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Wunnerful, Wunnerful

It's Lawrence Welk's birthday, so crank up the bubble machine and turn on the schmaltz.

I hated The Lawrence Welk Show, which aired on Sunday night, at least I remember it as airing on Sunday nights. My parents made us watch it every week. We had to listen to the Lennon Sisters and then listen to our mother say if we tried a little harder, we could all sing just as well and get us a spot on the show. We had to watch Bobby Burgess waltz with Cissy. Myron always did an accordion bit, and Tom Netherton sang some swooning thing--ack. It just never seemed to end. Just when you thought the pain and suffering had ended, Arthur Duncan would do an arm-swinging tap dancing number, and Joe Feeney would whale away on something like "Those Irish Eyes Are Smiling." Then my father would say, "boy that old Irishman sure can sing high." Then finally, it would fade to an Alka-seltzer commercial.

Thank God. Can we watch something else now, or is there more of this programming lobotomy? What ever I might think of the Lawrence Welk Show, the guy knew how to put on a show, and he knew how to make his generation feel good. So, here's to Lawrence Welk--"a one-a, and a two-a, and three-a."

Comments

Neponset River Bridge Dig said…
Robyn, I HATED that show too. I remember it being on Saturday night.my paretns liked it but I was never forced to watch it. There was something about it that made a kid squirm i guess.
I can't put my finger on it and don't know if I want to.
2:13 PM
dive said…
Boy oh boy, Robyn. I thought OUR TV was bad …
3:53 PM
Cheltenhamdailyphoto said…
Never 'erd of 'im.
7:53 PM
Ame said…
OMG ROBYN!!!!!!

I just PEEEEEED myself!!!

You JUST described my LW experience as a kid too!!!

OMG! TOO FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And to top it off, we had to drive down towards San Diego and see LW LAND! LOL!

Thanks for the memories! NOT! LOL!

Have a good Monday!
;)
6:19 AM
Ame said…
Shut UP Rich! ;)
6:20 AM
Anonymous said…
Ahh...the memories...I remember all of those names you mentioned, Robyn, and then some! LW was a staple in our home as I was growing up...ugh. And believe it or not, I just saw Ralna English (of "Guy and Ralna") on public television Saturday evening. She's heftier (whoa!!) and more warbly now...I could only watch for a minute. Your post really brought back the memories. Tom Netherton was...well...AWFUL!
PF
8:44 AM
Gina said…
My grandfather, who emigrated from Germany, LOVED the LW show. I guess he liked polka as much as his Wagner.
12:36 PM
adair said…
i, too, had an -uncertain- relationship with mr. welk growing up. while i never managed to see the original, it was forever telecast in infamy on pbs (and still is).

every saturday was the same. dinner and then off to a bath and pjs. with my hair still wet, i would dutifully bring sponge curlers, comb, cup of water, and a net scarf to my mother. i would sit at her feet while she rolled up my hair for church and while she and my grandparents watched the technicolor rainbow that was the week's show. grandmother loved norma zimmer, the champagne lady. mother would always sing along with anacani, and granddad would keep rhythm with pete fountain. with a flick of fate it always took my mother exactly an -hour- to set the rollers before wrapping the scarf around them so they wouldn't fall out.

i suppose the only saving grace was after that hour i usually got a glass of milk and to watch fraggle rock before bedtime.
5:04 AM
Miz Minka said…
Fortunately, I was never forced to watch LW since that was before my time (i.e., before I came to the States). But he is sort of an American icon, is he not? So I thought I'd at least have to experience him a few times. His accent really bugged me, and the schmaltz was downright toxic!!! I got a kick out of that bouncy blond lady who played the piano, though. She just kept grinning at the camera while here fingers flew over the keys. Fun.
1:11 PM
Miz Minka said…
I meant "her fingers flew" (really, I do know how to spell, ESL student or not.)
1:15 PM
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