End Of An Era

After some 30 years as an analyst for all of the big four broadcast networks, former Oakland Raiders hall of fame coach John Madden has called it a career.

Cris Collinsworth has been tapped to suceed coach Madden as Al Michaels' Sunday night broadcast partner on NBC.

Obituaries

Longtime Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster and voice of NFL Films Harry Kalas passed away on Monday at age 73. He was discovered unconcious in the broadcasters' booth at Washington's Nationals Park and later pronounced dead.

Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Mark (The Bird) Fidrych was found dead in an apparent accident on his farm in Massachusetts at age 54.

Former Utah State, California, and Arizona State head football coach Bruce Snyder lost his 10-month battle with cancer at age 69.

Dominating Heels

At Detroit:

Ty Lawson dropped in 21 points, Wayne Ellington 19, and Tyler Hansbrough 18, as North Carolina dominated Michigan State 89-72 Monday night to lay claim to their fifth NCAA men's national basketball championship.

Time For A Viennese Waltz, Boys and Girls!

From the ABC Network premiere of The Lawrence Welk Show, which aired on July 2, 1955, here is the meistro and his Champagne Music Makers performing "Tres Jolie."





Yes, that's Lawrence dancing with Champagne Lady Alice Lon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY UMA!!!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is the birthday of America's Sweetheart, Fox News Channel anchorwoman Uma Pemmaraju.

Happy 29th Birthday, Uma!!!

It's Rock 'N' Roll, Champagne Style!

Several weeks back, I embeded a YouTube video of a 1955 ABC telecast of the Lawrence Welk Show that originated from Chicago. Here's another clip from this episode as the Champagne Music Makers perform Chuck Berry's "Maybelline."



Key Personnel:

Buddy Merrill, electric guitar (Let's see him try Chuck's duck walk!)

Myron Floren, accordion

Johnny Klein, drums

Buddy Hayes, bass

Pete Lofthouse, trombone

Bill Page, clarinet

George Aubry, saxophone

Rocky Rockwell, trumpet

Oh Boy! Redux

Here is the only other reported surviving episode of the British TV series Oh Boy!

This is the series finale from May 30, 1959.

Segment One:

Compered by Jimmy Henney and Tony Hall

-- TV Hop (Cliff Richard, Marty Wilde, Billy Fury, Bill Forbes & Dickie Pride)
Rip It Up (2 Vernons Girls)
Lonesome Traveller (4 of Lord Rockingham's XI + Cliff et al)

-- Rah Rah Rockingham (Lord Rockingham's XI)

-- Let's Rock While the Rockin's Good (Cuddly Dudley)

-- Don't Knock Upon My Door (Billy Fury)

-- Looby Doo (Cherry Wainer)

-- All American Boy (Marty Wilde)



Segment Two:

Compered by Jimmy Henney and Tony Hall

-- Slippin 'n' Slidin' (Dickie Pride)

-- When I Grow Too Old To Dream (Peter Elliott)

-- When the Saints Go Marching In (Complete cast for close of first half)

-- I Had A Dream (Start of 2nd half with Vernons Girls & Dallas Boys)

-- Woman From Liberia (Bill Forbes)

-- Dirty Old Town (Mike Preston)





Segment Three:

Compered by Jimmy Henney and Tony Hall

-- Turn Me Loose (Cliff Richard)

-- Good Cat (Neville Taylor & The Cutters)

-- Percy Green (Don Lang)

-- Three Cool Cats (Cliff Richard, Marty Wilde, Dickie Pride)

-- Early in the Morning (Marty Wilde, Cliff Richard)