My Blue Heaven

The past few weeks since my trip to Lancaster have been a whirlwind, and there has been two new episodes that have been aired during that time. So I apologize if I haven't provided listings for them.

Today, here's the first one, My Blue Heaven from 1964, which aired during the weekend of June 16 to the 17th.

Highlights from the episode include......

......Dick Dale sitting under the apple tree.

......Janet Lennon having her cake and eating it too.

.....and Arthur Duncan running up the stairs.


MY BLUE HEAVEN - June 13, 1964

1. MY BLUE HEAVEN - featuring Lawrence Welk and Myron Floren on the accordion with the orchestra
2. I WON'T DANCE/CHEEK TO CHEEK - sung and danced by Bobby Burgess and Barbara Boylan
3. MORE - Dee Dee, Peggy, Kathy and Janet Lennon
4. JOSEPHINE - the orchestra
5. GALWAY BAY - Joe Feeney

  
6. HELLO DOLLY - Jo Ann Castle at the ragtime piano
7. I LEFT MY HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO - Jimmy Roberts
8. CINDY - Dick Dale with the Lennon Sisters
9. SUNRISE SERENADE - Bob Ralston at the piano
10. DOIN' THE NEW LOW DOWN - sung and danced by Arthur Duncan

11. DOES YOUR HEART BEAT FOR ME? - orchestra featuring Pete Lofthouse on trombone
12. ONE FINE DAY - Norma Zimmer
13. TIK-A-TEE, TIK-A-TAY - Myron Floren and Jo Ann Castle on accordion, with Janet Lennon on coconuts
14. HAPPY BIRTHDAY (Janet's 18th birthday) - the orchestra and the entire cast
15. OH HAPPY DAY - Larry Hooper

16. HE - The Lennon Sisters
17. DON'T LET THE STARS GET IN YOUR EYES - Jimmy Wakely with Buddy Merrill on guitar and Bobby Bruce on violin
18. FLAG OF THE FREE - recited by Aladdin
19. YOU'RE A GRAND OLD FLAG - Janet, Dick, Kathy, Larry, Norma, Jimmy, Peggy, Arthur, Barbara and Bobby
20. THE PRESIDENT KENNEDY MARCH - the orchestra

I always enjoyed watching the old black and white episodes, gives me a chance to see some the musicians from that era in action. This week it was guys like Jimmy Wakely singing his version of "Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes" with Buddy Merrill at guitar and the talented Bobby Bruce at the violin.

Also, Pete Lofthouse got shine with his trombone solo. But what was more fascinating is that afterwards, a fella from the audience also did his trombone solo, without the actual instrument!

You never know where you can find talent.

Sometime this week, I should have the listings up for 1972's Salute to Harry Warren so watch out for that.

In the meantime, keep a song in your heart and stay cool from this summer heat!

My Blue Heaven

Saturday Nights back in the day

Today, television on Saturday nights is a vast wasteland, populated mostly by COPS and repeats of network shows aired earlier in the week.

But back in 1964, on the ABC network, Saturday nights means music with Lawrence Welk and The Hollywood Palace as this gem from You Tube demonstrates!

Saturday Nights back in the day

Thanks to Rosetta Stone, Peggy Lennon can speak French

From 1964, here's Peggy with her house-trained friend (hopefully) singing Je Vous Aime Beaucoup from the French show in glorious black & white!

 

Thanks to Rosetta Stone, Peggy Lennon can speak French

Bandstand of the Week

From 1964, the band is dressed up like the streets of Paris...

Vive La France!

Bandstand of the Week

Bandstand of the Week

From 1964, still in the black & white era....

 

Bandstand of the Week

Strike Up The Band

The year was 1964....

Beatlemania has struck the land as the British Invasion of American Music was in full force.

In the midst of all this, Lawrence Welk and his Music Makers carry on by striking up the band, which happens to be this week's episode.

Highlights from the classic black & white episode include....

....behind the scenes at a taping of Norwegian Bandstand

....the coal mines hiring zoo animals to replace striking miners

.....and the Maestro discussing the Designated Hitter rule with the Commissioner of Baseball Ford Frick.

STRIKE UP THE BAND - May 16, 1964

1. STRIKE UP THE BAND - the orchestra
2. MY WONDERFUL ONE - Norma Zimmer & Jimmy Roberts
3. THE BUNNY HUG, VALENTINO TANGO, LAMDEB WALK & THE TWIST - danced by Bobby Burgess and Barbara Boylan
4. THIS COULD BE THE START OF SOMETHING BIG - Bob Ralston at the piano
5. SNUGGLED ON YOUR SHOULDER (CUDDLED IN YOUR ARMS) - sung and danced by Dick Dale and Dee Dee Lennon

 
6. A BLUES SERENADE - the orchestra
7. SUGAR BLUES - Norman Bailey on trumpet
8. COTTON FIELDS - Larry Hooper with Buddy Merrill and Neil Levang on guitar
9. SLIPPED DISC - Jack Imel on the marimba and Mahlon Clark on clarinet

10. THE HAPPY NORWEGIAN - Myron Floren and Jo Ann Castle on accordion with Buddy Hayes on tuba, Johnny Klein on drums, Neil Levang on banjo and Buddy Merrill on guitar
11. I LOVE THEE - Norma Zimmer
12. JOHNNY OSLO SHADISH - danced by Bobby and Barbara with Myron and Jo Ann on accordion
13. MOCKINGBIRD HILL - Kathy, Janet, Dee Dee and Peggy Lennon
14. THE WORLD IS WAITING FOR THE SUNRISE - Charlotte Harris an her cello with flautists Orie Amodeo, Bill Page and Russ Klein

15. LITTLE GREY HOME IN THE WEST - Joe Feeney with Frank Scott at the piano
16. AMERICAN PATROL - Jo Ann Castle at the honky tonk piano with Johnny Klein at drums and Neil Levang at banjo
17. SIXTEEN TONS - sung and danced by Bobby Burgess, Jack Imel and Arthur Duncan
18. I AM THE UNITED STATES - spoken word recitation by Aladdin
19. THE NATIONAL EMBLEM MARCH - the orchestra

This was a delightful, timeless episode, and I am very impressed with how well the video quality has held up after forty six years since it was first recorded.

Also, this was an rare example of early videotaping that survived, considering that back in 1964 it was a new and expensive way of recording. It was not uncommon for networks to tape over, or wipe programs in order to save money. Supposedly, producers and executives did not have the foresight to archive television programs which meant some episodes or even entire television series were lost forever.

However, Lawrence saw the value of preserving episodes of his show, and we are all thankful for his decision to this day.

There were many milestones in this week's show. It marked Dee Dee Lennon's return to the show after a four year hiatus of raising her family. This was also one of the first episodes that Arthur Duncan appeared as a regular member of the cast after guesting many times. And it was also great to see Ford Frick, who at the time was Commissioner of Major League Baseball attending the show as a member of the studio audience.

I wonder if the Maestro was pleading on Roger Maris' behalf of granting him true ownership of baseball's single season home rum record?

Anyway, until the next new episode comes along....keep a song in your heart and learn how to hit those tricky curveballs!

Strike Up The Band

Vive La France

Bon Jour! This week's Welk episode originally aired February 15, 1964 (The Beatles' second of three Ed Sullivan show appearances aired the next day...just a little fun fact) and it's a black & white classic that is all about the music of France.

I wonder if Charles De Gaulle was watching? He would've like it.

Decked out in their berets, the fellas in the band are playing "The Poor People Of Paris" a perennial favorite of Welk audiences.

And below, here's Peggy Lennon in the solo spotlight with a friend of hers....as I write, I don't know what the name of the song she's singing.

Now we move ahead with Jerry Burke at the organ, playing the Petite Waltz.

For that week, the normal set at the ABC studios became the streets of Paris thanks to the magic touch of set designer Charles Koon.

It was brilliantly done....giving viewers a sample of French music cuisine, like this number featuring Janet Lennon and Aladdin, who is giving Janet a "French Lesson".

Other notable numbers in the show include "Dominique" by the Lennons, "Paris In The Springtime" by Norma Zimmer while the musical family dance to the music of the "River Siene".

A wunnerful show from start to finish....tres magnifique!

And in the hot seat this week is Janet Lennon, she talked about her time on the Welk show plus her family. She also brushed up on her latest venture, Best Pals dolls with sister Kathy....and of course, they still find the time to perform for their fans, whether it's in Branson or in anywhere USA.

Next week, it's a repeat episode....Musical Tour of Europe from 1974, it will be a month until the next new show (February 16th to be exact)

Until next time, keep a song in your heart and may your troubles be few!

Vive La France

I'm meeting my baby tonight at Southtown USA.....

This week, we were shown "Southtown USA" again.....which was aired just this last April, but still a very good show.

Here are some highlights, everyone gathered around the piano for a sing-a-long!

The Lennon Sisters; Kathy, Janet and Peggy singing "Hummingbird."

Barbara Boylan and Bobby Burgess dancing to the song, "Buttons And Bows" back at the hotel.

Dick Dale with Lennons singing "Gotta Travel On."

And finally, some nice work at the novachord by the "grandpappy" of the Welk orchestra....the talented Jerry Burke.

Next week, the champagne music makers will pay salute to Ol' Blue Eyes himself.....Frank Sinatra.

And you're thinking somebody else that has blue eyes? I don't think so!

Until next time, keep a song in your heart.

I'm meeting my baby tonight at Southtown USA.....

Southtown USA

This week, it's a classic black & white episode as the Champagne Music makers celebrate the Old West with "Southtown USA", here's the gang gathered 'round the piano with Frank Scott tickling the ivories.

First aired on February 22, 1964....tonight's featured episode has several classic numbers, such as Norma Zimmer's "Wayward Wind" and the Lennon Sisters' "Hummingbird". Lawrence also features his special guest stars of the evening, the fabulous and legendary Mills Brothers with the numbers with "Paper Doll" and "It Hurts Me More Than It Hurts You".

Back to our Western-themed show, Larry Hooper does a great rendition of "This Old House" while the orchestra provides the studio audience with some great dancing music, such as "Misty" with Frank Scott at piano and "Stockholm" with great harpischord work by Frank as well! Also, Jerry Burke demonstrates his magic at the Novachord with the "Third Man" theme with help from Buddy Merrill and Neil Levang at the guitars.

And what show wouldn't be complete without Bobby Burgess and Barbara Boylan dancing to "Buttons and Bows".

Aladdin dresses up as an Old West old timer when he recites "Shifting, Whispering Sands" and Jo Ann Castle does a great job with her ragtime piano rendition of "Ragtime Piano Gal" with help from Bob Lido at vocals. If you throw in Jimmy Roberts' number "Beyond The Blue Horizon" and you got yourself a classic show worth watching over and over again!

This week, Mary Lou Metzger interviews Barbara Boylan, who danced with Bobby Burgess on the show from 1961 to 1967. She talks about how she started dancing at an young age, how she and Bobby first met...her adventures on the show and her courtship and marriage to one of the Blenders Greg Dixon. This year, they would be married for forty years....and have two fine children, David and Dee Dee and several grandchildren.

Next week....it's another mod sixties episode, this time in living color titled "Southern Show".....get your VCRs warmed up for this one!

Southtown USA