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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!
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!!
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.
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).
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.
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.
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 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.
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...
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 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.
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.
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.
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".
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 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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!!
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
"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!
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.
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...
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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
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
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.
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)
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!
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 :)
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Good stuff, thank you for posting. God willing, I'll turn 72 next month, having immigrated with my Czech mom in '56; so, yes, watched aLW on the Philco T.V. when it worked 😊
When I was a child in Louisville ky my mother and Aunt Mil would plan a trip to Cincinnati Ohio to the Cincinnati's zoo. But the highlight of trip was the Lawrence Well show at the hotel that evening. Louisville television stations did not schedule his show then. What great weekend trip.
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".
