There truly was NO ONE like Lawrence Welk and the American people knew it.

Saturday nights at my Grandparents in the 1960's.....❤ Saturday nights in the 1990's watching on PBS....with my young children. ❤❤ Watching this pilot episode in 2024...❤❤❤ 60 years of Lawrence Welk and it never is not pure joy and fun. Thank you Lawrence Welk and Welk cast...bet none of you ever imagined your music plays on and on 69 years later.👍👍❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

I was born when Lawrence Welk went on TV in 1955

I watch episodes of Lawrence Welk quite often and always in search of older shows like this one. I watched this every Sunday night with my parents. Sometimes they would dance in the living room when I was young. I am 71 now. Love this nostalgia and lots of memories. ❤

I was born when Lawrence Welk went on TV in the year 1955.

Myron Floren was a demendous top notch accordian player - so talented

Jimmy! That kind Kentucky gentleman!!! 555th BIG LIKE, June 30, 2024!

Ohhh...how fun that we can watch the pilot! Thanks for finding this and preserving it on KZread!

Those Welk/Cates bands/orchestras were second to none. Top notch musicianship!!!!

Ah the wonderful 1950s! When the performers were honored guests in the home.

@SlyDellian

3 жыл бұрын

@Matt Owens We regularly hear of people wanting to bring back this kind of entertainment, so there must be an audience for it. It’s time for a culture shake-up.

He addressed everyone as my good friends and people felt he really meant it !

I have this show on my reel to reel record in July 2, 1955 along with the one tape from KTLA 1954 show at the Argon Ballroom in Venice, Ca. I have 3hrs on my phone. I will not give it away or sell it.

@debrareisdorf309

3 жыл бұрын

Lol, I was 2 years old in 1955!! Interesting to see this show.

@barryobrien7935

Жыл бұрын

I think you mean The Aragon Ballroom. Also video tape was not available until Fall of 1956. Maybe your tape was transferred from kinescope?

Laurence Welk was the go to show when we went to my grandparents. They are gone now, however this brings fond memories of the big bowl popcorn sitting on the floor with my uncles.

Welk takes the cake, doesnt he?

This is tremendous to see! I hated this show when I was a kid especially in the '60's when I wanted to see Get Smart and other shows but I love seeing all these guys when they are so young. I appreciated this music much more now at 68 then when I was a kid!

@packingten

3 жыл бұрын

Alan I just turned 70 in January and I hated those -##@$%& Lovely Lennon Sisters-sa...I called one of them Old Coconut face😊

@SlyDellian

3 жыл бұрын

Same here. As a teen, I used to poke fun at this show, and would get upset when my folks watched Lawrence Welk instead of the “cool” TV shows. Nowadays at age 62, I absolutely love this wholesome “square” music.

@rgrif777

2 жыл бұрын

Same as everyone else. I didn't care for the show much back in the day, but love it now. My grandfather loved Lawrence Welk and a show in our area called Polka Variety. Yes, it was about polkas and older people dancing to the music. I love remembering the Christmas specials with Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, and Perry Como on the air back then. I don't know if we can pass this knowledge onto the younger generations, but it would be a shame to lose it, especially for them. And, how much do you want to bet the three people that disliked this video don't appreciate the talent and quality of these skilled people. We were there also when we did not understand, as well as historical knowledge of the times. And, this was just shows let alone the tv tubes having to warm up and the bad antenna signals, and then the real life times back then also at the gas stations, stores, and everything in general was different and amazing to look back.

@cybersee9966

2 жыл бұрын

I never hated the show. Also, Perry Como’s theme song was not easy to sing. (Dream along with me, I’m on my way to the stars),

I wonder if I’m the only person here in my 30’s watching and enjoying this lol

@jasongreek2342

2 жыл бұрын

Nope. lol

@anniem.4204

5 ай бұрын

Love it...☺

2 of my great uncles played in his band.

Thank you for another treasure. I also LOVED the A&E Biography of Lawrence Welk., I appreciate him and the musical family all the more. 🙏🌈

Wow. Amazing retro.

Oh I love it love it love it Love it!!!

Too bad in this age of re-releasing the welk organization doesn't offer these shows on DVD or a streaming service.

The beginning of something wonderful , wonderful.

Ahhhh. Memories.

What a great time. Pretty sick world in 2021. Such destruction in such a short time. I think we all know what happened.

@harrykuheim6107

3 жыл бұрын

Welcome to 1984 Comrade Dickie...

@dougduvall7825

11 ай бұрын

Trump!

Wunnerful! Wunnerful! And a one-na and a two-a!

It’s like looking into a time capsule. I was born in 1961. I vaguely remember my parents watching the show in 1960s. I do enjoy accordion and some polka.

Wow, where in the world did you find this pilot? Lawrence was so young looking. Great music, which reminds me of my Mom and Dad. Thanks for uploading the video and the info about the program, God bless you.

The Darktown Strutters Ball - Bob Lido & Alladin showed some pretty good slapstick potential on that one.

Did anyone enjoy working as much as Lawrence did, we think not !!

A Lost World...

According to Wikipedia Welk had a local show in Los Angles from 1951 until 1955 when he went national on ABC. hence this pilot. I forgot that Welk played the Accordion, although not that well. I'm glad he gave it up in years to come. The audience clapping must have been added later.

@sdecay

Жыл бұрын

Welk was a fine accordionist but everyone sounds like a hack compared to Myron Floren.

@ambulet

6 ай бұрын

Myron Floren was enough of a pro to remember never to show up the boss. This is showmanship in addition to musicianship.

Johnny Klein on the drums. He was Lawrence's cousin.

Wow! Was a mandate to watch this every Sunday night.

@lawrencephelps3181

9 ай бұрын

Same here.

@rhondabitler5474

9 ай бұрын

It was Saturday night in my area.

Mind blowing performances.

Memories of my Grandma🎉

As noted, an excellent quality kinescope. I own a similar 16mm print from 1960 which is also in good condition and is very nostalgic to watch.

Wonderful program. Thank you so much.

I thought this was the corniest show imaginable when I was a kid but I grew to love it. Of course I had a crush on the Lennon sisters and really appreciated how professional and well-rehearsed it was. Truly a phenomenal show.

@lawrencephelps3181

9 ай бұрын

I loved Joanne Castle

Looks like ol Bob Lido forgot to shave - that's one heck of a 5 o'clock shadow!

You can recognize so many of the old stalwarts. Lawrence himself would be about 53 in 1955, so already a seasoned performer/conuctor.

🌲SUCH A BLAST FROM ANOTHER TIME

SALUDOS MISTER....WELK....RIP.......QUE PENA NO VOLVER A VER MUSICOS DE CALIDAD.....COMO LOS SUYOS.....SOY DEL AÑO 51.....ALCANSE A ESCUCHAR SU BELLA MUSICA CUANDO PEQUEÑO......MUCHAS GRACIAS POR HABERLO CONOCIDO........ADIOS HASTA PRONTO........MISTER L. WELK..........CHILE 2021.......................

My Uncle Chuck Coffee played with Lawerence for many years. Would love to see film of my Uncle with Lawerence if possible..Thanks

Super Cool!!!!

LOVED THIS 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

In the 70's Welk did a show spotlighting Canada and Mexico, one of the songs played was "La Golondrina", played by Jack Immel On the marimba

Epoca de ORO !!!!!!!!!!-----------

Alice Lon probably had the best female voice ol' Lawrence ever had on his program.

@packingten

3 жыл бұрын

I agree Karen,She was sexy as well without trying to be&Without showing her body just a beautiful LADY😊.

Hard to find much info on the Dodge Texan, but Mecum Auctions has one coming up for auction. It is a 1956 and they say only 289 were made. Built for and only sold to Texans. Lawrence was obviously the shows first "dancer", he's got the moves. Wish we had something like his show today. The really old ones are my favorites as the later ones got kind of silly and the 70's fashions have not aged well. I think that is the youngest I have ever seen Bert Parks.

@rhondabitler5474

9 ай бұрын

He's got the moves like Jagger! LOL

@rhondabitler5474

9 ай бұрын

I recognize Dick Dale, Larry Hooper, Jimmy Roberts and Myron Florin and Bob Lido. To name a few.

@upnywhiteb

9 ай бұрын

@@rhondabitler5474 I don't know Rhonda, but I am inclined to say Lawrence has him beat.

@rhondabitler5474

9 ай бұрын

@@upnywhiteb LOL

@upnywhiteb

9 ай бұрын

@@rhondabitler5474 Make sure you are alone when LOL, people might think you are crazy. I know you aren't.

It was to be on PBS , plus it aired before HNIC.

If you watch really close - you'll notice Mr. Welk does NOT use his left hand on the accordion except to make the bellow move.. he never learned how to play the chords for the left hand.

@rjnordin

2 жыл бұрын

Hmm... I find that hard to believe. He may not have used the left hand here but I'm sure he could play with it.

@cybersee9966

2 жыл бұрын

I’ve watched 4 videos so far of Welk playing the accordion, and his left hand is hidden in all of those videos. In this video I noticed that the index and middle fingers of Welk’s left hand were pointing and not playing.

I always thought it was a church that they recorded this in, but there’s nothing to confirm this.

@LawrenceWelkLPs

3 жыл бұрын

I have the same suspicion.

@barryobrien7935

Жыл бұрын

I wonder if it was the Music Hall Theatre in Beverly Hills. I mention this as it was a studio theatre for KLAC and Don Fedderson ran that station when Betty White and Liberace did their programs there. Also the director of this pilot, Duke Goldstone, was a director at KLAC (now KCOP).

@ambulet

6 ай бұрын

It looks like the same set that Hammond organ used for one of their promotional films selling Hammonds for use in a church that couldn't afford a pipe organ

Welk’s accent wasn’t very thick on this first show. His accent seemed a lot thicker years later.

@keithhyttinen8275

2 жыл бұрын

I noticed that too. I think ABC and the audience liked tthe accent. So Larry made it a bit more entertaining.

man, imagine growing up with this horrifying saccharine claptrap and then having to face real life in the 60s. ugh.

🌈🤍THIS IS A BLAST!!! YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER LAWRENCE WELK, YET, I THOUGHT, IT WAS OLD STUFF. I DIDN'T HAVE FAMILY, THAT EVER WATCHED IT...AND EVEN CAME FROM AN ENTERTAINMENT FAMILY. ILOVE THE BIO THAT A&E DID ON HIS LIFE!! I HOPE THERE ARE MORE BACKGROUND VIDEO'S ON HIM & HIS FAMILY!! I LIKE THE OLD MOVIES & MUSIC FROM THE 30'S 40'S 50'S . I STARTED ALL OF THIS, BECAUSE OF TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES...ALOT OF THE BANDS..ALL THE TALENT!!! LASTLY, I ENJOY THE BEGINNINGS OF MR WELKS TELEVISION 📺 PROGRAM. JUST WONDERING, IF YOU COULD SHOW SOME THE BAND DATES FROM THE 30'S 40'S. SOMEONE PUT ONE OF MR WELK'S BAND ENGAGEMENTS ON UTUBE. IT WAS AWESOME!!! THANK YOU