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

Salute to New York '77

Start spreading the news, I'm leaving today.....

You must have guessed by now that this particular Lawrence Welk episode, half of you saw last Saturday while the other half saw the Saturday before that, is all about the city so nice they named it twice.

New York, New York.

Here are some of the highlights.....

Norma Zimmer paints happy little trees.....

Joe Feeney and Myron Floren guest star in a very special N.Y.P.D Blue.....

......and Mary Lou Metzger's dogs are barkin'


SALUTE TO NEW YORK - October 15, 1977

1. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - Anacani, Gail, Sandi, Mary Lou, Cissy, Arthur, Jimmy, Ken and Bobby
2. TAKE THE "A" TRAIN - the orchestra
3. MANHATTAN - Tom Netherton with Bob Smale at the piano
4. AUTUMN IN NEW YORK - Norma Zimmer
5. 42nd STREET - tap danced by Arthur Duncan

  
6. CAB DRIVER - Larry Hooper with Charlie Parlato, Dick Dale and Bob Lido
7. MATCHMAKER - Donna, Audrey, Jo Anne, Valerie and Michelle Semonski
8. THE BROADWAY MELODY - danced by Cissy King and Bobby Burgess
9. GIVE MY REGARDS TO BROADWAY - Joe Feeney with Myron Floren at the accordion
10. THE WALTER WINCHELL RHUMBA - Gail Farrell, Sandi Griffiths and Mary Lou Metzger

   
11. PENTHOUSE SERENADE - Kathie Sullivan and the saxophone section
12. THE LULLABY OF BROADWAY - the orchestra
13. PUT YOUR SHOES ON LUCY - Jack Imel and Mary Lou Metzger
14. SPANISH HARLEM - Anacani

  
15. MEDLEY OF SONGS FROM MY FAIR LADY: I'VE COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT/I'VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO HER FACE/ON THE STREET WHERE YOU LIVE - the orchestra plus a vocal by Ken Delo
16. MANHATTAN SERENADE - Bob Ralston and Bob Smale at the piano with the orchestra
17. MANHATTAN SERENADE (REPRISE) - Bob Ralston at the Thomas Organ
18. BUTTONS AND BOWS - Ava Barber
19. MEDLEY OF NEW YORK SONGS: IN OLD NEW YORK/THE BOWERY/SIDEWALKS OF NEW YORK - Norma, Jimmy, Gail, Joe, Anacani, Ken, Sandi, Tom with dancers Cissy, Bobby, Arthur, Mary Lou and Jack

  
This was a fine salute to the Big Apple, and considering the year the show was taped, Gotham needed a pick-me-up for it's psyche. New York had weathered through a financial crisis (Ford to New York: Drop Dead), the Son of Sam murders, and a power blackout just to name a few.

To quote Howard Cosell from the '77 World Series, "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Bronx is Burning."

But at least for one episode, the Musical Family made New Yorkers feel good about themselves again, and the city has once again reclaimed it's spot as the best in the world.

Until next time, keep a song in your heart and keep that Empire State of Mind all over. 

Salute to New York '77

A Toast To Our Champagne Lady

In the last few days, the newspaper and media coverage of Norma Zimmer's passing has been fast and furious.

There has been many obituaries and tributes published, but 90% of them are basically reprints from the AP wire service.

However there are exceptions of course, here below is a sweet, lovely and well written original piece by Jonathon Pinkerton which in my opinion gives the best tribute of them all....

LAWRENCE WELK'S CHAMPAGNE LADY: A TOAST TO HER CAREER courtesy of Examiner.com

A Toast To Our Champagne Lady

Norma Zimmer obituares

The written tributes are coming in paper by paper.....

The first one comes from Rita Sherrow of the TULSA WORLD

Another fine tribute comes courtesy of Lynn Elber from the SACRAMENTO BEE.

Finally, here's her profile from legacy.com where you can send your condolences.

Norma Zimmer obituares

R.I.P Norma Zimmer (1923-2011)

I found out last night over on Facebook that Champagne Lady Norma Zimmer has passed away yesterday.

She was as Lawrence Welk described, one of the most beautiful women in television, and she was both inside and out.

I will pass along more information as soon it becomes available.

She will be missed.

R.I.P Norma Zimmer (1923-2011)

Nothing to see here, that's just Elmer's Tune

From 1974, here's Dick Dale with the girls as they sing this classic Glenn Miller song.

 

Nothing to see here, that's just Elmer's Tune

Norma's back in the saddle again

Our Champagne Lady never ever horses around!

Norma's back in the saddle again

The Curt Ramsey Quintet in the library

With Charlie Parlato, Norma Zimmer, Steve Smith, Curt and Dick Cathcart
 

The Curt Ramsey Quintet in the library

The Champagne Five - Favorite Covers of Oscar Nominated Songs

Tomorrow night is the Academy Awards, where the movie industry celebrates what Hollywood has done the past year....

And here, the Music Makers salute the songs that were nominated for an Oscar, and some of them actually won the coveted statuette.

So on this version of the Champagne Five, here are my top five favorite covers of original Academy Award nominated songs sung by the Musical Family.

5. THREE COINS IN THE FOUNTAIN - Norma Zimmer and Jimmy Roberts do an excellent job with this 1954 Oscar winner from the movie of the same name. They just seem to be a perfect fit for the lyrics and the melodies featured.

4. WHAT ARE YOU DOING THE REST OF YOUR LIFE? - This 1969 Best Song nominee was originally written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman for the movie The Happy Ending. Ken Delo, sitting by the camera, does a great, melancholic solo of this tune.

3. RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN' ON MY HEAD - You may know it by B.J. Thomas' version that won the 1969 Oscar, but Sandi & Sally do a great upbeat and sunny version of it dressed as Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid.

Let's see Paul Newman and Robert Redford top that!

 
2. GEORGY GIRL - An Oscar nominee from 1966, the Music Makers do a great arrangement as an instrumental accompanied by vocal arrangements from Guy, Ralna, Norma, Jimmy, Bobby and Cissy. Bob Ralston provides great work at the harpsichord and the reed section's flute sounds give this version a pleasant beat and a good rhythm tune.

 
1. SECRET LOVE - You may know this 1953 Oscar winner from Calamity Jane as a romantic love song. It has been covered on the show many times before as a melancholic solo piece, but I love how this is arranged as a jazzy and upbeat vocal group number. Bob Ralston strikes again with his keyboard work and contributions from the trumpet section makes this classic an enjoyable and easy listening piece.



We'll that's my two cents, only thing left is wait for the envelope with this year's winners.

The Champagne Five - Favorite Covers of Oscar Nominated Songs

America at play is always fun!

The Champagne Music Makers prove it in this episode from 1976...

"Ah, ha, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive...."

"Okay Norma, press the gas and will be in Mexico in no time!"

"Excuse me, do I need a ticket for your fantastic voyage?"

"Please don't let this week's episode be pre-empted by another pledge drive...."

America at play is always fun!

Oh what the hell, just strike up the band.....

It's more than just music, music, music here at the Welk studios....

"So, what kind of stuff you keep down there?"

"I got my eye on you, so no sour notes from you!"

"Pull my finger!"

Oh what the hell, just strike up the band.....

Norma Zimmer hits the slopes

The weather outside is perfect for skiing, so the Champagne Lady takes advantage of it....

 

Norma Zimmer hits the slopes

Sail away to Avalon

....with the Curt Ramsey Quintet from 1968 as they board the S.S Catalina with the song "Avalon"

 

Sail away to Avalon

Caption This!

Starring Jack Imel and Norma Zimmer....

Click on comments link below and fire away with your funniest, most clever caption!

Caption This!

Can't Help Singing

Think your friends sing too much? Well, they can't help it.

This week's episode is Can't Help Singing, and here are some of the highlights!

Hal Roach hires the Lennon Sisters as his new Little Rascals....

Jack Imel sweeps Norma Zimmer off her feet....

.....and Charlie Parlato orders a pizza.

CAN'T HELP SINGING - November 12, 1966

1. LOOKING FOR LOVE (LOOKING FOR HAPPINESS) - Dee Dee, Janet, Norma, Barbara, Kathy, Jack, Jimmy, Arthur, Bobby and Larry
2. POOR BUTTERFLY - Bob Ralston at the piano
3. CUDDLE UP A LITTLE CLOSER - Natalie Nevins and Jimmy Roberts
4. SPANISH SAMBA - Myron Floren on the PAN accordion
5. JUST A LITTLE STREET WHERE OLD FRIENDS MEET - Kathy, Janet & Dee Dee Lennon with Barbara Boylan

   
6. WHEN MY BABY SMILES AT ME - the orchestra
7. I'M IN HIS CARE - The Blenders featuring Bob Duncan, Greg Dixon, Steve Smith and Paul Sjoland
8. INTERMEZZO - Joe Livoti on the violin and the string section
9. WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL - Bob Lido with Neil Levang on guitar
10. ROMANY LIFE - danced by Bobby Burgess and Barbara Boylan and sung by the Blenders

  
11. CAN'T HELP SINGING - Norma Zimmer
12. I KNOW WHEN I'M HAPPY - sung and danced by Arthur Duncan
13. MEDLEY OF SONGS FROM MARTHA - the orchestra
14. JUST LUCKY I GUESS - Bob Lido
15. SOFTLY, AS I LEAVE YOU - Joe Feeney with Frank Scott at the harpsichord

  
16. LULU'S BACK IN TOWN - Jo Ann Castle with Larry, Charlie, Bob (Lido), Jack, Aladdin, Bobby and Jimmy
17. BILL BAILEY - Jo Ann Castle at the honky tonk piano with sound effects by Jack Imel
18. MY TRULY TRULY FAIR - Dick Dale with vocals by Greg, Bob (Duncan), Steve, Paul, Barbara, Janet, Kathy and Dee Dee
19. WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN - the orchestra featuring Dick Cathcart on trumpet, Bob Havens on trombone and Johnny Klein on the drums
20. SOMEBODY ELSE IS TAKEN MY PLACE - Jimmy Roberts

  
You'll noticed in tonight's show that Barbara Boylan is filling in for Peggy Lennon as one of the Lennon Sisters. I'm guessing she could have been on maternity leave, but I doubt it as at the time of taping, her most recent child, Chris, was born February 27th and her next arrival, Joseph, would be born June 29, 1967.

It was nice seeing Bob Lido featured in plenty of numbers, his versatility as a musician and performer was really on display. 

So until next time, keep a song in your heart and if you still can't help singing.....Lulu will take care of that when she's back in town.

Can't Help Singing