Wisconsin 101

Read more about the article <i>Happy Days</i> and 1950s Sentimentality

Happy Days and 1950s Sentimentality

Happy Days — the precursor to other famous spin-offs including Laverne and Shirley, Joanie Loves Chachi, and Mork and Mindy — first brought idealized values associated with 1950s middle-class America to television viewers on ABC in a 1971 pilot titled “New Family in Town.” While the network…

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August 15, 2020

Read more about the article OBJECT HISTORY: <i>Happy Days</i> Bowling Shirt Costume

Art, Sport & Entertainment / Music, Theatre & Cinema / Milwaukee / Milwaukee County / Object Histories / Clothing, Apparel & Fashion / Sports & Games / Curators' Favorites / 1965-1987 / Region 8 - South East / Happy Days Bowling Shirt Costume

OBJECT HISTORY: Happy Days Bowling Shirt Costume

This bowling shirt costume from the television series Happy Day speaks to Wisconsin's association with bowling. Milwaukee, where the show was set, was known as the bowling capital of America.

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August 15, 2020

Art, Sport & Entertainment / Music, Theatre & Cinema / Pulaski / Ethnicity & Identity / Related Stories / Curators' Favorites / Oconto County / Region 2 - North East / 1965-1987 / Polka Rhythms Bandstand

Pulaski – A Polka Town

Pulaski, like some Wisconsin communities, possesses a disproportionate number of polka bands, and some have boasted that the town of 3000 has more bands per capita than even Nashville. The strongly Polish community located just outside of Green Bay is still a thriving locale for the polka tradition.

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May 18, 2020

Art, Sport & Entertainment / Music, Theatre & Cinema / Ethnicity & Identity / Related Stories / Curators' Favorites / Global Connections / 1945-1965 / 1965-1987 / Polka Rhythms Bandstand

Polka’s Popularity in the United States

After World War II, polka made its first mainstream American appearance thanks to Cleveland, Ohio’s celebrated “Polka King,” Slovenian-American Frankie Yankovic. The genre remains popular today, especially with the older crowd in the Midwest.

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May 17, 2020

Art, Sport & Entertainment / Music, Theatre & Cinema / Pulaski / Object Histories / Ethnicity & Identity / Oconto County / Region 2 - North East / 1965-1987 / Polka Rhythms Bandstand

OBJECT HISTORY: Polka Rhythms Bandstand

This bandstand, used by Chad Przybylski and his band the Polka Rhythms, represents Wisconsin's polka tradition.

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May 10, 2020

Object Histories / Food & Cooking / Wisconsin Made / Random Lake / Everyday Life / Manufacturing & Trade / Sheboygan County / 1965-1987 / Region 5 - Center East / Jolly Good Soda

OBJECT HISTORY: Jolly Good Soda

What would a Southeastern Wisconsinite grab on a hot summer day in the 1970s and 80s? Jolly Good soda of course! Though you can’t find it on store shelves today, Jolly Good soda was once one of the most popular beverages in the region. This cola flavored can of Jolly Good soda features patriotic colors…

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March 1, 2019