Last night, I watched another rerun of the PBS showing of the annual Lawrence Welk Christmas show. It was, and is, a spectacular collection of music, incredibly corny skits, and an army of talented, charming children of cast members.
My mom loved the weekly Lawrence Welk shows; she never missed one episode. We had a Motorola television set (black and white, of course). When it was time for the show, my mom would quiet everyone, and we’d dive into the music and entertainment.
A show like his wouldn’t have a chance in today’s media market. However, at the time, he (and the show) was one of the most popular ever. How Lawrence Welk went from his Honolulu Fruit Gum Orchestra leadership to Champagne Music is beyond my imagination. I saw a live show decades ago; it was terrific, and the other guests around me were a rainbow of early 60’s fashion.
He was pretty strict with show members. However, he featured and introduced some of the most talented, professional, and famous musicians ever. The performers radiated talent even in the early days before the color broadcast. As the show grew and improved, artists like The Lennon Sisters, Norma Zimmer, and Myron Cohen kept their train moving ahead and on time.
Around the time the program moved into color broadcasting, we bought a new television; now, my mom was thrilled. The show had the most incredible costumes; the dance numbers were spectacular, and the audience grew. Now, the show is one of PBS’s most-watched weekly programs. It’s possible to see fantastic performers like Ava Barber, Lynn Anderson, Bobby Burgess (from the Mickey Mouse Club), and Jo-Ann Castle.
From time to time, PBS features one of the earlier shows, sponsored by Geritol; now that’s a name brand that will live on forever, just like the show itself.
Are we there yet? 