October 8, 1956…Lawrence Welk Adds Second Weekly ABC Show
Follow Up #3… ‘Lawrence Welk Presents Top Tunes and New Talent’
In today’s first post on events that happened on this day in television history, this show is listed as debuting October 8, 1956. I’m adding this to clear up any confusion…you’ll see why as you read on.
On May 11, 1951, ‘The Lawrence Welk Show’ began as a local program on KTLA-TV in Los Angeles. The original show was broadcast from the since-demolished Aragon Ballroom at Venice Beach.
Welk made his national television debut on ABC Television on July 2, 1955 and the show was called ‘The Dodge Dancing Party’. Then, due to huge ratings, on October 8, 1956, ABC added a second weekly Welk show called ‘Lawrence Welk Presents Top Tunes And New Talent’.
Both shows were an hour and had good ratings, but in ’59, ABC merged the two shows into a once a week prime time show called ‘The Lawrence Welk Show’. The photo above is thought to be from 1956 at the ABC Television Center at the Prospect lot. Enjoy and share! -Bobby Ellerbee
Bobby,
Where & when was the photo taken ? Wow, whatta crane !!!
Tank you Tank you, an now a messash from a Geritol! Larry was so corny, he was great!
I think this crane was more used to being outdoors
Now that’s a crane. Looks like the big movie cranes from Gone with the Wind and the Wizard of Oz.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qikwUXvdh0
Long Live Jerry Burke!
Ana one, ana two, ana three…
I believe W6XAO was the first TV station in Ca. KTLA was the 1st commercial station west of the Mississippi.
Turn of ze bubble machine…