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 27 Episode Guide
32 Episodes 1981 - 1982
Episode 1
Tribute to Bing
Sat, Sep 12, 1981
A tribute to Bing Crosby. Songs include "Swinging on a Star"; "The Road to Morocco"; "Mississippi Mud"; "True Love"; "The Happy Yodeler Polka".
Episode 2
Songwriting Performers
Sat, Sep 19, 1981
Episode 3
Gold Record Hits
Sat, Sep 26, 1981
Episode 4
Carnival
Sat, Oct 3, 1981
A carnival-themed episode. Music includes "When the Carnival Comes to Town," "Come Follow the Band," "Carousel Waltz," "Too Long at the Fair" and "Stars and Stripes Forever."
Episode 5
Great Entertainers
Sat, Oct 10, 1981
A salute to showbiz greats, featuring a medley of George M. Cohan songs; The Mills Brothers' "Glow Worm"; Duke Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady"; Judy Garland's "You Made Me Love You"; and Eddie Arnold's "Make the World Go Away".
Episode 6
Grammy Award Winners
Sat, Oct 17, 1981
Episode 7
Halloween
Sat, Oct 24, 1981
Episode 8
There Goes That Song Again
Sat, Oct 31, 1981
Episode 9
Movie Songwriters - Guest: Henry Mancini
Sat, Nov 7, 1981
Episode 10
Big Band Memories
Sat, Nov 14, 1981
Episode 11
Thanksgiving
Sat, Nov 21, 1981
Songs include "(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays," "A House with Love in It," "Be Thankful," "Back in Your Own Backyard," "Baby Face," and "We Gather Together."
Episode 12
The Three R's
Sat, Nov 28, 1981
Episode 13
You're Never Too Young
Sat, Dec 5, 1981
A special tribute to Walt Disney's "Snow White" with a quick medley among others.
Episode 14
Songs from the Classics
Sat, Dec 12, 1981
Songs include Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto in D major, Moonlight and Roses, Chasing Rainbows, Warsaw Concerto, Martha: Ach So Fromm, The Anniversary Song, Lawrence Welk Dance Number, Moonlight Madonna, The Glow Worn, My Heart Still Remembers, Going Home, You're Breaking My Heart, Pretending, The Dance of the Chameleon, Strange Music, In the Garden, Danny Boy and Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom).
Episode 15
Christmas
Sat, Dec 19, 1981
Episode 16
New Year's Eve
Sat, Dec 26, 1981
Episode 17
Music of Harry Warren
Sat, Jan 2, 1982
Episode 18
Big City, USA
Sat, Jan 9, 1982
Songs about cities and other geographical sites. Including "Manhattan"; "City Lights"; "I Left My Heart in San Francisco"; "Kansas City" and 'Chicago".
Episode 19
Salute to Nashville
Sat, Jan 16, 1982
Episode 20
European Show
Sat, Jan 23, 1982
Episode 21
Morning, Noon and Night
Sat, Jan 30, 1982
Songs include I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine, Teach Me Tonight, Carolina in the Morning, Kiss An Angel Good Morning, Night and Day, Walking in the Sunshine, That Lucky Old Sun, Wait 'Till the Sun Shines, Nellie, Canadian Sunset, My Blue Heaven, Night Must Fall, The Night Is Young And You're So Beautiful, Blues in the Night, It's A Most Unusual Day, Happy Norwegian Polka, Delta Dawn, Otwell Twins Patriotic Song, Suppertime, Moonlight in Vermont, A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening.
Episode 22
Love Songs
Sat, Feb 6, 1982
Episode 23
Riverboat Show
Sat, Feb 13, 1982
Episode 24
Tribute to Irving Berlin
Sat, Feb 20, 1982
Episode 25
Weather Show
Sat, Feb 27, 1982
Episode 26
Tribute to Hoagy Carmichael
Sat, Mar 6, 1982
Episode 27
Songs of the Islands
Sat, Mar 13, 1982
Episode 28
Salute to the Working People
Sat, Mar 20, 1982
Episode 29
All Time Favorites
Sat, Mar 27, 1982
Episode 30
Tour of Southern California
Sat, Apr 3, 1982
Episode 31
Easter
Sat, Apr 10, 1982
Episode 32
Spotlight on our Musical Family
Sat, Apr 17, 1982