PRINTER'S NO. 1673
No. 1293 Session of 1998
INTRODUCED BY AFFLERBACH, O'PAKE, BODACK, WOZNIAK, COSTA,
SCHWARTZ, ULIANA AND MUSTO, FEBRUARY 11, 1998
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, FEBRUARY 11, 1998
AN ACT
1 Selecting and designating polka music as the official American
2 folk music of the Commonwealth.
3 WHEREAS, Polka music originated in Europe, stemming from
4 classical origins, and was brought to this country with many
5 groups of immigrants from Europe; and
6 WHEREAS, Polka music was transformed into a newer form of
7 music in the 1920s and 1930s and is still evolving; and
8 WHEREAS, Modern polka music has been a popular form of music
9 in this Commonwealth during the 20th century; and
10 WHEREAS, The "Pennsylvania Polka" is one of the most famous
11 and respected polkas heard throughout the United States; and
12 WHEREAS, Polka music is a main part of many major festivals
13 in this Commonwealth as demonstrated by the Polka Fireworks
14 Festival held at the Seven Springs Resort in Champion on the
15 July 4th weekend, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa
16 in Doylestown held in September and the most well attended
17 festival in the United States with over one million people
1 attending in 1997, Musikfest in Bethlehem, all of which are
2 nationally renowned; and
3 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has numerous facilities specifically
4 used for polka music, such as Fiedor's Grove, simply known as
5 "The Grove" throughout the national polka community, located
6 near Mt. Pleasant, and Jolly Joe Timmer's Picnic Grove at Point
7 Phillips in Northampton County where dances are conducted
8 throughout the year; and
9 WHEREAS, Pennsylvania is represented in the Polka Hall of
10 Fame by Walt Groller of Whitehall and Jolly Joe Timmer of
11 Bethlehem; and
12 WHEREAS, Some of the leading polka bands in the country are
13 from Pennsylvania, such as, the Polka Family from Catawissa, Jan
14 Lewan Orchestra from Hazleton, John Stanky and the Pennsylvania
15 Coal Miners from Nanticoke, Joe Stanky and the Cadets from
16 Nanticoke, Jolly Joe and the Bavarians from Wilkes-Barre, the
17 Kryger Orchestra of Wilkes-Barre, Chuck Pendrak Band from
18 Philadelphia, Steve Huber and the Happy Austrians from Coplay,
19 Bill Ribec and the Polka Plus Slovenian Band from Linglestown
20 and Al Meixner Trio from Laury's Station; and
21 WHEREAS, Polka music can be heard on many radio stations
22 throughout this Commonwealth, including a worldwide transmission
23 via international shortwave on WALN radio station, which
24 originates in Allentown, on cable television stations,
25 particularly Service Electric Cable TV, and at hundreds of
26 events and festivals both large and small throughout the year;
27 and
28 WHEREAS, Dancing to, listening to and performing polka music
29 is still and will continue to be a popular form of musical
30 expression with the residents of this Commonwealth.
19980S1293B1673 - 2 -
1 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
2 hereby enacts as follows:
3 Section 1. Designation of folk music of the Commonwealth.
4 Polka music is hereby selected, designated and adopted as the
5 official American folk music of the Commonwealth of
6 Pennsylvania.
7 Section 2. Effective date.
8 This act shall take effect immediately.
B2L71BIL/19980S1293B1673 - 3 -