Back to Old Wisconsin Waltz
What ARE the lyrics, anyway?
This week’s Shotski Lodge has a special challenge. Instead of a sing-a-long, it’s a contest to figure out the lyrics to the featured song in Sunday night’s live episode.
Also - it’s time to commit to going to Green County Cheese Days on September 21 to break a polka dancing world record. It’s the 30th anniversary year of polka becoming our state dance. Let’s go.
Back to Old Wisconsin Waltz
John Check was a very accomplished person. He was born in 1921 in Rosholt, WI. He bought his first concertina at age 14 with money he earned picking cucumbers. He started his own band in high school and played lots of polka in Wisconsin through getting a PhD.
He soon took a job as a professor in Flint, Michigan where he taught educational psychology and formed the Michigan Dutchmen band there. When he returned to Wisconsin, his Oshkosh-based band became the Wisconsin Dutchmen My record collection with John Check albums are split between the states.
In this week’s live episode of Polka Time on Sunday night, we will try to decipher the lyrics of the “Back to Old Wisconsin” waltz by John Check and the Michigan Dutchmen. We know it’s about happy times, drinking beer, and eating wienerschnitzel. But I couldn’t figure out the lyrics with enough confidence to make this song this week’s sing-a-long.
That’s why we’re making it a contest. The first person to email djshotski@gmail.com with what appear to be the correct lyrics will get a sticker pack from the Shotski Shop. I can’t find the song online, so you’ll have to tune in!
Polka Time: Where and when to listen
LIVE - August 25
Sunday, 7 p.m. - WVMO-FM 98.7 Monona
Streaming - last week’s episode
Saturday, 8 a.m. - WHYS-FM 96.3 Eau Claire - support WHYS
Saturday, 3 p.m. - WRJQ Goodtime Radio - support WRJQ
Saturday, 6 p.m. - WPCA-FM 93.1 Amery - support WPCA
Saturday, 7 p.m. - WVMO-FM 98.7 Monona - support WVMO
Sunday, 7 a.m. - WOJB-FM 88.9 Hayward - support WOJB
Sunday, 8 a.m. - WILW-FM 96.3 Waupaca
Sunday, 9 a.m. - WOCT-FM 101.9 Oshkosh
Sunday, 4 p.m. - WLSP-FM 103.5 Sun Prairie - support SPMC
Thanks to these community and volunteer-powered stations for keeping vintage polka on the air waves.
Events
September 19-22 — Green County Cheese Days, Monroe
Cheese Days is set to break the world record in the number of people dancing the polka at this year’s festival. And DJ Shotski is providing the polka tunes! Can you be a part of this exciting event? Mark your calendar and register with Cheese Days for details.
December 1 — Milwaukee Krampusnacht
Milwaukee Krampusnacht will be held on Sunday, December 1, 3-10 p.m. at Best Place and other businesses in the Historic Brewery District on Juneau Ave between 9th and 11th Street. DJ Shotski plays polka tunes from 5-7 p.m. in the historic Best Place hall.
Krampus is a folkloric monster of Alpine tradition. Children are told that goodly Saint Nick will reward them with treats if they are good, but if they are bad they will be visited by the hideous Krampus. Check back on the Krampusnacht website for updates.
Readers like you keep the Shotski Lodge open
The Shotski Lodge is a reader-supported publication. Support from subscribers like you gives me the confidence to pursue my mission to get more people to listen to vintage polka and vinyl records, including through this free e-newsletter.
Become a Shotski Lodge member - Substack offers paid subscriptions for people who want to be patrons of the Lodge’s mission.
DJ Shotski’s Venmo - skip the subscription and give via Venmo where transaction fees are lower.
Hire me for a gig! - your community needs a polka party. Email me at djshotski@gmail.com if you have a venue or an event that needs a vinyl DJ.
Donate records - the answer to free records is always “yes.” I’ll give your records a good home (or I’ll distribute them to my vinyl buddies). Email me at djshotski@gmail.com if grandpa’s records need to get out of the basement.