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 25 Episode Guide
32 Episodes 1979 - 1980
Episode 1
Music, Music, Music
Sat, Sep 15, 1979
Episode 2
I Believe In Music
Sat, Sep 22, 1979
Episode 3
Music of Richard Rodgers
Sat, Sep 29, 1979
Episode 4
Concert in the Park
Sat, Oct 6, 1979
In the Good, Old Summertime, Help Me Make It Through the Night, Moonlight Bay, Cuanto le Gusta, Lida Rose, Stardust, I Know How the River Feels, Sleepy Lagoon, Mention My Name In Sheboygan, Southern Nights, The Way We Were, Let the Eagle Soar, Our Director, It's a Most Unusual Day, Breezin' Along With the Breeze, It Was Almost Like a Song, Till There Was You, If You Love Me (Let Me Know), Goodnight My Someone, Peg O' My Heart, The Band Played On, Dixieland Jazz.
Episode 5
Harvest on the Farm
Sat, Oct 13, 1979
Episode 6
Top Hits of Sammy Cahn
Sat, Oct 20, 1979
Episode 7
Halloween Party
Sat, Oct 27, 1979
Songs include Jeepers Creepers, The Moon Was Yellow, Mr. Ghost Goes to Town, Dem Bones, My Grandfather's Clock, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, Ghost Riders in the Sky, Danse Macabre, It's So Nice to Have a Man Around House, Stop, Look and Listen, By the Name of Mobile, In the Hall of the Mountain King, Alley Cat, Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, Spooky, There'll Be Some Changes Made, I Should Care, Satan Takes a Holiday, This Old House and The Music of the Night.
Episode 8
Around the World
Sat, Nov 3, 1979
"That's Entertainment" opens the show; other songs include "St. Louis Blues", "Eres Tu" and "Over the Rainbow".
Episode 9
Show Stoppers
Sat, Nov 10, 1979
Episode 10
Thanksgiving
Sat, Nov 17, 1979
Songs include Thanksgiving in America, Holiday for Strings, Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep), Sweet Hour of Prayer, In the Sweet By-and-By, Home Sweet Home, Button Up Your Overcoat, Hey, Good Lookin', The House I Live In, Why Me Lord, Dear Hearts and Gentle People, Vaya Con Dios, Whole Lotta Things to Sing About, Autumn Leaves, Till There Was You, Heel and Toe Polka, Holiday for Strings (Reprise) and May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You.
Episode 11
Music of Harry Warren
Sat, Nov 24, 1979
Songs include The More I See You, Shuffle Off to Buffalo, Remember Me?, Would You Like to Take a Walk?, 42nd Street, We're In the Money, Cheerful Little Earful, There Will Never Be Another You, Down Argentina Way, The Shadow Waltz, Lullaby of Broadway, September In The Rain, I Found a Million Dollar Baby (in a Five and Ten Cent Store), I Love My Baby (My Baby Loves Me), Serenade in Blue, You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby, Lulu's Back in Town, The Kiss Polka, I Only Have Eyes for You, On the Atchison,Topeka and the Santa Fe.
Episode 12
Salute to the Ladies
Sat, Dec 1, 1979
Episode 13
This I Believe
Sat, Dec 8, 1979
Episode 14
Songs of the 70s - Guest: Joey Schmidt
Sat, Dec 15, 1979
Episode 15
Christmas
Sat, Dec 22, 1979
Holiday favorites include "Jingle Bells", "Silent Night", "Ring Those Christmas Bells", "Sweet Little Boy Jesus".
Episode 16
New Year's Eve
Sat, Dec 29, 1979
Episode 17
Big Bands
Sat, Jan 5, 1980
Episode 18
25th Anniversary of Disneyland
Sat, Jan 12, 1980
Episode 19
Salute to Gershwin
Sat, Jan 19, 1980
Episode 20
Hits By Famous Groups
Sat, Jan 26, 1980
Complete Song List: Cab Driver, If (A Picture Says 1000 Words), I Won't Dance, Frenesi, My Prayer, An Old Fashioned Love Song, Goodbye Love, Bye Bye Love, Puff the Magic Dragon, Love Will Keep Us Together, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, Irene Goodnight, Something, Wild Dog, Love Is, Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing, The Glow Worm, You're the Top, Sugartime, Pennsylvania Polka.
Episode 21
Rhythm is Our Business - Guest: Barbara Mandrell
Sat, Feb 2, 1980
Episode 22
Love Songs
Sat, Feb 9, 1980
A romance-minded episode, featuring "L-O-V-E"; "Secret Love"; "Love Me Tender"; "Why Do I Love You?; "Amor"; and "Love Makes the World Go Round".
Episode 23
Songs of Jimmy McHugh
Sat, Feb 16, 1980
Jimmy McHugh songs are featured, including "I Feel a Song Coming On", "Maggie Blues", "Don't Blame Me", "When My Sugar Walks Down the Street", "I'm in the Mood for Love".
Episode 24
Riverboat Show
Sat, Feb 23, 1980
A celebration of songs from the South, includes "Chattanooga Choo Choo"; "Mighty Mississippi"; "Down Yonder" and "Carry Me Back to Old Virginny".
Episode 25
Broadway Musicals
Sat, Mar 1, 1980
Episode 26
Songs from the Classics
Sat, Mar 8, 1980
The Aldridge Sisters and The Otwell Brothers sing "Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)"; "The Twelve of Never"; "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows"; "The Dance of the Comedians".
Episode 27
25th Anniversary
Sat, Mar 15, 1980
A 1980 celebration of the show's 25th anniversary feature "The Anniversary Song"; "Sleep"; "Tico, Tico"; "Calcutta"; "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles"; "Say It with Music"; 'Thank You Very Much"; "My North Dakota Home".
Episode 28
Famous Composers
Sat, Mar 22, 1980
Episode 29
Songs from the Movies
Sat, Mar 29, 1980
Movie songs including "Hooray For Hollywood"; "South America, Take It Away" with Anacani; "Somewhere My Love" with Guy Hovis and Ralna English; "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" with Ava Barber and Charlie Parlato; and "Singin' In The Rain" with Jack Imel.
Episode 30
Easter
Sat, Apr 5, 1980
Episode 31
Songs of Cole Porter
Sat, Apr 12, 1980
Complete Song List: It's De-Lovely, In the Still Of the Night, I Get A Kick Out Of You, My Heart Belongs to Daddy, Friendship, Don't Fence Me In, True Love, Let's Do It, Let's Fall In Love, Easy to Love, Granada, Night and Day, From This Moment On, You'd Be Nice to Come Home To, I've Got You Under My Skin, I Love Paris, No Me Vuelvo A Enamorar, Rosalie, Anything Goes.
Episode 32
Vacation Show
Sat, Apr 19, 1980