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.
07/21/25
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.
I would love to get your thoughts, suggestions, and questions in the comments below. Thanks for sharing!
PBS Wisconsin is a service of the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
Passport
Steve Sheldon
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.
Craig Cottine
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
Roy Jr Rothenbuehler
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.
Kathy Penniston-Smith
I’ve probably seen all the episodes as reruns, but my mom said that back in the 1950s when she would walk to church on Saturday evenings as a teenager, she could here the Lawrence Welk show music coming out of every house as she passed by.
Alyssa Beno
I can only imagine what an enjoyable walk that was! Thanks for sharing, Kathy.
Deb
I am saddened to hear that you are no longer able to program Lawrence Welk.
I grew up watching Lawrence Welk and have especially fond memories of watching at my grandparents’ dairy farm in northern Wisconsin. My extended family would always be at the farm on Saturdays & Sundays for work and play. Both sides of my family are German, so every special occasion included polka music. My Uncles even had a Polka band that we would follow locally. It’s been enjoyable to relive these special memories each week when we would watch Larwence Welk on WPT. Thank you.
Jean Toeppler
My 93 year old mother is very sad to see The Lawrence Welk show leave PBS. It gives her great joy! I ask you keep it on.
Cheryl Feld
Any good German-Russian wouldn’t miss the Lawrence Welk Show. and my mom knew his success story well. I wasn’t crazy about having to watch, I was a rock and role loving teen. When it became a Saturday regular on PBS, my mother continued to enjoy the reruns. I sat with her, thankful I could share her delight and the last years of her life. Thanks from both of us.
Mary Teresa Foss
My husband and I are saddened that The Lawrence Welk Show will be done on Aug. 9. We both came of age in the 70s, but grew up with our parents watching the show. As we have aged, we have enjoyed the reruns on Saturday evenings. We just discovered this sad news when we received our monthly subscription to “Airwaves” in the mail today. I just said to my husband, “What are we going to do on Saturday nights now?” My husband has health issues, and it is difficult for us to go out. The show is inspirational, especially in these discordant times. Is there anything a member/viewer can do to help bring the show back? Is the show being discontinued due to a lack of funding or viewership, or some of each? A response would be much appreciated. Allan and Mary, like Craig and Mary, ask that the show be continued.
Malinda Morella
I am also saddened to hear that Lawrence Welk will be off the air. I always watched it with my dad and grandpa as a child. I may be older now. But I still enjoy The Lawrence Welk Show. Listening and watching the show brings so many memories. I will miss watching every Saturday and Sunday. Til then I am not gonna stop watching The Lawrence Welk Show. It would be nice if it could stay on the air.
Ron West
Loosing this TV program will be a tremendous loss!! It is agreed that during this period in theses America States the is turmoil that is destructive to our great way of life, keep the GOOD ENTERTAINMENT COMMING!!!!!
Mark Heller
Honestly, it’s time to sunset some shows. Lawrence Welk’s show was recorded in LA at the WABC-TV facilities. The same cameramen, audio engineers and stagehands recorded Dick Clark’s American Bandstand at the Vine Street facility. I attended both, in one day, in 1977. That was 48 years ago! These shows are edited down for PBS, without commercials. I just hope the time slot is not filled with more British dramas or BBC based shows.
Malinda Morella
I agree with U. Maybe she could still watch or listen to it on youtube if it is gonna stay on there. I know I hope it stays on youtube. So I can continue watching The Lawrence Welk Show.