106-554: The Lennon Sisters are an American vocal group that has been made up, at one time or another, of three or four sisters. The quartet originally consisted of Dianne (aka DeeDee; born Dianne Barbara, December 1, 1939), Peggy (born Margaret Anne, April 8, 1941), Kathy (born Kathleen Mary, August 2, 1943), and Janet (born Janet Elizabeth, June 15, 1946). From 1955 to 1968, the group appeared regularly on The Lawrence Welk Show (receiving union scale wages) before having their own television variety show, called Jimmy Durante Presents
212-485: A Yiddish tune, the lyrics of which Sammy Cahn had translated to English and "which the girls harmonized to perfection." They followed this success with a string of best-selling records over the next two years and, by the 1940s, had become a household name. Instrumental to the sisters' success over the years were their parents, Olga and Peter, their orchestra leader and musical arranger, Vic Schoen (1916–2000), and Jack and David Kapp , who founded Decca Records. In
318-581: A New York City-based touring group, performs both the popular tunes sung by the Andrews Sisters and some of the more obscure tunes such as "Well Alright" and "South American Way". In 2008 and 2009, the BBC produced The Andrews Sisters: Queens of the Music Machines , a one-hour documentary on the history of the Andrews Sisters from their upbringing to the present. The North American premiere of
424-425: A cease-and-desist order was sent to Skelton. The sisters' private relationship was often troubled, and Patty blamed it on Maxene: "Ever since I was born, Maxene has been a problem, and that problem hasn't stopped," she said. The trio reunited in 1956 and signed a new recording deal with Capitol Records , for whom Patty was already a featured soloist. By this point, however, rock-and-roll and doo-wop were dominating
530-399: A cut-out of their father, a picture of a gun pointed at his head, and the words "High Noon" (the time of the murder). The sisters were devastated by their father's death, and in the wake of the murder, their new show was impacted by this tragedy and lasted only one and a half seasons. In the 1970s, the sisters performed regularly on The Andy Williams Show , and when that show ended in 1971,
636-676: A daughter. "There was no such thing as being married at that time," she said. "During her lifetime, there was no such thing that existed for us." Maxene died October 21, 1995, at age 79. The ashes of LaVerne and Maxene Andrews are interred in the Columbarium of Memory of the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California , close to the ashes of their parents. Patty Andrews married agent Marty Melcher in 1947 but left him in 1949, when he pursued
742-435: A derivative theme, "Champagne Time", and fanfare composed by George Cates ). Welk frequently demonstrated on camera how the champagne bottle sound was created. He would place a finger in his mouth, release it to produce a popping sound, and then make a soft hissing noise to mimic bubbles escaping the bottle. One such demonstration is included in the opening sequence of the public television reruns. Each week, Welk would present
848-795: A donation during reairs on local PBS stations. All of these singers and performers were part of the Musical Family, with Welk on the lead. Rose Weiss was the long-term Welk costume designer and manager. The Andrews Sisters The Andrews Sisters were an American close harmony singing group of the swing and boogie-woogie eras. The group consisted of three sisters: contralto LaVerne Sophia Andrews (1911–1967), soprano Maxene Anglyn Andrews (1916–1995), and mezzo-soprano Patricia Marie Andrews (1918–2013). The sisters have sold an estimated 80 million records. Their 1941 hit " Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy " can be considered an early example of jump blues . Other songs closely associated with
954-527: A few brief private encounters, they remained somewhat estranged for their remaining years, with Maxene dying in 1995. Shortly after her Off-Broadway debut in New York City in a show called Swingtime Canteen , Maxene suffered another heart attack and died at Cape Cod Hospital on October 21, 1995, making Patty the last surviving Andrews Sister. Not long before she died, Maxene told music historian William Ruhlmann, I have nothing to regret. We got on
1060-541: A group of syndicated niche programs, including Soul Train , that flourished during this era. Lawrence Welk retired and production of the weekly television program ended in 1982. At the time of his retirement, Welk was 79 years old, making him at the time the oldest host of a regularly scheduled US entertainment television series (a feat later surpassed by Bob Barker in 2003 and later by Betty White in 2012). Reruns — largely episodes first aired from 1967 to 1982 — were repackaged with new footage (either Welk or
1166-612: A large collection of Andrews Sisters memorabilia. Patty, Maxene, and LaVerne appeared in 17 Hollywood films. Their first picture, Argentine Nights , paired them with another enthusiastic trio, the Ritz Brothers . Universal Pictures , always budget-conscious, refused to hire a choreographer, so the Ritzes taught the sisters some eccentric steps. Thus, in Argentine Nights and the sisters' next film, Buck Privates ,
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#17327759084581272-413: A line of "Best Pals" dolls. In addition to the dolls, the sisters have recorded CDs of favorite children's songs for the "Best Pals" line. The four original Lennon Sisters wrote an autobiography titled Same Song, Separate Voices , first published in 1985, with a new edition in 1995. In 2011 The Lennon Sisters: Same Song, Separate Voices , (using the same name as the book), a musical documentary celebrating
1378-484: A mainstay until they left to start a career of their own in 1968. The quartet was a trio from 1960 to 1964 after DeeDee married and left the group; she rejoined in 1964 (although making a small handful of appearances throughout her years not on the show). Peggy sang the high harmony, Kathy the low harmony, and Janet and DeeDee sang the middle and lead harmonies. Peggy also specialized in barbershop , or counter-harmony, singing, taught to her by her father (who performed during
1484-480: A medley of Andrews Sisters hits for the Andrews Sisters Fan Club reunion. Lucy played LaVerne, Kim (Lucie Arnaz) played Maxene, and Craig (Desi Arnaz Jr.) played Bing Crosby . She also had a cameo as herself along with many other stars in the 1970 film The Phynx . Patty and Maxene's careers experienced a resurgence when Bette Midler covered " Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy " in 1973. The next year,
1590-406: A modern spiritual in a 1971 episode, apparently oblivious to the meaning of the word " toke ." Brewer responded that although it was "absurd", the duo "got more publicity than we could pay for" from the out-of-place performance. Welk blamed ABC for pressuring him into including the song, among others he felt did not fit the show's format. Nearly all the music on the show was performed in-house by
1696-611: A modest two-bedroom home at 1926 Penmar Ave and later at 1106 Garfield Ave. They were and are devout Roman Catholics and attended the Church of St. Mark, which is part of the Los Angeles Archdiocese . Most or all of the children attended Catholic school. Throughout the Lennon Sisters' career, their faith has had a major influence in both their lives and their careers. Many of their songs are either hymns or of
1802-500: A particular admiration for composers contemporary with him, such as Hoagy Carmichael , Henry Mancini , Johnny Mercer , Cole Porter , and Harry Warren . Welk stated in 1956 that his Musical Family could perform any song "as long as it's done in the champagne style". In one of the show's most infamous incidents, singers Gail Farrell and Dick Dale performed " One Toke Over the Line " (a mock gospel song riddled with drug references) as
1908-407: A religious or spiritual nature. The quartet made its television debut on The Lawrence Welk Show on Christmas Eve 1955. A high school classmate, Larry Welk, son of Lawrence Welk , brought them to the attention of his father. Welk was at home, sick in bed, when his son brought the sisters in to sing for him. Welk was so impressed that he immediately booked them for that week's show, where they were
2014-615: A reported suicide attempt by Maxene in December 1954 put a halt to any further tours (Maxene spent a short time in the hospital after swallowing 18 sleeping pills, an occurrence that LaVerne told reporters was an accident). Maxene and LaVerne did appear together on The Red Skelton Show on October 26, 1954, singing the humorous "Why Do They Give the Solos to Patty" as well as lip-synching "Beer Barrel Polka" with Skelton in drag filling in for Patty. This however did not sit well with Patty, and
2120-548: A romantic relationship with Doris Day . She then married Walter Weschler, the trio's pianist, in 1951. Patty died of natural causes at her home in Northridge, California , on January 30, 2013, at the age of 94. Weschler, her husband of nearly 60 years, had died on August 28, 2010, at the age of 88. Joyce DeYoung Murray, who replaced LaVerne from late 1966 to 1968, died in March 2014 at the age of 87. The Andrews Sisters were
2226-459: A second time in 2001, the act was a trio again for the rest of its run in Branson. They continue to tour across the country and appear annually with their Christmas show at The Andy Williams Moon River Theatre, marking twenty consecutive years of performing in Branson. Other than their thirteen years on The Lawrence Welk Show , the sister group would appear on many other different shows throughout
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#17327759084582332-908: A segment which featured animated characters Johnny Fedora and Alice Blue Bonnet ; and " Melody Time ", in the segment Little Toot (both of which are available on DVD today). The Andrews Sisters were the most sought-after singers in theater shows worldwide during the 1940s and early 1950s, always topping previous house averages. The trio headlined at the London Palladium in 1948 and 1951. They hosted their own radio shows for ABC and CBS from 1944 to 1951, singing specially written commercial jingles for such products as Wrigley's chewing gum , Dole pineapples, Nash motor cars, Kelvinator home appliances, Campbell's soups, and Franco-American food products. The western-themed "The Andrews Sisters' Show" (subtitled "Eight-to-the-Bar Ranch"), co-hosted by Gabby Hayes, began in 1944 and featured
2438-644: A series of stereo albums until 1967, both re-recordings of earlier hits which incorporated up-to-date production techniques as well as new material, including " I Left My Heart in San Francisco ", " Still ", " The End of the World ", " Puff the Magic Dragon ", " Sailor ", " Satin Doll ", " Mr. Bass Man ", the theme from Come September , and the theme from A Man and a Woman . They toured extensively during
2544-409: A special guest every week. They recorded 47 songs with crooner Bing Crosby , 23 of which charted on Billboard , thus making the team one of the most successful pairings of acts in a recording studio in show business history. Their million-sellers with Crosby included " Pistol Packin' Mama ", " Don't Fence Me In ", " South America, Take It Away ", and " Jingle Bells ". The sisters' popularity
2650-502: A star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame , even singing a few bars of " Beer Barrel Polka " for the Entertainment Tonight cameras. The 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake had shaken the area that morning and the ceremony was nearly cancelled, which caused Patty to joke, "Some people said that earthquake this morning was LaVerne because she couldn't be here, but really it was just Maxene and me on the telephone." Besides this, and
2756-985: A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1500 Vine Street . In 2001, The Lennon Sisters were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame . In 2022, The Lennon Sisters received the Standard Award from the Great American Songbook Foundation . The Lawrence Welk Show The Lawrence Welk Show is an American televised musical variety show hosted by big band leader Lawrence Welk . The series aired locally in Los Angeles for four years, from 1951 to 1955, then nationally for another 16 years on ABC from 1955 to 1971, followed by 11 years in first-run syndication from 1971 to 1982. Repeat episodes are broadcast in
2862-488: A welcome retreat for servicemen where the trio often performed, volunteering their personal time to sing and dance for the soldiers, sailors, and Marines (they did the same at New York City 's Stage Door Canteen during the war). While touring, they often treated three random servicemen to dinner when they were dining out. They recorded a series of Victory Discs ( V-Discs ) for distribution to Allied fighting forces only, again volunteering their time for studio sessions for
2968-580: A year, and its end marked the last time the sisters would ever sing together. Patty continually distanced herself from Maxene, until her death, and would not explain her motives regarding the separation. Maxene appealed to Patty for a reunion, personally if not professionally, both in public and in private, but to no avail. Maxene suffered a serious heart attack while performing in Illinois in 1982 and underwent quadruple bypass surgery , from which she successfully recovered. Patty visited her sister while she
3074-585: The Big Band Era in a quartet with his own three brothers). The girls idolized Patti Page 's multi-track vocal sound, feeling they achieved something close to her smooth blend in their Dot recording of " Stars Fell on Alabama ". Kathy was especially fond of Connie Francis , evident in her solo recording of " Malaguena ", which showcased her impressive vocal range. And also with the numerous hairstyles that Kathy would wear like her signature “swept wing look”. The sisters made no secret that they were huge fans of
3180-496: The Boswell Sisters , who had been popular until their breakup in 1936. After singing with various dance bands and touring in vaudeville with Leon Belasco (and his orchestra) and comic bandleader Larry Rich, they first came to national attention with their recordings and radio broadcasts in 1937, most notably via their major Decca record hit, " Bei Mir Bist Du Schön " (translation: "To Me, You Are Beautiful"), originally
3286-608: The 1930s to the 1950s, was one such example. Most of the Andrews Sisters' music has been restored and released in compact disc form. Over 300 of their original Decca recordings, a good portion of which was hit material, has yet to be released by MCA /Decca. Many of their Decca recordings have been used in such television shows and Hollywood movies as Homefront , ER , Agent Carter , The Brink's Job , National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation , Swing Shift , Raggedy Man , Summer of '42 , Slaughterhouse-Five , Maria's Lovers , Harlem Nights , In Dreams , Murder in
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3392-553: The 1960s, favoring top nightclubs in Las Vegas , California , and London, England . Eldest sister LaVerne died in 1967 at the age of 55 after a year-long bout with cancer , during which she was replaced by singer Joyce DeYoung (May 24, 1926 – March 7, 2014). DeYoung fulfilled concert appearances, including an appearance on The Dean Martin Show on November 30, 1967, but she did not record with Patty and Maxene. LaVerne had founded
3498-588: The 1964–1965 season. Beginning with the 1965–1966 season, the episodes were recorded in color. It is assumed the color episodes exist intact. Neither the Welk Organization nor the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority have released any episodes of The Lawrence Welk Show on home video , nor are there any plans to do so. Welk Musical Family specials, however, are available on DVD , and can be obtained with
3604-651: The Andrews Sisters and their songs in the same way the Allied Forces adopted Lili Marlene ." Along with Bing Crosby , separately and jointly, The Andrews Sisters were among the performers who incorporated ethnic music styles into America's Hit Parade , popularizing or enhancing the popularity of songs with melodies originating in Brazil , Czechoslovakia , France , Ireland , Israel , Italy , Mexico , Russia , Spain , Sweden and Trinidad , many of which their manager chose for them. The Andrews Sisters became
3710-613: The Andrews Sisters dance like the Ritz Brothers. Buck Privates , with Abbott and Costello , featured the Andrews Sisters' best-known song, " Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy ." This Don Raye - Hughie Prince composition was nominated for Best Song at the 1941 Academy Awards ceremony. Universal hired the sisters for two more Abbott and Costello comedies and then promoted them to full-fledged stardom in B musicals. What's Cookin'? , Private Buckaroo , Give Out, Sisters (in which they disguise themselves as old women as part of
3816-743: The Andrews Sisters include their first major hit, " Bei Mir Bist Du Schön (Means That You're Grand) " (1937), " Beer Barrel Polka (Roll Out the Barrel)" (1939), " Beat Me Daddy, Eight to the Bar " (1940), " Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree (with Anyone Else but Me) " (1942), and " Rum and Coca-Cola " (1945), which helped introduce American audiences to calypso . The Andrews Sisters' harmonies and songs are still influential today and have been copied and recorded by entertainers such as Patti Page , Bette Midler , Christina Aguilera , Pentatonix , and others. The group
3922-834: The Apple Tree (with Anyone Else but Me) ", " A Hot Time In the Town of Berlin " and " Rum and Coca-Cola ". The sisters performed their hits in service comedy films, such as Buck Privates and Private Buckaroo . During the war, they entertained the Allied forces extensively in Africa and Italy , as well as in the U.S., visiting Army , Navy , Marine , and Coast Guard bases, war zones, hospitals , and munitions factories. They encouraged U.S. citizens to purchase war bonds with their rendition of Irving Berlin 's song " Any Bonds Today? ". They also helped actress Bette Davis and actor John Garfield found California 's famous Hollywood Canteen ,
4028-576: The Dean of Women at Tahoe Paradise College, teaching acting, drama, and speech, and working with troubled teens; and Patty was once again eager to be a soloist . In 1969, Patty appeared in Lucille Ball 's third series Here's Lucy , in the sixth episode of the second season, titled "Lucy and the Andrews Sisters". The episode has Patty enlisting the help of Lucy, her daughter Kim (played by Lucie Arnaz ), and her son Craig ( Desi Arnaz Jr. ) to perform
4134-719: The First , L.A. Confidential , American Horror Story , Just Shoot Me , Gilmore Girls , Mama's Family , War and Remembrance , Jakob the Liar , Lolita , The Polar Express , The Chronicles of Narnia , Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front , Memoirs of a Geisha , and Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (and Don't Come Back!!) . Comical references to the trio in television sitcoms can be found as early as I Love Lucy and as recently as Everybody Loves Raymond . In 2007, their version of " Bei Mir Bist Du Schön "
4240-576: The Hollywood Palace for the 1976–77 season, moved to CBS's Television City studios from 1977 to 1979, and then returned to the ABC Television Center in 1979, where it remained for the rest of its run. The primary sponsor of The Lawrence Welk Show was initially Dodge . In 1960, Geritol took over sponsorship; Sominex , Aqua Velva , Serutan , Universal Appliances , Polident , Ocean Spray and Sinclair Oil were some of
4346-442: The Lennon Sisters , with Jimmy Durante . After the show was cancelled, they partnered with Andy Williams to create a successful Las Vegas residency, which lasted a decade. In 1999, younger sister Mimi (born Miriam Theresa, October 16, 1955) replaced Peggy upon the latter's retirement. DeeDee has also since retired. The current line-up of the Lennon Sisters is a trio consisting of Kathy, Janet, and Mimi. They continue to tour around
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4452-658: The Lennon Sisters Hour . After filming five episodes, the Lennon Sisters went on a two-week hiatus . On August 12, 1969, their father, William Lennon, was shot and killed in the parking lot of the Venice Golf Course in Marina Del Rey , where he worked as a private instructor. Shortly before his death, Lennon had retired from managing his daughters' careers; he had been on set at every one of their television appearances since 1955. William Lennon
4558-746: The Lennon Sisters with their musically talented siblings and cousins performing a variety of 1960s folk songs, including " Where Have All the Flowers Gone " and "If I Had My Way (The Sermon of Samson)", as well as the title track. They recorded briefly for Mercury Records after leaving Dot, focusing on more contemporary pop/light-rock fare, such as "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" and "Never My Love". Their four most popular albums were Lawrence Welk Presents The Lennon Sisters: Best-Loved Catholic Hymns (Dot); Christmas with The Lennon Sisters (Dot); Somethin' Stupid (Dot);and Noel , their Christmas album for Mercury Records. Their full-bodied, homestyle choral blend
4664-647: The Music Branch, Special Service Division, of the Army Service Forces, and they were dubbed the "Sweethearts of the Armed Forces Radio Service " for their many appearances on shows such as "Command Performance", " Mail Call ", and " G.I. Journal." The sisters' 1945 hit " Rum and Coca-Cola " became one of their most popular and best-known recordings, but also inspired some controversy. Some radio stations were reluctant to play
4770-424: The Musical Family, with guest appearances being a rarity. Notable exceptions included performances by artists such as Henry Mancini, Eddie Peabody , The Chantays , Stan Boreson , Charley Pride , Jack Benny , and Barbara Mandrell . The closing theme during the syndicated years, with lyrics often performed by the "Musical Family", was "Adios, Au Revoir, Auf Wiedersehen" (composed by George Cates ). A recording of
4876-490: The United States by PBS stations. These airings incorporate an original program — usually, a color broadcast from 1965 to 1982 — in its entirety. In place of the commercials, newer performance and interview clips from the original stars and/or a family member of the performers are included; these clips are occasionally updated. On May 11, 1951, The Lawrence Welk Show began as a local program on KTLA in Los Angeles,
4982-560: The Welk Theater from May until New Year's Eve for the Branson entertainment season. The four sisters moved their families from the Los Angeles area to Branson, Missouri . After the death of Lawrence Welk on May 17, 1992, the Lennon Sisters quartet headlined at the Welk Champagne Theater in Branson from 1994 to 2012. When Peggy retired from singing in 1999, younger sister Mimi took her place, and when Dianne left for
5088-603: The carousel and we each got the ring and I was satisfied with that. There's nothing I would do to change things if I could...Yes, I would. I wish I had the ability and the power to bridge the gap between my relationship with my sister, Patty. Upon hearing the news of her sister's death, Patty became distraught. Several days later, Patty's husband Wally fell down a flight of stairs and broke both wrists. Patty did not attend her sister's memorial services in New York City , nor in California . Bob Hope said of Maxene's death, "She
5194-417: The charts, and older artists were left by the wayside. The sisters recorded a dozen singles through 1959, some of which attempted to keep up with the times by incorporating rock sounds. None of these achieved any major success. In addition, they produced three hi-fi albums, including a vibrant LP of songs from the dancing 1920s with Billy May 's orchestra. In 1962, they signed with Dot Records and recorded
5300-457: The copyright issue or of the implications of the lyrics. An ad in the 1951 'Radio Annual' showed photos of the Andrews as children, as contemporary singers, and as old women in the then-future year of 1975, although the act would not make it that long. In the 1950s, Patty Andrews decided to break away from the act to be a soloist. She had married the trio's pianist, Walter Weschler, who became
5406-521: The country and, until recently, performed annually with their Christmas show at The Andy Williams Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri . The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001. The Lennon Sisters were born into a family of twelve children (seven sisters and five brothers), all born in Los Angeles , California. Their youngest sister, Mary Frances, died in 1954 when she
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#17327759084585512-415: The critical acclaim her sister had for her performances, even though Patty was considered to be the "star" of the group for years. The critics' major complaint was that Patty's show concentrated too much on Andrews Sisters material, which did not allow Patty's own talents as an expressive and bluesy vocalist to shine through. The two sisters did reunite, albeit briefly, on October 1, 1987, when they received
5618-620: The flagship station of the Paramount Television Network . The original show was broadcast from the since-demolished Aragon Ballroom at Venice Beach . In 1954, Paramount announced plans to distribute the show nationwide, plans that never materialized due to Paramount's feuds with DuMont Television Network that led to the collapse of both. The show made its national television debut on the American Broadcasting Company on July 2, 1955, and
5724-428: The group's fame was based on their television appearances, they also recorded frequently for Dot Records in the 1950s and 1960s, producing a dozen albums, featuring their interpretations of well-known standards such as " Among My Souvenirs ", " Moon River ", and "Twilight Time". Some of their best-known recordings included "Scarlet Ribbons", "Greensleeves", and Schubert's "Ave Maria". A themed LP titled Dominique featured
5830-542: The group's fifty five years in show business, aired on PBS, although an updated version of the tv special was aired on PBS in 2020. Two of their five brothers, Kipp and Pat Lennon, are members of the band Venice , which also includes their cousins Michael and Mark Lennon. The Lennon Sisters have frequented The Villages , the world's largest retirement community, for shows. They last performed in The Villages on February 15, 2016. In 1987, The Lennon Sisters received
5936-592: The group's manager and demanded more money for Patty. When Maxene and LaVerne learned of Patty's decision from newspaper gossip columns rather than from their own sister, it caused a bitter two-year separation, especially when Patty sued LaVerne for a larger share of their parents' estate. Patty attributed the breakup to the deaths of their parents: "We had been together nearly all our lives," Patty explained in 1971. "Then in one year our dream world ended. Our mother died (in 1948) and then our father (in 1949). All three of us were upset, and we were at each other's throats all
6042-754: The group, was 7 when the trio was formed, and 12 when they won first prize at a talent contest at the local Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis , where LaVerne played piano accompaniment for the silent film showings in exchange for dancing lessons for her and her sisters. Following the collapse of their father's Minneapolis restaurant, the sisters went on the road to support the family. All three attended Franklin Junior High School and North High School , both in Minneapolis. They started their career as imitators of an earlier successful singing group,
6148-531: The innovative, intricate musical stylings of both The Andrews Sisters and The Mills Brothers . Their first hit, "Tonight, You Belong to Me" , reached No. 15 on the charts in 1956. In 1961, their single " Sad Movies (Make Me Cry) " (Dot 16255) reached the top of the charts in Japan, although making it only to No. 56 on Billboard in the United States. It was the lone No. 1 single of their career, turning out to be their all-time highest-charting record. Although much of
6254-403: The leads. It launched the careers of many now notable theater, film, and television stars, including John Travolta , Marilu Henner , Treat Williams , and Ann Reinking . It was the last major tour for the sisters and was cut short owing to a conflict with the show's producers over pay for the sisters, resulting in the cancellation of an extensively scheduled road tour. Over Here! lasted only
6360-507: The majority being from the syndicated run. The show was most highly rated during the mid to late 1960's and was a top 30 hit for five seasons, according to ClassicTVHits.com's ratings database. The show would often open by showing bubbles floating around and was accompanied by a sound effect of a bottle of champagne opening, including the opening theme (originally "Bubbles in the Wine", composed by Welk and Frank Loesser , later replaced with
6466-867: The most imitated of all female singing groups and influenced many artists, including Mel Tormé , Les Paul and Mary Ford , the Four Freshmen , the Supremes , the Beach Boys , the McGuire Sisters , the Lennon Sisters , the Pointer Sisters , the Manhattan Transfer , Barry Manilow , and Bette Midler . Their style was even emulated internationally; the Harmony Sisters, a popular Finland group that performed from
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#17327759084586572-406: The original group and often acted as the peacemaker among the three during the sisters' lives, more often siding with her parents, to whom the girls were extremely devoted, than with either of her sisters. Their last appearance together as a trio was on The Dean Martin Show on September 29, 1966. After LaVerne died, Maxene and Patty continued to perform periodically until 1968, when Maxene became
6678-473: The other companies or brands which served as associate sponsors for a short time. (During later years, a number of Welk cast members appeared in commercials for many of the show's sponsors, filmed specifically to air during Welk broadcasts.) The Lawrence Welk Show was canceled by ABC in 1971 amidst the rural purge and implementation of the Prime Time Access Rule . In response to
6784-623: The pair debuted on Broadway in the Sherman Brothers ' nostalgic World War II musical : Over Here! , which premiered at the Shubert Theatre to rave reviews. This was a follow-up to Patty's success in Victory Canteen , a 1971 California revue. Over Here! starred Maxene and Patty (with Janie Sell filling in for LaVerne and winning a Tony Award for her performance) and was written with both sisters in mind for
6890-589: The program and began offering them to stations nationwide that October. Welk's segments from Memories with Lawrence Welk were used until his death, after which members of the Musical Family took over as hosts. Reruns, with updated interviews from cast members, continue to air to this day (in many markets airing on Saturday nights at 7 pm, the same time the show aired during the latter years of its original run). The shows are occasionally "recut" and interspersed with segments from other episodes. Most episodes rerun on PBS stations originally aired between 1965 to 1982,
6996-656: The radio side airing the other; viewers would tune in both the TV and the radio to achieve the stereophonic effect. Starting with the 1959–60 season the two shows were merged into The Lawrence Welk Show , reverting to monophonic broadcasts. During this early period, Chrysler also provided the show's announcers: Lou Crosby represented the Dodge shows, while James Narz represented Plymouth. (When it became known that Chrysler's rival Ford employed Narz's older brother Jack , they changed James's name to Tom Kennedy to avoid confusion between
7102-444: The record because it mentioned a commercial product by name, and because the lyrics were subtly suggestive of local women prostituting themselves to U.S. servicemen serving at the naval base on Trinidad . The song was based on a Trinidadian calypso , and a dispute over its provenance led to a well-publicized court case. The sisters later told biographers that they were asked to record the tune on short notice and were unaware either of
7208-536: The recording studios, producing Top 10 hits with the likes of Bing Crosby (the only recording artist of the 1940s to sell more records than The Andrews Sisters), Danny Kaye , Dick Haymes , Carmen Miranda , Al Jolson , Ray McKinley , Burl Ives , Ernest Tubb , Red Foley , Dan Dailey , Alfred Apaka , and Les Paul . In personal appearances, on radio and on television, they sang with everyone from Rudy Vallee , Judy Garland , and Nat "King" Cole , to Jimmie Rodgers , Andy Williams , and The Supremes . Some of
7314-526: The show after Welk took issue with his attempt to perform a jazz version " Silver Bells " during the show's 1958 Christmas special. In an interview, Fountain stated he left The Lawrence Welk Show because "Champagne and bourbon don't mix." Among the performers that were popular with audiences during the ABC era were The Lennon Sisters , Joe Feeney , Steve Smith , Larry Hooper , Jo Ann Castle and Buddy Merrill . Lynn Anderson , Clay Hart , and Ava Barber used
7420-416: The show as a springboard to launch careers as country music solo artists. At the height of the show's popularity, members of the Musical Family were featured in several celebrity tabloid magazines alongside other mainstream television and movie stars. Tap dancer Arthur Duncan became the second African-American to appear regularly on a sponsored television variety program, and the first since 1951, when he
7526-541: The show he can be heard forcing the D. For certain songs, particularly instrumentals performed by the orchestra, couples in the audience were invited to dance in the studio. Welk himself often joined in, dancing with members of the audience. Many of the show's songs were performed as part of a skit , especially during the show's later years. The Musical Family performed a wide range of music, including adult standards and big band numbers, as well as renditions of pop , country , Christian , and patriotic songs. Welk had
7632-503: The show was June 21, 2009, in their summer vacation enclave of Mound, Minnesota. In 2008, Mound dedicated "The Andrews Sisters Trail". The sisters spent summers in Mound with their uncles Pete and Ed Solie, who had a grocery store there. Maxene Andrews always said that the summers in Mound created a major sense of "normalcy" and "a wonderful childhood" in a life that otherwise centered on the sisters' careers. The Westonka Historical Society has
7738-449: The show's cancellation, Welk started his own production company and continued producing the show for syndication . 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. In many markets, the syndicated Lawrence Welk Show aired before the start of network prime-time on Saturday nights (7 p.m. Eastern Time), often competing against another show that
7844-521: The show's cast introducing segments) for syndication as Memories with Lawrence Welk . In 1985, The Lawrence Welk Christmas Reunion was produced. It was the last show in which Welk appeared with the Musical Family. In March 1987, the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority produced and released a documentary film, Lawrence Welk: Television's Music Man , hosted by Kathy Lennon of The Lennon Sisters . The film
7950-724: The show's theme, which was followed by either an orchestral performance or a group number featuring the entire cast of singers from the Musical Family. Welk introduced most of the acts throughout the episode, delivering his monologues in a distinctive German accent. The accent became a hallmark of his persona and was frequently parodied in popular culture, including by Welk himself (two books he authored, his autobiography Wunnerful, Wunnerful! and Ah-One, Ah-Two! were so titled because they were his catchphrases ). Welk's accent sometimes led to notable mispronunciations of scripted lines from cue cards. In Wunnerful, Wunnerful! , Welk bemoaned his accent, and in some of his pronunciations of "wonderful" in
8056-402: The sisters specialized in traditional pop , swing , boogie-woogie , and novelty hits with their trademark lightning-quick vocal syncopations, they also produced major hits in jazz , ballads , folk , country , seasonal, and religious titles, being the first Decca artists to record an album of gospel standards in 1950. Their versatility allowed them to pair with many different artists in
8162-602: The sisters would appear on the show only once a month starting in 1967 so the sisters could pursue other opportunities and earn a bit more income for their families. However, over time this agreement would not work for Lawrence and in February 1968 the sisters were let go from the show. Singing the song “Sweet and Low” the Lennons and Welk would go their separate ways. In summer 1969, the Lennon Sisters were filming episodes for their upcoming variety series, Jimmy Durante Presents
8268-470: The sisters would tour around with Williams across the country, with engagements including Caesars Palace in Las Vegas . They had a successful floor show with Williams in Las Vegas for about ten years. They also appeared on several game shows, including Family Feud , Tattletales , and The Hollywood Squares . In the spring of 1982, Larry Welk asked the Lennon Sisters if they would like to perform at
8374-434: The song " Pistol Packin' Mama ", where the sisters perform a duet with Bing Crosby . The sisters were again featured in a Fallout game in 2015, when their songs "Pistol Packin' Mama" and "Civilization" were featured in the game Fallout 4 . Christina Aguilera used the Andrews Sisters' "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" to inspire her song " Candyman " (released as a single in 2007) from her hit album Back to Basics . The song
8480-425: The song has been edited over the updated credits on PBS reruns. Welk's performers were known as his Musical Family. Most members of the Musical Family had specific, well-defined roles within the context of the show, generally specializing in one type of performance. One of the most prominent positions in the Musical Family was the "Champagne Lady", who always sang a down-tempo solo number in every episode. Norma Zimmer
8586-611: The song was originally a Yiddish song " Bei Mir Bistu Shein ", and had been popularized within the Jewish community before it was recorded as a more successful "cover" version by the Andrews sisters. Edward Habib in the CD program notes for Songs That Won the War Vol. 2 The Hollywood Canteen states that the Andrews Sisters' radio transcription of Elmer's Tune was "so popular it even played on German radio," noting that "the opposition embraced
8692-589: The time, ABC's only West Coast TV studio equipped for color production ; Welk had insisted on transitioning the show to color in 1965, convinced that broadcasting in color was essential to maintaining the program's success. The first color episode of the show, which aired in September 1965, was taped at Welk's resort in Escondido . The show returned to the ABC Television Center in 1966 after some of its studios were converted to color. The show returned to filming at
8798-462: The time." In 1951, they recorded " The Windmill Song " which is an adaptation of the French song "Maître Pierre" written in 1948 by Henri Betti (music) and Jacques Plante (lyrics). The English lyrics were written by Mitchell Parish . The Andrews Sisters formally broke up in 1953. Maxene and LaVerne tried to continue the act as a duo and met with good press during a 10-day tour of Australia , but
8904-490: The trio's late-1930s recordings have noticeable Boswell Sisters vocal influences. LaVerne Andrews married Lou Rogers, a trumpet player in Vic Schoen 's band, in 1948. The two remained together until LaVerne's death from liver cancer on May 8, 1967, at the age of 55. Lou died in 1995. Maxene Andrews married music publisher Lou Levy in 1941, separating in 1949. They adopted a girl and a boy, Aleda Ann and Peter. Levy
9010-533: The two; Kennedy was moved to Date with the Angels in 1957. Bob Warren handled announcing duties. By 1956, Welk also collaborated with Ben Selvin at RCA Thesaurus to release electrical transcriptions of "The New Lawrence Welk Show" for broadcast on local radio stations which were affiliated with leading national radio networks. The 1965–66 season was taped at the Hollywood Palace as it was, at
9116-471: The years just before and during World War II , the Andrews Sisters were at the height of their popularity, and the group still tends to be associated in the public's mind with the war years. They had numerous hit records during these years, both on their own and in collaboration with fellow Decca Records artist Bing Crosby . Some of these hits had service or military related themes, including " Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy ", "Three Little Sisters", " Don't Sit Under
9222-437: The years, including The Ed Sullivan Show , The John Davidson Show , The Andy Williams Show , Celebrity Bowling , The Jim Nabors Hour , Cher , Password Plus (Janet Lennon only), Soul Train (As a group in 1980 and 1984, and Kathy alone in 1988 and 1990), The Merv Griffin Show . While continuing to play tour dates, Kathy and Janet Lennon have branched out into the toy market in 2006, designing and selling
9328-632: The zany plot) and Moonlight and Cactus were among the team's popular full-length films. The Andrews Sisters sing the title song as the opening credits roll and also perform two specialty numbers in the all-star revue Hollywood Canteen (1944). They can be seen singing "You Don't Have to Know the Language" with Bing Crosby in Paramount's Road to Rio with Bob Hope , that year's highest-grossing movie. Their singing voices are heard in two full-length Walt Disney features: " Make Mine Music ", in
9434-427: Was Lawrence Welk Presents Top Tunes and New Talent (1956–58) and then Lawrence Welk's Plymouth Show (1958–59). The Plymouth show was the first American television program to air in stereophonic sound . Because stereophonic television had not yet been invented (it would be 25 more years before it would become standard), ABC simulcast the show on its radio network , with the TV side airing one audio channel and
9540-460: Was Greek and his wife was of Norwegian ancestry raised in the Lutheran faith. The Sollie family disapproved of Olga's marriage, but the relationship was repaired once their first child, LaVerne, was born July 6, 1911. Their second daughter, Anglyn, died at eight months of age on March 16, 1914. Maxene arrived on January 3, 1916, and Patty was born February 16, 1918. Patty, the lead singer of
9646-469: Was 16 months old after wandering into the street from the front lawn and being struck by a car. Their parents married in early 1939. Their father, William Herbert Lennon (1915–1969), worked as a milkman for many years before getting a job at a local golf course. Their mother, Isabelle Emily "Sis" (1919–2005), remained at home to care for the needs of her very large family. Sis was the daughter of Reina Ysabella Alvarez Denning and Danforth Denning. Their ancestry
9752-658: Was a mixture of Mexican, Spanish, German, and Irish. Isabelle's maternal grandfather, Pablo Alvarez (1857–1905), was born in Santa Ana, California , and her maternal grandmother, Margarita Camacho (1864–1938), was from Wilmington, California . Pablo's great-great-great-grandfather, Bernardo Salgado De Oliberos, was born in San Andrés, Spain . During their formative years, the family, which included two parents, eleven children, and one grandmother, lived in Venice, California , in
9858-458: Was a retrospective on Welk's life and career, featuring interviews with surviving members of Welk's Musical Family, and scenes from the show; it was part of a new approach to pledge drive programming that aimed to lure donors with popular music and nostalgia, an approach that later became standard at other public television stations. The film was so successful that the OETA acquired rerun rights to
9964-616: Was among the inaugural inductees to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame upon its opening in 1998. Writing for Bloomberg , Mark Schoifet said the sisters became the most popular female vocal group of the first half of the 20th century. They are still widely acclaimed today for their famous close harmonies. They were inducted into the Minnesota Rock/Country Hall of Fame in May 2006. The sisters were born to Olga "Ollie" (née Sollie) and Peter Andreas. Peter Andreas (later "Andrews")
10070-420: Was canceled during the rural purge and resurrected in syndication, also in 1971 — Hee Haw . The success of Lawrence Welk and Hee Haw in syndication, and the network decisions that led to their respective cancellations, were the inspiration for a novelty song called " The Lawrence Welk-Hee Haw Counter-Revolution Polka ", performed by Roy Clark , one of the co-stars of Hee Haw . These programs were among
10176-651: Was co-written by Linda Perry . The London-based trio the Puppini Sisters uses their style harmonies on several Andrews Sisters and other hits of the 1940s and 1950s as well as later rock and disco hits. The trio has said their name is a tribute to The Andrews Sisters. The National WW2 Museum's Victory Belles are proud to pay tribute to the Andrews Sisters performing their music daily in the Stage Door Canteen in New Orleans . The Manhattan Dolls,
10282-477: Was hired as a permanent music maker by Welk in 1964. James Hobson (also known as Jim Hobson) served longest as producer (1962–1982) and director of The Lawrence Welk Show . Hobson died on April 26, 2013, in Santa Monica Hospital, California. The surviving episodes from the first 10 seasons on ABC exist today as black and white kinescopes or videotape , as the show was broadcast live through
10388-429: Was hospitalized. Now sometimes appearing as "Patti" (but still signing autographs as "Patty"), she re-emerged in the late 1970s as a regular panelist on The Gong Show . Maxene had a successful comeback as a cabaret soloist in 1979 and toured worldwide for the next 15 years, recording a solo album in 1985 entitled "Maxene: An Andrews Sister" for Bainbridge Records. Patty started her own solo act in 1980 but did not receive
10494-492: Was included in the game BioShock , a first-person shooter that takes place in an alternate history 1960, and later in 2008, their song "Civilization" (with Danny Kaye ) was included in the Atomic Age -inspired video game Fallout 3 . The 2010 video game Mafia II features numerous Andrews Sisters songs, with "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy", " Strip Polka " and "Rum and Coca-Cola". The 2011 video game L.A. Noire features
10600-716: Was initially produced at the Hollywood Palladium , moving to stage 5 at the ABC Television Center at Prospect and Talmadge in Hollywood shortly afterwards. The show was filmed there for 23 of its 27 years on national television. When the show debuted nationwide, The Lawrence Welk Show was billed as the Dodge Dancing Party in 1955 and 1956. From 1956 to 1959, Lawrence Welk was broadcast two nights per week. The second show's title
10706-443: Was killed by a former Air Force officer named Chet Young. Young, who had previously been committed to Atascadero State Hospital and judged to be “dangerously insane”, believed that he was married to Peggy and was convinced that William Lennon stood in the way of his "marriage" to Peggy and had to be eliminated. Two months later, Young used the same weapon on himself to commit suicide. The sisters discovered an unopened letter containing
10812-684: Was more than part of The Andrews Sisters, much more than a singer. She was a warm and wonderful lady who shared her talent and wisdom with others." They found instant appeal with teenagers and young adults who were engrossed in the swing and jazz idioms, especially when they performed with nearly all of the major big bands , including those led by Glenn Miller , Benny Goodman , Buddy Rich , Tommy Dorsey , Jimmy Dorsey , Gene Krupa , Joe Venuti , Freddie Slack , Eddie Heywood , Bob Crosby (Bing's brother), Desi Arnaz , Guy Lombardo , Les Brown , Bunny Berigan , Xavier Cugat , Paul Whiteman , Ted Lewis , Nelson Riddle , and Gordon Jenkins . While
10918-538: Was perfect for such yuletide favorites as "Adeste Fideles", "Christmas Island", "Faith of Our Fathers", "The Star Carol", and "Home for the Holidays". Several souvenir items, such as coloring books, paper dolls, and story books featuring the Lennon sisters, were produced. Having growing families, the sisters were only receiving Union scale wages for their jobs on the show. The Lennons and Lawrence Welk would agree that
11024-496: Was such that after the war they discovered that some of their records had actually been smuggled into Germany after the labels had been changed to read " Hitler 's Marching Songs". Their recording of Bei Mir Bist Du Schön became a favorite of the Nazis , until it was discovered that the song's composers were of Jewish descent. Still, it did not stop concentration camp inmates from secretly singing it, this being most likely since
11130-758: Was the longest running Champagne Lady, appearing on the show from 1960 to 1982. The Musical Family followed an unofficial code of conservative artistic and personal morals set by Welk. Welk closely monitored fan letters to gauge performers' popularity, giving more prominent roles to those who received positive feedback. Performers who failed to resonate with the audience often saw their solo opportunities decrease and were sometimes ultimately fired. In 1959, Welk fired Champagne Lady Alice Lon, prompting thousands of viewers to write to Welk demanding an apology and her reinstatement. Although Welk attempted to rehire her, Lon declined. Welk's conservative artistic standards put him at odds with clarinetist Pete Fountain, who reportedly left
11236-504: Was the sisters' manager from 1937 to 1951. Later in life, according to her adopted daughter, Maxene entered a thirteen-year relationship with her manager Lynda Wells and they later spent many years as life partners. "To me, being gay was not a central focus of Maxene's life at all," Wells told radio station The Current ( KCMP ) in a 2019 interview. "Her art was. Her singing was." But Wells says that their status as companions, and Maxene's health issues as she got older, led Maxene to adopt her as
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