The Lawrence Welk Show
Renowned bandleader Lawrence Welk began his own variety series in 1955... and it has never stopped running. Each program was straightforward musical numbers from Welk's band (many of which had featured solos at one point or another), as well as vocal selections and dance numbers from the show's cast. Most of the introductions to the performances, read stiffy by Welk, were kept short. Many of the shows revolved around a certain theme (e.g., "The Music Man" or the Fourth of July), with appropriate songs and dance numbers. The most famous of the featured singers were the Lennon Sisters (Dianne, Janet, Kathy and Peggy), who were featured most every week for 13 years. At the end of each show, Welk would invite women from the audience on stage to dance with him as the theme, "Bubbles in the Wine" (and later, "Champagne Fanfare") played. The show enjoyed a 16-year network run on ABC, and later a successful 11-year syndicated run. Just months after the original series ended, older shows (from c. 1965-1982) were repackaged with new footage and entered a long run in both syndication and on PBS.
- 1955-1982
- 27 seasons
- ABC
- Family, Music
- TV-G
Renowned bandleader Lawrence Welk began his own variety series in 1955... and it has never stopped running. Each program was straightforward musical numbers from Welk's band (many of which had featured solos at one point or another), as well as vocal selections and dance numbers from the show's cast. Most of the introductions to the performances, read stiffy by Welk, were kept short. Many of the shows revolved around a certain theme (e.g., "The Music Man" or the Fourth of July), with appropriate songs and dance numbers. The most famous of the featured singers were the Lennon Sisters (Dianne, Janet, Kathy and Peggy), who were featured most every week for 13 years. At the end of each show, Welk would invite women from the audience on stage to dance with him as the theme, "Bubbles in the Wine" (and later, "Champagne Fanfare") played. The show enjoyed a 16-year network run on ABC, and later a successful 11-year syndicated run. Just months after the original series ended, older shows (from c. 1965-1982) were repackaged with new footage and entered a long run in both syndication and on PBS.
Season 24 Episode Guide
31 Episodes 1978 - 1979
Episode 1
Big Bands
Sat, Sep 16, 1978
Episode 2
Songs of Perry Como
Sat, Sep 23, 1978
Episode 3
By The Numbers
Sat, Oct 7, 1978
Episode 4
Songs of the Islands - Guest: Buddy Merrill
Sat, Oct 14, 1978
Episode 5
Time
Sat, Oct 21, 1978
Episode 6
Halloween Party
Sat, Oct 28, 1978
A Halloween party with "Dancin' the Devil Away," "Magic Is the Moonlight," and "The Wayward Wind."
Episode 7
Tribute to Frank Sinatra
Sat, Nov 4, 1978
Episode 8
Roots of American Show Business
Sat, Nov 11, 1978
Episode 9
Thanksgiving
Sat, Nov 18, 1978
Episode 10
Alphabetically Speaking
Sat, Nov 25, 1978
Episode 11
Salute to Irving Berlin - Guest: Marshall Royal
Sat, Dec 2, 1978
Episode 12
Songs of the 70s - Guest: Barbara Boylan
Sat, Dec 9, 1978
Orchestra - Tie A Yellow Ribbon; Kathie Sullivan - Theme from "Mahogany"; Bob Ralston - Southern Nights; The Otwell Brothers & The Aldridge Sisters - You're The One; Bobby Burgess & Barbara Boylan - I Could Have Danced All Night; Tom Netherton - ; Ava Barber - Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue; Orchestra w Johnny Zell - Feelings; Gail, Sandy, Mary Lou (Gail Farrell, Sandi Griffiths and Mary Lou Metzger) - Penny Arcade; Orchestra - Nadia's Theme; Arthur Duncan dances to Never Ending Love; Jimmy Roberts sings; Anacani Echeverria - It's Impossible; Ken Delo - Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown; Guy & Ralna (Guy Hovis and Ralna English) - I Write the Songs; Myron Floren - My Melody of Love; Sax section & Bob Smale - Walking in the Rain; Joe Feeney and Lawrence Welk conclude.
Episode 13
Winter
Sat, Dec 16, 1978
Episode 14
Christmas
Sat, Dec 23, 1978
Episode 15
New Year's Eve - Guest: Bob Wilbur
Sat, Dec 30, 1978
Episode 16
Everything's Coming Up Roses
Sat, Jan 6, 1979
Episode 17
Tribute to Bob Hope
Sat, Jan 13, 1979
Episode 18
Salute to Broadway - Guest: Pat Strange
Sat, Jan 20, 1979
Episode 19
Salute to Elvis & Songs of the 50s
Sat, Jan 27, 1979
Songs with colors in the title include "Red, Red Robin"; "Little Green Apples"; "Deep Purple"; "Scarlet Ribbons"; "Blue Skies".
Episode 20
Country Music
Sat, Feb 3, 1979
Episode 21
Valentine's Show - Guest: Elaine Niverson
Sat, Feb 10, 1979
Episode 22
Salute to Sweet Bands
Sat, Feb 17, 1979
Episode 23
Salute to the Swing Bands
Sat, Feb 24, 1979
A 1979 celebration of swing bands, featuring Tommy Dorsey's "I'll Never Smile Again"; Woody Herman's "Woodchopper's Ball"; Glenn Miller's "American Patrol" and "Tuxedo Junction". Also: "So Rare"; "Arapola"; "Sophisticated Lady"; and "Original Boogie Woogie".
Episode 24
Tahoe Album
Sat, Mar 3, 1979
Episode 25
Spotlight on the Band
Sat, Mar 10, 1979
Episode 26
St. Patrick's Day
Sat, Mar 17, 1979
Episode 27
Salute to Mac Davis & fellow lyricists
Sat, Mar 24, 1979
Episode 28
Sights & Sounds of L.A.
Sat, Mar 31, 1979
Episode 29
Academy Award Winners
Sat, Apr 7, 1979
Episode 30
Easter
Sat, Apr 14, 1979
A celebration of Easter: Included: Mary Lou Metzger and Jack Imel ("Tiptoe Thru the Tulips"); Arthur Duncan ("Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet"); Ken Delo ("April Showers"); Anacani Echeverria ("Peter Cottontail"); Ava Barber (A-Tisket, A-Tasket").
Episode 31
County Fair
Sat, Apr 21, 1979