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The Patio Podcast
The Patio Podcast is a wistful exploration of my hometown's enduring attachment to Hess’s Department Store. In candid conversations with residents, historians, collectors, former shoppers and employees, The Patio hopes to shed light on Allentown, Pennsylvania’s multigenerational interest in one single place.
Does nostalgia this visceral unite a city, or hold it back? How has Max Hess Jr.’s marketing genius endured? What happened to his famous chandeliers? And how good was all that whipped cream pie, really? The Patio Podcast is a new collection of Hess’s memories, meant for the here and now!
The Patio Podcast's original music: Theme created and produced by Dave Meyers with Vocals by Sam Cummings
The Patio Podcast
Episode 8: Robbie Lawrence, The Prince of Polka & King of Collectors
Robbie Lawrence is one of the most active collectors of retail nostalgia in the Lehigh Valley. You may know him from the stage at Musikfest, or as a co-host of The Polka Show alongside Mike Mittman on Service Electric Network. He has been dubbed the "Prince of Polka" as frontman of Robbie Lawrence and the Steelworkers Polka Band.
Robbie says he has a lot of life to live and spends his time pursuing his passions, which include collecting antique fans, clocks, Hess’s memorabilia, and performing Polka to the masses every week at various venues around the Lehigh Valley Region. He is on the Board of Directors of the Antique Fan Collectors Association (AFCA).
He is an old soul who lives life to the fullest in the present moment. Robbie is extremely generous with his time and energy. You can feel our passion for collecting antiques, collecting new friends, and even collecting stories throughout this episode! Please enjoy.
Referenced in this Episode:
- On Facebook, Robbie Lawrence and the Steelworkers Polka Band
- WATCH: Live performance by Robbie Lawrence & the Steelworkers Polka Band from Wells Fargo Festplatz (source SECTV Musikfest 2022)
- The Service Electric Polka Show plays Monday-Friday @ 8pm, Enjoy hit polka band performances from the past 40 years in the Lehigh Valley. Live events may alter air times.
The Patio's original music: Theme created and produced by Dave Meyers, with Vocals by Sam Cummings.
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