Eldon G. Hallum, professor of speech communication at Rogers State University, has been cast as the narrator of a PBS special on Lawrence Welk to be aired in March 2003.
The two-hour musical program, “Lawrence Welk: God Bless America,” will pay tribute to the famous conductor as well as American patriotism. It will be broadcast nationwide on PBS.
The program was taped before a live audience at the Welk Champagne Theatre in Branson, Mo. in August. The premiere of the show marks the 100th birthday of Lawrence Welk, who died in May 1992.
Hallum opens each act with narration that covers selected periods of American history, including quotes from Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy and Norman Schwarzkopf.
Hallum is an actor and spokesperson with credits in radio, television, motion pictures and the stage. He has performed in New York, with the U.S.O. overseas, in summer stock and in numerous radio and television commercials. He also has directed many theater productions.
In 1980, Hallum received the Oklahoma Governor’s Arts Award for his direction of “Will Rogers at Home,” a professional amphitheater production in Claremore that ran several seasons. As a professor with 36 years of experience, he has received the Pixley Excellence in Education Award, the Herrington Excellence in Education Award and the Nisod Excellence Award.