Today in History: Lawrence Welk's 'Champagne Lady' Suffered Night of Terror

A bizarre and violent crime took place in North Hollywood on the night of June 13, 1955, when Alice Lon, the "Champagne Lady" on The Lawrence Welk Show, suffered a brutal attack in her home. 

As the Toledo Blade reported: She arrived at her home early Sunday morning after singing with the band to be met by three men, masked with stockings and wearing surgical gloves. Police said she was struck in the abdomen, bound with torn sheets and her face completely covered with adhesive tape.

Then, she told police, her clothing was forcibly removed and the intruders took pictures of her in the nude.

Lon's husband and mother-in-law were also victims of the assault, which lasted six hours, and all three were bound, beaten and given sleeping pills. The burglars also ransacked the home and told Lon if she reported the attack to the police the photos would be "turned over to the papers." Although she did report the crime, the photos were never released and no one was ever convicted for the crime.

Lon was the first of several "Champagne Ladies" to appear on Welk's nationally televised ABC show, which aired from 1955 to 1971 (and 1951-1955 in Los Angeles and 1971-82 in first-run syndication). Lon became a national celebrity from the show. 

On the show she sang solos and performed in comedy skits. In 1959, according to the Museum of Broadcast Communications and other websites, she was fired by Welk for "showing too much knee" on camera, as Welk liked to run a family-friendly show (although other reports said it was for asking for a raise). After receiving thousands of protest letters when she left, Welk reportedly attempted to convince Lon to return, but she refused.

Lon went on to have a successful recording career and also appeared frequently on many radio shows, including the famed NBC radio program The Breakfast Club. She died in 1981 in Dallas.

Kelsey Grammer Arraigned in Cocaine Possession Case

Also on this date in North Hollywood history, actor Kelsey Grammer was arraigned in court on June 13, 1988, on a charge of cocaine possession. At the time a rising star with a supporting role on the hit NBC show Cheers, Grammer had been pulled over several months before in North Hollywood on suspicion of drunk driving and driving with expired tabs, according to the Los Angeles Times.

While in the back of the squad car, an officer later testified, Grammer dropped a bag of cocaine out of his pocket, but confessed to doing so before the officer noticed. Grammer's lawyer told reporters outside Van Nuys Municipal Courthouse that he was wearing a borrowed jacket on the night of his arrest and the cocaine did not belong to him.

He later received three years of probation and 90 days of house arrest for the charge.