Lawrence Welk 1949 short

Here we have music, song and comedy in this 1949 theatrical short "Lawrence Welk and his Champagne Music." Movie goers back then could see this on the big screen. Besides the feature it was common to get extras such as a newsreel, short and cartoon. I see Jerry Burke on the organ and looks like Larry Hooper on the piano. Many thanks to Blackhawk Films for preserving this gem and so many others.

[@SharonKofoed]

Oh, fun! I've never seen this before!

[@kenqwe04]

Glad you like it.

[@robertbeacham4314]

Jerry Burke playing organ. Looks like Larry Hooper on piano. Myron wasn’t there yet. Alice Lon wasn’t there yet. This looks like a lady named Jayne singing Far Away Places. I can’t remember her last name

[@jordanbusby6231]

Jayne Walton came before this video she left Lawrence in 1945 and her last name was Walton

[@kenqwe04]

The lady is Helen Ramsey supposedly the fourth Champagne Lady. She was there 1947-49 but left because the touring was too much and Mr. Welk was too controlling. Interesting article: lasvegassun.com/news/2001/sep/13/bit-of-the-bubbly-former-lawrence-welk-champagne-l/ Wiki pedia also has some info.

[@robertbeacham4314]

@@kenqwe04 Thanks for the info. 49 is a little early for me. I was born in 54

[@kenqwe04]

@@robertbeacham4314 I'm born in 47 but didn't get to like this stuff until much later so basically before my time musically. No matter. It's great stuff. lol

[@robertbeacham4314]

@@kenqwe04 Same here. Didn’t care for the show early, but got into it later.

[@samshublom8761]

Is the bass sax player Joe Rushton? Looks sort of like a young version of him. He was from Evanston and would have been playing around Chicago around that time. Other than Jerry Burke and Larry. Hooper, the only other old-timer I recognize is Orie Amodeo on flute. Also, looks like Lawrence was playing an accordion supplied by George Karpec from Milwaukee. Myron Floren told me that the Karpec let him down one night in New York and Ernst Deffner, who owned the PANcordion company and happened to be in the audience, rushed out to his car for a loaner to get him through the gig. He, and later Myron, wound up playing PANcordions exclusively from then on. Thanks for posting this.

[@kenqwe04]

You're welcome. I see people who look familiar but I'll leave it to the experts. Interesting story about Myson and PANcordians. I've noticed that when Mr. Welk introduces Myron to play a number he usually says here's Myron and his PANcordian. Now we know why. Any info is always welcome. Thanks.