Polka Time Classic Photos 1

Check out these "blasts from the past". This gallery holds rare photos of many popular polka bands and musicians of yesterday.

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A photo taken in the early 1920's of the Whoopee John Dance Band made up of cousins practicing on a farm in Sigel township, Brown County, Minnesota. Left to right: Al Kopetzki, Eddie Wilfarht, John Wilfarht, Otto Stueber, and John "boom boom" Bauer.

One of Chicago's smoothest sounding groups from the 1960's - The Casinos. Left to right: Eddie Madura (a definite Lenny Gomulka look-a-like), Joe Kania, Jerry Stanley, and Don Ptak.

One of Cleveland's finest bands of days gone by - Kenny Bass and his Polka Poppers! Ronnie Sluga on banjo and Dick Flaisman on the saxophone look like their about 16 years old!

Remembering a Twin Cities favorite Polish style band; The Jolly Jokers on stage at the Bel-Rae Ballroom in 1973. Left to right: Gary Jasicki, Louie Bossany, Joe Glowacki, Don Swensrud & Joe "Grumpy" Granda.

1926 - A rare photo of the first button box club in the United States from Rock Springs, Wyoming. Seated left to right: John Golob and Jack Taucher. Standing left to right: Frank Zagger, Max Kershisnik, Joe Kramer, Jack Seppich, and Tony Zupence. Notice that they're all using Mervar button boxes!

Harold Loeffelmacher & The Six Fat Dutchmen in 1951.

Chicago's Polka General - Li'l Richard Towalksi.

Three of Cleveland's finest: Frankie Kramer, Georgie Cook and Kenny Bass.

Wally Pikal was famous for playing two trumpets and jumping up and down on a pogo-stick at the same time. He appeared on the Mike Douglas Show, The Merv Griffin Show and the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson!