Transcript: Pulaski, Wisconsin: Polka Town, U.S.A.

SONG: There’s a little polish town, people come from miles around

MAN: Oh, yeah, good old Pulaski, Wisconsin. Most of the people like to do the polka, and they like the music, and I guess that’s what makes a good polka town, really. Come to Pulaski polka day

MAN: Polka town sounds from Pulaski, Wisconsin. And you’re listening to WJMQ, 92.3 F.M. we’ll give you the band calendar of some of the bands appearing. Don peachy and the orchestra, they’re down at the Wisconsin dells. And then in the afternoon, if you like to go to the fox ballroom, it’s the old German-style band.

MAN: Here you are in a little town of about 2,500, and there are, at given times, between 8 to 12 working bands on a regular schedule.

MAN: Per capita, we have more bands and more musicians than anywhere else in America. Nashville? Hello, per capita we’ve still got them beat.

MAN: Come on out, folks, and support those bands. Kevin? And don’t forget about the dance tonight. And that will be the third annual harvest dance over at the Carolina mead American legion. And music will be provided by the Maroszek Brothers.

SONG: Festivals and banquet halls, we can’t forget those times we’ve had fun with you all

WOMAN:If it wasn’t for polka music and polka dancing, we would have never got together.

WOMAN: We would have had nothing in common. And polkas was the common thing that drew us together. I would say. Yeah.

SONG: Irresistible you

JANET: Everybody in the family likes polkas. From the oldest down to the kids that are 2 and 3 years old, they can sing the songs on the tape. Deep in your heart you’ll find the one and only...

EUGENE: Our sons have got the new generation band.

SONG: There is nothing, nothing, nothing we can’t do together, do together take another look at your heart

BOY: It just seems like polka is in the blood, growing up with it all our lives. If I hear polka music, I crank it up on my stereo. Kind of sends a chill up my spine sometimes. If the crowd’s into it, that makes us all want to play harder and it feels like the whole room’s electric. You just feel the energy coming from the people.

EUGENE: My brother mike, he started another band called the Polka Dimensions. And then there’s my brother ken in a band called Polka Horizons. And then there’s one more. Nephew’s. Nephew’s. Polish Power. Polish Power, that’s right.

SONG: We offer bread and wine to show...

MAN: Polka’s everywhere, and close to god as well, sure. We share the sacred meal...

MAN: We have a big Germanic heritage. This is their music, this is their vocabulary. This is a way of celebrating some of our folk art and beauty now.

SONG:

we’re gonna have a polka celebration you bring your friends out and I’ll bring mine we’re gonna have a polka celebration we’re gonna party and have a good time.

MAN: Pulaski will remain a polka town for a long, long time. I know as long as I’m here, Pulaski will be a polka town.