The First Chet Gulinski Show was broadcast at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, November 5, 1955. Since that time, many thousand Chet Gulinski Shows were broadcast. Approaching its 43rd anniversary, The Chet Gulinski Show was broadcast Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and at 11 a.m. over WNDZ (750AM), a 5,000-watt station that can be heard in Chicago, all its suburbs, and large cities like Kenosha, Racine, Milwaukee, Rockford, South Bend, covering an area of approximately 200 miles from Chicago. The broadcast could be listened to in parts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa. In past years, The Chet Gulinski Show has been aired over many radio stations - WOPA, WOPA-FM, WTAQ, WBMX, WEAW, WYLO, WREN, WIVS, WAIT, WONX, WPNA, WVVX and WNDZ.

 

Chet Gulinski Shows were broadcast many times as remotes from the world renowned Aragon Ballroom, Chicago's Lake Front Festival, Navy Pier, The 47th Street Free Fair, Tony Piet's Pontiac City, Delta Wholesale, Polonia Grove and Ballroom, Pulaski Village, Wozniak's Casino, Harmony Hall, Congress Ballroom, Lion's Ballroom, Maple Lanes, Polka Castle, Sportsman's Park, Lucy's Wisconsin Rendezvous and a great number of parish and picnic Festivals.

 

Chet Gulinski attended Five Holy Martyr's Grade School, Quigley Seminary, St. Joseph's High School, graduated from and received a degree from DePaul University. His earlier career included owning Ridge Prescription Pharmacy. He was a Field Representative for Rexall Drug Co., a Pharmaceutical Hospital Representative for E. R. Squibb & Sons. He was involved with three recording companies, Ampol, Mil-Poll and Ridgemoor, and was the President of the latter.

 

Chet was active with his son, Chris, promoting Polka Tours with Action Tours & Travel since 1972 including Festivals, Cruises, Hawaii, European Destinations etc., He was a Director of the IPA on two occasions and a Director of UPA International. He was the President of the Senior Polka Association South and North, organized in 1982, President of the Brickyard Seniors and the PRCUA Seniors. Chet was married to Evelyn. They had four children - Chris with a Masters Degree from Marquette University, who assisted with the broadcasts and managed Action Tours; Dr. Adrian and Dr. Daniel--both dentists--and Renee, who has a Masters Degree in Psychology from the University of Chicago.

 

Chet's career varied. He was a Sales Manager for Radio Stations WGLD, WOPA and WPNA. He and Chris produced a TV Show on Channel 44, later on Channel 26. He was a Staff Announcer for WTAQ and WOPA. Chet was instrumental in the purchase of WPNA by the Polish National Alliance in 1987. His efforts resulted in programs that brought Marion Lush, Lucy Bartoszewski, Emilie Richards, Bob Maczko,and Joe Walega to WPNA.

 

He hosted a Monday through Friday Morning three-hour polka show on WPNA until 1992.

 

Until his death, Chet's broadcasts fostered quality and professionalism. His broadcasts were recorded in his own studios, where he had a collection of over 3,500 albums, cassettes and CDs, and over eighty plaques and awards, a fitting testimonial for his broadcasting contribution.