Pump up the Oompah! THE MAN WHO WOULD BE POLKA KING is an irreverent look at the rise and fall of Grammy-nominated polka music superstar Jan Lewan, whose defection from Poland to Pennsylvania led to fame, fortune and an international Polka Empire. But when Lewan's empire collapsed under a cloud of scandal, the polka world was stunned to learn of the greatest polka-related financial crime in history.

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LET'S POLKA

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ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

JOHN MIKULAK
JOSHUA (VON) BROWN
YOUR HOST STAN TADROWSKI

Got something to say about the Polka King? Leave a comment or email us at polkakingmovie at gmail dot com.

FESTIVAL SCREENINGS

Bradford International Film Festival
(UK Premiere)
Saturday, March 20, 2:45 PM
Pictureville Cinema
Bradford, UK

Polish Film Festival in America
(Chicago Premiere)
Friday, November 20, 7:00 PM
Gallery Theatre, Society for Arts
Chicago, IL

Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
(Arkansas Premiere)
Saturday, October 24, 6:00 PM
Malco Theater 1
Hot Springs, AR

Atlanta Underground Film Festival
(Atlanta Premiere)
Wednesday, August 26, 6:30 PM
Young Blood
Atlanta, GA

Brooklyn International Film Festival
(U.S. Premiere)
Saturday, June 6, 6:00 PM
Brooklyn Heights Cinema
Brooklyn, NY

Krakow Film Festival
(World Premiere)
Monday June 1, 8:00 PM
Kino Pod Baranami
Krakow, Poland

Boston Underground Film Festival
(sneak preview)
Saturday March 21, 12:30 PM
Kendall Square Cinema
Cambridge, MA

LINKS

24/7 Polka Heaven
Alt.Polkas
Ask Zosia
JoJo The Clown
International Polka Association
Jan Lewan
Jolly Joe Truszkowski
Lightning Videos
Nancy’s Place For Polkas
Odessa Klezmer
PA Pageants
Poland By Mail
Polish Embassy
The Post Eagle
Sam Son Prod. TV
The Vatican
WVIA



Posted 3 years ago on January 17 2009


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JAN HAD POLKA AUDIENCES IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND

JAN HAD POLKA AUDIENCES IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND


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Posted:
3 years ago on January 17 2009

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THE YOUNG JAN LEWAN DREAMED OF LEAVING POLAND TO BECOME A SHOWMAN IN THE WEST

THE YOUNG JAN LEWAN DREAMED OF LEAVING POLAND TO BECOME A SHOWMAN IN THE WEST


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Posted 3 years ago on December 22 2008


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He could sell an eskimo an igloo.
— Dolly Kubasko, polka promoter
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Posted:
3 years ago on December 22 2008

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JAN LEWAN WITH DONALD TRUMP. JAN ENTERTAINED THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF POLKA FANS AT THE TRUMP MAHAL CASINO, ATLANTIC CITY, NJ.

JAN LEWAN WITH DONALD TRUMP. JAN ENTERTAINED THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF POLKA FANS AT THE TRUMP MAHAL CASINO, ATLANTIC CITY, NJ.


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Posted 3 years ago on December 17 2008


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GREETINGS FROM YOUR HOST: Stan Tadrowski

Hi everyone. I’m Stan Tadrowski, your host for THE MAN WHO WOULD BE POLKA KING. People tell me I’m a pretty happy fella. I guess that’s why I’ve been a polka fan since as long as I can remember. See, the toe-tappin’ world of polka music is for people that like to have a good time. And for years, one of the most colorful polka performers had to be Jan Lewan, backed by his fabulous orchestra. Lewan was so popular that he did what very few polka performers can do…he made a living at it. Heck, it was more than a living. He actually built a multi-million dollar Polka Empire!

So, when it all came crashing down, me and a whole lot of people were left scratching our heads, wondering how it all went so wrong. 

       Greetings from Stan

Was Lewan an uneducated businessman who got in over his head? Or did he know from the start that he was cheating and stealing from the very fans that made him?

Well that’s what we try to figure out in this wild story about the rise and fall of Pennsylvania’s greatest polka king, Jan Lewan. I hope you’ll join us!

Yours in Polka,

Stan


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Posted:
3 years ago on December 17 2008

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You’re going to tell me to my face that 400 people are liars? No way.
— Peter Chacho, former member of The Jan Lewan Orchestra
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Posted:
3 years ago on December 17 2008

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JAN’S SOUVENIR HANKIES WERE ALWAYS POPULAR WITH HIS FANS

JAN’S SOUVENIR HANKIES WERE ALWAYS POPULAR WITH HIS FANS


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Posted:
3 years ago on December 17 2008

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How the hell could you have done what you did to us?
— Gerald C., investor
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Posted:
3 years ago on December 17 2008

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JAN LEWAN LEADS A TOUR GROUP THROUGH POLAND ITALY

JAN LEWAN LEADS A TOUR GROUP THROUGH POLAND ITALY


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Posted:
3 years ago on December 17 2008

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I am the loser too. If I had, I would give… but I don’t have.
— Jan Lewan
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