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!

 

Meanwhile, down on the 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

Ava Barber interview on WBIR

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!

Down On The Farm

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 Panhandle Rag

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!

The Makeover Guy hangs out with Tanya!

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!

Songs From The Movies

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!

Six Degrees of Gail Farrell #8

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!

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

Anacani with Los Panchos

Here's a rare treat for all you Anacani fans!

This gem from You Tube has the Maestro's favorite Mexican girl with the trio known as Los Panchos on Latin TV circa 1975 with the song Nosotros.
 

Anacani with Los Panchos

Call Me

Back in the day before cell phones, smart phones, Bluetooth, Blackberry and all that high tech stuff, Americans used old fashioned landlines to make phone calls.

And to help them is the operator, many of whom are attractive young girls who can sing!

Like Tanya here....

While were on that subject, here's our lovely singing operator from Ma Bell with her cover of Chris Montez's hit song "Call Me".

Call Me

The Champagne Five - Musical Family covers of Lynyrd Skynyrd

Freebird!

Now is the time for a new version of the Champagne Five, one in which the South is gonna rise again.

This edition will combine Lawrence Welk and the legendary Southern Rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd.

 
And out of this, we bring you my choice of the top five Skynyrd songs I like to see covered by the Champagne Music Makers.

Sweet Home Alabama indeed.....

1. SWEET HOME ALABAMA - Sheila & Sherry Aldridge with Roger & David Otwell
2. WHAT'S YOUR NAME - Guy Hovis & Ralna English
3. FREEBIRD - Joe Feeney with Bob Ralston at the Thomas organ
4. THE BALLAD OF CURTIS LOEW - Ken Delo
5. MADE IN THE SHADE - Tanya Falan

The Champagne Five - Musical Family covers of Lynyrd Skynyrd

Some Thursday rumblings

Yeah I know, it's been a while since I lasted posted here, it's not easy trying to find new and fresh Welk related material.

That aside, here's some things I like to get off my chest.

I'm excited about the new season on PBS, it's very cool that the first episode of the season is the original premiere episode from July 2, 1955. Should be a real treat seeing some of your old favorites making their national television debut.

I also been hearing horror stories that many PBS affiliates have dropped the Welk show from their schedule due to cuts in the budget, like what has happened in Florida.

Because the Sunshine State's governor, Rick Scott, decided to veto $4.8 million to fund public broadcasting, Orlando's PBS affiliate WMFE is no more, selling the station to a religious broadcaster.

The good news is that WUCF is now the new PBS affiliate for the market. The bad news is, at least for now, they are not carrying the Lawrence Welk Show like WMFE did.

There's two things we all should learn from this.....

One. Rick Scott is a flippin' idiot and he'll suffer a painful defeat when he runs for re-election. (Hell has no fury than a Welk fan scorned)

Two. The importance of public television cannot be taken for granted.

Support your public broadcaster, whether they carry the Welk Show or not, it's one of the great cultural and educational treasures that our country has to offer.     

Some Thursday rumblings

All The Things You Are

From 1978, here's George Cates doing what he does best, conducting the singers and the band with this particular Jerome Kern number.

All The Things You Are

If today is the First of August.....

....it can only mean one thing.

Today is Sandi Griffiths' birthday!

If today is the First of August.....

Welk fashion of the 70s

From the 1976 Salute to Johnny Mercer episode, lets see what the men are wearing.....

Tom Netherton with a combination leisure suit and turtleneck, all grey.

Larry Hooper and Jimmy Roberts going a bit more colorful, light blue and brown....

Joe Feeney feeling a bit plaid, according to his jacket.

Welk fashion of the 70s

A Champagne Medley from '63

From this 1963 black & white episode, here's the boys in the band with a medley of songs done in Champagne Style starting with Swinging Down the Lane, followed by Linger Awhile and finishes up with Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree.

And watch out for featured performances by Bill Page, Kenny Trimble, Bob Ralston, Dick Cathcart and Don Bonnee!

A Champagne Medley from '63

Always keep Sally Flynn in your heart

Cuz' today is her birthday today, and you know it's going to be a party!

 

Always keep Sally Flynn in your heart

In a Penny Arcade

From 1978, here's the trio of Sandi, Gail and Mary Lou along with some stuffed, furry friends as they sing one of the lost hits from the 1970s.

It's a little ditty about fun at a penny arcade.

In a Penny Arcade

The lovely and talented Sheila Aldridge

And it's also her birthday today!

 

The lovely and talented Sheila Aldridge