe, Bobby, Guy, Jimmy, Ken and Arthur

A fine episode from one of my favorite eras of the Welk Show, this one was the season finale of their first year on syndication. When the Music Makers returned for the following season's opener, they would be on location in Hawaii.

Talk about bridging two seasons together on one common theme.

It was also great seeing Peanuts Hucko in the solo spotlight, truly one of the greats in big band music playing for the likes of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman and Jack Teagarden.

So remember this summer, when you're getting away from it all....don't forget to have fun and take plenty of pictures!

And until next week, keep a song in your heart and a guitar handy to impress the ladies around the campfire.

Ralna English Day

Since today is her birthday, I think a haiku will do.

Al Capp would be proud

The Aldridge Sisters and the Otwell Twins with a musical salute to Lil' Abner

I am sooooo looking forward to Sadie Hawkins Day come November

Famous Guest Stars - Alvino Rey

Here's the icon of swing music and father of the pedal steel guitar on a 1959 episode of the Lawrence Welk Show!

Dave Edwards

What's more to be said?

Tanya Falan Hairstyle of the Week - You'll Flip Over These Curls

Live from Grauman's Chinese Theater.....or a mock up of one