Welk tried to get Lon back but she refused. After he fired Lon on-camera, thousands of letters filled the ABC mailroom, demanding an apology, and that she be rehired. Welk, on-air, told the audience that he did not tolerate such "cheesecake" on his show. Former "Champagne Lady" Alice Lon was fired in 1959 for crossing her legs on a desk. These singers were bound by an unofficial set of morals (artistic and personal) dictated by Welk, and if he believed the audience did not find them wholesome enough, they would be fired. Welk employed many musicians and singers, which were known in the press as his "Welk Family". One such instance is part of the opening sequence of the public television reruns seen today. Welk often demonstrated multiple times on-camera how the champagne bottle sound was created, by placing a finger in his mouth, releasing it to make the popping sound, and making a soft hissing sound to simulate the bubbles escaping the bottle. For certain songs (mainly the instrumentals performed by the orchestra), the couples in attendance were also allowed to dance at the Ballroom. If the number was more a dance tune, Welk would dance with ladies from the audience, which he became somewhat known for.
Also, his trademark countdown of "A1ANA2" was actually his license plate. On one such story, of uncertain credibility, has him introducing a medley of World War I tunes as "songs from World War Eye." Also, from his autobiography "Wunnerful, Wunnerful!" he bemoans his accent, and in some of his pronunciations of "wonderful" in the show he can be heard forcing the D. This was evident from his mispronunciations of script on cue cards. He was most known for delivering these monologues in a distinctive German accent, which was parodied in pop culture (even by Welk himself: the two books he authored, "Wunnerful, Wunnerful!" and "Ah-One, Ah-Two!" were so titled because they were his catch phrases). Each week, Welk would introduce the theme of the show, which usually inspired joyous singing and/or patriotic fervor. The show would open often by showing bubbles floating around and was accompanied by a sound effect of a bottle of champagne opening. Universal Appliances, Polident, Ocean Spray and Sinclair Oil served as associate sponsors for a short time. Williams products Geritol (a vitamin and mineral supplement), Sominex (sleeping pills), Aqua Velva (men's aftershave) and Serutan (a bulk-forming laxative). The primary sponsors of "The Lawrence Welk Show" were Dodge automobiles, later to be followed by J. The only seasons not taped there was 1965-66, 1976-77 at the Hollywood Palace and CBS Television City from 1977 to 1979. Starting with the 1959-60 season the two shows were merged into "The Lawrence Welk Show".ĭuring its run, "The Lawrence Welk Show" was taped at ABC Television Center West in Hollywood for 23 of its 27 years on the air. The second show's title was "Lawrence Welk's Top Tunes and New Talent Show" (1956-58) and then "Lawrence Welk's Plymouth Show", after another Chrysler vehicle (1958-59). During 1956-59, Lawrence Welk was broadcast two nights per week. When the show began, it was billed as the "Dodge Dancing Party" from 1955 to 1959. The syndicated version of the program aired from 1971 to 1982. When the show was cancelled by the head of programming there, Welk formed his own production company and continued airing the show, on independent stations and, often during non-prime time, also on some of the ABC affiliates on which he had previously appeared as well as some stations affiliated with other networks. Later, the show aired nationally on ABC from 1955 to 1971. The program originated from the since-demolished Aragon Ballroom at Venice Beach. "The Lawrence Welk Show" started in 1951 as a local program on KTLA-TV in Los Angeles, California. Recently made video comments, performances and conversations by persons who took part in the original shows have been added in place of the commercials. The original episodes were aired in either a local, network, or syndicated capacity for more than 30 years repeat episodes are still being broadcast in the United States for the most part by PBS stations in the form of new programs each of which incorporate one of the original programs in its entirety less the original commercials. "The Lawrence Welk Show" is a musical variety show hosted by former big band leader Lawrence Welk. Starring = Lawrence Welk Myron Floren Bobby Burgess Norma Zimmer Dick Dale The Lennon Sisters Arthur Duncan Joe Feeney Jack Imel Jo Ann Castle Sandi Griffiths Tanya Falan Ava Barber Ralna English Guy Hovis Gail Farrell Mary Lou Metzger Anacani Caption = Opening of the Lawrence Welk Show