An Elvis Presley History movie film. No wonder five years later we saw John Candy playing Gus Polinsky, the Polka King Of Midwest in Home Alone. And guess what the King himself was also in that movie...
It hasn't been released on DVD. It was only released on VHS back in '84.
If you do find it on DVD and nothing has been posted in this comments section about it having been released, there's a 99.9% chance that it is merely a copy from this same VHS tape (not the same exact tape, but you know what I mean) and it's not exactly legal... not that posting it on YouTube is, but I digress...
I never got to see this and forgot all about it! I was a rabid Schmenge fan (remember the Miss Leutonia Pageant, and "Sinky's Green Suspenders"?). This is Schmenges Reborn. Who said they retired?????????? (???,?. . . ??. . . . . . . ..?)
The best discovery I've ever made on utube. I signed on to utube just to thank you for this gem . Classic that needs to be remembered. Thank you so very much.
if you're ever in St Catharines, Ontario - stop by Walter Ostanek's Music Store - Walter is the inspiration behind Yosh Schmenge (and his family's Polka Time show)...you'll often catch Walter, with his giant pumpkin head, in the store - there is a display with over 200 of his accordions and over 25 Grammy nominations!...
In the early '80s I wanted my dad to see SCTV. At the appointed time, I turned on our local public TV station and saw the Schmenge Brothers. We assumed it was a version of the popular "Chimeleski Fun Time" so loved by the eastern Europeans in the area. My dad noticed that Yosh wasn't really playing the clarinet, so we knew we had the right show. He really got a kick out of this movie, and I looked for it everywhere to play for him before he died. Thanks for posting it!
I borrowed my brothers copy of 'The Last Polka'. Must of watched it. 10 times. We have been joking about this movie for over 15 years. By the way it is a pirated copy and we were never able to find an original.
Excellent quality-there may be problems getting license rights for the M Jackson song if they ever do the DVD-but one day we can hope-till then, than you for making this available.
It seems like yesterday watching the Shmenge Brothers on Sesame St. It wasn't until 15 years later that it was Eugene Levy and John Candy in character. Love the SCTV show as well. Thanks for posting the cult classic of all SCTV films.
Rumours had it that Yosh was ill at this time and receiving medical attention for an enlarged goiter. Stan went on to play the senior's circuit, including Mrs. Minshkov's Home for the Senile and Coffee Shop in Greater Lutonia.
@franzy1 Thanks for the update on Yosh, franzy, All of the girls at St.. Withold's Home for Distressed and Wayward Women in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, are of course sad to hear of Yosh's untimely passing, but are grateful to you for providing this message of closure. St. Withold grant you many blessings; we will keep you and Yosh forever in our hearts
@franzy1 By the way, franzy, if you're ever stuck in Milwaukee and have a few minutes to spare, why don't you come up and visit us. Sincerely, Freida and Flora.
@larrythefatcat yessir, this has nothing to do with spinal tap - it is a play on the band's 'the last waltz'. as with all sctv fare, _far_ more thought through than you think. go backwards.........
Released on HBO in 1985....Released on the Global CBC in canada (where the show was originally produced) in 1979-1983. So, actually it was quite good thinking.
I saw this when it first came out and bought the VHS for my mother, who still has it and won't loan it out - we're from Chicago and basically KNOW Shmenges. I bought a DVD a few years back (someone's copy) and the kids lost it. I thought I'd never get to see it again - thanks!!!
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An Elvis Presley Life tale!!!
No wonder five years later we saw John Candy as Gus Polinsky in Home Alone Movie playing the Polka King Of Midwest
pretongo 2 months ago
an Elvis Presley life tale!!!
pretongo 2 months ago
An Elvis Presley History movie film. No wonder five years later we saw John Candy playing Gus Polinsky, the Polka King Of Midwest in Home Alone. And guess what the King himself was also in that movie...
pretongo 2 months ago
Gene Levy is awesome!
PattyLeisch 3 months ago
I love this special.
torontobear73 5 months ago
THANKS SO MUCH 4 POSTING THIS GEM !
SylviafromCanada 6 months ago
I had this on vhs taped from paytv in canada back in the day. Watched it over and over with my friends.
As an aside, awesome narration by Dave Thomas, you can't even tell its is voice at the beginning.
jacklayton34 7 months ago
It hasn't been released on DVD. It was only released on VHS back in '84.
If you do find it on DVD and nothing has been posted in this comments section about it having been released, there's a 99.9% chance that it is merely a copy from this same VHS tape (not the same exact tape, but you know what I mean) and it's not exactly legal... not that posting it on YouTube is, but I digress...
007fordummies 7 months ago
Where can I get this in DVD ?
mississauga0909 7 months ago
I never got to see this and forgot all about it! I was a rabid Schmenge fan (remember the Miss Leutonia Pageant, and "Sinky's Green Suspenders"?). This is Schmenges Reborn. Who said they retired?????????? (???,?. . . ??. . . . . . . ..?)
ferociousgumby 10 months ago
The best discovery I've ever made on utube. I signed on to utube just to thank you for this gem . Classic that needs to be remembered. Thank you so very much.
thelastpolkaonutube 10 months ago
did they play the instruments?
sownsew 10 months ago
We lost Candy waaaaaaaaay too soon.
smujismuj 11 months ago
A land totally devoid of trees? Sounds like Saskatchewan!
stupidstudz 1 year ago
if you're ever in St Catharines, Ontario - stop by Walter Ostanek's Music Store - Walter is the inspiration behind Yosh Schmenge (and his family's Polka Time show)...you'll often catch Walter, with his giant pumpkin head, in the store - there is a display with over 200 of his accordions and over 25 Grammy nominations!...
strange but true.
GlobalPunditOrg 1 year ago
In the early '80s I wanted my dad to see SCTV. At the appointed time, I turned on our local public TV station and saw the Schmenge Brothers. We assumed it was a version of the popular "Chimeleski Fun Time" so loved by the eastern Europeans in the area. My dad noticed that Yosh wasn't really playing the clarinet, so we knew we had the right show. He really got a kick out of this movie, and I looked for it everywhere to play for him before he died. Thanks for posting it!
ThatsMrMoronToYou 1 year ago
Brilliant parody of "The Last Waltz" by Scorcese!!!!!!
ripperduck 1 year ago
My brother has a pirated copy of this video, does Amy one know where II can get a new DVD of this video, I love it!
mississauga0909 1 year ago
SPECTACULAR to find this old friend of a movie here on YouTube.
THANK YOU.
crushme99 1 year ago
I borrowed my brothers copy of 'The Last Polka'. Must of watched it. 10 times. We have been joking about this movie for over 15 years. By the way it is a pirated copy and we were never able to find an original.
mississauga0909 1 year ago
Excellent quality-there may be problems getting license rights for the M Jackson song if they ever do the DVD-but one day we can hope-till then, than you for making this available.
MiltonJenkins 1 year ago
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'd only heard of this before and now I get to see it. :)
Ripplin 1 year ago
Thank you thank you thank you! I have never seen this and to buy it used on Amazon costs a small fortune!
finnboy67 2 years ago
"It was almost a moving experience."
larrythefatcat, thank you SOOOOO much for posting this awesome, unavailable piece!
karmadhyana 2 years ago
A brilliant documentary that almost over shadows "The Last Waltz". Polka Forever!
Fretkillr 2 years ago
It seems like yesterday watching the Shmenge Brothers on Sesame St. It wasn't until 15 years later that it was Eugene Levy and John Candy in character. Love the SCTV show as well. Thanks for posting the cult classic of all SCTV films.
Neptuneman07 2 years ago
CABBAGE ROLLS N' COFFEE MM MMM GOOD!
DBAViking 2 years ago 7
@DBAViking Can't be beat!
Vittoria10538 1 year ago
@DBAViking
A Schmenge Classic!
bobandrayfan1 2 months ago in playlist More videos from larrythefatcat
LOL the way Yosh is back there with that rake trying to (put out?) the bar-b-que.
bigkellyr 2 years ago
Rumours had it that Yosh was ill at this time and receiving medical attention for an enlarged goiter. Stan went on to play the senior's circuit, including Mrs. Minshkov's Home for the Senile and Coffee Shop in Greater Lutonia.
RIP Yosh.
franzy1 2 years ago 2
@franzy1 Thanks for the update on Yosh, franzy, All of the girls at St.. Withold's Home for Distressed and Wayward Women in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, are of course sad to hear of Yosh's untimely passing, but are grateful to you for providing this message of closure. St. Withold grant you many blessings; we will keep you and Yosh forever in our hearts
McGrenzer 1 year ago
@franzy1 By the way, franzy, if you're ever stuck in Milwaukee and have a few minutes to spare, why don't you come up and visit us. Sincerely, Freida and Flora.
McGrenzer 1 year ago
Why this isn't more popular, I don't know. And YES it should, im sending this to all my friends. If you like it, you should do the same.
krazymike746 2 years ago
Mahalo Larry, for posting this. I saw this back in the 80's and thought it was the funniest thing I ever saw in my life. I was right: it still is.
screaminghangover 2 years ago
One of the greatest lines of all time...."Hey! Let's Polka!"
nesqyjp 2 years ago
They gave the world artificial Christmas trees.
fjccommish 2 years ago
The best parody. This is why spinal tap exists !
dozydoodles 2 years ago
Not to burst your bubble... but 'This is Spinal Tap!' was released in March of '84 and this was on HBO in April of '85.
So good thinking, but not quite.
larrythefatcat 2 years ago 3
@larrythefatcat Spinal Tap probably exists because of the Rutles.
tmgore64 1 year ago
@larrythefatcat Yes, perhaps but Levy and Candy were doing great parody much earlier than Spinal Tap on SCTV
FlamingoKicker 9 months ago
@larrythefatcat yessir, this has nothing to do with spinal tap - it is a play on the band's 'the last waltz'. as with all sctv fare, _far_ more thought through than you think. go backwards.........
joelahenderson 7 months ago
@larrythefatcat Both of them wouldn't exist if it weren't for the Band and the Last Waltz.
bashfulbrother 7 months ago
Released on HBO in 1985....Released on the Global CBC in canada (where the show was originally produced) in 1979-1983. So, actually it was quite good thinking.
ukeband 6 months ago
@dozydoodles ??????
fixedgearplanet 1 year ago
@dozydoodles I believe it's supposed to be a spoof of "The Last Waltz".
IronSloth 1 year ago
I am beside myself with happiness that this was finally posted. I agree, it really needs to be put on DVD. Thank you so much for sharing! :)
DoomsKitty 2 years ago
Ukrainians^? lol
bripat22 2 years ago
I saw this when it first came out and bought the VHS for my mother, who still has it and won't loan it out - we're from Chicago and basically KNOW Shmenges. I bought a DVD a few years back (someone's copy) and the kids lost it. I thought I'd never get to see it again - thanks!!!
vickilaw 2 years ago
This was even better than I remembered. So glad you put it up!
fivecb 2 years ago
A parody of Scorsese's THE LAST WALTZ.
DupekChopra 2 years ago