OMG Could We Have Been So Young?

[lindap]

I was a marching instructor from 1972 - 1979, mostly guard (winter and summer), sometimes taught M&M and/or wrote drill or flagwork but always loved to spin.

1978 photo of me; guessing it's a nap between rehearsal and a parade or performance somewhere. Guard instructors that work all year around deserve a nap.



ps found this photo 2 months ago lol

[doublc]

What's this? A "time machine" thread where one doesn't have to feel ashamed about being a little self-indulgent? Ok, I'll play!

Family portrait in the front yard in anticipation of Baby's First Public Performance: July 2, 1976:

(For the record...I'm the little one.) 9 years old, about to march my first parade...Christmas morning-type excited (obviously before participating in an additional 10,476 parades and learning to feel about as good about a parade as one typically feels about a trip to the dentist!)

To shed a little light on just how little I was when I was 9 (as if the fact that my Sop took up 3/4 of my body)...for those that might know me, particularly from my Garfield days, you probably also know my big sister, Kathy. For those that don't, Kathy was the TEENY TINY mellophone in Garfield in 1983-84-85. Here's what we looked like in our later days:

1984: End of "America". The only time in the 11 years we marched together that we were ever side-by-side. Dad loved that part of the show, because it was the one time he could get us both in 1 shot! So as you can see, I got taller. Kathy? Not so much.

Once again hitting the rewind button on the Way Back Machine...here I am in Baby's First Public Performance:

Only 9 years old, but had obviously been practicing my game face in the mirror :)

And now....fast forward 11 years:

And, just for giggles, 5 more:

1992 DCA finals with Reading.

Thus endeth the self-indulgence.....thank you for your patience!

[lindap]

Great photos. Thank you.

[lindap]

Excerpts from my travel log. ‘On August 5, 1977 we traveled from Brussels to Nijkerk, performed a parade in Nunspeet after which we had a reception with the town council. We stayed with families in Nijkerk for 3 nights. The days were spent performing in Rotterdam, Haarlem, Zandvoort, a field show in Nijkerk and at a football match in Amsterdam between Barcelona and Liverpool in front of the same number of people as the population of Nijkerk in 77.

On August 7, 1977 we said goodbye to the lovely people of Nijkerk and met families in Ijmuiden where we stayed 2 nights and a day during which we performed at the seaside by Scheveningen and at another soccer game. In the afternoon of August 9, 1977 we performed at the town square and in the municipality hall, we said our goodbyes to the lovely people of Ijmuiden and we went on our way to Bonn.’

Tanya, one of our 6 snare drummers, presented a T shirt to the corps director of Beatrix while at the farewell and thank you celebration in Ijmuiden on August 9, 1977. Our co-director, Mrs. Nagel, said a speech. She announced at all our shows while Pam and I (co-DMs) were media spokespersons after the shows. Pam was also good at cutting hair and I was good with a map. I was a bus driver’s guide; we multitasked alot.

bump due to a recent thread on another forum. Our 10 week tour of Europe 1977 was remarkable and memorable. Thank you. Our tour of the west in 1978 along the Pacific coast to Mexico then up to Colorado was filled with wonder. Thank you. Our tour south and east in 1979 took us to Birmingham, Florida, Nashville and through the Dakotas and was filled with new experiences. Thank you. I had the opportunity to visit 4 provinces, 13 European countries and 44 states within USA by marching drum corps from 1969-1979. Thank you! Good times!

[Northern Thunder]

That's quite a record, Linda!

[lindap]

On 9/1/2016 at 5:30 AM, Northern Thunder said:

That's quite a record, Linda!

Thanks Brian. Here's the script from the organization for your records. We also had non-published tours in 1978 from Alberta to the west coast, Oregon, Washington, California, Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado to watch DCI finals and home. In 1979, we watched DCI finals in Alabama, then Florida for a Disney parade, stopped in Tennessee, South Dakota, North Dakota and home. The Junior Band had local tours in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. Their story is not documented. Hugs.

The Alberta All Girls Drum & Bugle Band, largest of its kind in the world, has represented Canada in many international events since its conception in February, 1970 by Band Director, Bob Nagel and his wife, Pat. The bright white and orange uniforms, the dazzling gleam of the horns and percussion and the colourful flags have been seen at festival events in Canada, the United States, Mexico and Europe.

The band had so many firsts in its initial years of existence that the pace was staggering even for the youthful 14-21 year-olds. They were the first Canadian band to perform at the half-time show during the National Football League games in the United States, the first to play for a Bullfight audience in Mexico, the first to play at Caesar's Palace and the Circus Circus, a family entertainment casino in Las Vegas.

In the fall of 1970, Bob and Pat had four marching bands in the Edmonton area, all with over 100 member and all touring the province. The four bands included the Alberta All Girls Senior (14-21), the Alberta All Girls Junior Band (10-14), the Alberta All Boys (11-21) and the Hobbema Girls Marching Band. A convoy of 24 vehicles was needed to take the four groups to the Kelowna Regatta that year!

Their first overseas performance tour was highlighted with an invitation to perform for the traditional lighting of the flame that signifies the start of the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Germany. International performances included the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland in 1972 and 1973 and the Rose of Tralee Festival in Ireland in 1973 and 1977.

In 1974 the Alberta Girls were seen by an estimated one third of the world's population when they were the official entertainment for the final game of the World Cup Soccer Championships held in the Olympic Stadium in Munich. The National Film Board of Canada produced a movie on location. 

In 1977 the Alberta Girls made a performance tour that took them away from Canada for two and a half months and included performances in 13 different countries. A highlight of this tour included performances in commemoration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee and a performance for Pope Paul VI at his summer residence home, Castel Gandolfo, Italy.

[Drum4it]

On 10/30/2007 at 1:25 AM, lindap said:

Possibly traditional. I have yet to do research on the history of uniforms. Uniforms have truly evolved. These are the last of my photos, simply because I have no more photos. I have enjoyed alot of the forums and in particular, historical drum corps photos. Thanks to all.

Yes, traditional British Military style but with a bit of a twist on the colour as we were only 'kids' after all... the uniforms were made in the same factory as where the Guards' regiments had theirs made. Some of the guys in those photos have gone on to be well known accomplished musicians as adults. Great days, we crossed the racial divide, the poverty divide well before it was fashionable and we achieved amazing things from out of nothing, we had no school or wealthy backers, the kids raised all the money themselves to pay for everyting we had and did.

 

John Jenkins the founder and Bandmaster in 1973 was a true local hero...