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Blue Devil's first national tour 1973


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Thought this might be interesting for folks.

Jerry Seawright's description of the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps first ever national tour, taken from the Blue Devils September 1973 newsletter:

"Our proud and happy caravan of three buses, a truck and various vehicles left Concord on Fri., Aug. 3, at 1 p.m. We followed the "yellow brick road" to our first ever national competition in Marion, Ohio.

We cruised along happily discussing the weeks ahead, until we reached Colfax, Calif,, where the ''pride of fleet" the #1 bus coughed, sputtered, hiccupped and collapsed,panting in a heap of steam and humiliation, I just gagged! However, calmer heads prevailed and a charter "soon" arrived to help us continue on down the "yellow brick road". Incidentally, Tony 0. picked the bus up the next day and drove it back to Concord without incident, I am told that its tall wagged the whole way home. Tony swore it was just smiling all the way back!

After four long days on buses and nights of school gyms, Elks Clubs, Iegion Halls and motel banquet rooms, we arrived bottom sore and bone weary at the toll gate in La Porte, Indiana to find the local police patiently awaiting our belated arrival (5 hours late). We were escorted through town with lights flashing to the Legion Hall where we collapsed!

The next day we were royally escorted to a provided practice ground via screaming sirens and flashing red lights. La Porte is a very gracious community (they insisted I meet the mayor, so we interrupted him from his schedule and talked for an hour) and has a small hospitable corps, "The Maple City Cadets", The mosquitos must have loved the corps too, for they sure ate a lot. We grabbed Ron Flanagan just as they were carrying him off for dinner. GADS! They were huge! The town dignitaries and the Cadets asked us to put on our field show for them and we obliged - much to the mosquitos' delight.

On to Marion, Ohio only to find that the rain had plagued us all across the country, was once more in attendance and greeted us with one of the finest displays of pyrotechnics and thunder that I had seen in years. Our native California youths were awed and some terrified at mother Nature's power, I cannot remember seeing it rain so hard!

We were housed with four other corps in one school! When 110 corps are sandwiched in a town of 30,000 you have total corps! Corps everywhere.
Every field and lot had a corps practicing. Every school and church had one housed. The town was gracious and welcomed us with ovations all along
Thursday night's parade route. In all modesty, it is fair to say that the crowd really liked us, and evidently so did the judges, for we took a 5th
out of 53 corps.

Ask one of our staff sometime about the chaos created by the rain prior to parade time. Rain coats, plumes, Blue Devil jackets, yes, no, maybe yes! A crowd of approximately 23,000 people mused at our attempts to insert 9^ plumes in 94 bouncing shakos, as we walked backwards in front of the proposed receptacle. They seemed to get into the humor of the situation and cheered us on. But, by heck, we were there marching dowm a dream! The "Blue Who" were soon to become the "oh yes, the Blue Devils, they're from California, good corps,"

The next day was the first of many exciting and hectic moments. We were there. Yes, truly we v/ere about to display our talents with adrenalin
flowing and hearts pounding — Karen Wheeler says, "I can't go on." "What? You have to go on!" "No, I'm sick, it's my side!" "Karen, you've got to
march!" "No, she's not!" "Says who?" "Me, Kelly, I'm the nurse!" — She didn't march. "Where will I get a cow bell holder, you're kidding, a snare head now?" Good Lord, we're on next!" Hey, get in uniform, Gant!" Paul Cefalo forgot his shoes?? Oh NO, this can't be happening! Quick, send someone back to the school, use the C,B, radio, hurry! O.K., let's fall in. Let's get inside the gates, Keeeriminny, it's sprinkling—quick get the plume covers over the plumes. Everybody out of the rain, over there by the food booth. Watch those blouses, they spot!! "Hey, it's stopped—hurry up and get that drum head on!" O.K., here we go. Oh good gosh, take the plume covers off, hurry! Alright, sir, we're on our way to the starting line--relax, Where's Paul's shoes?? No, you can't go to the bathroom now!! So, it went...

I viewed the off the line from 50 feet straight up in the air, I noticed the corps coming onto the field marching and playing with an expression (and execution) of real surprise. The official rushed us via threats of penalties to the point that Dugan didn't even have an opportunity to set the corps. However, the corps'professionalism came through and their composure was quickly restored—theirs, not mine, for I was still 50 feet in the air, displaying my usual calm, cool and sophisticated approach to such an encounter. After I was gently lowered to the ground via reality, T witnessed an excellent show.

We received a 67.75 and I truthfully think we were better. However, the first few corps ahead of us started the days' scorine; with a 52 and 55, thus keeping all scores low that day. The next day started with an 88 so we took a 13th-—still not bad out of 48 corps.

So, after tons of dry cereal, rolls, milk, wet clothes, Big Macs, Smorgasbords, rain, a lot of practices and darn little sleep, we moved our caravan to Toledo and that's another story. I'll tell you more next month about the hectic Toledo T.V, show and the excitement of DCI Whitewater and the chaotic finale at West Allies, and the trip home.

The tour was great. Thanks to all of you who helped make it possible.

Jerry Seawright"

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Thanks for sharing that! I remember watching the Blue Devils at that '73 US Open. I had heard about the Blue Devils, since I was a devoted follower of the national corps scene, but little did any of us know then what would become of BD in those years ahead!

By the way.......Jerry Seawright gave me a couple original judges sheets from that season, and I proudly have them today.

Edited by Northern Thunder
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That U.S. Open parade in 1973 was the first time I ever saw the Blue Devils. I've been a fan ever since!!!

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It's interesting to look at the recaps from that '73 US Open:

Blue Devils were 33rd in M & M

21st in horns

6th in percussion

11th in total GE (4th in M & M GE!)

In looking at the DCI Championship recaps from that year, it would appear that perhaps that 4th in GE M & M (at US Open) was a bit high, since BD were 26th in that sub-caption at Whitewater.

Edited by Northern Thunder
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