Look for this Lawrence Welk Episode - General Tiki

I ikitnrev Tiki Socialite D.C. / Virginia Joined: Jul 27, 2002 Posts: 1325	I ikitnrev Posted posted on Thu, Jun 24, 2004 11:35 PM I just received, and watched, the videotape of the Lawrence Welk episode, and I couldn't resist providing some comments. if you're planning on watching this show soon, you might want to stop reading now, so I don't spoil anything. The tape started with The Lawrence Welk script logo being superimposed on top of a picture of - believe it or not - the space age looking Encounter restauarnt at the L.A. airport. Welk then appeared in front of footage of the Western airline jet, wearing a striped suit that was very mafia looking. Most of the show is done on the lawn by the ocean of the Sheraton Waikiki. Lawrence and the members of the orchestra all wear light blue, somewhat paisley, Hawaiiana suits. I was hoping to get a close-up of the fabric, but this never happened. The colors of most outfits throughout the show are definitely noticable, with an emphasis on bold patterns and primary colors. There are no tikis, no alcohol drinks, and no native dancing women seen on the tape (all hula dancing is done by members of Welk's troupe) The audience is definitely middle-aged and older folk. This show, recorded in 1972, catches the very tail end and remnants of the 1950's fascination with Hawaii. I had the feeling that the cooler crowd in Honolulu at the time was either elsewhere, watching some Don Ho show, sucking a few drinks .... or still sleeping in their rooms, resting up for another night of drinking and debauchery. Performance / Songlist 'On the Beach at Waikiki' - the bright bouncy group ensemble number - great costumes. 'Pearly Shells' by Clay Hart (with a blow dryed John Davidson style haircut) and two women named Sandi, and Sally. Nicely done. some anonymous dance music, featuring accordions, clarinets, and shots of old folk dancing. For some reason ,there was also a much younger couple dancing - the guy was wearing a t-shirt, the only t-shirt I saw in the entire show. Were t-shirts such a generational thing back then? 'Beyond the Reef' sung by the Champagne lady Norma Zimmer, in a room at the Surfrider Hotel. Pretty lame ... forget the champagne, I'll stick with the mai-tai 'South Pacific' medley, conducted by George Cates. I liked this one, as Bali Hai, even when played by accordion, is a favorite song of mine. I was familiar with George's 'Polynesian Percussion' LP, and it was neat to finally see him, with his Mitch Miller-like beard .... although I couldn't help but wonder if he really wanted to bust loose with a much wilder, primitive arrangement. 'Hukilau' sung by Tanya. This was fun, as they brought up some audience members to do a hula dance. One guy has a huge pot-belly, and very stiff body movements, but that didn't stop him from doing the hula, There is a lesson there for all of us. 'Tiny Bubbles' sung by Gail and Dale, as they ascend the elevator to the Sheraton rooftop restaurant. This footage somehow reminded me of the very first scenes of a bad 70's porn reel, which had me giggling a bit, and wondering what a sequel song would be, if the Welk bunch were not so straight-laced and a bit more devil-ish. 'Paradise' A dance number by the ever smiling Bobby, and his partner Cissy. Very nice, very fluid, with choreography that reminded me of a ice-skating competition. 'The Cock-eyed Mayor of Kaunakakai' sung by Gail Ferrel and Mary Lou Metzger. A bit of comedy relief, with an older guy dressed as the mayor who gets tossed in the pool at the end of the song. 'The Hawaiian Wedding Song' sung by Ralna and Guy. Nicely done, but the couples standing straight and still in the background with their bright outfits reminded me either of a) that Christian Sunday morning show that was filmed in Cypress Gardens. b) an early 70's prom 'Blue Hawaii' by Charlotte Deveny and Bob Ralston. This one was strange and made me feel uncomfortable - an instrumental version done with organ and cello. At the end, Welk appears and says 'very, very pleasant.' I don't believe he ever said the words 'Wunnerful, wunnerful' in this broadcast. 'Drifting and Dreaming' -- with Arthur Duncan doing some tap-dancing. After watching this, I've decided that the Mai-Kai needs to add a tap-dancer to their stage show for the next Hukilau -- the precedence has been established. 'Sweet Leilani' sung by Joe Feeney with the solo accordion playing of Myron Floren. This was a real highlight, as there was a line of older women, who would come up and kiss both Joe and Myron on the cheek - no tongue action though, cause Joe was singing. The best pair of cat-eye glasses is seen in this piece 'In Hawaii' an original song, not destined to become a classic, is sung by Guy Hovis, as footage of a boat cruise was shown. 'Hawaiian War Chant' by Sandi and Sally. This upbeat number is always fun, even when sung by the Welk gang. A lineup of guys would pop up from behind the canoe, and do the chanting chorus. If there was any song in the show that looks as if the cast members had been drinking beforehand, this was it. 'Now is the Hour' sung by Norma Zimmer and Jimmy Roberts. I thought this was going to be another lame song, but by the end, I somehow found myself quite entranced with their melodies, and wishing that I had a grandfather like Jimmy Roberts. 'Lovely Hula Hands' sung by Ken Delo. Bad haircut, but nice to see some hula dancing being done. For some reason, the rest of the cast watched this peformance while seated at a long buffet table stretched out on the lawn, with the audience members roped off behind them. 'Pagan Love Song' by Bob Lido and his musical beachcombers. Ugh --- this did not fir in the Hawaiian theme at all. Dixieland jazz, done in a slapstick, comedic fashion -- featuring a solo on the spoons, and guys trying too hard to look real goofy. This piece definitely featured the worst suits of the entire evening. 'Song of the Islands' performed, as stock footage of Hawaiian scenery was shown. 'Aloha, Farewell' sung by the entire cast, as the camera slowly pans across all of their faces. This was a worthwhile show to see, if only as a good snapshot for what white bread, wholesome, middle America's view of Hawaii was like in the early 70's. Vern [ Edited by: ikitnrev on 2004-06-24 23:36 ]

I just received, and watched, the videotape of the Lawrence Welk episode, and I couldn't resist providing some comments. if you're planning on watching this show soon, you might want to stop reading now, so I don't spoil anything.

The tape started with The Lawrence Welk script logo being superimposed on top of a picture of - believe it or not - the space age looking Encounter restauarnt at the L.A. airport. Welk then appeared in front of footage of the Western airline jet, wearing a striped suit that was very mafia looking.
Most of the show is done on the lawn by the ocean of the Sheraton Waikiki. Lawrence and the members of the orchestra all wear light blue, somewhat paisley, Hawaiiana suits. I was hoping to get a close-up of the fabric, but this never happened. The colors of most outfits throughout the show are definitely noticable, with an emphasis on bold patterns and primary colors.
There are no tikis, no alcohol drinks, and no native dancing women seen on the tape (all hula dancing is done by members of Welk's troupe) The audience is definitely middle-aged and older folk. This show, recorded in 1972, catches the very tail end and remnants of the 1950's fascination with Hawaii. I had the feeling that the cooler crowd in Honolulu at the time was either elsewhere, watching some Don Ho show, sucking a few drinks .... or still sleeping in their rooms, resting up for another night of drinking and debauchery.

Performance / Songlist

'On the Beach at Waikiki' - the bright bouncy group ensemble number - great costumes.
'Pearly Shells' by Clay Hart (with a blow dryed John Davidson style haircut) and two women named Sandi, and Sally. Nicely done.
some anonymous dance music, featuring accordions, clarinets, and shots of old folk dancing. For some reason ,there was also a much younger couple dancing - the guy was wearing a t-shirt, the only t-shirt I saw in the entire show. Were t-shirts such a generational thing back then?
'Beyond the Reef' sung by the Champagne lady Norma Zimmer, in a room at the Surfrider Hotel. Pretty lame ... forget the champagne, I'll stick with the mai-tai
'South Pacific' medley, conducted by George Cates. I liked this one, as Bali Hai, even when played by accordion, is a favorite song of mine. I was familiar with George's 'Polynesian Percussion' LP, and it was neat to finally see him, with his Mitch Miller-like beard .... although I couldn't help but wonder if he really wanted to bust loose with a much wilder, primitive arrangement.
'Hukilau' sung by Tanya. This was fun, as they brought up some audience members to do a hula dance. One guy has a huge pot-belly, and very stiff body movements, but that didn't stop him from doing the hula, There is a lesson there for all of us.
'Tiny Bubbles' sung by Gail and Dale, as they ascend the elevator to the Sheraton rooftop restaurant. This footage somehow reminded me of the very first scenes of a bad 70's porn reel, which had me giggling a bit, and wondering what a sequel song would be, if the Welk bunch were not so straight-laced and a bit more devil-ish.
'Paradise' A dance number by the ever smiling Bobby, and his partner Cissy. Very nice, very fluid, with choreography that reminded me of a ice-skating competition.
'The Cock-eyed Mayor of Kaunakakai' sung by Gail Ferrel and Mary Lou Metzger. A bit of comedy relief, with an older guy dressed as the mayor who gets tossed in the pool at the end of the song.
'The Hawaiian Wedding Song' sung by Ralna and Guy. Nicely done, but the couples standing straight and still in the background with their bright outfits reminded me either of a) that Christian Sunday morning show that was filmed in Cypress Gardens. b) an early 70's prom
'Blue Hawaii' by Charlotte Deveny and Bob Ralston. This one was strange and made me feel uncomfortable - an instrumental version done with organ and cello. At the end, Welk appears and says 'very, very pleasant.' I don't believe he ever said the words 'Wunnerful, wunnerful' in this broadcast.
'Drifting and Dreaming' -- with Arthur Duncan doing some tap-dancing. After watching this, I've decided that the Mai-Kai needs to add a tap-dancer to their stage show for the next Hukilau -- the precedence has been established.
'Sweet Leilani' sung by Joe Feeney with the solo accordion playing of Myron Floren. This was a real highlight, as there was a line of older women, who would come up and kiss both Joe and Myron on the cheek - no tongue action though, cause Joe was singing. The best pair of cat-eye glasses is seen in this piece
'In Hawaii' an original song, not destined to become a classic, is sung by Guy Hovis, as footage of a boat cruise was shown.
'Hawaiian War Chant' by Sandi and Sally. This upbeat number is always fun, even when sung by the Welk gang. A lineup of guys would pop up from behind the canoe, and do the chanting chorus. If there was any song in the show that looks as if the cast members had been drinking beforehand, this was it.
'Now is the Hour' sung by Norma Zimmer and Jimmy Roberts. I thought this was going to be another lame song, but by the end, I somehow found myself quite entranced with their melodies, and wishing that I had a grandfather like Jimmy Roberts.
'Lovely Hula Hands' sung by Ken Delo. Bad haircut, but nice to see some hula dancing being done. For some reason, the rest of the cast watched this peformance while seated at a long buffet table stretched out on the lawn, with the audience members roped off behind them.
'Pagan Love Song' by Bob Lido and his musical beachcombers. Ugh --- this did not fir in the Hawaiian theme at all. Dixieland jazz, done in a slapstick, comedic fashion -- featuring a solo on the spoons, and guys trying too hard to look real goofy. This piece definitely featured the worst suits of the entire evening.
'Song of the Islands' performed, as stock footage of Hawaiian scenery was shown.
'Aloha, Farewell' sung by the entire cast, as the camera slowly pans across all of their faces.

This was a worthwhile show to see, if only as a good snapshot for what white bread, wholesome, middle America's view of Hawaii was like in the early 70's.

Vern

[ Edited by: ikitnrev on 2004-06-24 23:36 ]

Post #98324 by ikitnrev on Thu, Jun 24, 2004 11:35 PM