The same year, he began producing The Lawrence Welk Show on KTLA in Los Angeles, where it was broadcast from the Aragon Ballroom in Venice Beach. From 1949 through 1951, the band had radio programming on ABC, sponsored by Miller High Life, "The Champagne of Bottle Beer". The record was number 4 to Cooley's number 5 on Billboard's September 15 "Most Played Juke Box Folk Records" listing. Welk collaborated with Western artist Red Foley to record a version of Spade Cooley's "Shame on You" in 1945. In 19, Welk led his orchestra in many motion picture "Soundies," considered to be the early pioneers of music videos. His orchestra also performed frequently at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City during the late 1940s. In the early 1940s, the band began a 10-year stint at the Trianon Ballroom in Chicago, regularly drawing crowds of several thousand. Welk's big band performed across the country, but particularly in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas. An immigrant, he always spoke with an accent.
He was sixth of the eight children of Ludwig and Christiana (née Schwahn) Welk, Roman Catholic ethnic Germans who emigrated in 1892 from Odessa, Russian Empire (now Ukraine). Welk was born in the German-speaking community of Strasburg, North Dakota. Its shape creates a landscaped plaza on the corner, and the result is a landmark, says Wikipedia. He built the adjacent 11-story Wilshire Palisades office building at 1299 Ocean Avenue at Arizona Street, says Wikipedia.ĭesigned to resemble a white ocean liner, it has a wedge-shaped "bow" edge, receding "decks" with railings, and air conditioner covers that look like smokestacks. Welk also owned the adjacent 16-story luxury apartment building at 1221 Ocean Avenue-the "Lawrence Welk Champagne Towers", and Welk made his personal residence in the complex.
Its largest original tenant was GTE, now Verizon. It was a joint venture with the engineering firm Daniel, Mann, Johnson & Mendenhall. The 21-story white tower, located on the bluffs overlooking Santa Monica Bay at Ocean Avenue, is the tallest building in Santa Monica. He was the general partner in a commercial real estate development at 100 Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica, says Wikipedia. Known as a skillful businessman, Welk had investments in real estate and music publishing.
Fewer folks know that Welk was also responsible for the One Wilshire Building. The show is still one of the longest runs ever on TV. A musician, accordionist and bandleader, Welk hosted "The Lawrence Welk Show" from 1951 to 1982. A few of you in my generation may remember your parents watching a certain musical variety show back in the day.