Bandwagon (TV series)

Bandwagon is a half-hour music program featuring traditional dance music, most notably polka, performed in front of a ballroom audience dancing along. The program is produced and broadcast by KEYC-TV in Mankato, Minnesota. The show is currently in its 56th year, making it possibly the longest-running televised music program in the world.^[1] The first music show on KEYC aired on November 21, 1960; the title Bandwagon was added on March 30, 1961.

In the past, the show was sponsored by John Deere, and aired as the John Deere Bandwagon; later it was sponsored Randall's, a defunct Midwestern supermarket chain, and similarly titled as Randall's Bandwagon. The show does not currently have a title sponsor.

Earl Lamont was the original host of the program. Chuck Pasek, began hosting the program in 1961. Dick Ginn, who worked for Randall's and was involved in their sponsorship of the show since the 1974, joined Pasek in hosting in the early 1990s. Following Chuck Pasek's retirement in 1995, Tom Goetzinger began co-hosting the program. Bandwagon's current host is Tania Cordes, owner of the Kato Balllroom.

The format of the show is simple: the host introduce the band for the week, who typically perform a number of music selections throughout the show. During each show, the second song is referenced as the roll-up selection, it features submitted birthday and anniversary announcements of viewers rolling-up over the screen.

The show, formerly originating from KEYC's studio in North Mankato, Minnesota, now is recorded at the Kato Ballroom in Mankato. In addition, in the past some episodes have been recorded on location, such as at Heritagefest, a former German heritage festival in New Ulm, Minnesota. Four half-hour episodes for the following month are usually recorded the first Monday of every month, where admission is only $5 for 3 hours of entertain.

Notes

External links

• Audio documentary about the program
• KEYC's page for program information on Bandwagon