''Bandwagon'' is a half-hour music program featuring traditional dance music, most notably

polka Polka is a dance and genre of dance music originating in nineteenth-century Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. Though associated with Czech culture, polka is popular throughout Europe and the Americas. History Etymology The term ...

, performed in front of a ballroom audience dancing along. The program is produced and broadcast by KEYC-TV in Mankato, Minnesota. The show has been aired November 21, 1960; the title ''Bandwagon'' was added on March 30, 1961. It is one of the longest-running televised music programs in the world. In the past, the show was sponsored by

John Deere Deere & Company, doing business as John Deere (), is an American corporation that manufactures agricultural machinery, heavy equipment, forestry machinery, diesel engines, drivetrains (axles, transmissions, gearboxes) used in heavy equipment, ...

, and aired as the ''John Deere Bandwagon''; later it was sponsored by Randall's, a defunct Midwestern supermarket chain, and was titled as ''Randall's Bandwagon''. Earl Lamont was the original host of the program. Chuck Pasek began hosting the program in 1967. Dick Ginn, who worked for Randall's and was involved in their sponsorship of the show since 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 Ballroom. The format of the show is simple: the host introduces the band for the week, which performs a number of music selections. 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 originated from KEYC's studio in

North Mankato, Minnesota North Mankato ( ) is a city in Nicollet and Blue Earth counties in the State of Minnesota. The population was 14,275 at the 2020 census. Most of North Mankato is in Nicollet County, but a small part extends into Blue Earth County. It is ne ...

, and 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, and admission is $8.00 for three hours of entertainment.

Notes

External links

Audio documentary about the program

KEYC's page for program information on Bandwagon
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bandwagon (American Tv program) 1960 American television series debuts 1960s American music television series 1970s American music television series 1980s American music television series 1990s American music television series 2000s American music television series 2010s American music television series 2020s American music television series Dance television shows Local music television shows in the United States Television in Minnesota John Deere