Trivia

In the early 1990s the U.S. Congress refused federal funding to restore Welk's boyhood home in Strasburg, ND, as a museum. His many still loyal fans, hearing of this, donated the money themselves, and to this day the Welk Home and Museum has been restored and maintained entirely by private funds.

Registered his car with a vanity license plate that read "A1 AN A2".

A common misconception is that Welk did not learn English until he was 21. In fact, he began learning English as soon as he started school. The part of North Dakota where he lived had been settled largely by Germans from Russia; even his teachers spoke English as a second language.

His show was initially canceled by ABC-TV in 1971, after 17 years as a Saturday night perennial on the network, because of a question of viewer demographics. Advertisers and networks were convinced that they should gear their shows to younger, urban audiences, who were thought to have the buying power, and Welk's audience was simply considered too old. In what was then considered a bold move, Welk began producing shows for first-run syndication, and by the start of the 1971 fall season he was back on the air, where he remained until he retired 11 years later. Ironically, many of the stations that carried his show were local ABC affiliates.

Welk's grandson, Larry Welk (aka Lawrence Welk III), is an airborne traffic and breaking news reporter in "Sky Nine" helicopter for KCAL-TV, Ch 9, Los Angeles. He is also owner/operator of the Welk Resort in Branson, MO.

Served as his own producer for most of his years on TV, via Teleklew Productions. The name was made up of "tele" for television and "klew" was Welk spelled backwards.

Dropped out of school in the fourth grade to work on the family farm. At age 21 he left home to make his way in the music business.

Founder of the still-thriving Lawrence Welk Resort and Country Club in Escondido, CA.

Welk's show was originaly entitled "The Dodge Dancing Party," after his first national sponsor. His longest-lasting sponsors were two over-the-counter medicines, Geritol and Serutan ("That's 'nature's,' spelled backwards!").

He was awarded 2 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6613 Hollywood Blvd. and for Television at 1601 Vine St.

A good judge of talent, Welk's discoveries included Lynn Anderson and Pete Fountain, both of whom got their starts with his band.

He formed his first band in 1927 and named it "Lawrence Welk and his Hotsy Totsy Boys.".

Parents Ludwig and Christina Welk emigrated from Alsace-Lorraine, Germany, via Russia to Strasburg, ND, where Lawrence was born.

Recorded prolifically before and during his TV years, primarily for Columbia, Coral, Dot and Ranwood, scoring a #1 single and album with "Calcutta" in 1961.

Co-founder (with Randall Wood, former owner of Dot Records) of Ranwood Records in 1967.

Father, with Fern Welk, of son Larry Welk and daughters Donna Welk and Eva Welk.

He is a first cousin, once removed, of Montana governor Brian Schweitzer. Lawrence's mother, Christiana Schwahn, was the sister of Brian's paternal grandmother, Franziska Schwahn.

Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1989.

His move to network television was sponsored by Dodge. The sponsor supplied Welk, and also his wife, with new Dodge vehicles every year. He was so grateful that he remained loyal to the brand and bought only Dodge vehicles for the rest of his life, long after Dodge ended their sponsorship of his show.

His son, Larry Welk, perpetuated the story that his father left home at 21 to begin his career without knowing English. This had been disputed. It is believe that Welk had classes in English as a second language during his time in school.

Ex-father-in-law of Tanya Welk.