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This brought a few tears. I'm 78 now, but when I was a child growing up in Houston TX my Mom, and Dad, and I used to watch Lawrence Welk's show every Saturday night and it made us all very happy.
My Dad was a WWII Veteran and was 15 years younger than Lawrence Welk. Dad watched Lawrence Welk on TV every Saturday night. About 1982, I asked my Dad why he liked Welk so much? He replied that he admired Lawrence Welk as much for his wholesome values, integrity, and showmanship as his music.
There were two ways you could incur my father's wrath. One was to interrupt his viewing of a Cub's game, the other was to somehow interrupt Lawrence Welk. I was a growing young man in the Rock and Roll days and we all thought Welk was from another planet. Now I am much older I can appreciate Welk much more.Would I give up Metallica for Welk? Not in your lifetime. But I understand the attraction. Welk was far more than music. He represented a more gentile time that my dad's generation saw was disappearing. Like the music or not, you could not argue with his honesty and sincerity. Sometimes I wish I was back in those times seeing my Dad watch Welk, cringing at the music, and loving every minute of it. Tell your folks how much you love them while you can.
I'm 65. I remember watching the Lawrence Welk show with my whole family every week. My grandfather, my dad, my brother all played the accordion. I found out that my grandmother and grandfather met each other on the dance floor in Yankton, SD, dancing to the live music of Lawrence Welk and the Hotsy Totsy Boys! Thank you for this trip down Memory Lane!
Hi Tom, My name is FRED GARRISON. I'm 73 years old, born and raised in New Jersey, now living in Northeast Pennsylvania. I don't think we're related. I too grew up listening to Lawrence Welk with my parents every Saturday night. Use to hate it, but my tastes have changed dramatically as I grew older. Compared to what they're calling music today, Lawrence Welk is a godsent.
My parents went to the ballroom in Santa Monica when he came to CA. My father was from Iowa and very much into polka music and was well aware of Lawrence Welk.. but I wish I had thought to ask if he ever saw him Live in the Midwest also. Of course I grew up with Lawrence Welk on every Sat night in CA. As the Lennon sisters said we were usually getting our hair rolled for church. In the summer we were later with grocery shopping and BBQ'ing but the TV would be playing the show and music outside thru open windows and screen door. This was great.. I never knew the details of Mr. Welk's early beginnings. Thank you for sharing! ❤️😃😪 Edit.. Also did not know the early connection of Myron Floran or how the Lennon sisters started with the show.👍
I'm a 62-year-old African-American woman and the same thing rain true in our home as well but we didn't get our hair set while watching his show we got our hair pressed and straightened for church on Sunday we loved the Lawrence welk show in our home he had one of the first black man on his show which was the tap dancer don't remember his name but we would especially watch his show because we actually saw someone on television that look like us thank you Mr. welk for the beautiful memories may your soul continue to rest in heaven♥️🥰☝️
@@judyglass9188 Arthur Duncan! A lot of people think of it as such a midwest/White show, and totally overlook that it was one of the first integrated shows!
Great documentary on Mr.Welks life. I’m a child of the 70’s/80’s and remember my grand parents and parents watching the show on the weekends. As a kid I found it uncool to watch and thought it was for old people. As I got older I started to appreciate this man’s talent and musical taste. I watch the reruns on PBS. I really enjoy them and it brings back memories of simpler times when the family would watch TV together.
My grandmother loved Lawrence Welk. She was also German from the Red River Valley of North Dakota/South Dakota. Everything would stop when the show was on. I can imagine that she was one of the fans that had written a letter to keep the show on the air.
When I was a kid we used to go to my Aunt Grace and Uncle Frank Varga's apartment in Chicago and at 8 pm, the world stopped when we adjourned to the living room to watch his program!!
Same. Now watching the show is bittersweet. Both sets of grandparents, who watched it, are gone, as are my parents, who I watched LW with each week. After my parents died, I couldn't watch at all. Now I watch it most Saturdays.
lawrence welk was a "FAMILY EVENT" every saturday night. I am also glad that the tune "CALCUTTA" went all the way to # 1 for two weeks on billboards hot 100 tunes in 1961. I have that 45 R.P.M. single on "DOT RECORDS"!!!!( in good shape) the tune sounds simple, however it is not a simple tune, there is a lot going on with the instrumentation," A GENIUS ARRANGEMENT "!!!!. when I watch these shows now, you can really see that" LAWRENCE WAS HAVING FUN "!!!!!!( not just an act).
As a kid, I'm sure I didn't find the reruns of Lawrence Welk any more entertaining than a lot of kids would have or perhaps did in the 70's; that being said, and now being grown and seeing where TV and society in general has gone, what a shame to see his show described as "corny" and the like when we now see that it was fun, clean and wholesome. It's a pleasure to have seen this biography, and to have learned more about the man behind the show and to know that it still lives and can still be enjoyed.
I was raised on two TV shows: My dad watched HEE HAW! and my grandmother watched Lawrence Welk. Today I am a professional musician and I still love both those shows.
ALL I CAN SAY IS THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS ON LAWRENCE TO MILLIONS OF HIS FOLLOWERS. I AM AN 88 YEAR OLD BRIT WHO ALSO ENJOYED THE DANCE BAND DAYS OF THE LATE FORTIES AND EARLY FIFTIES, BEING A TRUM;PET PLAYER IN MY LOCAL AND POPULAR DANCE BAND , INCIDENTLY I LEARNED MY MUSIC IN THE SALVATION ARMY FROM SEVEN YEARS OLD. FOLLOWING ON FIRST LEARNT OF LAWRENCE WELK FROM U TUBE. AND HAVE ABOUT 350 SHOWS FROM HIS LIFETIME LISTED SO THAT I CAN STILL SELECT AN INDIVIDUAL SHOW AT ANY TIME. HE WAS A GREAT ENTERTAINER HAVING RECEIVED MORE HONOURY AWARDS THAN ANY AMERICAN ENTERTAINER, PROBABLY IN TH WORLD, WHO KNOWS FINALLY ALL I CAN SAY IS THANK YOU LAWRENCE FOR MAKING A VERY OLD MAN VERY, VERY HAPPY. R. I P LOOK FORWARD MEETING YOU IN DUE COURSE.
My parents grew up on farms near to LW’s hometown so they would attend his dances during and after their high school years. Of course it was a Saturday evening ritual to watch the show. What memories of my family come back when watching this. I married a musician and his band played at Horner’s Blue Room in Strasburg, ND in the 1970’s. Don’t know if it’s still there but LW was a big part of our lives in ND.
I have watched the show for decades. In 1996 my family and I met saw a concert put on by various band members. I will never forget that evening. It makes me emotional today. Later we got pictures with Ralna, Mary Lou and Ava Barber. What a treasure.
The Lawrence Welk success story is an absolutely astounding case of making an American Dream come true. His 'Musical Family' were happy and truly decent 110%❗💎👍 *nearly every show in its own way was delightful.*🤗😊
Most loved: * Bobby Burgess and his wondetful dance partners. * The Lennon Sisters.💛💛💛 * The dance numbers. * The incredible honky tonk piano pounding. The amazing Joanne Castle.
That was beautiful! I'm 60 now, but I remember watching The Lawrence Welk show with my beloved grandmother (who lived with us after her husband passed in the 1960's), who adored him. She passed about a decade ago at age 98, and was like a 'second mom' to me. I will always remember the joy the show gave her (and me). My grandmother emigrated here from Greece way back when, and her English was always spotty, but when Mr. Welk was on stage, communicating with his music, she was entranced! Brings happy tears to my eyes...
Welk was such a wonderful man. In the 1980s, I worked at his record label. When I first started working there, he gave me a signed photo for my grandma. After that he would ask about her every time I saw him. My grandmother’s family came from Odessa Ukraine too. He wrote such a beautifully personal message on the photo. He had such a lovely spirit.
I was so delighted to watch his show that I didn't miss any of his Saturday shows. I loved and still love his music today. So far, I have not seen anyone else performing any TV show with the quality and fine taste in every detail as he did.
Lawrence Welk was his own genre of entertainment -- something very few in the entertainment industry have accomplished. He remained light and entertaining even when denounced as being too "corny." And what he did actually worked. It actually entertained people -- year after year after year.
I grew up on his music. I am now in my 70's and i am watching it again. He had a good heart for his music and was an old fashion person. He was a great band leader. i h ope pbs will contuniue to play his show.
I would watch The Lawrence Welk show every week with my mother. We even planned on traveling to California to attend a taping of his show but unfortunately, I procrastinated too long. When I worked in television, I was lucky enough to meet Lawrence Welk in person. And one time I got to meet Myron Floren at an airport, Mr. Welk's featured accordion player on the show. What I remember most about Mr. Welk was how much he smiled on television. Thank you for entertaining us. Rest In Peace Lawrence Welk and Myron Floren.
What a great expo on Lawrence. My grandfather, Charles Pavlik, was the drummer for Lawrence before he made it into big success. My grandmother kept telling grandpa he needed to get a "real job" until he quit the band. Even much later, I was still too young so never asked enough questions about it all until grandpa, grandma and dad were already gone. Grandpa played accordian (button and piano), harmonica, drums, base horn (tuba) and possibly more I don't know about. If Lawrence would have been more successful earlier he may have stayed as drummer at least. Couple of these older bands drummers might be my grandfather, but I can't verify it. Grandpa, grandma, dad and myself would watch LW weekly it was fun with grandpa in the room because the stories he told of those days, some good, some bad but always interesting. Oh to be able to go back in time. Grandpa passed at 89 years old in 1986, grandma and dad are gone as well, I wish I'd had more interest back then.
What a lovely story Marc. My grandparents were in vaudeville in NY and I wish I would have asked more questions too. Scrapbooks don’t tell the whole story. I was a teenager in the 70s and would watch Welk with them throughout the 60s and 70s. Thanks for your post and have a great day.
@@janfromseattle Jan, I was born at a time when Vaudeville was disappearing, but I remember a few of the songs of that era. Two of my favorites are "Who Put The Overalls In Mrs Murphy's Clam Chowder", and "Lead Him To The Roundhouse Nellie, He Can't Corner You There".
Omg.. I cried the last 10 mins of the video! The memories came flooding back of times at home as kid with mom and dad, grandma and grandpa watching LW and seeing the joy on their faces as they watched him on TV.. what a great video - thanks for posting this gem!!!
Exactly. As a boomer, this music wasn’t appealing to me but I’m forever grateful for the joy that he brought to my German grandparents. While not a great fan of the music, I’m a great fan of the man.
@@peppersander2457 Yeah, and you had an antenna that sat on top of the TV and you had to constantly adjust it with the flickering and sometimes rolling picture. They had roof antennas that were a lot better but my father was old school, you didn't spend money you didn't have to. In the fifties sometimes the picture was so bad, you just gave up and did something else.
The Lawrence Welk Show was a huge part of my childhood. My mom was German born and raised and we always saw Mr. WELK as a relative...the show, which I still watch reruns of, was never missed in our house.
His show came on here in the Washington, DC Metro Area on Sunday afternoons. Growing up my dad always turned in. He taught me to dance to it. He just loved it! I did too. I sang Good nite sleep tight ... to my parakeets before covering them. My mother thought it was corny and left the room. (Her loss) Dad had German roots and the family were entertainers also. We all play piano, organ and accordion. He was a great man. I will never forget those years.
Honestly while growing up in the sixties with only one household tv, rock n roll all the rage, kids having no rights and both parents choosing to watch the Lawrence Welk Show…us kids hated it. However, after watching this I have much appreciation for what he accomplished.
Both my parents absolutely loved the Lawrence Welk Show. They watched it every single week and enjoyed especially the ending of the show, where the orchestra would play popular dance music, often from the "big band" era and it was so great for them to see middle aged and older couples dance to that wonderful music. I have to admit my sister and I watched that show with our parents every Saturday afternoon in the 1970's. We really enjoyed it too. It had wonderful songs and dancing. I think it brought back wonderful memories for my Mom and Dad, who enjoyed the barn dances of the 1940's out in the country and met for the first time at one. My beloved father watched that show every Saturday evening until he died at 94 in 2012.
Yep, the show was a fixture in our home growing up in North Dakota, not far from his farm. One year, Mom & I were traveling back to California after a summer visit to our Farmstead in ND, & we stopped to tour the Welk Farm. I've read the biography, and enjoyed this documentary very much.
I really enjoyed this presentation. I was born in 1950 (Babyboomer) and grew up with this guy's show. The 'old folks' really loved this guy and his show. They just had to watch, 'The Welk Show.' Watching this presentation put a smile on my face.
This man is the Best American Dream I have ever seen. I am 75 and grew up this his music. Yes, I still love it. He is a American Treasure. When he died I felt like I lost part of my family. RIP My good friend, Jim
My grandmother met him and danced to his music in Yankton South Dakota back in his early days. Anytime we were over at my grandmother's house after she moved to Burbank California we had to watch him before we could watch Disney on her color TV. When I was stationed at March AFB Riverside California most of the 80s, he had a retirement community about 45 minutes from where I lived at. Every so often I watch his program on PBS.
As a kid growing up in the 60s, my family would always watch the Lawrence Welk show on Saturday nights and those wonderful times became a new beginning for me as I began taking accordion lesions and now I play Cajun Zydeco music ! It all began with the Lawrence Welk show!
Thanks for the great post. I also grew up watching with my grandparents and never appreciated the accordion until I saw Buckwheat Zydeco years ago. I’m a huge fan of zydeco and now appreciate the instrument!
@@janfromseattle Glad you enjoyed my post. I love Buckwheat’s style of playing also. Maybe our band ,The Gator Nation Band will play there in Seattle sometime. Regards Dennis
I have become a big fan of Zydeco music, and Gator Nation has been one of my favorite bands for many years. I've got a stack of your CD's and a very cool t shirt! You guys ROCK!
This was a smart man, look at everything he had aquired and built The Welk Group continues today more sucessful than ever. This was a talented man and one that appreciated his audience and fans. RIP Mr. Welk we miss you!!
Very informative video! Also, I met Myron Floren once. After playing his accordion in a concert, he signed autographs. There were about 20 people who wanted his autograph. He gave everyone an autograph who wanted one, and he had a big smile on his face the entire time! The other accordionist who performed left without signing any autographs.
I remember those Champaign bubbles coming across our color tv screen while my dad and mom watched this great man and his orchestra perform. I equally impressed of his uncompromising stance of decency in his shows. And some wonder why he lasted as long as he did? Well! there you go!
Lawrence Welk's show was comforting, clean with music that you knew was going to uplift your spirit...I used to watch the show as a teenager, especially when baby sitting on Saturday nights...
I used to watch Welk on a black and white Zenith with my Oma. He became the butt of jokes, but as a musician, I was always amazed by the AMAZING live performances. The Hotsy Totsies were the Bomb!
One of the smartest business moves LW ever made, was to hire Myron Floren. Not only a great musician.. but someone who shared the passion equally. Just watching them play the 12th Street Rag together.. not only playing With each other.. but playing Off each other as well. and people could really feel that. Forever matchless in the history of American entertainment, this was a beautiful monument to a beautiful man.
Two comments, Bass Player: (1) I played the contra-bass viol in symphony orchestras for 40 years until I had a health crisis and had to retire from it. (2) I had the great pleasure of actually meeting Myron Floren and his lovely wife, and interviewing them at an easy-listening radio station (KBVA 106.5 FM) near Bentonville Arkansas that I was working at in 1995. At the outset I was very nervous, but they were such warm and unassuming people they immediately set me at ease. BP, I enjoyed your comment very much.
I used to sit at my grandfather's feet in Grandpa and Grandma's living room, watching Lawrence Welk in a certain amount of confusion...but I trusted Grandpa, so I just listened, watched, and learned.
the music was joyful. it really does make you feel good. my favorite guests were the sisters because they sounded like angel the harmonies were so heavenly. that what I recall in the 60's but decades later, I saw the show on tv and was blown away that was still on! he had a beautiful smile and his accent was sweet.
LWs bio appeared almost identical to my Dads upbringing in Galva Iowa from German parents born in Hostein Germany that also came in the late 1800s the nine children attended aGerman Lutheran grade school! He would send money home as a telegraph operator on ships to help the family! I was very fortunate to have him as my Dad!
My grandmother adored Lawrence Welk. She was raised in Yankton SD by her Aunt Katie and Uncle Will Coacher and had great memories of Lawrence practicing in Katie's livingroom. I still have a friendship quilt that Katie made in 1914. She passed away at 90yrs in 1959 when I was 6yrs old
I can relate to this song we are a German family a musical family Lawrence was a great showman always loved his shows. So clean and refreshing were his performers and that was a great time miss him
Thank you so much. Just spectacular how God worked in his life and he obeyed. I thoroughly enjoyed this. I didn’t know any of his story, only when he became famous when I was young.
My wonderful dad would get so excited when Lawrence came on. I think there were reruns in the late 1990’s. I am understanding and appreciating my parents more everyday. They died 12 years ago and I miss them so much (they would have been 105). But this video brought them back to me for about an hour!!!
Funny you mention that. I was thinking just the other day my father's birthday was Feb 2 and he would have been 105 . (mother would have been in March as well)
This brought back memories of my youth at St Monica’s Catholic School. I went to school with Larry Welk and the Lennon Sisters. My mom and dad loved listening to Lawrence Welk Show every week. They felt like part of our family and Church.
I loved his music. I was devastated the day he died. I stayed home from school that day and people understood. I never realized he came from such humble beginnings. It makes me feel a little more confident now. Thank you for sharing this. God Bless You and stay safe.
In high school I was a musician. I attended a music camp and the band director was a great guy. He would take little breaks during rehearsals and share wisdom with us. One time he talked about what it takes to be a professional musician.. He pointed out the people in the Welk band where really good players and they may not really have cared for the music on the show, but it was good steady work and 'you gotta eat'. Lawrence ran a tight ship as I have heard and made sure his stable of performers stayed out of the news and did not bring any bad press. Watching reruns of the show is like traveling back in time, interesting to see what people found exciting and special.
"Not his cup of dish." "Take the AH train." "World War eye." ROTF LMAO 😂🤣 In all seriousness, I LOVED Lawrence Welk. So many people on here speak of their grandparents watching the show. For ME it was my PARENTS. Every Saturday night. When I was really little I used to have to go to bed in the middle of the show even though I wasn't sleepy but I could still hear the television. I still remember his closing song "good night...sleep tight...and pleasant dreams to you............" I used to imagine he was singing me to sleep. He WAS a true American success story as well as a national treasure. Only a 4th grade education and yet look how far he went! And he WAS, as she said "just an American with an accent." It wasn't like it is today with all these Hispanics demanding things be written in Spanish and not even trying to learn English. I LOVED his accent and I still remember my father, now in his 90's, imitating him (my father is half German). Its so sad that people have to pass from this earth. I believe Lawrence Welk is in Heaven with God. But boy oh boy we sure could use him on this earth today!
Excellent video. I never knew of his earlier life. Certainly my Mom was aware of it, she being of that generation. No wonder she liked his programs so much. Lawrence Welk- one of the great ones.
My dad loved The LW show. I vaguely remember watching it. This video popped up in my feed and I decided to watch and I'm glad I did. Lawrence s story is so inspiring. A life well lived.
I was just going to watch for a minute or two, but here I am at the end. LW's music speaks for itself and his character was far, far above some of his competitors, who don't deserve mention. His enthusiasm was infectious. I doubt if we'll ever see another like him.
I often spent week-ends with my Grandmother. She was born in 1879 and come to love the music and entertainment from and by LW. So, for many years on a Saturday night, I'd set in the rocking chair with grandma and we'd watch the magic unfold. Thank you for sharing a bringing back so many good memories.
Never heard of Lawrence Welk or any of this great American and Music History. I'm beginning to learn Accordion in 2021 and I hope to do Mr. Welk and the Accordion proud. The instrument may not get to return to previous glory but I believe a devoted and passionate bunch will keep it alive for generations to come. Thank You Mr. Welk for paving the way.
watching this biography of lawence welk brought back many memories of the family watching his show every saturday night, I half laughed and half cried all at the same time. musicians like him are a thing of the past. it has all been replaced by computers, drum machines, and auto- tune correction for our present day musicians that are unable to sing/ play "ON KEY"!!!!. todays music is total garbage. I am glad that "LAWRENCE" was able to put the tune "CALCUTTA" at the # 1 tune for 2 weeks on billboards hot 100 tunes in feb. 1961. I have that 45 R.P.M. single on "DOT RECORDS":( in good shape)
My dad, my mom, my childhood memories. Lawrence Welk's voice, his music evoke such strong feelings of nostalgia. It was a much safer time then in many ways. I remember my Lennon sisters coloring book! Thank you for posting this video. I'd give anything for one more Saturday night at home while Mom and Dad watched his show.
She was the saving grace for this kid in the 60s and 70s! My dad loved the show, was a conductor himself. Joanne Castle's barrel rolls and ragtime piano playing, bawdy (to me at the time anyway lol) humor and yes, white glove treatment of the piano made the show less....cringeworthy!
I stayed with my Grandmother (Monterey Calif) when I was young.(1960's) we gathered around the T.V. set and watched the Lawrence welk Show. The Level of musicianship was nothing short of amazing! I also enjoyed the song at the end of the show. Thank you for posting :)
Lawrence Welk was a giant in music business. He left us a long time ago, but his legacy is going to be with us for the decades to come. Thank you for this impressive documentary that warmedmy heart indeed. 😊🎉
My Imma and Poppa loved the Lawrence Welk show!! Would not miss it. They had a running joke they would do every time it aired. Poppa would sit in his easy chair and Imma would hers. Poppa was ALWAYS reading a news paper and Emma her magazines. When they would announce miss Norma Zimmer was about to sing, Poppa would lower the newspaper so he could watch her. Emma would begin to act and make faces like she was jealous. She would stare at him intently as if she was getting madder by the moment. Then Pop would look at her and move his thick black eyebrows (similar to Groucho Marx) up and down as though he had the hots for her. Emma would throw her magazines at him and say she knew he had a “thing” for Norma. He would start grinning and laughing about it. Emma, who was not really jealous at all would eventually laugh too, My older brother and I would laugh a lot. It was a game we played every week when Mr. Welk’s show came on.
I’m so grateful to the people who honored Mr.Lawrence Welk, making this video. I live in Santiago Chile and !i confess the big love and admiration I feel for his music. Unfortunately his music hasn’t been published here.
60 here, I watched many of those shows with my parents from the late 60's to the mid 70's, then I started dating a girl and had no time for these shows anymore until now thanks to youtube and algorithm.
The Lawrence Welk Show was a staple in our home. Most of the kids in my generation felt like it was torture. But by the time I was 4, maybe 5, I fell in love with an "older woman", Kathy Lennon. Don't laugh...I married a Kathy. It's amazing how many things he did that were innovations of the time that still help make performers into stars today.
I live in rural Nebraska. We had a local polka band leader, who was friends with Lawrence way back in Lawrence's early days in North Dakota. Lawrence taught him how to play the accordion. Years later in the early 1970's, after Lawrence Welk and his orchestra had become big time, this guy drove out to California to visit Lawrence. They went out to play a round of golf together. During the round, he asked Lawrence jokingly how much money he made last year. Lawrence shrugged, and simply replied "Oh, about $15-20 million".
We always watched his show with grandma. Lawrence Welk did her wedding dance in norfolk nebraska she was always a huge fan. I would watch waiting for baby elephant walk my favorite song as a kid.
My grandparents were also Germans from the same area of Russia. It's difficult to explain how hard life was on the Dakota plains. Lawrence Welk was held up as what could be with hard work, and self sacrifice. The comment about the depression being in the east was probably true as between drought, hail storms, grasshoppers , the lack of money was constant, not a few year thing.
I remember my Great Great Grandmother loved LW and never missed a show if She could help it. When us Kids would be over there She'd be in front of the TV tapping her foot and swaying Her Head. We were not as much into LW as She was but it is a very vivid Memory, She passed a Year before He did and would watch recordings on VHS of Her favorite episodes every so often after the Show ended it's run. Very fond Memories of this show even if we were too young to be fans of the style, She loved it!
Even as a kid, and teen, I always liked his show. The first time I ever saw Mamma Cass Elliot, was on his show. At the time, I was clueless as to who she was. She was in the audience and he called her down. I watched as she made her way all the way down and up to the stage. After a few words, he asked her to sing. NEVER in my life or imagination, could have pictured that absolutely beautiful [ and slightly seductive] voice coming from such a huge woman. I was totally shocked, and became an instant fan of hers. She sang: Dream A Little Dream Of Me. WOW‼️ 📻🙂
My goal is to provide a channel where every Lawrence Welk video and LP is available in its entirety.
If you would like to support me in this endeavor, please consider sending $2 - www.buymeacoffee.com/WelkLPs
This brought a few tears. I'm 78 now, but when I was a child growing up in Houston TX my Mom, and Dad, and I used to watch Lawrence Welk's show every Saturday night and it made us all very happy.
Ditto, just as you. Watched either babysitting or with family at home. So much respect for his standards and good example
My Dad was a WWII Veteran and was 15 years younger than Lawrence Welk. Dad watched Lawrence Welk on TV every Saturday night. About 1982, I asked my Dad why he liked Welk so much? He replied that he admired Lawrence Welk as much for his wholesome values, integrity, and showmanship as his music.
There were two ways you could incur my father's wrath. One was to interrupt his viewing of a Cub's game, the other was to somehow interrupt Lawrence Welk. I was a growing young man in the Rock and Roll days and we all thought Welk was from another planet. Now I am much older I can appreciate Welk much more.Would I give up Metallica for Welk? Not in your lifetime. But I understand the attraction. Welk was far more than music. He represented a more gentile time that my dad's generation saw was disappearing. Like the music or not, you could not argue with his honesty and sincerity. Sometimes I wish I was back in those times seeing my Dad watch Welk, cringing at the music, and loving every minute of it. Tell your folks how much you love them while you can.
As Lawrence Welk honored God, God greatly blessed Mr. Welk. A life well lived.
Amen!!!!
Thank you, Tex, for honoring God yourself with your refreshing comment.
I'm 65. I remember watching the Lawrence Welk show with my whole family every week. My grandfather, my dad, my brother all played the accordion. I found out that my grandmother and grandfather met each other on the dance floor in Yankton, SD, dancing to the live music of Lawrence Welk and the Hotsy Totsy Boys! Thank you for this trip down Memory Lane!
Wow, what a great memory of your family's history! Thanx for sharing!
Hi Tom, My name is FRED GARRISON. I'm 73 years old, born and raised in New Jersey, now living in Northeast Pennsylvania. I don't think we're related. I too grew up listening to Lawrence Welk with my parents every Saturday night. Use to hate it, but my tastes have changed dramatically as I grew older. Compared to what they're calling music today, Lawrence Welk is a godsent.
@@FREDGARRISON 👍
My parents went to the ballroom in Santa Monica when he came to CA. My father was from Iowa and very much into polka music and was well aware of Lawrence Welk.. but I wish I had thought to ask if he ever saw him Live in the Midwest also. Of course I grew up with Lawrence Welk on every Sat night in CA. As the Lennon sisters said we were usually getting our hair rolled for church. In the summer we were later with grocery shopping and BBQ'ing but the TV would be playing the show and music outside thru open windows and screen door. This was great.. I never knew the details of Mr. Welk's early beginnings. Thank you for sharing! ❤️😃😪 Edit.. Also did not know the early connection of Myron Floran or how the Lennon sisters started with the show.👍
@@karendixon401 I had no IDEA that he'd mentored Myron Floren!!
I'm only 32, but I grew up watching the Lawrence Welk show reruns on PBS. The epitome of wholesome family content!
Same. I used to watch on wcmu and wkar
I'm a 62-year-old African-American woman and the same thing rain true in our home as well but we didn't get our hair set while watching his show we got our hair pressed and straightened for church on Sunday we loved the Lawrence welk show in our home he had one of the first black man on his show which was the tap dancer don't remember his name but we would especially watch his show because we actually saw someone on television that look like us thank you Mr. welk for the beautiful memories may your soul continue to rest in heaven♥️🥰☝️
@@judyglass9188 Arthur Duncan! A lot of people think of it as such a midwest/White show, and totally overlook that it was one of the first integrated shows!
Any non-boomer who watched the Lawrence Welk show while growing up, can be an honorary baby boomer!
My dad's favourite.There was no choice every Saturday evening we had to watch.
Great documentary on Mr.Welks life. I’m a child of the 70’s/80’s and remember my grand parents and parents watching the show on the weekends. As a kid I found it uncool to watch and thought it was for old people. As I got older I started to appreciate this man’s talent and musical taste. I watch the reruns on PBS. I really enjoy them and it brings back memories of simpler times when the family would watch TV together.
My grandmother loved Lawrence Welk. She was also German from the Red River Valley of North Dakota/South Dakota. Everything would stop when the show was on. I can imagine that she was one of the fans that had written a letter to keep the show on the air.
When I was a kid we used to go to my Aunt Grace and Uncle Frank Varga's apartment in Chicago and at 8 pm, the world stopped when we adjourned to the living room to watch his program!!
Ever since my childhood, The Lawrence Welk Show was a staple for our family to enjoy every Saturday evening. Thanks so much for sharing this!!! ;o)
Same. Now watching the show is bittersweet. Both sets of grandparents, who watched it, are gone, as are my parents, who I watched LW with each week. After my parents died, I couldn't watch at all. Now I watch it most Saturdays.
Me too
Mine too. Family friendly and great music. This day and age won't understand.
lawrence welk was a "FAMILY EVENT" every saturday night. I am also glad that the tune "CALCUTTA" went all the way to # 1 for two weeks on billboards hot 100 tunes in 1961. I have that 45 R.P.M. single on "DOT RECORDS"!!!!( in good shape) the tune sounds simple, however it is not a simple tune, there is a lot going on with the instrumentation," A GENIUS ARRANGEMENT "!!!!. when I watch these shows now, you can really see that" LAWRENCE WAS HAVING FUN "!!!!!!( not just an act).
@@twistoffate4791 Same here! My grandmother watched every week!
As a kid, I'm sure I didn't find the reruns of Lawrence Welk any more entertaining than a lot of kids would have or perhaps did in the 70's; that being said, and now being grown and seeing where TV and society in general has gone, what a shame to see his show described as "corny" and the like when we now see that it was fun, clean and wholesome. It's a pleasure to have seen this biography, and to have learned more about the man behind the show and to know that it still lives and can still be enjoyed.
I was raised on two TV shows: My dad watched HEE HAW! and my grandmother watched Lawrence Welk. Today I am a professional musician and I still love both those shows.
ALL I CAN SAY IS THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS ON LAWRENCE TO MILLIONS OF HIS FOLLOWERS. I AM AN 88 YEAR OLD BRIT WHO ALSO ENJOYED THE DANCE BAND DAYS OF THE LATE FORTIES AND EARLY FIFTIES, BEING A TRUM;PET PLAYER IN MY LOCAL AND POPULAR DANCE BAND , INCIDENTLY I LEARNED MY MUSIC IN THE SALVATION ARMY FROM SEVEN YEARS OLD. FOLLOWING ON FIRST LEARNT OF LAWRENCE WELK FROM U TUBE. AND HAVE ABOUT 350 SHOWS FROM HIS LIFETIME LISTED SO THAT I CAN STILL SELECT AN INDIVIDUAL SHOW AT ANY TIME. HE WAS A GREAT ENTERTAINER HAVING RECEIVED MORE HONOURY AWARDS THAN ANY AMERICAN ENTERTAINER, PROBABLY IN TH WORLD, WHO KNOWS FINALLY ALL I CAN SAY IS THANK YOU LAWRENCE FOR MAKING A VERY OLD MAN VERY, VERY HAPPY. R. I P LOOK FORWARD MEETING YOU IN DUE COURSE.
My parents grew up on farms near to LW’s hometown so they would attend his dances during and after their high school years. Of course it was a Saturday evening ritual to watch the show. What memories of my family come back when watching this. I married a musician and his band played at Horner’s Blue Room in Strasburg, ND in the 1970’s. Don’t know if it’s still there but LW was a big part of our lives in ND.
Please take off your caps lock. Hard to read and seen as screaming. Much thanks.
I have watched the show for decades. In 1996 my family and I met saw a concert put on by various band members. I will never forget that evening. It makes me emotional today. Later we got pictures with Ralna, Mary Lou and Ava Barber. What a treasure.
The Lawrence Welk success story is an absolutely astounding case of making an American Dream come true.
His 'Musical Family' were happy and truly decent 110%❗💎👍 *nearly every show in its own way was delightful.*🤗😊
Most loved:
* Bobby Burgess and his wondetful dance partners.
* The Lennon Sisters.💛💛💛
* The dance numbers.
* The incredible honky tonk piano pounding. The amazing Joanne Castle.
That was beautiful! I'm 60 now, but I remember watching The Lawrence Welk show with my beloved grandmother (who lived with us after her husband passed in the 1960's), who adored him. She passed about a decade ago at age 98, and was like a 'second mom' to me. I will always remember the joy the show gave her (and me). My grandmother emigrated here from Greece way back when, and her English was always spotty, but when Mr. Welk was on stage, communicating with his music, she was entranced! Brings happy tears to my eyes...
As a young man i loved his show and music as a matter of fact i can still enjoy it.
Welk was such a wonderful man. In the 1980s, I worked at his record label. When I first started working there, he gave me a signed photo for my grandma. After that he would ask about her every time I saw him. My grandmother’s family came from Odessa Ukraine too. He wrote such a beautifully personal message on the photo. He had such a lovely spirit.
Great story! I own quite a few Welk albums.
Lovely comment, Jan!
@@notmyworld44 Thank you! 😀
How sweet! ❤️😊
I was so delighted to watch his show that I didn't miss any of his Saturday shows. I loved and still love his music today. So far, I have not seen anyone else performing any TV show with the quality and fine taste in every detail as he did.
Lawrence Welk was his own genre of entertainment -- something very few in the entertainment industry have accomplished. He remained light and entertaining even when denounced as being too "corny." And what he did actually worked. It actually entertained people -- year after year after year.
I grew up on his music. I am now in my 70's and i am watching it again. He had a good heart for his music and was an old fashion person. He was a great band leader. i h ope pbs will contuniue to play his show.
I would watch The Lawrence Welk show every week with my mother. We even planned on traveling to California to attend a taping of his show but unfortunately, I procrastinated too long. When I worked in television, I was lucky enough to meet Lawrence Welk in person. And one time I got to meet Myron Floren at an airport, Mr. Welk's featured accordion player on the show. What I remember most about Mr. Welk was how much he smiled on television. Thank you for entertaining us. Rest In Peace Lawrence Welk and Myron Floren.
I am 60 years old , Born in 1963 And have very Fond Memories of the Lawrence Welk show on TV . I admire his style and sound !
What a great expo on Lawrence. My grandfather, Charles Pavlik, was the drummer for Lawrence before he made it into big success.
My grandmother kept telling grandpa he needed to get a "real job" until he quit the band. Even much later, I was still too young so never asked enough questions about it all until grandpa, grandma and dad were already gone.
Grandpa played accordian (button and piano), harmonica, drums, base horn (tuba) and possibly more I don't know about. If Lawrence would have been more successful earlier he may have stayed as drummer at least. Couple of these older bands drummers might be my grandfather, but I can't verify it. Grandpa, grandma, dad and myself would watch LW weekly it was fun with grandpa in the room because the stories he told of those days, some good, some bad but always interesting. Oh to be able to go back in time.
Grandpa passed at 89 years old in 1986, grandma and dad are gone as well, I wish I'd had more interest back then.
What a lovely story Marc. My grandparents were in vaudeville in NY and I wish I would have asked more questions too. Scrapbooks don’t tell the whole story. I was a teenager in the 70s and would watch Welk with them throughout the 60s and 70s. Thanks for your post and have a great day.
Marc, I love your warmly nostalgic comment here!
@@janfromseattle Jan, I was born at a time when Vaudeville was disappearing, but I remember a few of the songs of that era. Two of my favorites are "Who Put The Overalls In Mrs Murphy's Clam Chowder", and "Lead Him To The Roundhouse Nellie, He Can't Corner You There".
I still watch this show on pbs tv, 2022, he will live on forever, a true music pioneer.
Omg.. I cried the last 10 mins of the video! The memories came flooding back of times at home as kid with mom and dad, grandma and grandpa watching LW and seeing the joy on their faces as they watched him on TV.. what a great video - thanks for posting this gem!!!
Thanks for sharing!!
Exactly. As a boomer, this music wasn’t appealing to me but I’m forever grateful for the joy that he brought to my German grandparents. While not a great fan of the music, I’m a great fan of the man.
Yes those were the days where there was only one television in the house and the family watched TV together.
@@peppersander2457 Yeah, and you had an antenna that sat on top of the TV and you had to constantly adjust it with the flickering and sometimes rolling picture. They had roof antennas that were a lot better but my father was old school, you didn't spend money you didn't have to. In the fifties sometimes the picture was so bad, you just gave up and did something else.
@@dbeausLOL yes, we found other fun and interesting things to do.
The Lawrence Welk Show was a huge part of my childhood. My mom was German born and raised and we always saw Mr. WELK as a relative...the show, which I still watch reruns of, was never missed in our house.
His show came on here in the Washington, DC Metro Area on Sunday afternoons. Growing up my dad always turned in. He taught me to dance to it. He just loved it! I did too. I sang Good nite sleep tight ... to my parakeets before covering them. My mother thought it was corny and left the room. (Her loss) Dad had German roots and the family were entertainers also. We all play piano, organ and accordion. He was a great man. I will never forget those years.
Honestly while growing up in the sixties with only one household tv, rock n roll all the rage, kids having no rights and both parents choosing to watch the Lawrence Welk Show…us kids hated it. However, after watching this I have much appreciation for what he accomplished.
Both my parents absolutely loved the Lawrence Welk Show. They watched it every single week and enjoyed especially the ending of the show, where the orchestra would play popular dance music, often from the "big band" era and it was so great for them to see middle aged and older couples dance to that wonderful music. I have to admit my sister and I watched that show with our parents every Saturday afternoon in the 1970's. We really enjoyed it too. It had wonderful songs and dancing. I think it brought back wonderful memories for my Mom and Dad, who enjoyed the barn dances of the 1940's out in the country and met for the first time at one. My beloved father watched that show every Saturday evening until he died at 94 in 2012.
Lawrence Welk was our Saturday night feature. He was a joy and we all loved it.
Yep, the show was a fixture in our home growing up in North Dakota, not far from his farm. One year, Mom & I were traveling back to California after a summer visit to our Farmstead in ND, & we stopped to tour the Welk Farm. I've read the biography, and enjoyed this documentary very much.
I really enjoyed this presentation. I was born in 1950 (Babyboomer) and grew up with this guy's show. The 'old folks' really loved this guy and his show. They just had to watch, 'The Welk Show.' Watching this presentation put a smile on my face.
This man is the Best American Dream I have ever seen. I am 75 and grew up this his music. Yes, I still love it. He is a American Treasure. When he died I felt like I lost part of my family. RIP My good friend, Jim
Thank you. The memories, the music, the simpler times, and the love.
As a rock musician, I began to appreciate how good these players in LW's band were when I got older. Watch the PBS reruns now and then.
A fellow Finn, appreciating skill above all.
Same! Some of the best musicians in the business in his orchestra. Guitarists Neil Levang and Buddy Merrill were top notch players.
@@artierobinette4903 Yes, Artie, and Dick Kessner, the lead violinist!
My grandmother met him and danced to his music in Yankton South Dakota back in his early days. Anytime we were over at my grandmother's house after she moved to Burbank California we had to watch him before we could watch Disney on her color TV. When I was stationed at March AFB Riverside California most of the 80s, he had a retirement community about 45 minutes from where I lived at. Every so often I watch his program on PBS.
As a kid growing up in the 60s, my family would always watch the Lawrence Welk show on Saturday nights and those wonderful times became a new beginning for me as I began taking accordion lesions and now I play Cajun Zydeco music ! It all began with the Lawrence Welk show!
Oui ami mas
@@CliftonBowers-pc2xu 👍👏🎶
Thanks for the great post. I also grew up watching with my grandparents and never appreciated the accordion until I saw Buckwheat Zydeco years ago. I’m a huge fan of zydeco and now appreciate the instrument!
@@janfromseattle Glad you enjoyed my post. I love Buckwheat’s style of playing also. Maybe our band ,The Gator Nation Band will play there in Seattle sometime.
Regards Dennis
I have become a big fan of Zydeco music, and Gator Nation has been one of my favorite bands for many years. I've got a stack of your CD's and a very cool t shirt! You guys ROCK!
As a young child and as a teenager, I LOVED watching Welk !!!
Great show. I used to watch The Welk show every Saturday night with my family
I still watch Welk on PBS. Thank you, Lawrence!
This was a smart man, look at everything he had aquired and built The Welk Group continues today more sucessful than ever. This was a talented man and one that appreciated his audience and fans. RIP Mr. Welk we miss you!!
Very informative video! Also, I met Myron Floren once. After playing his accordion in a concert, he signed autographs. There were about 20 people who wanted his autograph. He gave everyone an autograph who wanted one, and he had a big smile on his face the entire time! The other accordionist who performed left without signing any autographs.
I remember those Champaign bubbles coming across our color tv screen while my dad and mom watched this great man and his orchestra perform. I equally impressed of his uncompromising stance of decency in his shows. And some wonder why he lasted as long as he did? Well! there you go!
Lawrence Welk's show was comforting, clean with music that you knew was going to uplift your spirit...I used to watch the show as a teenager, especially when baby sitting on Saturday nights...
His show was part of our lives and I too had a red, white & blue plastic accordion as a child. Thankyou for his autobiography. Beautifully done.
I loved the Lawrence Welk show as a child in the 60's and still do! Such a wunnerful man! 🙂❤ 🪗
My grandparents never missed one episode and they smiled from ear to ear! RIP
I used to watch Welk on a black and white Zenith with my Oma. He became the butt of jokes, but as a musician, I was always amazed by the AMAZING live performances. The Hotsy Totsies were the Bomb!
One of the smartest business moves LW ever made, was to hire Myron Floren. Not only a great musician.. but someone who shared the passion equally. Just watching them play the 12th Street Rag together.. not only playing With each other.. but playing Off each other as well. and people could really feel that. Forever matchless in the history of American entertainment, this was a beautiful monument to a beautiful man.
Two comments, Bass Player: (1) I played the contra-bass viol in symphony orchestras for 40 years until I had a health crisis and had to retire from it. (2) I had the great pleasure of actually meeting Myron Floren and his lovely wife, and interviewing them at an easy-listening radio station (KBVA 106.5 FM) near Bentonville Arkansas that I was working at in 1995. At the outset I was very nervous, but they were such warm and unassuming people they immediately set me at ease. BP, I enjoyed your comment very much.
I used to sit at my grandfather's feet in Grandpa and Grandma's living room, watching Lawrence Welk in a certain amount of confusion...but I trusted Grandpa, so I just listened, watched, and learned.
the music was joyful. it really does make you feel good. my favorite guests were the sisters because they sounded like angel the harmonies were so heavenly. that what I recall in the 60's but decades later, I saw the show on tv and was blown away that was still on! he had a beautiful smile and his accent was sweet.
LWs bio appeared almost identical to my Dads upbringing in Galva Iowa from German parents born in Hostein Germany that also came in the late 1800s the nine children attended aGerman Lutheran grade school! He would send money home as a telegraph operator on ships to help the family! I was very fortunate to have him as my Dad!
My grandmother adored Lawrence Welk. She was raised in Yankton SD by her Aunt Katie and Uncle Will Coacher and had great memories of Lawrence practicing in Katie's livingroom. I still have a friendship quilt that Katie made in 1914. She passed away at 90yrs in 1959 when I was 6yrs old
I can relate to this song we are a German family a musical family Lawrence was a great showman always loved his shows. So clean and refreshing were his performers and that was a great time miss him
Thank you so much. Just spectacular how God worked in his life and he obeyed. I thoroughly enjoyed this. I didn’t know any of his story, only when he became famous when I was young.
My wonderful dad would get so excited when Lawrence came on. I think there were reruns in the late 1990’s. I am understanding and appreciating my parents more everyday. They died 12 years ago and I miss them so much (they would have been 105). But this video brought them back to me for about an hour!!!
Funny you mention that. I was thinking just the other day my father's birthday was Feb 2 and he would have been 105 . (mother would have been in March as well)
My father would have been 106. His birthday was in April.
This brought back memories of my youth at St Monica’s Catholic School. I went to school with Larry Welk and the Lennon Sisters. My mom and dad loved listening to Lawrence Welk Show every week. They felt like part of our family and Church.
I loved his music. I was devastated the day he died. I stayed home from school that day and people understood. I never realized he came from such humble beginnings. It makes me feel a little more confident now. Thank you for sharing this. God Bless You and stay safe.
In high school I was a musician. I attended a music camp and the band director was a great guy. He would take little breaks during rehearsals and share wisdom with us. One time he talked about what it takes to be a professional musician.. He pointed out the people in the Welk band where really good players and they may not really have cared for the music on the show, but it was good steady work and 'you gotta eat'. Lawrence ran a tight ship as I have heard and made sure his stable of performers stayed out of the news and did not bring any bad press.
Watching reruns of the show is like traveling back in time, interesting to see what people found exciting and special.
He had the most marvellous smile on TV. I love his show as a kid
He was truly a national treasure.
"Not his cup of dish." "Take the AH train." "World War eye." ROTF LMAO 😂🤣
In all seriousness, I LOVED Lawrence Welk. So many people on here speak of their grandparents watching the show. For ME it was my PARENTS. Every Saturday night. When I was really little I used to have to go to bed in the middle of the show even though I wasn't sleepy but I could still hear the television. I still remember his closing song "good night...sleep tight...and pleasant dreams to you............" I used to imagine he was singing me to sleep.
He WAS a true American success story as well as a national treasure. Only a 4th grade education and yet look how far he went! And he WAS, as she said "just an American with an accent." It wasn't like it is today with all these Hispanics demanding things be written in Spanish and not even trying to learn English. I LOVED his accent and I still remember my father, now in his 90's, imitating him (my father is half German).
Its so sad that people have to pass from this earth. I believe Lawrence Welk is in Heaven with God. But boy oh boy we sure could use him on this earth today!
Excellent video. I never knew of his earlier life. Certainly my Mom was aware of it, she being of that generation. No wonder she liked his programs so much. Lawrence Welk- one of the great ones.
still watch the show on PBS thank you what a great tribute you put together
I am so thankful that I grew up in an era when music like this was plentiful. Young people today have NO idea of what real music is.
My dad loved The LW show. I vaguely remember watching it. This video popped up in my feed and I decided to watch and I'm glad I did. Lawrence s story is so inspiring. A life well lived.
I just watched this on a Saturday night and I am going to church tomorrow. After all these years, memories of Saturday nights in my childhood
I was just going to watch for a minute or two, but here I am at the end. LW's music speaks for itself and his character was far, far above some of his competitors, who don't deserve mention. His enthusiasm was infectious. I doubt if we'll ever see another like him.
A whole lot of musical talent concentrated in one little TV show -- that was what Lawrence Welk brought to us.
I often spent week-ends with my Grandmother. She was born in 1879 and come to love the music and entertainment from and by LW. So, for many years on a Saturday night, I'd set in the rocking chair with grandma and we'd watch the magic unfold. Thank you for sharing a bringing back so many good memories.
Never heard of Lawrence Welk or any of this great American and Music History. I'm beginning to learn Accordion in 2021 and I hope to do Mr. Welk and the Accordion proud. The instrument may not get to return to previous glory but I believe a devoted and passionate bunch will keep it alive for generations to come. Thank You Mr. Welk for paving the way.
I was 8 yrs old. Took lessons for 5 yrs playing the accordion in school activities. Everyone enjoyed including BILL BURNS contest show.
I’m dumbfounded. My Polish grandparents told me he was Polish!!! I think that speaks to how much he was loved in so many homes. ❤️
watching this biography of lawence welk brought back many memories of the family watching his show every saturday night, I half laughed and half cried all at the same time. musicians like him are a thing of the past. it has all been replaced by computers, drum machines, and auto- tune correction for our present day musicians that are unable to sing/ play "ON KEY"!!!!. todays music is total garbage. I am glad that "LAWRENCE" was able to put the tune "CALCUTTA" at the # 1 tune for 2 weeks on billboards hot 100 tunes in feb. 1961. I have that 45 R.P.M. single on "DOT RECORDS":( in good shape)
My parents and I watched this every Sat. night! Jo Ann Castle was my "inspiration" to play piano! 🎹🎶🎶🎶🌟🤗❤️
My dad, my mom, my childhood memories. Lawrence Welk's voice, his music evoke such strong feelings of nostalgia. It was a much safer time then in many ways. I remember my Lennon sisters coloring book! Thank you for posting this video. I'd give anything for one more Saturday night at home while Mom and Dad watched his show.
I loved Jo Ann Castle.
Sometimes Jo Ann wore gloves while she played the piano.
She was the saving grace for this kid in the 60s and 70s! My dad loved the show, was a conductor himself. Joanne Castle's barrel rolls and ragtime piano playing, bawdy (to me at the time anyway lol) humor and yes, white glove treatment of the piano made the show less....cringeworthy!
I stayed with my Grandmother (Monterey Calif) when I was young.(1960's) we gathered around the T.V. set and watched the Lawrence welk Show. The Level of musicianship was nothing short of amazing! I also enjoyed the song at the end of the show. Thank you for posting :)
Such nice memories watching my mom and dad dancing to the music of Lawrence Welk while watching him on TV.
Lawrence Welk was a giant in music business. He left us a long time ago, but his legacy is going to be with us for the decades to come. Thank you for this impressive documentary that warmedmy heart indeed. 😊🎉
I watched his music since 1958 as a 10 year old we would go to the across the street neighbor and watch her TV WOW 63 (almost 64) years ago.
My Imma and Poppa loved the Lawrence Welk show!! Would not miss it. They had a running joke they would do every time it aired. Poppa would sit in his easy chair and Imma would hers. Poppa was ALWAYS reading a news paper and Emma her magazines. When they would announce miss Norma Zimmer was about to sing, Poppa would lower the newspaper so he could watch her. Emma would begin to act and make faces like she was jealous. She would stare at him intently as if she was getting madder by the moment. Then Pop would look at her and move his thick black eyebrows (similar to Groucho Marx) up and down as though he had the hots for her. Emma would throw her magazines at him and say she knew he had a “thing” for Norma. He would start grinning and laughing about it. Emma, who was not really jealous at all would eventually laugh too, My older brother and I would laugh a lot. It was a game we played every week when Mr. Welk’s show came on.
What great memories!
Thank you for posting this.I have never saw this before.The show was very interesting.
I’m so grateful to the people who honored Mr.Lawrence Welk, making this video. I live in Santiago Chile and !i confess the big love and admiration I feel for his music. Unfortunately his music hasn’t been published here.
Glad you enjoyed it
I'm 61 and I have fond memories of Lawerance welk s show with my grandfather we would eat ginger snaps and butter watching the show best memories ever
60 here, I watched many of those shows with my parents from the late 60's to the mid 70's, then I started dating a girl and had no time for these shows anymore until now thanks to youtube and algorithm.
Sometime the algorithm shows us things we didn't know we wanted to watch!
My dad and grandparents followed LW forever we lived in Yankton SD for years and dad always introduced that he came from where LW got started
Lawrence Welk was awesome,,,one in 2 million musician and person...We were all blessed to hear and see him.....
The Lawrence Welk Show was a staple in our home. Most of the kids in my generation felt like it was torture. But by the time I was 4, maybe 5, I fell in love with an "older woman", Kathy Lennon. Don't laugh...I married a Kathy. It's amazing how many things he did that were innovations of the time that still help make performers into stars today.
My dad and I used to "dance" to this show when I was little enough to put my feet on his shoes! It WAS as if the "world stopped"!
OMG! I used to watch the Lawrence Well Show with my family when I was young! I still watch the on PBS!
Wonderful memories!
I live in rural Nebraska. We had a local polka band leader, who was friends with Lawrence way back in Lawrence's early days in North Dakota. Lawrence taught him how to play the accordion. Years later in the early 1970's, after Lawrence Welk and his orchestra had become big time, this guy drove out to California to visit Lawrence. They went out to play a round of golf together. During the round, he asked Lawrence jokingly how much money he made last year. Lawrence shrugged, and simply replied "Oh, about $15-20 million".
We always watched his show with grandma. Lawrence Welk did her wedding dance in norfolk nebraska she was always a huge fan. I would watch waiting for baby elephant walk my favorite song as a kid.
My grandparents were also Germans from the same area of Russia. It's difficult to explain how hard life was on the Dakota plains. Lawrence Welk was held up as what could be with hard work, and self sacrifice. The comment about the depression being in the east was probably true as between drought, hail storms, grasshoppers , the lack of money was constant, not a few year thing.
I remember watching this every week with my family.
This and Sing Along with Mitch were two shows my parents never missed.
I remember my Great Great Grandmother loved LW and never missed a show if She could help it. When us Kids would be over there She'd be in front of the TV tapping her foot and swaying Her Head. We were not as much into LW as She was but it is a very vivid Memory, She passed a Year before He did and would watch recordings on VHS of Her favorite episodes every so often after the Show ended it's run. Very fond Memories of this show even if we were too young to be fans of the style, She loved it!
Great story. I wish I had those old VHS tapes of hers. It’s getting hard to find all of the lost episodes.
Grew up watching his show. He was dorky and seemed to embrace his very dorkiness.
Even as a kid, and teen, I always liked his show.
The first time I ever saw Mamma Cass Elliot, was on his show. At the time, I was clueless as to who she was.
She was in the audience and he called her down.
I watched as she made her way all the way down and up to the stage. After a few words, he asked her to sing. NEVER in my life or imagination, could have pictured that absolutely beautiful [ and slightly seductive] voice coming from such a huge woman. I was totally shocked, and became an instant fan of hers. She sang:
Dream A Little Dream Of Me.
WOW‼️
📻🙂
She did have a great voice!