Bandstand of the Week

From 1969, the band plays their cover of "Hey Jude"

 

Bandstand of the Week

Vintage Champagne at the Paley Center

This should be a lot of fun.....

THE PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA PRESENTS VINTAGE CHAMPAGNE: A TRIBUTE TO THE LAWRENCE WELK SHOW

From what I have read, this symposium will be held at the Paley Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday, October 26th. The following Music Makers will be there to reminisce about the show...

ANACANI
BOBBY BURGESS
KEN DELO
RALNA ENGLISH
SANDI GRIFFITHS
CISSY KING
MARY LOU METZGER
LARRY WELK
TANYA FALAN
NORMA ZIMMER
ARTHUR DUNCAN
BOB HAVENS
JACK IMEL
BOB RALSTON
PEGGY LENNON

And it says that more guests to be announced later.

If I didn't live 2,000 plus miles away from LA, I would be there....CRAP!

Maybe the Paley Center could video record the event, that would be cool.

Vintage Champagne at the Paley Center

TV Star Parade: January 1973

Wait a minute....this can't be true

Once again, straight from my collection of fan magazines comes this shocking revelation, but it's really not what you think.

Just read the article to find out who is this "new" Mrs. Welk.

TV Star Parade: January 1973

Elaine Balden shows off her moves

She has every reason to dance....it's her birthday today

Happy Birthday Elaine!

Elaine Balden shows off her moves

Musical Family Hair of the Week

From 1977, Sheila Aldridge is the latest to sport the Farrah Fawcett flip 'do

Musical Family Hair of the Week

Moments to Remember

....is sweet if one has not forgotten them.

This week's show was Do You Remember? It's a nice trip down memory lane to the days of youth gone by.

Here's the rundown of the show and song listings....one of the numbers is Guy & Ralna's rendition of "Moments to Remember"

Moments to Remember

Invasion of the Bobby Soxers

Like Frank Sinatra, Myron Floren has a legion of young, pretty fans....

 

Invasion of the Bobby Soxers

Bandstand of the Week

From 1968....the ballroom is alive with the sounds of Champagne Music!

 

Bandstand of the Week

Where's Bobby and Cissy dancing today?

You'll never know where they will show up....

....and today, they're in Medina, Minnesota dancing on the Big Joe Polka Show!

Indeed it is....

Where's Bobby and Cissy dancing today?

Anacani as Carmen Miranda

Ah-Chica Chica Boom indeed....

Anacani as Carmen Miranda

Musical Family Hair of the Week

From 1975, it's Sandi with her red hair in a short bob....

Musical Family Hair of the Week

Milestones & Memories - It's already been ten years?

This weekend while I watched the latest regularly scheduled Welk episode on WGTE (Toledo's PBS affiliate), WBGU (Bowling Green's PBS affiliate) was in mini-pledge mode that plenty of stations have been doing lately.

And what did WBGU show instead? Milestones & Memories!

On both nights! So in between the regular Welk show on Saturday and football on Sunday, I checked it out...

As I watched, it dawned on me that this special was taped in Branson ten years ago this month....hard to believe it's been that long.

When the special was taped, the Welk reruns were just starting Season 14 on public television, today as I write....were now in Season 24.

Since then, four more Welk pledge specials have been made, this website and blog has been launched, You Tube was created to showcase musical numbers from the show and Saturday Night Live has spawned a successful recurring sketch.

And on a somber note, a few of the original 47 members of the Musical Family that appeared on the special are no longer with us.

Barney Liddell - trombonist (d. 2003)
Henry Cuesta - clarinetist/reeds (d. 2003)
Helen Ramsey - Champagne Lady (d. 2004)
Myron Floren - accordionist (d. 2005)
Joe Feeney - Irish tenor (d. 2008)
Jayne Walton - Champagne Lady (d. 2010)
Big Tiny Little - ragtime pianist (d. 2010)


I believe that by watching this special, as well as the regular Welk show, it's a way of keeping these folks in one's memory as well as in your heart.

Milestones & Memories - It's already been ten years?

Saturday Night Ah-Fever

I'm guessing that John Travolta, when getting ready to film that blockbuster disco movie, learned those dance moves from both Jack Imel and Mary Lou Metzger.

Man I wish that was the case....

This week was the Salute To Swing Bands episode, here are the highlights and song rundown

Saturday Night Ah-Fever

Never Forget

We are all Americans and were in this together....

 

Never Forget

Bandstand of the Week

From 1966, back at the studios located on Prospect and Talmadge Avenue....a new set in living color!

 

Bandstand of the Week

Who is Ken Delo singing to in the audience today?

Looks like he found himself a foxy lady....

Don't worry Ken, your secret is safe with us!

Who is Ken Delo singing to in the audience today?

Musical Family Hair of the Week

From 1957, it's Rocky Rockwell with his buzzcut

 

Musical Family Hair of the Week

Turn your radio on to Lawrence Welk!

Back before television, Lawrence Welk and his Music Makers had their own radio program.

And like the TV show, it was broadcast nationwide sponsored by Miller High Life, the Champagne of Beers.

My friend Kendrick found the following pair of rare radio clips of the Maestro and the Champagne Music Makers. For you younger fans, this should be a new experience, and for those who remember those days, I hope this trip down memory lane brings back memories.

The first clip is broadcast from Chicago's Trianon Ballroom



And this one is a live remote
 

Turn your radio on to Lawrence Welk!

Salute to the USA, the first syndicated Welk episode

Happy Labor Day everyone! This week's episode, Salute to the USA kicked off another season of Lawrence Welk on public television!

I must say it was wunnerful, wunnerful.....

SALUTE TO THE USA, COMPLETE RUNDOWN AND SONG LISTINGS

Salute to the USA, the first syndicated Welk episode

Caption This!

Featuring Larry Hooper and his friends....

You know what to do....click on the comments link below to add your caption!

Caption This!

New season starts tonight

Just a few thoughts as another season of Lawrence Welk on public television starts tonight...

Even though they're all repeats from last year, the weekly anticipation still stays stronger than ever!

Having Mary Lou Metzger and Bobby Burgess as co-hosts is working well, but in the future would like to see the return of the wraparounds by the Musical Family.

For once, maybe my station will finally show the Musical Tour of the USA from 1969, it ALWAYS gets pre-empted by those pesky pledge drives.

And speaking of pledge drives, will my station EVER show Marvin Hamlisch Presents: The Way We Were - The 70s? I say that because Guy & Ralna are in the show with some musical numbers.

And finally, for OETA when they are choosing new episodes for the 2011-12 season, I know that plenty of fans would like more classic black & white episodes but would guys also consider a few episodes from seasons 14 through 16 on ABC?

On that note, commence with the new season and happy viewing!

New season starts tonight

Bandstand of the Week

The year was 1966. From the Hollywood Palace in living color!

Bandstand of the Week

Everyone's gone back to school

Judging by their varsity sweaters....the Musical Family are Ohio State students

 

Everyone's gone back to school

Jimmy Roberts

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

 

Jimmy Roberts