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!

 

Ava Barber interview on WBIR

Catching up with Ava Barber, on her life, career, etc courtesy of Knoxville's NBC affiliate WBIR.

Just click below on the link to watch the full interview!

CATCHING UP WITH AVA BARBER

Down On The Farm

So, how are you going keep 'em down on the farm?

One thing for sure is have them watch this week's Welk episode!

Highlights include the following.....

Cissy and Bobby doing it for kicks.....

We get to watch for the first time the long lost pilot episode of Dancing With The Stars....

.....and Lawrence welcomes the Democratic National Committee to town.

DOWN ON THE FARM - February 17, 1973

1. HOW ARE YOU GONNA KEEP 'EM DOWN ON THE FARM? - Ken, Jack, Bobby, Mary Lou, Guy, Ralna, Gail, Joe, Buddy, Sandi and Dick
2. SUDDENLY THERE'S A VALLEY - Norma Zimmer
3. ROSE GARDEN - the orchestra featuring Bob Smale on piano, Henry Cuesta on clarinet, Neil Levang on guitar and Russ Klein on saxophone
4. COTTON FIELDS - Guy Hovis and Ralna English
5. HONEYCOMB - Sandi Griffiths, Gail Farrell and Mary Lou Metzger

6. PEACE IN THE VALLEY - Bob Ralston on the Thomas organ
7. GRAZING IN GREENER PASTURES - Clay Hart
8. RANCHO ALLEGRE - Anacani with Neil Levang on guitar and Johnny Klein on walnuts
9. TURKEY IN THE STRAW - danced by Cissy King and Bobby Burgess
10. OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING - Joe Feeney with Myron Floren on accordion

 
11. THE SURREY WITH THE FRINGE ON TOP - Ken Delo
12. BY HECK - Henry Cuesta on clarinet
13. SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW - Tanya Falan
14. PUT YOUR LITTLE FOOT RIGHT HERE - danced by Lawrence, Cissy, Bobby, Mary Lou, Ken, Ralna, Guy, Gail, Dick and Norma
15. SHINE ON HARVEST MOON - Jimmy Roberts

16. IN THE SHADE OF THE OLD APPLE TREE - danced by Arthur Duncan
17. MOUNTAIN MUSIC - Bob Lido and his Hotsy Totsy Boys of Myron Floren on accordion, Richard Maloof on tuba, Charlie Parlato on piccolo trumpet, Russ Klein on soprano saxophone, Bob Havens on trombone, Johnny Klein on drums and Buddy Merrill on banjo and starring Bobby Burgess and Jack Imel as the donkey
18. OH SHENANDOAH - Dick Dale
19. OLD MacDONALD HAD A FARM - Bob Lido with Ralna English, Guy Hovis, Dick Dale, Gail Farrell and Mary Lou Metzger

As you can tell, life on the farm can bring the animal out of anyone....

Maybe that's one way of keep them down on the farm.

Oh well, until next time....keep a song in your heart and always watch your step when you're out in the pasture!

The Panhandle Rag

For your listening pleasure, here's Buddy Merrill on his trusted Fender Stratocaster playing the Panhandle Rag with great backing as always from the orchestra!

 

The Makeover Guy hangs out with Tanya!

Here's an update on what Tanya is up to these days, she gets a visit from the Makeover Guy and the two spend the day having fun in Los Angeles.

And it's all captured on moving pictures, and thanks to the wonder that is You Tube, we can join along as well!

Songs From The Movies

Lights! Camera! Action!

This week, episode number two of the 2011-12 season salutes the songs from Hollywood movies.

Here are some of the highlights from the show.....

Homesteaders Charlie Parlato and Ava Barber, after a major horse buggy accident, contact AAA for roadside assistance.

Arthur Duncan takes one small step for man, and one giant step into a Moon Pie....

....and the Music Makers prepare for the remnants of Hurricane Irene.

SONGS FROM THE MOVIES - March 29, 1980

1. HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD (YOU OUGHTA BE IN PICTURES) - Arthur, Sandi, Jimmy, Ken, Gail, Kathie, Elaine, Mary Lou, Bobby, Tom, Ava, Sheila, Sherry, Jim, Curt, Roger and David
2. SOUTH AMERICA, TAKE IT AWAY - Anacani
3. NOCTURNE IN E FLAT - Bob Ralston on piano
4. SOMEWHERE MY LOVE - Guy Hovis and Ralna English
5. MY KIND OF TOWN (CHICAGO IS) - Ken Delo

 
6. NEVER ON SUNDAY - Myron Floren on accordion
7. TUMBLIN' TUMBLEWEEDS - Ava Barber with Charlie Parlato
8. THE GREEN LEAVES OF SUMMER - Jim Turner
9. THE STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER - The orchestra
10. GONE WITH THE WIND - Kathie, Sherry, Gail, Ralna, Sandi, Sheila, Mary Lou, David, Roger, Jim, Ken, Guy and the orchestra with George Cates conducting

11. JEAN - Tom Netherton
12. HAVA NAGILA - danced by Bobby Burgess and Elaine Balden
13. EVERYBODY'S TALKIN' - Sheila and Sherry Aldridge & David and Roger Otwell
14. OLD DEVIL MOON - danced by Arthur Duncan
15. THE WAY WE WERE - Kathie Sullivan with Joe Livoti on violin

16. BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY - Gail Farrell, Sandi Griffiths & Mary Lou Metzger
17. MORE (THEME FROM MONDO CANE) - Jimmy Roberts
18. SINGING IN THE RAIN - Sheila, Sherry, Gail, Anacani, Sandi, Curt, Jim, Ken, Roger and David with dancing by Elaine, Bobby, Mary Lou and Jack.

I thought it was a fine episode, brings back memories of the movies when they were actually good.

That goes for the songs too....

Until next time, keep a song in your heart and stay away from those casting couches!

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!

The episode that started it all, from July 2, 1955

It's always wunnerful, wunnerful to start a whole new season of Welk shows.

Here's Mary Lou Metzger welcoming viewers for the 25th season broadcasting on public television.

But what's this? Through the magic of television, it's now black & white and Mary Lou looks like she's in Ozzie & Harriet's living room!

There's a reason for this, episode one for 2011-12 is the national debut episode of the series which originally aired July 2, 1955 on ABC.

 
As you can tell, the Musical Family were just kids back then.....

.....like Jimmy Roberts

.....Rocky Rockwell

....Buddy Merrill

...and Dick Dale just to name a few.

Little did anyone realize that Saturday night in July was the start of something special. The combination of music, singing, talent and dancing would make the Lawrence Welk Show an enduring television institution.

As I write this blog entry, four of the Music Makers appearing in this week's landmark episode are still with us. Dick Dale, Bill Page, Rocky Rockwell and Buddy Merrill.

To view the complete songlist from this week's episode, just go to THE DODGE DANCING PARTY on my webpage for that and more!

In the meantime, until next week....Goodnight Ladies, Farewell Gentleman and hope you had a happy time!