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Tank-a-ya, Lawrence: Musical tradition ends Aug. 9 on PBS Wisconsin
July 21, 2025 Leave a Comment
After more than three decades of toe-tapping tunes, charming skits and the warmth of public television’s most beloved bandleader, PBS Wisconsin will air its final broadcast of The Lawrence Welk Show at 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9. We are grateful for the many years of musical enjoyment this program has offered to our Wisconsin audiences, and we thank you for your viewership.
As we prepared to share this farewell, we were delighted to discover a special connection between Mr. Welk and a member of our own PBS Wisconsin team: membership services specialist Julie Lytle.
“My great grandfather and he were cousins, and it was Lawrence who taught him to play the accordion. Isn’t that wunnerful, wunnerful! When Lawrence left North Dakota for California, he wanted to take my great grandfather with him, but my great great grandparents thought their son was too young. Oh, what might have been!”
Lytle closed her reflection with a heartfelt nod to both the show and our station.
“And while we are saying ‘Auf wiedersehen,’ I say to PBS Wisconsin for the many years of providing the show, what Lawrence did at the end of a musical number to the orchestra, ‘Tank-a-ya, boys.'”
Thank you for welcoming Lawrence Welk and his music into your homes all these years. We’d love to hear your favorite moments and memories from the show in the comments section below.
Roy Jr Rothenbuehler says:
I grew up watching the show back in the 60’s on Saturday nights with my parents. I still watch it today & his specials when they would come on. I will miss the show but I do have a lot of Lawerence Welk videos that I can watch as well. Thanks for the yrs of running his shows. God Bless.
Craig Cottine says:
We never miss a show if at all possible. I would ask that PBS continue with this show, and encourage next generation viewers. We are now 82 and 84 respectively. Craig and Mary
Steve Sheldon says:
I enjoy watching the show when I can discern when it was originally aired. Interesting to look up what was going on in the world at that same time. Gives a cultural reference.