And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
I watched the B&W versions of Welk’s Champagne hour on a 12 inch Dumont TV at my grandparent's house back in the 1950s and I still occasionally watch reruns on my local PBS channel.
It was the only show my dad wanted to work all week. We let him, most of the time. Wish we had every Saturday night. He did everything for us and asked nothing other than we be honest and kind. I think Lawrence Welk and his show was a part of that strength and kindness that his generation had and we need.
Performed with the best, white-bread, bouncy wholesomeness tone. The producers heard 'Jesus' in the lyrics and thought it was a nice Christian song. I like to think the actual performers were getting some sly enjoyment out of pranking all those squares.
I had to watch it at my Grandparents. They were from Nebraska and had actually met the gentleman way back in the 40's when he was traveling around doing Barn Dances.
I watched my fair share at my grandparents when we would visit them in Fresno. I would watch them all now just to be with my grandparents again. Good times.
I was tasked with taking my grandmother to a taping of the show in Hollywood when I was a junior in high school. She seemed impossibly old, two years younger than I am now.
The time they did a rendition of "One Toke Over The Line" on Lawrence Welk might be the funniest thing that ever happened. To this day I am not convinced they knew what the words meant.
I met Myron Floren ( star accordionist on the show) in person at an accordion competition in Colorado. He was my musical hero and I watched the show every week hoping to learn something from him. I still like the reruns.
Every Sunday afternoon/evening at my grandparents: "ABC's Wide World of Sports" followed by: "Hee Haw" followed by: "The Lawrence Welk Show" followed by: "The Wonderful World of Disney"
I had to sit through the first 3 if I wanted to watch the last one. ...and then dinner.
I miss my grandparents desperately, even after 30+ years.
In the late '50s and early '60s my grandparents had a little cabin in Felton, California, near Santa Cruz. It was just above Zayante Creek, which was crawling with crawdads. Their place had a short trail leading down to the creek. 60 years later, I still remember the place as being completely magical.
And your parents have likely passed away a while ago. 13 channels of s#it on the TV to choose from as Pink Floyd one said. Not lots of options at night.
Both sides of my family grew up not many miles from Strasburg ND. Grandparents went to many of the dances he put on wayyyy back in the day. So yeah, it was a requirement to watch the show every week.
The Horror!!!
ReplyDeleteI watched the B&W versions of Welk’s Champagne hour on a 12 inch Dumont TV at my grandparent's house back in the 1950s and I still occasionally watch reruns on my local PBS channel.
ReplyDelete"I still occasionally watch reruns"
DeleteWHY?
It means you were raised in a decent loving household. You owe them.
ReplyDeleteIt was the only show my dad wanted to work all week. We let him, most of the time. Wish we had every Saturday night. He did everything for us and asked nothing other than we be honest and kind.
DeleteI think Lawrence Welk and his show was a part of that strength and kindness that his generation had and we need.
For giggles watch them perform "One toke over the line, sweet Jesus". It's on youtube
ReplyDeleteAl_in_Ottawa
Performed with the best, white-bread, bouncy wholesomeness tone. The producers heard 'Jesus' in the lyrics and thought it was a nice Christian song. I like to think the actual performers were getting some sly enjoyment out of pranking all those squares.
Deleteexpecting you to sing along with Mitch was worse.
ReplyDeleteNoooo!!! People just don't appreciate fine music!
DeleteI actually enjoyed it. And at 74 I still watch reruns of it.
ReplyDeleteI watched it every week until it got big and over produced. I was waiting for the big band and dixieland which were pretty good.
ReplyDeleteHe was a skinflint with his "employees". Treated them poorly.
ReplyDeleteDid he bend you over the desk?
DeleteStop spreading shit you couldn't possibly know.
Really? That reply from YOU of all people…
DeleteYup. Bent over and stretched.
DeleteWhen my daughter was 3 or 4, she was mesmerized by this show.
ReplyDeleteShe would stand in front of the television and stare for the whole hour.
Good times.
When I was a child, I watched this program.
ReplyDeleteWhen I became a man, I put away my childish thoughts, ideas and TV shows.
I had to watch it at my Grandparents. They were from Nebraska and had actually met the gentleman way back in the 40's when he was traveling around doing Barn Dances.
ReplyDeleteYou beat me too it, lol
ReplyDeleteI ran for the canal by my house when thst came on!
ReplyDeleteI watched my fair share at my grandparents when we would visit them in Fresno. I would watch them all now just to be with my grandparents again. Good times.
ReplyDeleteI loved it. No faking, just real musicians.
ReplyDeleteAnd a whole lot of talent.
DeleteI thought it was completely corny when I was a kid but now when I chance upon a rerun, I find it completely relaxing.
I was tasked with taking my grandmother to a taping of the show in Hollywood when I was a junior in high school. She seemed impossibly old, two years younger than I am now.
ReplyDeleteThe time they did a rendition of "One Toke Over The Line" on Lawrence Welk might be the funniest thing that ever happened. To this day I am not convinced they knew what the words meant.
ReplyDeleteIt was a 'modern-day' spiritual.
ReplyDeleteI met Myron Floren ( star accordionist on the show) in person at an accordion competition in Colorado. He was my musical hero and I watched the show every week hoping to learn something from him. I still like the reruns.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I was hoping Myron Floren would get a shout-out.
DeleteAbsolutely. Myron seemed to be a genuinely nice person, and extraordinarily talented performer that added so much to the show.
DeleteTo be honest....back then there wasn't a whole to choose from on the television....
ReplyDeleteMy parents loved it. Me, not so much.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, wonderful...
ReplyDeleteWhich in Welkian is properly pronounced "Wonnerful, wonnerful".
DeleteEvery Sunday afternoon/evening at my grandparents:
ReplyDelete"ABC's Wide World of Sports"
followed by:
"Hee Haw"
followed by:
"The Lawrence Welk Show"
followed by:
"The Wonderful World of Disney"
I had to sit through the first 3 if I wanted to watch the last one.
...and then dinner.
I miss my grandparents desperately, even after 30+ years.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteOhh! I left out Mutual of Omaha'd "Wild Kingdom", with Marlin Perkins and Jim Fowler.
DeleteGood stuff!
In the late '50s and early '60s my grandparents had a little cabin in Felton, California, near Santa Cruz. It was just above Zayante Creek, which was crawling with crawdads. Their place had a short trail leading down to the creek. 60 years later, I still remember the place as being completely magical.
DeleteYes I was, visiting my great grandmother as a kid it was only thing on tv
Delete...and Marlon always made Jim wrangle the Rhino/Tiger/Gator/... into the box, while he circled in the Chopper.
DeleteOh, and this...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv368yWOSas
@fishStyx - Wide World of Sports was a Sat. afternoon program @ 4:00PM. Welk was on Sat night at 7:00PM.
DeleteI used to watch that show just to see Buddy Merrill play that wonderful 50's Stratocaster. Started my guitar playing in the early 60's
ReplyDeleteAnd your parents have likely passed away a while ago. 13 channels of s#it on the TV to choose from as Pink Floyd one said. Not lots of options at night.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteBoth sides of my family grew up not many miles from Strasburg ND. Grandparents went to many of the dances he put on wayyyy back in the day. So yeah, it was a requirement to watch the show every week.