From the very beginning on July 2, 1955 as a director until its conclusion in 1982, Jim was part of the Welk Show with his impeccable behind the scenes production that gave the program that added sparkle of champagne.
Rest In Peace Jim. Here's a reprint of his obituary (edited to remove dated references) from the Los Angeles Times.
James Hobson was born on December 30, 1922 in Chicago, Illinois to John Surtees Hobson Sr. and Mary Ellen Jones.
James attended public school and later St. John's Military Academy and Purdue University. Drafted into the army in 1943. He was assigned to the 397th Field Artillery in France, Italy and Germany and was awarded the Bronze Star for stopping an artillery barrage. He also attended Signal Corps Motion Picture School in London and was discharged in 1946.
In that same year, he attended the Pasadena Playhouse where he met Elsie Holmes, a talented and successful actress in stage and movies from Yazoo City, Mississippi. They married in 1950.
James began his career as a cameraman for Channel 13, KLAC TV in 1949. He made the transition to producer director in 1952 with "The Liberace Show". He became director of "The Lawrence Welk Show" in 1955 and in 1962 became the producer/director of the Welk show until his retirement in 1986.
After Elsie Hobson died in 2001, James met actress, singer and writer Ashley Aarons. In 2005, they founded " Coffee Dog Productions" and he produced a catalogue of songs and a musical in pre-production entitled, "Dance Myself Free". His hobbies included building a "Rogallo Wing Hang Glider", sailing and collecting model airplane engines.
James Hobson died in his wife's arms in Santa Monica on April 26, 2013. Services was held on Thursday, May 23rd at the Old North Church in Forest Lawn in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles, CA.
