Champagne Book of the Month Club: Ears & Bubbles

It was the Los Angeles Angels that done him in.

That's according to Bobby Burgess, in regards to how a certain baseball team steered him on to his path to stardom.

How you say? We'll just leave it at that, you can find out more from Bobby's new autobiography, Ears & Bubbles: Dancing My Way from The Mickey Mouse Club to The Lawrence Welk Show.

Published by Theme Park Press, Ears & Bubbles is the journey that is the life of dancing and pop culture icon Bobby Burgess from his childhood growing up in Long Beach to his days as a Mouseketeer, as a member of Lawrence Welk's Musical Family for twenty-one seasons and beyond.

It's quite a revealing, in-depth look at Bobby, but not in a scandalous, TMZ tabloid sense. Instead, for longtime Mickey Mouse Club and Lawrence Welk fans, Bobby gives the reader plenty of delightful and interesting stories that will leave one saying, "COOL!"

The book reveals the behind-the-scenes activity from both the MMC and Welk programs as well as the adventures and misadventures from touring on the road as well as Bobby's long lasting relationships and friendships with his fellow Mouseketeers and Welk stars.

And you'll also get to meet his family, and how his love of dancing has become a family business.

And all because the Angels done him in.

I recommend this book with enthusiasm, it is a delightful trip down the pop culture nostalgia lane and a good read too.

Ears & Bubbles is available from Amazon.com, both in print and in Kindle format, or you can get it or order it from your local bookstore.

You can also go online to THEME PARK PRESS.COM if you want more information about Ears & Bubbles or inquire about any other titles they have published as well. 

Champagne Book of the Month Club: Ears & Bubbles

Salute to some animated mouse with a high pitched voice

On the first Saturday, of the very first day of 2011....we got the Disney episode from '73

"I'm Charlie!"

Yes you are indeed.....

 
If you're feeding the pigeons, just plain ol' birdseed won't cut it.

Ken Delo may ask his daughter Kimberly "Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" but after spending hours in that wolf costume, I'm afraid of that fella's body odor.

....and a message to all parents, it's not a good idea to have your kids wear these outfits on their first day of Junior High.

Salute to some animated mouse with a high pitched voice

There's Something About a Hometown Band

I don't what it is, maybe it's the way their brass section plays Tony Basil's "Mickey"....

Whatever it may, that's the theme of this week's Lawrence Welk episode!

Now lets go to the all important highlights, shall we Harold Hill?

In today's episode, Jack Imel falls head over heels over the band's rendition of Todd Rundgren's "Bang the Drum All Day"

 
Cissy and Bobby practice their dancing for the Big Joe Polka Show....

....and Dick Dale auditions for New Braunfels Idol.

THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT A HOMETOWN BAND - July 20, 1968

1. THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT A HOMETOWN BAND - Arthur, Bobby, Jimmy, Cissy, Natalie, Sally, Sandi, Tanya, Andra, Steve, Larry, Joe and the band featuring Dick Dale (bandleader), Norman Bailey (trumpet), Bob Davis (flute), Dave Edwards (clarinet), Bob Ralston (xylophone), Charlie Parlato (bass drum), Kenny Trimble (trombone), Johnny Klein (drums) and Richard Maloof (tuba)
2. TEN FEET OFF THE GROUND - danced and sung by Jack Imel and Bobby Burgess
3. TIL' THERE WAS YOU - Norma Zimmer
4. THE CLARINET POLKA - Myron Floren on accordion with Bobby Burgess and Cissy King dancing
5. OH SHENANDOAH - Jimmy Roberts with Curt Ramsey, Steve Smith, Charlie Parlato and Larry Hooper

6. WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE - Tanya Falan
7. DAKOTA - Joe Feeney
8. DING DONG DADDY FROM DUMAS - Larry Hooper with assist from Sandi and Sally
9. KEEP A LITTLE SUNSHINE IN YOUR HEART - Sandi Griffiths and Sally Flynn
10. I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M LOSING YOU - Steve Smith

11. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A LASSIE?/OH WHERE, OH WHERE HAS MY LITTLE DOG GONE?/DU DU LEIGST MIR IM HERZEN - Myron Floren on accordion with Cissy and Lawrence dancing and Dick Dale on vocals
12. THE BAND PLAYED ON - the orchestra
13. CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN - Natalie Nevins with backing vocals by Andra, Joe, Cissy, Bobby, Larry, Sandi, Jimmy and Sally
14. CORNSILK - the orchestra
15. THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND - Dick Dale with Curt, Steve, Larry and Charlie

16. JUNE NIGHT - tap danced by Arthur Duncan
17. ABOUT TIME - Bob Lido with Bob Havens on trombone
18. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN - band featuring Myron Floren on accordion, Kenny Trimble on trombone, Richard Maloof on tuba, Jack Imel on drums, Charlie Parlato on trumpet, Buddy Merrill on banjo, Dick Dale on saxophone and Andra Willis as the girl singer
19. OH JOHNNY - Andra Willis
20. MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC - Jo Ann Castle on honky tonk piano
21. MY NORTH DAKOTA HOME - Joe, Arthur, Steve, Jimmy, Larry, Bobby, Natalie, Cissy, Sally, Sandi, Tanya, Norma, Andra

This show had a real nostalgic theme in particular for the Maestro and anyone else on the show who were born, grew up and cut their teeth in the music business in both North and South Dakota.

A lot of original songs were featured from the Walt Disney movie The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band such as "Ten Feet Off The Ground", "Bout Time", "Dakota" and "West o' the Wide Missouri" which we know as the familiar Welk standard "Oh Shenandoah". That movie was released the same time this show first aired and it keeps with the Dakotas theme, such as the original screenplay written by Laura Bower Van Nuys of Rapid City, South Dakota where the movie also had it's world premiere.

The movie starred Walter Brennan, John Davidson, Buddy Ebsen, Lesley Ann Warren, Wally Cox and Kurt Russell and the movie's plot had the Bower family petitioning the Democratic National Committee to sing at a Grover Cleveland rally during the 1888 Presidential Election, it's one of the more underrated Disney musicals, but sounds like a good one.

  
Back to the show, there were plenty of numbers I liked....Natalie Nevins and "Climb Every Mountain" were made for each other, the band did a nice novelty treatment of "Singin' In The Rain" especially when Myron's accordion chords were thrown in the mix and Andra Willis was splendid with her treatment of "Oh Johnny".

  
So until next week, keep a song in your heart and always be thinking about your North Dakota home....even if you've never set foot in the state.

There's Something About a Hometown Band

Mickey Mouse Mambo

From 1973, here are Champagne Mouseketeers Mary Lou, Anacani, Gail, Jack, Bob, Charlie, Cissy and Bobby doing the Mickey Mouse Mambo!

"I'm Jackie!"

"I'm Bobby!"

Mickey Mouse Mambo

Salute to Disney

Ah, the first Welk episode of the New Year....with style no less!

This week, Lawrence and his Musical Family salute the music of Walt Disney and here are some of the highlights.

We go around the globe to prove not only it's a Small World after all, but get this particular annoying song stuck in our heads in perpetuity.

Also, LA's finest are getting to know Mary Lou....in spite of the fact there's a possible bank robbery or prison break in progress

....and finally, we meet some pretty exotic cats from Thailand.

SALUTE TO WALT DISNEY - September 22, 1973 

1. IT'S A SMALL WORLD - Myron Floren on accordion with Gail, Dick, Cissy, Bobby, Anacani, Charlie, Sandi, Arthur, Joe, Tanya, Ken, Mary Lou, Norma, Jimmy and Neil Levang on guitar, Richard Maloof on tuba
2. LAVENDER BLUE - Guy Hovis & Ralna English
3. THE MICKEY MOUSE MAMBO - danced by Bobby Burgess & Cissy King, sung by Mary Lou Metzger, Jack Imel, Gail Farrell, Charlie Parlato, Anacani and Bob Lido
4. ONE SONG - Joe Feeney with Bob Ralston at the organ
5. MEDLEY OF SONGS FROM SNOW WHITE - the orchestra

6. WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR - Norma Zimmer
7. OH HAPPY DAY - Larry Hooper
8. JOLLY HOLIDAY - danced by Mary Lou, Bobby & Jack (also singing), sung by Ken Delo and Dick Dale
9. CHEM CHEM CHER-EE - Sandi Griffiths & Tanya Falan
10. FEED THE BIRDS - Sandi Griffiths, Gail Farrell & Jimmy Roberts

12. A SPOONFUL OF SUGAR - Myron Floren on accordion, danced by Arthur Duncan with Bobby, Cissy, Jack and Mary Lou
13. WITH A SMILE AND A SONG - Bob Ralston at the piano
14. TRES PALABRAS (WITHOUT YOU) - Anacani
15. WHO'S AFRAID OF THE BIG BAD WOLF? - Ken Delo with his daughter Kimberly and lifesized Disney characters

16. WALTZ OF THE FLOWERS - orchestra, danced by Lawrence and Cissy King
17. THE SIAMESE CAT SONG (WE ARE SIAMESE IF YOU PLEASE) - Sandi Griffiths, Gail Farrell and Mary Lou Metzger
18. WHISTLE WHILE YOU WORK - the orchestra
19. SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS - Guy, Ralna, Joe, Tanya, Sandi, Jimmy, Norma, Larry, Cissy, Bobby, Gail, Dick, Mary Lou, Ken, Anacani, Charlie, Arthur

And your host this week is Bobby Burgess!

This was also the episode where Larry Hooper returns to action after being on the sick for quite a while.

Four years to be exact.

Back in 1969, Hoopie was hospitalized for heart trouble. However, one medical complication after another extended his stay. It was so bad that on at least two occasions, he was given up any hope not just for recovery, but to live.

Thanks to the support of the Maestro and the Musical Family, the well wishes and prayers from fans across the nation along from his own family, and the best medical care available, Hoopie made a full recovery. 

He received a standing ovation from the audience, it was truly a touching and moving moment in the show's history.

The show itself was fun, filled with great songs and Bobby Burgess was a great choice to host this week. Before joining the Welk show, Bobby was famous as one of the mouseketeers on television's The Mickey Mouse Club.

So until next week, keep a song in your heart and keep your Siamese cats housetrained if you please.....

Salute to Disney

It's a Small World

Right now, I am lying on my back.....rife with back pain, and that's not fun at all.

But here's something that should make the both of us happy! The Welk Stars from 1973 telling us it's a small world after all!

Nothing like a little Disney magic on a Thursday night....

.....and thanks to the internet, the world is a little more smaller.

It's a Small World

It's A Small World after all.....

And now, here's a Welk holiday treat....the dolls in the toy shop come to life and sing, sing, SING!

It's A Small World after all.....