The Lawrence Welk Show: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The Lawrence Welk Show was a musical variety show which started as a local program on KTLA-TV in Los Angeles, California. The program originated from the since-demolished Aragon Ballroom at Venice Beach. Later, the show aired nationally on ABC from 1955 to 1971. When the show was canceled by the head of programming there, Lawrence Welk made his own production company and continued airing the show on independent stations. The syndicated version of the program aired from 1971 to 1982.

Each week, Welk would introduce the theme of the show, which usually inspired joyous singing and/or patriotic fervor. Sometimes, Welk would dance with ladies from the audience, if the music played was a dance song. For certain songs, the couples in attendance were permitted to dance at the Ballroom.

Welk employed many musicians and singers, which were known in the press as his Welk Family. These singers were bound by an unofficial set of morals dictated by Welk, and if Welk believed the audience did not find them wholesome enough, they would be fired. Former Champagne Lady Alice Lon was fired in 1959 for crossing her legs on a desk. Welk, on-air, told the audience that he did not tolerate such "cheesecake" on his show.

Welk relied on fan letters to tell him who was popular and who was not. After he fired Alice Lon on-camera, thousands of letters filled the ABC mailroom, demanding Alice Lon be apologized to and rehired. Welk tried to get Lon back but she refused. Norma Zimmer was hired, starting in 1960; she stayed with Welk for the rest of the show's run.

While the show was highly-rated, ABC decided to get rid of it in 1971 due to the fact that most of its audience were people over the age of 50. The reason behind this is that Welk usually had his performers sing and play standards from the '30s and '40s, coupled with Welk's usual timeslot on Saturday nights, when few younger viewers were at home.

Welk started his own production company in response, and continued producing the show. Some independent stations put it in its old Saturday timeslot, and in many cases, it drew higher ratings than the network shows scheduled at that time. Welk retired in 1982.

For most of the show's run, the big sponsors of The Lawrence Welk Show were Dodge and Geritol, the latter being the butt of endless jokes regarding the show's clientele.

Famous performers who were on The Lawrence Welk Show

• Myron Floren (1955-1982)
• Pete Fountain (1957-1959)
• Jo Ann Castle (1959-1969)
• Lynn Anderson (1967-1968)
• The Lennon Sisters (1955-1968)