Lawrence Welk’s TV Treasures

Saturday, March 5, at 7 PM

LAWRENCE WELK’S TV TREASURES, a comprehensive documentary about the legendary television series “The Lawrence Welk Show,” features rarely seen footage from more than 50 years of the longest-running series on national television and outstanding never-before-seen archival performances by members of the Welk Musical Family, starting with the earliest days of the show.

Fourteen members of the Welk Musical Family were interviewed for the special: Ava Barber, Bobby Burgess, Jo Ann Castle, Dick Dale, Ken Delo, Arthur Duncan, Ralna English, Guy Hovis, Jack Imel, Dee Dee and Janet Lennon, Mary Lou Metzger, Rocky Rockwell and Norma Zimmer, who describe how the weekly show was produced. In addition, costume designer Rose Weiss and Larry Welk, Lawrence Welk’s son, discuss the early days of the show and how it evolved from a “band” showcase into a full-fledged weekly series.

LAWRENCE WELK’S TV TREASURES describes the origins of the show’s remarkable 27-year run (1955 to 1982) on national commercial television. The special highlights the “overnight” popularity of “The Lawrence Welk Show” and the public’s fascination with the Welk stars. At one time, they were the darlings of the fan magazine world, along with Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Kennedy and the Beatles. Various performers discuss love and marriage within the Welk Musical Family and laugh about the “soap opera” aspect of the show.