Small Towns of America

From Harpster, Ohio to Hudson, Indiana and from Brockway, Wisconsin to Boyd, Minnesota, the final "new" episode of the 2011-12 Welk season salutes Small Town U.S.A.

So here are the highlights, which include....

Myron Floren switching Arthur Duncan's and Jimmy Roberts' regular coffee with Folgers Crystals.....

Natalie Nevins guest stars on this week's Welcome Back Kotter.....

.....and Cissy King with Andra Willis eat apples.


SMALL TOWNS OF AMERICA - February 1, 1969

1. DEAR HEARTS AND GENTLE PEOPLE - Larry, Bob Lido, Sandi, Bobby, Cissy, Andra, Bob Ralston, Tanya, Joe, Jo Ann, Natalie, Jimmy, Arthur, Dick, Curt
2. MY SWEET LITTLE ALICE BLUE GOWN - Norma Zimmer
3. JOSEPHINE - the orchestra
4. THAT OLD GANG OF MINE - Steve Smith, Curt Ramsey, Larry Hooper and Charlie Parlato
5. PEACE IN THE VALLEY - Andra Willis

6. WALKING MY BABY BACK HOME - Bob Ralston at the piano
7. A HOUSE WITH LOVE IN IT - Jimmy Roberts
8. MY HEART IS A HOBO - Steve Smith
9. DO, RE, MI - Natalie Nevins with Cissy, Andra, Tanya, Bobby, Bob Ralston, Charlie and Larry
10. THERE'S THE KIND OF WALK YOU WALK - danced by Bobby Burgess and Cissy King

11. EVERYONE'S GOT A HOME BUT ME - Joe Feeney
12. HOT TIME IN THE OLD TOWN TONIGHT - Jo Ann Castle at the honky tonk piano
13. GIVE ME THE SIMPLE LIFE - Bob Lido
14. SMALL TOWN BOYS - sung and danced by Bob Ralston and Jack Imel
15. (GIVE ME THAT) OLD TIME RELIGION - Larry Hooper with Charlie, Dick, Norma, Myron, Jo Ann, Cissy, Andra, Bob Lido and Joe

16. I'D RATHER BE BLUE - Sandi Griffiths and Sally Flynn
17. MY HOME IS IN MY SHOES - sung and danced by Arthur Duncan
18. IN A SMALL TOWN - Dick Dale
19. EASY STREET - Tanya Falan
20. A PRAYER FOR PEACE - Dick, Charlie, Joe, Bob Lido, Tanya, Jo Ann, Curt, Bob Ralston, Andra, Natalie, Larry, Arthur, Norma, Jimmy, Cissy, Bobby, Sandi, Steve and Sally

This was a fun episode, it was quite different that Myron Floren did the introductions to the musical numbers and that Lawrence only appeared in the opening and closing portions of the show.

And sadly, this concludes this season of episodes that includes "new" ones, so starting in September it will be a full year of repeats. Who knows, maybe due to pledge drives, some markets will be showing the "new" ones for the first time.

So from my small town to yours, from Aliceville, Alabama to Alma, Colorado; keep a song in your heart!

   

Small Towns of America

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

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

Just singing in the rain

It's wet, cloudy and soggy around here.....might as well make music about it.

 

Just singing in the rain

More Champagne Artwork

Here's two of my latest drawings of the Musical Family.....

Mickey McMahan playing his trumpet

Jimmy Roberts, singing for the ladies as always.

More Champagne Artwork

This is much better than Alpo or Beggin Strips

Proof that Man's Best Friend, like the ladies, enjoy the company of Jimmy Roberts....

 

This is much better than Alpo or Beggin Strips

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

Jimmy and the Trio

They'll be ringing in the New Year in the great outdoors....

I just hope they're dressed warmly

Jimmy and the Trio

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

Here's Jimmy Roberts with one of his most requested songs, especially among the ladies....

 

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

Jimmy Roberts

Is about ready to sing, especially for the ladies...

 

Jimmy Roberts

We Can Make Music - 1973 edition

It's a repeat this week, the 1973-74 season opener known as both Tahoe '73 - That Big Band Sound 

But around here in these parts, we know it as We Can Make Music '73

Here's some of the highlights from this week's show....

A supersized Jimmy Roberts awaits the King of the Monsters in a scene from Godzilla Conquers The Golden Gate

"Only he can lead us to honey roasted peanuts!"

  
"George, that joy buzzer gag is getting pretty old."

" I think Rose put too much starch in the pants again."
 

We Can Make Music - 1973 edition

Norma Zimmer has taken over the show

Being the Champagne Lady has plenty of perks....

....being in charge of the band is one of them.

And so is having carte blanche when it comes to dancing partners....

....and having unlimited access to the show's art supplies is a plus!

However, the chance to sing for millions of television viewers is priceless.

Norma Zimmer has taken over the show

We now join The African Queen already in progress.....

Actually, that's Norma and Jimmy taking advantage of the April weather by going on a nice boat ride down the river.

 

We now join The African Queen already in progress.....

Champagne Christmas Capers #2

From 1972, the Musical Family is dreaming of a White Christmas, like Bing Crosby did back in the 1940s.

Joe Feeney and Tanya Falan are both thinkin' of getting their shopping done.

Joe looks forward to taking his kids to see Santa while Tanya dreads fighting mall traffic at the Pottery Barn and FYE....

Jimmy Roberts is thinking of re-gifting the sportsjacket he's wearing while Norma Zimmer is looking forward to the season's first snowfall....

Guy and Ralna have thoughts of their relatives invading their home for the holidays (will it be turkey or ham this year?)....

Mary Lou Metzger is excited about watching "It's a Wonderful Life" on TV while Ken Delo is pondering whether to get a real tree or an artifical one to decorate...

....and Gail Farrell is dreaming of singing Christmas Carols in snazzy, jazzy style while Dick Dale plots to get his grandkids the GI Joe doll with the super cool Kung Fu Action Grip

Whatever each one may be thinking, they're all dreaming of a White Christmas!

Champagne Christmas Capers #2