Saturday, July 26, 2008

Geezerhood

Oh my, Joyce and I have just officially become geezers.

We were visiting on the phone with our son James at Fort Knox, Kentucky and (in talking about the hours the Army keeps) I mentioned how his Great-grandpa James (who lived his entire life on the farm in central Illinois and never served in the military) always got out of bed no later than 5:00. I said, "But of course, the only thing that could keep Grandpa up past his 8:00 bedtime was Lawrence Welk."

There was a long pause ... and then James asked, "Who's Lawrence Welk?"

I tried to explain, but finally we just said, "We'll send you a link to a YouTube clip."

Joyce did that, but then we got to watching those old clips, and it suddenly occurred to me, Here we are sitting in the living room past our 8:00 bedtime, watching Lawrence Welk. Well folks (as much as I hate to say it), the Lawrence Welk Show ain't half bad. So without further ado, here's Bobby Burgess and Cissy King dancing to dat funky beat.







"Tank yoo Cissy'n Bobby! Dat wass a real toeTapper!"

14 comments:

Mrs. Who said...

After I read your post, I turned to my son and asked if he knew who LW was...absolutely no clue.

Pass me a rocking chair.

JDP said...

If it is any consolation I have an idea Cissy and Bobby can't tap their toes like that any more.

JDP

The Flyer said...

I have to confess that my exposure to LW was only via re-runs, but it brings back good memories because that was the one time we were permitted to consume food in the living room.

Also, it is evidence that there was a time when you actually had to exhibit talent and ability to get yourself on television.

Bob said...

Flyer--
Yup, when Lawrence Welk grabbed his accordion, it was time to break out the Polish sausage in the living room.

Dudley--
True, you may have noticed that even in this 1972 clip Bobby struggled a little in that last lift.

Mrs Who--
Make my rocker a La-Z-Boy.

Bob said...

Flyer--
Yup, when Lawrence Welk grabbed his accordion, it was time to break out the Polish sausage in the living room.

Dudley--
True, you may have noticed that even in this 1972 clip Bobby struggled a little in that last lift.

Mrs Who--
Make my rocker a La-Z-Boy.

Ladybug Crossing said...

We used to watch LW every weekend when it was on. My mom and dad loved it - and I think we may have enjoyed it as well...

I don't consider myself a geezer. I consider those who don't know about LB uninformed.

:-)

The Friendly Neighborhood Piper said...

ya know...its funny...while we were in CO a couple weeks ago, the old folks came over and while we were having a birthday party guess what they wanted to watch...yep you guessed it...the bubble show. As nostalgic as it was, that same old feeling came over me..."this show is so freaking dorky, surely we can watch CHiPs or Real People or something!" The only cool thing about that show is that everyone has a story about watching it, whether by choice is always debated, with their grandparents...or possibly their parents.

Anonymous said...

I only knew who Lawrence Welk was because my cousins were not "in the community" and had a TV. When we were visiting those "sinners" we were glued to the glowing machine. LOLOLOL
As me anything else entertainment wise from 1069-1990 and I probably won't have a clue

Bag Blog said...

I learned to sing along with Mitch and dance with Bobby and Cissy. Dad tried to put us kids to bed so he could watch Bonanza in peace, but we often hid so that we could stay up on Sunday evenings and watch Hoss and Little Joe. I guess I am a Geezer too.

Bag Blog said...

Another "geezer" story: we were recently in Lubbock and passed Mac Davis street. My kids did not know who Mac Davis was. They did know Buddy Holly, and he did not even have his own TV show.

ShalomSeeker said...

I like to use the following tidbit as proof of the lack of quality television: By the time I reached my mid-twenties (about 10 years ago), Lawrence Welk was the very best think I could find to to watch on Saturday night TV. This does NOT, however, provide support to the idea that I have no life...I simply can't admit to that. ;-)

ShalomSeeker said...

Uh, yeah. The proofing skills are sliding. That last post should have read, "...the very best *thing* I could find to watch..." That's what I get for hurrying. :-D
-J

deb said...

My grandmother used to watch, what I guess, was the reruns of this show. I doubt that my oldest son knows who LW is either.

Willow said...

I used to have a pair of pants almost exactly like that when I was seven. (Well ok, two pair - one was orange and yellow, and the other was blue and white.)

I used to watch Lawrence Welk every Sunday (in re-runs, but we didn't know that). It was on right before Bonanza, Big Valley, and The Waltons.

It didn't get any better than when Mr. Welk got a polka going! (And I'm sure it has NOTHING to do with why I started up a Polish folk dance group. LOL!)