I use it all the time!

Margie

Yup, I do contribute information to IMDB.com, just wanna give The
Lawrence Welk Show and it's stars a huge presence there so new fans
can find useful info.



                                                    - JB

I haven't seen that movie with Mary Lou, but she is credited on the Internet
Movie Data Base as being uncredited in the 1999 movie The Other Sister.  Seems
like someone said she was part of a group singing.  I haven't seen that movie
either.

Are you the JB who contributed information?

Margie

Linda Sue, I did not think Barbara Mandrell had a cameo in the Dottie
West story but I do not even remember her talking at any point during
it.  I have a huge video collection of Barbara and would have saved the
Dottie story just for this but I did not save it for that and it is not
listed in my collection.  I taped it and saved it as I liked it.

Yes, I loved Barbaras tv show (two season 1980 into 1982).  But, just so
you will know, she did not just disappear when it went off the air.
(Though I do not know as you meant her on this)  She left the show due
to severe throat problems brought on by all the talking she was doing.
(She pretty much ran that show and was doing writing and you name it
even though people were hired for just those things.)  Actually she did
not really want to do a tv show in the first place and had turned some
down and did this one to showcase her sisters and with the stipulation
that she would have only so much air time.  She intended to keep her
country recording career and had seen what tv shows did to the recording
careers of others who had them earlier.  Anyhow, she was quite big in
country music after the tv show ended and really was on top at the time
of her car wreck in 1984.  She retired from performing music near the
end of 1997.  She has been honored with the Pioneer Award which is the
highest honor given to an artist by The Academy of Country Music.  We
fans are still waiting for her to get into the Country Music Hall of
Fame.  It is not quite time for this yet.  But, the Hall added a new
category and this is going to play havoc with calculations that could be
made on whose turn it was.

I have seen Barbara perform so many times, been to other events she has
been a part of and had numerous times to visit with her.  She calls me a
friend which is nice to know.

I have also seen some of the Welk stars numerous times ever since the
show came to Branson.  I originally went to the show to see The Lennons.
They knew me by name the second time I saw them and I was flabbergasted
by this.  Much later on I was driving home from the casino and it was
after 11 p.m. and I turned on the radio and they were the stars featured
on the show.  As I was driving, there was a time for listeners to call
in and talk to them.  Boy, I rushed home just to get there in time to
call.  I did make it in time and lo and behold, I got right through.
Anyhow, as soon as I said my name they knew who I was.  I think the
announcer had probably said I was from St. Louis.

It was in Branson that I truly learned what a great live performer JoAnn
Castle is.  I knew she was a fabulous pianist but I had no idea what a
natural she is on stage.  Not too many performers have what I am saying
Castle has, but I just have no clue how to describe what I really mean.

In Branson, I also learned what a delightful lady Elaine is.  She has
never been a favorite of mine as Bobbys partner but I learned to
appreciate her more in Branson.

Anyhow, I had a chance to see ever so many of the Welk stars in Branson
and sure am grateful for the opportunities I had.
Vicky

- Howdy Welkies,



         So far, what I have heard regarding Mary Lou is quite
interesting....I read somewhere that sometime in the 1970s, she had a
bit part in the movie "Cycad" starring Gary Merrill and Sammy Davis Jr.


Anyone else recall ever watching that movie? Perhaps got to see a
glimpse of Mary Lou?



                                                      - JB

Linda Sue,
I do not remember the song Bobby and Cissy danced to and I just saw it
last night.  I just remember that it was a ballroom type dance and she
wore light blue.

I have the Dottie West story on tape but have not watched it in years.
I do remember that Shelley West was on a lot of the talk shows when the
movie came out.  I do not even remember that Barbara Mandrell had a
cameo in the movie.  Are you sure she was in it? But, Dottie was very
popular with her peers in the music business and I am sure any of them
would have said yes to appearing.  Dottie, Dolly and Barbara were part
of the group of early girl singers on the Opry and Dottie and Barbara
used to talk about those days some.  I also had no idea that Michele
came up with the idea for the movie though surely Shelley must have said
that in the interviews she did.  I think MIchele is very talented but
cannot say I have ever been a fan of hers and I definitely know next to
nothing about her.  I guess MIchele was probably on Nashville Now at the
time the movie came out, perhaps with Shelley.  I am trying to remember
the year Dottie passed away but I cannot.  I know I was in Branson when
she was in the hospital and not expected to make it and that Barbara was
still appearing at the amphitheater there (it no longer even exists) and
that Barbara was so devastated by what had happened to Dottie.
Vicky

In a message dated 10/2/05 12:58:52 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
OneinHim@... writes:

<< What was Mary Lou in at the summer theater? Also what was Jim Farentino
  in? >>

The theater was the Kenley Players, a summer stock company in Ohio.  In the
1960s-80s, the producer John Kenley had theaters in Dayton, Warren, and
Columbus.  Last I heard he was in Cleveland and in his 90s and still working!  I
found an article about him a while back online.

Anyway, Mary Lou was in Brigadoon with John Gabriel (Seneca on Ryan's Hope
and the original Professor in the Gilligan's Island pilot) and Alan Sues (best
known for Laugh-In) in 1980.

James Farentino was in California Suite with Brenda Vacarro in 1978.  I
didn't see this, but have the information from a brochure about the season.

In 1977, Michelle Lee was announced for SeeSaw with Tommy Tune and Terence
Monk, however Lucie Arnaz ended up replacing her.  Assume Michelle got a better
offer!  LOL

I had the programs out recently and made a list of them so it was easy to put
my fingers on the information.  Kenley was known for bringing in big stars
(on their way up or down) and letting them choose their own plays/musicals.
They ranged from the ridiculous (Sonny Bono in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way
to the Forum, an aging Ann Blyth in South Pacific) to the sublime (Joel Grey
and Alexis Smith in Pal Joey, Billy Crystal in Cabaret, and Ethel Merman in
Call Me Madam).  My parents took me for the first time when I was six and I got
hooked on musical theater.

As soon as I can find time to clean off my scanner, I'll scan the photos and
bio of Mary Lou.

Margie

I'm glad you finally got a new show, Vicky, well a new old show with the
new format. I'm trying to remember what Bobby and Cissy danced to on
that show. Refresh my memory!

Back to Michele, she did all her own singing as Dottie West and she got
the idea and I believe produced it and just made that whole movie happen
even getting the special guest stars like Chet Atkins, Barbara Mandrell,
Dolly Parton etc. In the movie Color Me Perfect she starred, wrote,
directed and produced it which no woman has ever done to date besides
her and she says she will never do that again either! How wonderful you
met Michele. Truthfully I haven't even sent her a fan letter. I should
though. I just feel a special connection with Ralna though I have
written to Michael Crawford too who I believe is another great talent.

Oh I better get the baked potatoes in the oven if we want to eat. Have a
great week!

With love, blessings and prayers, Linda-Sue

Due to pledge WEEKS, until last night we had not had any shows from the
new season here.  Lo and behold we got the one where Dick Dale was
interviewed.  I put it that way because in the past, PBS here has just
skipped showing the ones pledges interfere with.

I really enjoyed the interview format and thought Mary Lou looked great.
I guess some would say she is showing her age now but to me, she sitll
looks great.

I also really loved the show. I have always enjoyed Sandi and Sally so
that, alone, would be enough to get me to watch that show!  I also
really loved the number Tanya did.  She just has so much personality
when she sings and I like that in a singer.  And, Cissy and Bobby, what
can I say, I simply loved to watch the dancing and really enjoyed their
number on that show.

As for Michele Lee in the Dottie West story, I was going to say she did
a lot of the singing but I was not sure I was remembering correctly that
she did.  Being the country music fan that I am (the country of old), I
have always liked Dottie West and knew a lot about her life prior to the
movie.  She was also a delightful person to talk to.  I saw her in
Nashville some, either during Fan Fair week or at the Opry.  I also met
Michele Lee once but do not remember the circumstances of it and,
really, she just happened to be there (somewhere) with Barbara Mandrell.
Vicky

Maybe this is one of those "six degrees of separation" things.  I saw Mary
Lou at the same summer theater as Dottie West. Michelle Lee's ex-husband James
Farentino also appeared there.  LOL

By the way, I agree Michelle is very talented.  They are rerunning Knots
Landing on SoapNet.  I also heard they put some of her early LPs on CD.  My
personal favorite is the original cast album of SeeSaw.

Margie

Cannot think of a way to include Welk Ladies here but with the mention
of MIchelle Lee...she played Dottie West in the movie on her life and I
was amazed at how much she looked like Dottie in this movie, her
mannerisms and all, too.
Vicky

- Howdy Welkies,


          Speaking of Knots Landing, I did notice that Michelle Lee
looks very similar to Ralna...and I believe that they were both born
the same year, but not sure how close the actual month and date.


                                                     - JB

I am a Lennon Sisters and Bobby and Barbara fan as well, though I also
liked Cissy with Bobby.  Years ago I also liked Natalie Wood and as a
result I bought umpteen magazines with Natalie as well as the Lennons in
them.  I do not think I bought any with just Bobby in them but since I
also liked the Mousekeeters I am sure I ended up with an awful lot he
and Barbara were in.  Anyhow, I am sure I had tons of them.  But, alas,
at that age I just did not keep them to this day and do I ever regret
it.

I never dreamed back then that I would be the Lawrence Welk fan that I
am today, etiher though I always liked his music, in part, because I had
to watch that show in the early years if I wanted to watch TV when Welk
was on.  That is how I came to know the Lennons and Jo Ann Castle,
though, so I am not complaining about only Welk being on TV back in
those days.

I am not a fan of all the Welk Ladies but I do like most of them.  An
example of coming to like most of them would be me and Mary Lou.  I just
never cared for her on the Welk show (though I never disliked her) but
seeing her live in Branson and I have become a fan.  Seeing performers
live can have the opposite effect on people as well, like being a fan
until one sees them live, but with Mary Lou it was the opposite for me.
Vicky

Thank you. You are a sweetie. If you want to get ill, I read all of the
original issues on the Lennon's and Bobby and Barbara. They got pitched
regularly as the LW people were on covers almost every issue.

Diane Sparling


-----Original Message-----
From: welkladies@yahoogroups.com [mailto:welkladies@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Linda-Sue
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2005 7:54 PM
To: welkladies@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [welkladies] Re: WELK PICS

--- In welkladies@yahoogroups.com, "Diane Sparling" <Diane@h...> wrote:
> Thanks Linda Sue,
>
> Could possibly send the articles? The photos are great, but I love to
> read about the show as well. Please know I totally appreciate the
photos
> and am extremely happy with the photos .
>
> You are wonderful.
>
> Diane Sparling

Diane, I don't have them scanned but I will try to do that someday. I
have only about 4 mags I have won on e-bay. I am a Guy and Ralna
addict. You will learn that soon enough. :)

With love, blessings and prayers, Linda-Sue






Yahoo! Groups Links

--- In welkladies@yahoogroups.com, "Diane Sparling" <Diane@h...> wrote:
> Thanks Linda Sue,
>
> Could possibly send the articles? The photos are great, but I love to
> read about the show as well. Please know I totally appreciate the
photos
> and am extremely happy with the photos .
>
> You are wonderful.
>
> Diane Sparling

Diane, I don't have them scanned but I will try to do that someday. I
have only about 4 mags I have won on e-bay. I am a Guy and Ralna
addict. You will learn that soon enough. :)

With love, blessings and prayers, Linda-Sue

Thanks Linda Sue,

Could possibly send the articles? The photos are great, but I love to
read about the show as well. Please know I totally appreciate the photos
and am extremely happy with the photos .

You are wonderful.

Diane Sparling


-----Original Message-----
From: welkladies@yahoogroups.com [mailto:welkladies@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Joshua
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2005 2:50 PM
To: welkladies@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [welkladies] WELK PICS

- Howdy Linda-Sue,



           Thanks for the new pics, they are always welcome or should I
say...WELKCOME...here, KEEP 'EM COMING!


If anyone here has pics they like to share, feel free to!



                                                      - JB






Yahoo! Groups Links

- Howdy Linda-Sue,



           Thanks for the new pics, they are always welcome or should I
say...WELKCOME...here, KEEP 'EM COMING!


If anyone here has pics they like to share, feel free to!



                                                      - JB

- Howdy Welkies,



           Just like to say HOWDY to my friends that have join this
group! I'm excited that membership is growing and growing still...I
know you are all gonna have a WUNNERFUL TIME!



                                                          - JB

- Howdy Welkies,



           Thanks for joining the newest Yahoo! Group on the block!
This is the first message ever posted in this group and I thought this
will be appropriate.


           HAVE FUN EVERYONE...AND KEEP A SONG IN YOUR HEART!



                                                     - JB