April Showers '67

Hope your spring is in bloom, and just like the flowers in the garden, the Musical Family is in bloom with this Springtime episode from '67.

And here are the highlights.....

The Lennon Sisters sing the praises of DDT.....

Barbara and Bobby play Bavarian Pattycake....

......and Larry Hooper listens to Howard Stern on the radio.

APRIL SHOWERS - April 15, 1967

1. APRIL SHOWERS - Kathy, Steve, Natalie, Jimmy, Barbara, Bobby, Dee Dee, Jack with Bob Havens on trombone, Mahlon Clark on clarinet and Dick Cathcart on trumpet
2. WISH ME A RAINBOW - the orchestra with Frank Scott on harpsichord, Bob Ralston on the calvietta and Orie Amodeo on flute
3. LOOK FOR THE SILVER LINING - Norma Zimmer and Jimmy Roberts
4. STORMY WEATHER - Bob Ralston at the piano
5. CHERRY BLOSSOM LANE - Janet, Dee Dee, Kathy and Peggy Lennon

   
6. SINGING IN THE RAIN - sung and danced by Bobby Burgess, Arthur Duncan and Jack Imel
7. APRIL LOVE - Steve Smith
8. APRIL IN PORTUGAL - the orchestra
9. LOOK TO THE RAINBOW - Natalie Nevins
10. THE SHOE PLODDLER - danced by Bobby Burgess and Barbara Boylan with Myron Floren on the concertina

11. A GARDEN IN THE RAIN - Joe Feeney
12. YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE - Jo Ann Castle at the honky tonk piano with Buddy Merrill at guitar and Neil Levang at banjo
13. SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW - Norma Zimmer
14. RAIN - tap danced by Arthur Duncan

15. IT'S A LOVELY DAY (TO BE CAUGHT IN THE RAIN) - Kathy Lennon and Steve Smith
16. RHYTHM IN THE RAIN - Frank Scott at the piano
17. IT AIN'T GONNA RAIN NO MORE - Larry Hooper
18. INTO EACH LIFE SOME RAIN MUST FALL - Dick Dale
19. IN THE GARDEN - Norma Zimmer with backing chorus of Charlie Parlato, Dick Cathcart, Curt Ramsey and Steve Smith

  
Each and every one of the numbers featured on the show was terrific, but there is one thing I question....

Why would Kathy Lennon and Steve Smith go cycling in the rain? Especially without wearing protective rain gear?

At least one can say these two know how to take risks in life.

Hope your spring so far has plenty of sunshine, even if you do have some rain and until next time, keep a song in your heart and don't step into any mud puddles.

April Showers '67

Easter Parade '79

Greetings everyone, hope you all had a pleasant Easter weekend!

As you can guess, the subject of last Saturday's Welk episode was Easter so put on your grey bonnet and lets go to the highlights!

Barbara Boylan pretends she's the Columbia Pictures logo.....

Neil Levang plays the guitar.....

.....and the Trio are playing with flowers.

EASTER PARADE - April 14, 1979

1. EASTER PARADE - Gail, Joe, Norma, Jimmy, Guy, Ralna, Sherry, Roger, Sheila, David, Mary Lou, Ken, Kathie, Larry, Anacani, Curt
2. ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE - the orchestra
3. HE TOUCHED ME - Tom Netherton
4. DO LORD - Sheila and Sherry Aldridge with Roger and David Otwell
5. THE LORD'S COURT - Myron Floren on accordion with orchestra

6. GIMMIE THAT OLD TIME RELIGION - Guy Hovis & Ralna English with Curt, Kathie, Ken, Mary Lou, Jimmy, Gail, Joe, Sherry

7. I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING - Anacani
8. A PRETTY GIRL IS LIKE A MELODY - danced by Bobby Burgess & Barbara Boylan
9. SPRING IS HERE - Kathie Sullivan
10. LOVE LIFTED ME - Henry Cuesta on clarinet with orchestra

11. MEDLEY OF SONGS FROM "FIDDLER ON THE ROOF" - the orchestra
12. SUNRISE, SUNSET - Joe Feeney
13. THE OLD RUGGED CROSS - Norma Zimmer
14. THE BELLS OF ST. MARY'S - the orchestra
15. TIPTOE THROUGH THE TULIPS - Sandi Griffiths, Gail Farrell, Mary Lou Metzger

16. SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS - Bob Ralston at the piano
17. APRIL SHOWERS - Jimmy Roberts with Bob Smale at the piano
18. ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET - Ken Delo
19. PUT ON YOUR OLD GREY BONNET - danced by Arthur Duncan
20. MEDLEY OF HYMNS - entire cast with Bob Ralston at the organ and conducted by Bob Ballard

I really enjoyed the show, especially Sandi, Gail and Mary Lou's number. You can tell that the girls were really into it.

One thing about the wardrobe in the opening number "Easter Parade", I doubt that anyone dresses like that anymore, even in the 1970s.

Regardless of how anyone dresses, the spirit of Easter remains the same and that consists of family, friends, tradition and religion. I hope that never changes.

In the meantime, keep a song in your heart and don't get a tummy ache from biting the head off that chocolate bunny! 

Easter Parade '79

The Norma Zimmer Show '65

This past Saturday in the Wide Wide World of Welk, the featured episode we received was a Champagne Tribute to the Champagne Lady, Norma Zimmer.

And here's more highlights from Normafest '65.....

Norma shows her portrait of Mr. Natural.....

.....then shares a dance with her son Mark,

.....and finally paints happy little trees with Jimmy Roberts

THE NORMA ZIMMER SHOW - November 13, 1965

1. SMILES - Bobby, Barbara, Natalie, Bob Duncan, Kathy, Steve, Janet, Greg, Dianne, Dick, Jo Ann, Jimmy, Larry featuring Bob Havens on trombone, Dick Cathcart on trumpet and Frank Scott at the piano
2. WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK - Norma Zimmer
3. THE JOLLY CABALLERO - danced by Bobby Burgess & Barbara Boylan with Myron Floren and Jo Ann Castle on the accordion
4. TAMMY - Dee Dee, Peggy, Kathy and Janet Lennon
5. MEMORIES - (with picture montage of Norma's family) Norma Zimmer with husband Randy, sons Mark and Ron and the orchestra

6. LIDA ROSE - Natalie Nevins with the Bob Duncan, Steve Smith, Greg Dixon and Johnny Johnson
7. SONG OF THE ISLANDS - Jo Ann Castle on the honky tonk piano with Buddy Merrill at the steel guitar
8. WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN THE POLKA? - Norma Zimmer, Barbara Boylan and Bobby Burgess
9. TEA FOR TWO - danced by Arthur Duncan
10. DON'T TAKE YOUR LOVE FROM ME - Bob Ralston at the piano

11. LATIN PRAYER - Joe Feeney with Frank Scott at the piano
12. PICK YOURSELF UP - Jack Imel with Bobby, Barbara, Arthur, Jo Ann, Dick and Janet
13. VIENNA ECHOES - danced by Lawrence Welk and Norma Zimmer
14. I'M GONNA BUILD A FENCE AROUND YOU - Janet Lennon with the Blenders
15. THE ST. LOUIS BLUES - Mahlon Clark on the clarinet with the orchestra

16. COTTON FIELDS - Larry Hooper
17. WILL YOU REMEMBER? (SWEETHEART) - Norma Zimmer & Jimmy Roberts
18. BEANS FROM BOSTON MY HOMETOWN - Bob Lido & Aladdin
19. GETTING TO KNOW YOU - orchestra conducted by Norma Zimmer

This episode was truly a fine and loving tribute to a lovely Champagne Lady. We lost Norma almost a year ago, but the memories live on through weekly episodes like this where we can watch her sing with the best of them. 

It also gave viewers a glimpse into her family, made up her loving husband of more than sixty years, Randy, and her two sons, Ron and Mark. This show, when first aired on ABC, was the first time Welk fans found out Norma was a terrific painter. The portraits featured on the show was actually painted by her.

We shall never again see the likes of her, so until next week, keep that old familiar song in your heart!

 

The Norma Zimmer Show '65