Paul Christensen and his wife Donna Christensen recently traveled to Branson’s Lawrence Welk Theatre and Resort to serve as Technical Producers for a new PBS Network Television Special, title
d Precious Memories, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first Welk musical variety series. Produced by the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority (OETA) and featuring many of the revered stars of the popular Welk program, the project was taped before a live audience at the Welk Champagne Theatre in Branson, Missouri. The program is slated for a PBS network premiere in March 2005 on 279 PBS stations.
The all-new, two-hour PBS fundraising special features 15 stars from the Welk musical family, including Jo Ann Castle, Dick 
Dale, Ken Delo, Ralna English, Gail Farrell, Joe and Chris Feeney, Guy Hovis, Jack Imel, The Lennon Sisters, Mary Lou Metzger, Tom Netherton, Bob Ralston and Norma Zimmer. The special also features The Welk Champagne Music Makers under the direction of conductor John Bahl
er. The Welk programs are the highest rated syndicated shows on Public Television, reaching an audience of more than 3 million households. The Welk viewers outnumber those for MTV, VH-1, and BET on Saturday nights and have enjoyed the reputation of being the most successful fund raisers for PBS, having garnered more than $30 million since 1987.
Robert L. Allen, served as Executive Producer for PBS and OETA, as did Bill Thrash who Produced the special. Jo Ann Young served as 
Writer along with Dennis Glore who Directed. Larry Welk served as Creative Consultant. John Bahler, Welk’s Orchestra Conductor served as Music Director. OETA’s Leon Smith, who will also edit the final program and supervise the sound mix, served as Production Coordinator. The Christensens served as Technical Producers.
Darin Hagan provided the Lighting Design, assisted by Trent Arney, Welk Theatre Lighting Director. Assistant Director (AD) duties were handled by Curt Casassa. 
Others serving in various roles were OETA’s Traci Williams, Assistant to the Producers; Sandy Reddy, who handled script duties; Welk’s Chris Cathcart, Stage Manager for the Theater; Clark Gallager, Director of Production for the Sullivan Company; Dave Luke, Television Production Sound Mixer; Mickie Smith, Technical Director (TD); Larry Bearden, Video; 
Sheryl Beesley, Tape Operator; Hugh Bennett, Hugh Bennett Productions, Video Stage Manager; Ronnie Smith, Jib Operator; Mark Voyles and Craig White, Hand Held Camera Operators; Tim McCall, Mark Northcutt and Drake Matney, Fixed Camera Operators; and Jonathan Siler, TelePrompTer. Omega’s Chris Bryson and Jack Timbrell handled Wireless Mics while Alan Stiebing, Frontline Audio, served as PL and Communications
Tech. Brett Shantz mixed the house sound as FOH Engineer. Jason Delaney handled Stage Monitor Engineer duties. There were many at the Welk Theatre who provided invaluable assistance and helped make this project a success. Besides those individuals mentioned above, we are indebted to Marki Sulzbach and Sara Rayman, Stage Techs; Kevin Joice and Rick McCuen, Camera Assistants; and Sabrina Miller, Jamie Stites and Joseph Henigh, Spot Operators.
Cox Productions Services Group, Tulsa, Oklahoma, supplied Remote Television Facilities. Fred Kailer served
as Unit Manager and Engineer in Charge (EIC), assisted by Olen Perkins and Jim Hobbs. Lighting Facilities were supplied by the Welk Theatre, Branson. Big Mo Recording, Silver Springs, Maryland, provided Remote Audio Recording Facilities with Chief Engineer and owner, Greg Hartman
and recording assistant Robert Preston assisting Dave Luke with capturing the soundtrack.
Audio Post Production for the special will be done at Nashville based, Digital Audio Post, with Michael Davis serving as Mix Engineer. Editing will be handled by OETA’s Leon Smith on the Oklahoma Network’s AVID system in Oklahoma City. The final program will be shown nationwide on PBS in March 2005.
