Lawrence Welk

Filtered through a champagne lens glazed with a patina of playful grey bubbles, Lawrence Welk’s toes-a-tappin’ world defined the 1950s for a sizeable segment of America. The bandleader and accordionist commanded an easy listening empire, introducing the country to a parade of effervescent vocal groups and Welk’s own cozy catch phrases "wunnerful, wunnerful" and "ah-one and ah-two." Welk’s show soldiered on for decades, giving suburbanites a sheltered, wholesome oasis as times changed and/or grew more turbulent. The final LAWRENCE WELK SHOW aired in 1982, but the octogenarian continued to host specials almost up until his death from pneumonia at 89.