[bobby burke]

With the evolution of modern Drum Corps shows ,and all the "over the top" effects that are included in them ,I thought maybe it would be interesting to go back in time to the beginning of our hobby ,and reminise about some single moments in the "GOLDEN YEARS" that stood out in our memories.The" WOW FACTOR". It could have been just one note ...like Reilly's High "G " in Irish Eyes. The Yankee Rebels 'stripper"...Just about anything that PEPE from NY played or 'performed" on the field. The concert ending of STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER from St. Kevin's .Reilly's classic "head /chopper" move.the Cab's concert with Jimmy D'amico and Don Angelica wailing away in the early 60s.Kevin's color pre intro to 'SEA HAWK".and their stratisferic soprano ending at the finish line NY'sTommy Martin's effortless playing of the most famous 4 notes in drum corps history.27s rifle line.The lightning storm that simultaniously occured when the Hurcs played ''Stormy Weather " at a show.i could go on and on...but lets see how long we can keep this going..Once again any memory is allowed ,as simple or brief as it was ,as long as it brought the" WOW" response from the crowd.

[Andyroo]

bobby burke, on 19 February 2012 - 08:42 AM, said:

With the evolution of modern Drum Corps shows ,and all the "over the top" effects that are included in them ,I thought maybe it would be interesting to go back in time to the beginning of our hobby ,and reminise about some single moments in the "GOLDEN YEARS" that stood out in our memories.The" WOW FACTOR".

How about any time that Hawthorne played "Flamenco Cha Cha" coming at the stands...

Having often been a part of those audiences, I can vouch for the fact that there wasn't a single person in the stands still sitting.

[ozarkbugler]

From the title I thought this was about Simon Cowell's new show (yet to be announced).

[Shenandoah Vibrato]

The two things that stand out for me both came from Reilly! The first is "Stardust" and of course the Reilly drum solo that everybody tried to emulate in the early '60s.

[JoeDz]

bobby burke, on 19 February 2012 - 08:42 AM, said:

<snip>

any memory is allowed ,as simple or brief as it was ,as long as it brought the" WOW" response from the crowd.

In 1965 Dream Contest was a very warm day...... my father and I sat in the shade seats for the first time (luckily.....double lucky as it turns out) ........threatening skies during the early part of the senior half of the show.

Roch Cru was on the field (they had some kid named Peashy in the horn line)

At the halt ending "When Your Lover has Gone" going into the concert, the ending drum down-beat was followed by a slight rumble of thunder. (On the Fleetwood album you can hear the crowd moan). Concert was "Goldfinger." It was so loud you wouldn't hear any additional thunder anyway.

Production song after concert was "I Talk to the Trees." Nice song....... ends again with a drum flourish and drum solo..... A HUGE rumble of thunder echoed the drums. BIG crowd moan.

They have a short drum ditty going into the exit. The corps is to the right of center facing front but ready to section turn to the finish when a wave of wind blows up from the first base foul line, the field "finish" line. The dust engulfs the corps and conceals them from view..... now cloud coverage has the field almost totally DARK..... and a sudden downpour washes the dust down at once........as gun goes off... there's the corps in a PERFECT front charging towards the finish.....didn't hesitate a bit, horns playing even louder "In the Still of the Night" two drummers (bongo or other double) turn to add their thing and shake their fisted sticks.....

To say that the crowd went wild is as understated as to say there was mild applause when Jeter knocked his 3,000th hit into the stands.

By the time the corps turned for the final fanfare, the rain had almost stopped and a small ray of sunshine was only lighting the finish area......CREEPY GREAT......

It was PERFECT....except that one of the many leaks in the Roosevelt Stadium roof was right over my father's seat.........which suddenly became designated as MY seat.

I gotta' add, though..........to this day, when I get caught on foot in a deluge, I refer to it as "getting Peashy-ed."

Joe Dz in NJ


PS: Reilly was on next and during a dance solo, the poor guy slipped and fell.....

PPS: The nuns in those great seats didn't think the seats were so great in 1965........

PPPS; Cabs won !!!!!

[TomPeashey]

JoeDz, on 19 February 2012 - 12:55 PM, said:

In 1965 Dream Contest was a very warm day...... my father and I sat in the shade seats for the first time (luckily.....double lucky as it turns out) ........threatening skies during the early part of the senior half of the show.

Roch Cru was on the field (they had some kid named Peashy in the horn line)

At the halt ending "When Your Lover has Gone" going into the concert, the ending drum down-beat was followed by a slight rumble of thunder. (On the Fleetwood album you can hear the crowd moan). Concert was "Goldfinger." It was so loud you wouldn't hear any additional thunder anyway.

Production song after concert was "I Talk to the Trees." Nice song....... ends again with a drum flourish and drum solo..... A HUGE rumble of thunder echoed the drums. BIG crowd moan.

They have a short drum ditty going into the exit. The corps is to the right of center facing front but ready to section turn to the finish when a wave of wind blows up from the first base foul line, the field "finish" line. The dust engulfs the corps and conceals them from view..... now cloud coverage has the field almost totally DARK..... and a sudden downpour washes the dust down at once........as gun goes off... there's the corps in a PERFECT front charging towards the finish.....didn't hesitate a bit, horns playing even louder "In the Still of the Night" two drummers (bongo or other double) turn to add their thing and shake their fisted sticks.....

To say that the crowd went wild is as understated as to say there was mild applause when Jeter knocked his 3,000th hit into the stands.

By the time the corps turned for the final fanfare, the rain had almost stopped and a small ray of sunshine was only lighting the finish area......CREEPY GREAT......

It was PERFECT....except that one of the many leaks in the Roosevelt Stadium roof was right over my father's seat.........which suddenly became designated as MY seat.

I gotta' add, though..........to this day, when I get caught on foot in a deluge, I refer to it as "getting Peashy-ed."

Joe Dz in NJ


PS: Reilly was on next and during a dance solo, the poor guy slipped and fell.....

PPS: The nuns in those great seats didn't think the seats were so great in 1965........

PPPS; Cabs won !!!!!

Very well remembered Joe... one of my fondest remembrances...

[Fran Haring]

One that comes to mind immediately for me....

Les Diplomates' innovative (for its time) "rolling block" visual move. Always got the crowd going.

Another awesome visual: Skyliners' "Traffic Jam" in 1972. Wow!!!!

This post has been edited by Fran Haring: 19 February 2012 - 05:13 PM

[Andyroo]

Fran Haring, on 19 February 2012 - 05:12 PM, said:

One that comes to mind immediately for me....

Les Diplomates' innovative (for its time) "rolling block" visual move. Always got the crowd going.

Another awesome visual: Skyliners' "Traffic Jam" in 1972. Wow!!!!

Yes Fran!!! I first saw that "rolling block" at Mission Drums (can't remeber the year). Just about knocked over the group I was with - all M&M people.

[ajlisko]

Andyroo, on 19 February 2012 - 06:24 PM, said:

Yes Fran!!! I first saw that "rolling block" at Mission Drums (can't remeber the year). Just about knocked over the group I was with - all M&M people.

First time I remember seeing it was at the 1964 World Open in Bridgeport ... they may have done it in earlier years ... not sure ...


Andy "not the Roo" Lisko

[bobby burke]

bobby burke, on 19 February 2012 - 08:42 AM, said:

With the evolution of modern Drum Corps shows ,and all the "over the top" effects that are included in them ,I thought maybe it would be interesting to go back in time to the beginning of our hobby ,and reminise about some single moments in the "GOLDEN YEARS" that stood out in our memories.The" WOW FACTOR". It could have been just one note ...like Reilly's High "G " in Irish Eyes. The Yankee Rebels 'stripper"...Just about anything that PEPE from NY played or 'performed" on the field. The concert ending of STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER from St. Kevin's .Reilly's classic "head /chopper" move.the Cab's concert with Jimmy D'amico and Don Angelica wailing away in the early 60s.Kevin's color pre intro to 'SEA HAWK".and their stratisferic soprano ending at the finish line NY'sTommy Martin's effortless playing of the most famous 4 notes in drum corps history.27s rifle line.The lightning storm that simultaniously occured when the Hurcs played ''Stormy Weather " at a show.i could go on and on...but lets see how long we can keep this going..Once again any memory is allowed ,as simple or brief as it was ,as long as it brought the" WOW" response from the crowd.

The Blue Devils company front charging the stands from the 5 to the 5 yard line with an incredable wall of sound.Bridgemen soprano line triple tongue feature ala Gus Wilke The disappearing Phantom of the Opera trick at the finale of SCV 's show.....Casper Trooper's exploding circle...and their 0 to 50 yard line company front ...straight as an arrow.Sky's Butch Anderson's limo entrance to the Dream contest.....drove chief judge Kelly crazy. The Matador's megaphone trio in ROCKY.Richie Price hitting notes that only dogs could hear....before it became run of the mill.and so on and so on !!!