Talk:The Lawrence Welk Show

Broadcast History

The part stating where it was filmed is incorrect, I believe. The Lawrence Welk Show was *not* primarily taped at the Hollywood Palace, but at ABC Television Center West (Prospect Studios). There were only a few years that it was taped at the Palace and then in the end at CBS Television City. Can anyone else confirm this? Wikibiz (talk) 11:43, 24 April 2011 (UTC)

While KTLA may of been the first TV Station in California it was not the first west of the Mississippi River as WOC-5 Davenport Iowa signed on in 1948. Mws72 (talk) 00:44, 29 September 2019 (UTC)

Actually, as the articles for both stations here suggest, KTLA was the first station to sign on west of the Mississippi. WOC went on the air in October 1949, and KTLA went on the air on January 22, 1947. 2600:8800:7D80:A5E:D544:CB89:5282:A4ED (talk) 22:14, 13 May 2020 (UTC)

Alice Lon firing

I don't know much about Lawrence Welk, but the story about him firing Alice Lon on camera sounds over the top. Does anyone have evidence to support this? Because I would think something like that would have been in the papers. And yet, the Chicago Tribune of July 19, 1959, has Alice Lon saying "I was mad and told him I was quitting but he didn't say anything. A few days later I received a letter from his manager telling me my resignation had been accepted."

I searched through ProQuest and find absolutely nothing to support the statement that Welk tossed her on live TV. BlongerBros 02:00, 21 February 2006 (UTC)

I agree with the previous two posters. The story about Lon is featured somewhat prominently and provides no substantiation. 66.171.197.20 22:35, 30 September 2006 (UTC)

I too question whether Lon's firing was actually "on air". I think that this may be derived from the article in The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows where it says that Lon was chastised by Welk for "'showing too much knee' on camera". I don't think that this means that the chastising was done on camera, but rather that he subsequently told her that she had showed too much knee while on camera, although the wording is arguably ambiguous. While not verifiable and hence unencyclopedic, I note that I never heard anything about this being done on-air from my parents, who were really big fans of the show and almost never missed it (I was alive at the time but too young to really remember it either way), whereas they often rehearsed the story of Arthur Godfrey's on-air firing of Julius LaRosa, and this leads me to believe that if it had really been done on-air they would have frequently brought this fact up as well. They seemed to prefer Lon to Zimmer; it seemed to take them a while to come to the idea that maybe Zimmer was just as good or even better. If no one objects, I think that we should change this to delete any reference to Lon's firing having occurred on-air. Rlquall 22:32, 2 November 2006 (UTC)

About the Alice Lon firing - I agree with the other comments that I strongly doubt that Alice Lon was fired on air. 1.) The Chicago Tribune Article of Alice Lon in 1959 confirms that it did not happen on air (her firing). 2.) Lawrence Welk was very much about image and family values and would not want to show his "dirty laundry" to his public. Unfortunately, we can't view the controversial show because the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority holds the view rights and will not release that show for airing.

I don't know they wouldn't release the show, if it doesn't contain Lon's firing, then there shouldn't be any problems. I wish PBS would air shows from before 1967-ish. They don't show the B&W episodes, which is too bad because they're great. --98.232.184.142 (talk) 01:31, 29 August 2010 (UTC)

They have. Over the years I have seen 6 or more b&w repackaged by Oklahoma. I also think there should be more b&w shows shown. The orchestra was featured more prominently. For me much of the enjoyment of an orchestral performance is watching the performers as they create the music.1archie99 (talk) 13:23, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

Personnel Listing

Does anyone else feel that the personnel should be removed from the two existing lists and combined into one list that is alphabetized preferably by the last name. Compilation of the present two lists seems arbitrary and confusing -- The two ragtime piano players are in separate lists, for example.1archie99 (talk) 03:59, 19 August 2008 (UTC)1archie99 (talk) 04:05, 19 August 2008 (UTC)

• This list is currently incomplete. For instance, Bob Lido, (violinist and singer),Frank Scott (pianist and arranger), and George Cates (asst. conductor and arranger),and numerous others. Try Welkshow.com for a more complete list. T.E. Goodwin (talk) 09:19, 12 October 2009 (UTC)
• List of producers and directors? Service years? Noteworthy events in the changes in producers and directors? E.g., Sobel, then ? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.126.126.121 (talk) 17:41, 7 February 2013 (UTC)

References

I've added a refimprove banner to the article. It's well-written and informative, but lacks sufficient references. Considering how popular this show was (and still is), it shouldn't be too hard to find more information for this article. I did a quick search for books about (and by) Lawrence Welk on Amazon.com. I found at least three books about the show itself:

Lawrence Welk -- An American Institution by William K. Schweinher (ISBN 0882297376), 1980
Champagne Music: The Lawrence Welk Show by Coyne Stevens and Ginny Weissman (ISBN 0312007051), 1987
The Lawrence Welk Show: Then and Now by Laura Segall (ISBN 0964518600), 1995

In addition, Mr. Welk wrote several books about his life (including an autobiography), which should provide good material for this article and his own article as well. Oldiesmann (talk) 01:19, 11 January 2009 (UTC)

If Wikipedia would allow a more liberal use of videos as citation sources we could use the oral testimony of former show participants.1archie99 (talk) 15:59, 25 May 2014 (UTC)

Black performers?

I'm kind of curious as to whether blacks ever appeared on the show in any role other than as solo tap dancers? -- AnonMoos (talk) 14:39, 30 January 2010 (UTC)

The Mills Brothers added a lot to one of the shows, I believe it was b&w and the performance was on youtube. I believe there were other prominent black perormers appearing as guests. I can't recall any more than one regular who was black.1archie99 (talk) 13:32, 30 August 2010 (UTC)

I would like to add this. When Johnny Klein, the drummer for almost 20 years had health problems he was replaced by Paul Humphries. Paul is an african american drummer and was with the show from about 1976 to 1982.

Lawrence also had great respect for the african american band leader, Duke Ellington. Lawrence had one of Duke's sax players (forgive me, but I can't remember his name, but he was african american) on as a guest. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 172.190.235.128 (talk) 03:14, 27 June 2012 (UTC)

The correct spelling of the drummer named above is Paul Humphrey. He can be seen with Jack Imel, both playing drum front stage in the last song, "The St. Louis Blues March" on the 12-13-80 show. It would be interesting to know who the sax player was.1archie99 (talk) 15:46, 25 May 2014 (UTC)

1980s segments??

Welk continued to film new host segments until his passing, after which select members of the "musical family" took over as hosts. What?? I've never heard about this. As far as I know Welk retired in 1982 but did an occasional interview, right? He wasn't making new episodes for PBS in, say, 1987. --98.232.184.142 (talk) 01:27, 29 August 2010 (UTC)Like

They were previously shown hour long shows repackaged with Welk talking about the show spliced into them; similar to the programs being repackaged after his death. I remember watching them and recall that they ran a very short time. Does anyone recall how many, the date they were telecast and as to whether they are run today as this says?1archie99 (talk) 17:21, 27 June 2012 (UTC)1archie99 (talk) 11:57, 25 May 2014 (UTC)

Production for the show

It would be nice to have information on the production of the show - how the audio, lighting, costuming, rehearsals, etc. were done. While not my favorite music, I've always had great respect for the musicianship of the band members and the talented singers and dancers - especially when they did the show live in front of an audience. Maybe that is more detail than allowed for the article, but I think it would be interesting to include that information for a more complete look at the show itself. THX1136 (talk) 00:51, 18 July 2021 (UTC)

elderly audience

Why is Welk so popular with old people? Personally I find his show disgusting. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 47.138.95.24 (talk) 05:49, 17 January 2022 (UTC)