In 1962 Johnnie became the manager of the National Hall of Ennis. As the manager he hired out of town polka bands whose music he had been admiring for a many of years. Among the bands Johnnie hired were Rudy Kurtz, Joe Patek, Al Grebnick, and the Vrazel polka band.
It was also during this time that a jukebox was added to the saloon. However, the jukebox was not being properly serviced by the Dallas based company. Therefore, the jukebox became Johnnie's responsibility. Johnnie added a few of his 45 's to the jukebox. The customers love it! Word spread to the bands that Johnnie was loading polka music into the jukebox. Soon, the bands who he hired began donating 45's to Johnnie.
A 1964 Advertisement from Johnnie's first year of the Polka Show.
In 1966 Johnnie and KBEC owner, Richard Tuck, broad casted live remote from each of the participating halls and the first The National Polka Festival in Ennis. In 2005 Johnnie was the Grand Marshall of the 39th annual National Polka Festival and for the 2nd time in 39 years The Sunday Morning Polka Show was once again broadcast live remote from the KJT auditorium in Ennis on May 29, 2005.
Johnnie knew that the people of Ellis county loved polka music and felt that they wanted to hear polka music on the radio. In 1964 Johnnie joined KBEC and to this day fans across North Texas tune in to the listen to The Sunday Morning Polka Show.
* Biography *
Johnnie was born November 7, 1932 to parents, John Krajca and Julia (Zissa). Johnnie was taught to speak the Czech language. It was not until Johnnie was 6 years old did he learn to speak English. From the time Johnnie was a little boy on the farmland surrounding Ennis Texas, there were several radio stations that broadcast live polka music. His family owned a radio that ran off of a 6 volt battery. And, if the battery was charged up, Johnnie listened to all the polka music he could find.
Johnnie recalls leaving the fields at noon so he could listen to the Adolph Hufner & the Pearl Wranglers polka band being broadcast from San Antonio Texas. He also recalls staying up late every night to listen to the midnight polka show broadcast the Six Fat Dutchman live from St Louis Missouri. And, on the weekends he listened to polka music by the Kubins and other local bands being broadcast from Corsicana Texas. When the FCC turned down the signal strength Johnnie could no longer listen to his favorite music on the radio on a daily basis.
In 1954, Johnnie Krajca was drafted into the US Army. On his way to Germany he had a layover in New York City. There his love for polka music took him searching for polka music. He found a Czech place that played polka music on the jukebox. It was in New York where he found and bought his first polka record. While he was stationed in Germany he recalls listening to American polka music on the radio. In Germany Johnnie purchased more polka records and often played the albums for his army buddies.
In 1955, KBEC radio station was granted a broadcasting license. Johnny Mensik began the first polka show from the studio in Ennis, Texas using borrowed records from Johnnie. Soon Eric Honza replaced Mr Mensik. But, both of their shows were short lived. Once again there was no polka music on the radio in Ellis county.
St John School Band 1944 (Johnnie is on the front row 3rd from right)
Close-up of Johnnie in the St. John School Band 1944
Johnnie's passion for music was nurtured by his parents. Johnnie recalls visiting his grandparents in Shiner Texas and listening to polkas by Rudy Kurtz, Joe Patek, and Frank Kubin being broadcast live on the radio at 8pm. When his grandpa Zissa passed away in 1945 his grandmother moved to town. She was now living only a few blocks away from the park where the live polka music was being broadcast from. From this time on Johnnie would walk to the park to listen to the music he loved so dearly.
Johnnie learned to play the harmonica from his dad who was a very good harmonica player. In 1948 his family installed electricity and bought an electric radio. Now Johnnie could listen to all the polka music without the battery running down! When Johnnie was 8-11 years old he played the clarinet for the St John school band. When he was 15 years old he took guitar lessons from Cannonball Zhanel. And, at the same time Johnnie taught himself how to play the accordion. When Johnnie was 19 he bought his first record player and three 78 speed polka records by Joe Patek, Rudy Kurtz, and Frank Kubin.
