MikeD

I voted yes to all three.

Is the DCI DVD his "Blair Witch Project"? B)

IMO.... Why would current marching members even want to DO such a thing? The shows presented today are the best there have ever been, so what is the point in that idea? Alumni corps do such a great job at exactly that....preserving the old days. One of the great things about junior corps is that is has always been looking to move the art form forward....going back before my era when they started adding valves to horns, creating new horns (contras, mello, stc...), multi drums, flat basses and then marching timps, guards that started to actually DO guard work.... If you desire such a thing, my guess is that you'll have to form your own corps circuit to do so...and hope that members sufficient enough to create a number of units would even want to participate.

Why would there be a 'reward' just for doing something? The 'reward' is based on how well the show is performed and how effective that performance is. Cadets were 3rd in 2002 with a patriotic show, for instance. Muchachos were not 'eased aside' that way...they got DQ'd in 75 and that effectively was that for them...they never really recovered. 21st in 76 at DCI prelims and 10th at DCI East in 77, with a 67, behind corps that would never have been a factor in prior years. I also never heard that playing Scottish style music was the driving force behind the downfall of the Kilties...and the visual designer/color guard instructor for the band I arrange for/teach was a member in the mid/late 70's. Like many formerly great corps, they started to have membership issues. As for the Troopers....just because you heard one or two judges say something like the above doesn't mean that DCI overall was punishing them for their western theme. They too started to have membership issues once memberships in div I corps became more of a nationwide thing...they just could not keep up, talent-wise.

Cadets 2002 show.

DCI did not "do away" with color pre...concert...or any of the other set pieces of my era...show designs have moved beyond those static elements, that's all. Corps can still present the colors if they so choose.

There ARE alumni corps that march, a la Cabs....some do more of a stand-still thing, a la the Skyliners. They do great stuff....but I'm not sure they'd want to be ticked during their performances.... :) Or do you mean junior corps...there are no junior corps of the type you are looking for.

Were the early ones during the Swan/Wilkie years???

That's why I put in not one...but two...IMO's. :P

Nothing wrong with that cotume, IMO. "Out there", for sure, but IMO it fit in with their show quite well.

As in anything, there are some that are good at creating a well balanced sound, and some that are not. That's the same whether amps are used ot not.

2004 Crown is on my short list of favorite all-time shows...and I saw my first in 1964.

If you look at them REAAAAAL quick, it looks like you brought your HS uni to college! :P

Here is me on this: Cadets 1970...we played White Rabbit as our production after concert. The drill was indeed the first year of the Peace sign. Here is a Peace Sign pic...(though it is REALLY of the 1971 Peace sign to Battle Hymn....)...I am the inside tri-tom player closest to the midfield line.

I want to hear and see great music and visuals performed by highly talented young people, who have amazed me year in and year out since I started marching at age 10 1/2 in 1964.

Personally, I started marching in 1964, and IMO he is pretty much on the money.

Some corps had started to use faux American flags even while playing a color-pre...to avoid the myriad flag violations possible...the 1970 Cavies almost missed finals at the VFW Nationals in Miami due to flag violations in their prelims drill. I do think design played a part, as well...but I also think the general sourness to "things military" during the Viet Nam era had at least some impact. Your last paragraph is also part of the picture too...why park some members in the corner where they did absolutely nothing for the show? Mike

And at the end of the day in the film...the band program was still abolished.

Don't forget...that appearance was not The Cadets-plus-some-guy-named-Bill... It was a star turn by Bill Irwin using The Cadets in the supporting role of being "his band". Mike

Most HS jazz ensembles here in NJ meet after school too...I know of very few that are curricular. Princeton HS is one, but then again they have NO concert band program at all (and no MB either). To attempt to schedule two music ensemble periods in the systems I've been connected with would be nearly impossibkle given the academic load kids have today. Mike

My vote is for the 76 Bayonne show...THAT is the groundbreaking one, as it was the first year of the banana unis...IMO.

Amazing stuff....I bought Garfield 71 (World Open) and 72 (Blue Rock's home show). I had never seen me marching before...pretty neat. They also happened to have Garfield at the 71 WO prelims show...which I bought too...I am glad they had it, as their video of our finals show started 15-20 seconds INTO the show. Next I want their 71 Blue Rock and 27th shows from the WO...plus maybe the Troopers and SCV.

Like a lot of similar software programs...they probably leap-frog each other as new releases come out. Both do a great job...though I myself use a VERY old version of Sibelius for the HS band I arrange for. Mike

Oh, is THAT what we called it! :P

Folks have said some of my favorites...I'd add to it three more.... Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights...yes, there is an alumni corps that is wonderful...but this thread asks for competing and they were my personal favorite growing up in the 60's. Blue Rock...for 1971 alone...what a great corps...with the worst busses in the world! :) St Lucy's Cadets....1966 and 1969 shows are two of my favorites.