The Great Gershwin '72

Hello again fellow Welkies!

This past weekend, we got the second-to-last "new" episode of the season, a musical salute to the works of George Gershwin which originally aired in 1972.

And let's go to the highlights!

Clay Hart wears a cowboy hat.....

Ralna gives Guy the evil eye.....

.....and Tanya flirts with Buddy Merrill.

THE GREAT GERSHWIN - November 11, 1972

1. OF THEE I SING - Ken, Mary Lou, Bobby, Cissy, Gail, Dick, Tanya , Jimmy, Ralna & Guy
2. I GOT RHYTHM - tap danced by Arthur Duncan
3. SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME - Norma Zimmer
4. RHAPSODY IN BLUE - Bob Ralston at the piano
5. NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT - Ken Delo

6. THE MAN I LOVE - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King
7. LET'S CALL THE WHOLE THING OFF - Guy Hovis and Ralna English
8. DO, DO, DO - Sandi Griffiths and Sally Flynn
9. SOMEBODY LOVES ME - the orchestra
10. BIDIN' MY TIME - Clay Hart (also on guitar)

11. I'VE GOT A CRUSH ON YOU - Tanya Falan with Buddy Merrill on guitar
12. SWANEE - Jimmy Roberts with Neil Levang on banjo, Bob Ralston at piano, Richard Maloof on tuba and Jack Imel on spoons
13. SUMMERTIME - Joe Livoti on violin with Bob Ralston at the Thomas organ
14. MINE - Dick Dale with Gail Farrell and Mary Lou Metzger

15. LADY BE GOOD - Henry Cuesta on clarinet with Neil Levang on guitar, Richard Maloof on bass and Johnny Klein on drums
16. LIZA - Myron Floren on the PAN accordion
17. LOVED WALKED IN - Joe Feeney with Bob Ralston at piano
18. S'WONDERFUL - Bob Havens on trombone with Bob Smale at piano and featuring Arthur, Cissy, Bobby, Mary Lou, Dick, Gail, Norma, Jimmy, Guy, Ralna, Tanya and Ken

Once again, the Music Makers hit another one out of the park with a fine hours' worth of music and entertainment.

Henry Cuesta had just joined the orchestra as the Lawrence's featured clarinet player, and even though he jokingly chided him about getting a haircut, you can tell that the Maestro really thought the world of Henry and his musical talents.

And up until Henry's passing in 2003, fans like myself shared the Maestro's sentiments.

On a lighter note, I thought Tanya's rendition of "I've Got a Crush On You" was cute. One can only imagine what thoughts ran through Buddy Merrill's head.

Oh well, until next time, remember to keep a song in your heart and while you say oysters, I say errsters!

    

The Great Gershwin '72

Salute to Harry Warren '72

Happy Fourth of July Week everyone!

Like I promised, I bring you the Salute To Harry Warren episode from 1972, which aired two weeks ago on your local public television station.

Highlights from the show include......

Ken Delo goes to Wal-Mart.....

Gail and Dale waiting for the evening train.....

....and Lulu's back in town. Happy, happy, joy, joy.


MUSIC OF HARRY WARREN - October 7, 1972

1. LULLABY OF BROADWAY - Joe, Tanya, Dick, Gail, Bobby, Cissy, Jimmy, Norma, Ken and Mary Lou
2. WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE A WALK? - Guy Hovis and Ralna English
3. CHEERFUL LITTLE EARFUL - the orchestra
4. I FOUND A MILLION DOLLAR BABY (IN A FIVE-AND-TEN CENT STORE) - Ken Delo
5. THE KISS POLKA - Myron Floren on accordion

6. I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU - Norma Zimmer
7. 42nd STREET - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King
8. SEPTEMBER IN THE RAIN - Bob Ralston on piano
9. I LOVE MY BABY (MY BABY LOVES ME) - Jimmy Roberts
10. THE SHADOW WALTZ - the orchestra with Lawrence dancing with Cissy King

11. YOU MUST HAVE BEEN A BEAUTIFUL BABY - Tanya Falan
12. SHUFFLE OFF TO BUFFALO - the orchestra
13. CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO - Clay Hart
14. THE MORE I SEE YOU - Joe Feeney with Bob Ralston on piano
15. WITH PLENTY OF MONEY AND YOU - danced by Arthur Duncan

16. YOU'LL NEVER KNOW - Ralna English
17. JEEPERS CREEPERS - Bob Lido (also on violin) with Bob Smale at piano
18. REMEMBER ME? - Gail Farrell and Dick Dale
19. ON THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA AND THE SANTA FE - Sandi Griffiths and Sally Flynn with Guy, Arthur, Ralna, Cissy, Tanya, Clay, Norma and Jimmy
20. LULU'S BACK IN TOWN - sung and danced by Jack Imel, Bobby Burgess, Mary Lou Metzger with Joe Feeney, Ken Delo, Bob Ralston and Charlie Parlato

A terrific episode all around, very easy on the eyes and the ears too!

Plus the fact that Sandi and Sally wore mini skirts and go-go boots helped as well.

  
Sitting in the audience for tonight's show was Ralna's parents, you can tell that they were mighty proud of their daughter. Especially when she sang "You'll Never Know" in the solo spot with passion, gusto and heart.

  
And Harry Warren himself was also in the audience, he also had to be very proud of the Music Makers saluting his work.

So until next time, keep a song in your heart and if you shuffle off to Buffalo, avoid the rush hour traffic on the New York Thruway.  

Salute to Harry Warren '72

Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral and then some.....

So, how is your St. Patrick's Day so far?

It's still pledge time in Toledo, but to pass the time....as well as Irish cheer....here's a YouTube clip of Joe Feeney with Lawrence at the accordion singing one of the most popular of lullabies from the Emerald Isle.

 

Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral and then some.....

Live from Hawaii, it's Caption This!

Featuring Gail Farrell, Mary Lou Metzger and Charlie Parlato!

Add your own funny or clever (even both!) caption to this picture, just by clicking on the comments link below.

Live from Hawaii, it's Caption This!

On this day, thirty nine years ago.....

One of my all time favorite episodes, Songs of the 1940s, first aired in syndication.

Maybe I'll watch it again for old times sake....

On this day, thirty nine years ago.....

This Day in Welk History: Christmas '72

On this day,some thirty eight years ago; the Welk Show aired it's second ever syndicated Christmas episode.

Thirty five years later in 2007, it resurfaced on public television.

CHRISTMAS '72 - December 23, 1972

1. JINGLE BELLS - Cissy, Bobby, Tanya, Sandi, Bob (Lido), Dick, Arthur, Gail, Mary Lou, Lawrence, Joe, Norma, Jimmy, Myron, Ken, Charlotte (Harris)
2. MARVELOUS TOY - Clay Hart on guitar with children Hank and Lizzie
3. SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN - Tanya Falan with son Lawrence the Third
4. TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR - Sandi Griffiths with daughter Jenni
5. RING THOSE CHRISTMAS BELLS - danced by Arthur Duncan with bell ringers Jack Imel and Bob Ralston

6. WHITE CHRISTMAS - Norma Zimmer and Jimmy Roberts with Mary Lou, Ken, Gail, Dick, Bobby, Cissy, Tanya and Joe
7. RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER - Bob Ralston on clavietta, with children Randy and Diane on piano
8. LITTLE LADY MAKE BELIEVE - Ken Delo with daughter Kimberley
9. SWEET LITTLE JESUS BOY - Guy Hovis and Ralna English
10. SCATTERBRAIN - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King

11. HOLLY JOLLY CHRISTMAS - Dick Dale with Gail Farrell and Mary Lou Metzger
12. THE CANDY MAN - Myron Floren on the accordion with daughters Heidi and Kristie on piano
13. O HOLY NIGHT - Joe Feeney with Bob Ralston on organ
14. ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY TWO FRONT TEETH - Timmy Feeney with Kathy Feeney on guitar
15. CHRISTMAS CAROL MEDLEY: HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING/IT CAME UPON A MIDNIGHT CLEAR/JOY TO THE WORLD - Cissy, Bobby, Charlotte, Myron, Mary Lou, Norma, Charlie (Parlato), Jimmy, Gail, Dick, Sandi, Guy, Ralna, Clay, Tanya, Bob (Lido), Ken
16. TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR - Lawrence and the kids, singing and on spoons, with Robbie Smale on celesta
17. INTRODUCTION OF FAMILIES BY THE MUSICAL FAMILY
18. JINGLE BELLS - Lawrence's granddaughter Christine
19. SANTA ARRIVES WITH THE PRESENTS

This Day in Welk History: Christmas '72

Tahoe Highlights '72

On this day, 1972, some 38 years ago....the Lawrence Welk Show aired the episode Tahoe Highlights nationwide.

It was a fun, nostalgic and musical show.

The epsiode shows off the Musical Family's acting skills, like Tanya's impression of Sophie Tucker, Ken Delo's impression of Al Jolson, Dick Dale's version of Dean Martin and Guy Hovis doing his Elvis Presley.

So that's how the Elvis impersonator craze got started.... 

Here are the musical numbers that were featured.

TAHOE HIGHLIGHTS - November 4, 1972

1. JUKEBOX SATURDAY NIGHT - Ralna, Guy, Cissy & Bobby (also dancing), Tanya, Joe, Gail, Ken, Mary Lou, Arthur 
2. AUTUMN LEAVES - Bob Ralston at the piano with Charlotte Harris at the cello 
3. JUST BECAUSE - Myron Floren at the accordion danced by Cissy and Bobby with Lawrence cutting in and sung by Dick, Kenny, Bob Lido and Charlie
4. GREEN EYES - Guy Hovis & Ralna English
5. THE CARIOCA - danced by Bobby Burgess & Cissy King 

6. CAN'T HELP SINGING - Norma Zimmer
7. LET'S DANCE - Henry Cuesta on clarinet with orchestra
8. SOME OF THOSE DAYS - Tanya Falan
9. CIRIBIRIBIN - Johnny Zell on trumpet
10. MY BLUE HEAVEN - Jimmy Roberts

 
11. ONCE IN LOVE WITH AMY - danced by Cissy King, Mary Lou Metzger, Bobby Burgess & Jack Imel and sung by Guy, Charlie, Ken and Joe
12. THE NEW LOW DOWN - danced by Arthur Duncan
13. CHEROKEE - danced by Jack Imel, Arthur Duncan and Bobby Burgess
14. MEDLEY: TO EACH HIS OWN/LOUISE/MAMMY - Ken Delo
15. THE WALTZ YOU SAVED FOR ME - danced by Lawrence & Cissy with backing by the string section

16. EVERYBODY LOVES SOMEBODY - Dick Dale with Bob Smale at piano with visual assist by Mary Lou Metzger, Gail Farrell, Ralna English & Tanya Falan
17. PARODY OF ELVIS PRESLEY - Guy Hovis on guitar
18. BOO HOO - Sung by Kenny Trimble, Charlie Parlato & Dick Dale with pianists Bob Ralston and Bob Smale, the saxophone and brass sections
19. BE MY LOVE - Joe Feeney with Arthur, Ken, Jimmy, Dick, Mary Lou, Gail, Norma, Ralna, Tanya

Tahoe Highlights '72

Salute to Famous Resorts

Now that summer is here, thinking of getting it away from it all?

When you think of places like Atlantic City, Coney Island, Cedar Point and Put In Bay, you're thinking of famous resorts which happens to be the theme of this week's Lawrence Welk episode!

So get your bags packed and let's go to the highlights.....

Norma Zimmer auditions for a role in Hot Dog....The Movie

 
The Maestro attempts to set a World Record for dancing with the most ladies in a single musical number....

.....and MTV begins filming a new season of Jersey Shore down in Atlantic City.

FAMOUS RESORTS - April 15, 1972

1. THOSE FABULOUS PLACES - Guy, Ralna, Bob (Ralston), Sally, Dick, Sandi, Mary Lou, Jimmy, Cissy, Bobby, Gail and Joe
2. I'LL BE SEEING YOU - Norma Zimmer
3. CANADIAN SUNSET - orchestra
4. WISH YOU WERE HERE - Ken Delo and the flute section
5. OLD CAPE COD - Tanya Falan

 
6. IN ACAPULCO - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King
7. ON TOP OF OLD SMOKEY - Clay Hart with Ralna, Guy, Mary Lou, Gail, Ken and Jimmy
8. ON THE ALAMO - Peanuts Hucko on clarinet with orchestra
9. LET'S GET AWAY FROM IT ALL - Guy Hovis and Ralna English
10. LADY OF SPAIN - Myron Floren on accordion

11. HEIGH HO - Sandi Griffiths and Sally Flynn
12. MANHATTAN - orchestra
13. GOODBYE MY CONEY ISLAND BABY - sung and danced by Bobby Burgess, Jack Imel, Cissy King and Mary Lou Metzger
14. SPRINGTIME IN THE ROCKIES - Norma Zimmer and Jimmy Roberts
15. SAN FRANCISCO - tap danced by Arthur Duncan

16. ON THE BOARDWALK IN ATLANTIC CITY - Gail Farrell and Mary Lou Metzger with Guy, Ralna, Bob (Ralston), Sally, Ken, Sandi, Dick, Jimmy, Cissy, Bobby and Peanuts Hucko on clarinet, Johnny Klein on drums, Bob Havens on trombone and Johnny Zell on trumpet
17. SOMEWHERE IN IRELAND - Joe Feeney
18. GONNA BUILD A MOUNTAIN - Dick Dale
19. LITTLE GRASS SHACK IN KEALAKEKUA - Bob Smale on keyboards, Neil Levang on ukelele and Buddy Merrill on steel pedal guitar
20. THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC - Norma Zimmer with Joe, Bobby, Guy, Jimmy, Ken and Arthur

A fine episode from one of my favorite eras of the Welk Show, this one was the season finale of their first year on syndication. When the Music Makers returned for the following season's opener, they would be on location in Hawaii.

Talk about bridging two seasons together on one common theme.

It was also great seeing Peanuts Hucko in the solo spotlight, truly one of the greats in big band music playing for the likes of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman and Jack Teagarden.

So remember this summer, when you're getting away from it all....don't forget to have fun and take plenty of pictures!

And until next week, keep a song in your heart and a guitar handy to impress the ladies around the campfire.

Salute to Famous Resorts

Childhood Memories

What adult would not want to reminisce about his or her childhood?

If it concerns playtime, Saturday Morning cartoons and summer vacations, I'm all for it.

Otherwise anything involving school....forget it.

This week's episode is all about memories from childhood so let's go to some of the highlights!

Here's the Trio trying to sing their way to have their grade changed from a "D" to an "A"

Plus we have Dick Dale and Arthur Duncan with the ups and downs of being on a see saw....

....and Arthur gets kidnapped by a vicious gang of little girls

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES - December 16, 1972

1. THOSE WERE THE DAYS - Sandi, Gail, Joe, Bobby, Cissy, Ralna, Guy, Mary Lou, Ken, Dick, Arthur, Jimmy (Roberts) with Henry Cuesta at clarinet, Bob Havens at trombone and Johnny Zell at trumpet
2. LULLABY OF LOVE - Tanya Falan with her son Kevin Welk
3. WHEN HEARTS ARE YOUNG - the orchestra
4. WHERE ARE YOU GOING MY LITTLE ONE? - Ken Delo

5. "A" YOU'RE ADORABLE - Sandi Griffiths, Gail Farrell and Mary Lou Metzger
6. SCHOOL DAYS - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King
7. LITTLE TOY TRAINS - Guy Hovis and Ralna English
8. CHOPSTICKS - Bob Smale at the piano
9. TOO-RA-LOO-RA-LOO-RA (THAT'S AN IRISH LULLABY) - Joe Feeney with Lawrence on accordion

10. OVER THE OCEAN - Henry Cuesta on clarinet with the orchestra
11. SMALL FRY - Dick Dale
12. SLEEPING AT THE FOOT OF THE BED - Buddy Merrill and Neil Levang
13. MEDLEY: LITTLE BROWN JUG/SKIP TO MY LOU/POLLY WALLY DOODLE - Myron Floren on accordion with Neil Levang on banjo, Bob Smale at piano and Richard Maloof on the tuba

14. WON'T YOUR RIDE IN MY LITTLE RED WAGON? - danced by Arthur Duncan with vocals by Sandi, Gail, Mary Lou and Cissy
15. WATCHING SCOTTY GROW - Clay Hart
16. A TISKET, A TASKET - Bob Lido and the Hotsy Totsy Boys
17. WATCH WHAT HAPPENS - Dave Edwards on saxophone
18. THOSE WERE THE DAYS (ENCORE) - Sandi, Gail, Joe, Bobby, Cissy, Ralna, Guy, Mary Lou, Ken, Arthur, Dick, Tanya with Henry Cuesta on clarinet, Bob Havens on trombone and Johnny Zell on trumpet

Yep, this show does bring back my childhood....if you don't include memories of playing Super Mario Brothers on the Nintendo, watching Slimer and the Real Ghostbusters on Saturday mornings and dreading Meatloaf Night at dinnertime.

It's always nice to see members of the orchestra in the spotlight, Dave Edwards playing Watch What Happens on the saxophone is a real treat and seeing Buddy Merrill and Neil Levang not only play guitar but SING to Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed.

Say what you want about Lawrence Welk, but admit it....he had the finest musicians in the business, they can take any tune and make it an instrumental masterpiece and they can sing too!

This show was also the debut of The Trio. When Sally Flynn left the show, Sandi Griffiths teamed up with Gail Farrell and Mary Lou Metzger to bring a blend of three lovely voices to the show.

And as they say, the rest is history.

So until next time, keep a song in your heart and if you land on your fanny hard from going down the slide, always make sure you wear protection! 

Childhood Memories