ajedrummer

Hell's Kitchen or Keys Restauant for breakfast! You need reservations at Hell's. Only a block or two apart. Key's is in the Foshay building. Agree that going to some of the lakes is fun. Hit Lake Harriet, Lake of the Isles and Lake Calhoun - they are all in a row and pretty easy to navigate - bike is best!

I bought my first suit in that St. Clair's Menswear store in this photo!

Terri - I could not find the link to join the chat!! Of course, with my recent posts, maybe it is preferred that I am not there! jim

Our corps was founded in 1971, but 'leaned old school'. We hated the idea of keyboards when we learned about that in 1974. Until we added them in 76 and our awesome xylophone player (Doug Greenhalgh - RIP) won DCI individuals!! As for marching in the honor guard - I had a friend who wanted to march in the corps so bad, but was SO uncoordinated, she could not even make the honor guard squad. I felt bad for her, but to the corps' credit, they let her travel with us to help out during the summer. She would have thought that carrying the American flag would have been a GREAT honor! Food truck??? Our ONLY corps truck could not carry 1/4 of today's pit! We thought we made the big-time in 1978 when we bought a 4th bus that carried people (members and staff) plus the drums underneath because we outgrew the box truck! Favorite story: During 1978, my last year marching in Wausau Story, I also drove bus (multi-tasking). We were moving the (empty) buses from one parking location to another in the Wausau WI area and pulled into a McDonald's to grab some food. The four drivers walked in to see the staff & grills going nuts thinking there was going to be big rush of people...nope - just us.

Agreed!!! The experience is going to be similar, no matter where you go and most all corps become a 'family'! A friend's son auditioned for a top 5 corps and was called back for another round, but after that first weekend, which had that 'number instead of name' feeling and decided to go back to Jersey Surf where he had 'cut his teeth' for two years already. I commend that choice!! He is not a borderline player either... he is a first trumpet and a music major in college.

It was not Marcia (Marsha?), as she was guard captain and my seat partner on Yellow bus! It was her younger sister who was in the rifle line.

I had forgotten that Eric was under it, but you are right about that. I know one of the Emmons girls (Kathy?) injured her back pretty badly and I don't remember if she marched at all the rest of the season.

I remember 'The Porch' all too well! A guard member and I went out to the grocery store to get some snacks and when we returned, there were rescue vehicles all around and the porch was laying on the ground with the members still under it. Have to think that building codes are a bit different now! It was scary - I still have the Casper Star Tribune photos and articles from the next morning. May have to share those.

This may seem like a silly time of year to inquire about this, but it came up in a conversation today so thought I would post while I am thinking about it. Are there any independent winter guards in the southeastern PA area? We are northwest of Philadelphia, within a reasonable distance of Reading, Allentown or Philly. My daughter is interested and is in guard in marching band, but her school does not have a winter guard program so am looking for an independent group. I know there are a few schools around that have winter guards, but I cannot imagine that they would admit outside members - but maybe I will check on that too. Thanks, jim

We did that in 1976 - a fun day, but it was a bit strange! Don't remember any shows in May BITD, usually started the first week or so of June....boy, were they rough! As for end of season, our home show was always Sunday Labor Day weekend and a parade the next day. Also in 1976 we did Monroe Cheese Days in mid-September. Phantom was in exhibition....quite small as they were missing most college kids and did not have their sop soloist. Made the concert number a bit dead!

Since this thread has revived - it was the Devil Dogs from Clearwater Florida. I never saw them, but will always remember that story!

Congratulations Matt! This honor is well deserved!!

In Assume you are speaking of Americanos? Yes - From 75 - 78, Wausau Story picked up many from there, Sundowners, Belle's of St. Mary & a few other WI corps that either folded or went to doing just parades. Then in 79, it happened to us when in May Wausau decided not to field a corps that year. A number went to Blue Stars & me to Troopers.

Excellent point! When I went to Europe a few years ago I wanted to buy a compact (slr-looking) digital camera and it came down to a Canon and the Lumix (by Panasonic). The Lumix had a few nice features including a Leica lens, but the Canon uses AA batteries that are available anywhere, where the Lumix battery was proprietary. If it dies, you are dead! Look for one that uses AA batteries if at all possible. I also agree about the lens comment!

Those of us 'of age', which was 18 at the time, hung out at the VFW Club in Wausau WI. Cheap beer and our rehearsal site was right next door - corps hall on one side, the practice field on the other....year-round fun!

That was a good show and a talented corps!

WOW! Dennis D. and the '75 Muchacho's snareline.....THAT is some serious talent!!

Having grown up in Wisconsin in the 70's, I can appreciate performing at the Walleye Festival!

This thread is perfect for my question.... I have not played marching toms since 1974 having moved to snare after that so my tenor mallet experience is VERY dated! My 14 YO daughter wants to learn to play quads (and move out of the color guard - thank goodness), so she is getting a set for Christmas. No carrier, just a stand for now (don't want to scare her away too soon!), but I am at a loss as to the mallets to buy for a basically a beginning drummer. I am thinking felt for softer volume in the house, but I think the Lexan or rubber would be more forgiving and provide more bounce. Thoughts?

Blue Stars - Snares went back to chrome mid-season, but rest of the line stayed clear. Vistalite's.....Seemed like a nice idea at the time!

Looking for a practice stand for a set of Pearl quads.

Having marched BITD - we had no food trucks, they did serve us breakfast which was usually cereal & juice in the school hallway. Lunch and dinner were out at restaurants - McDonalds, Mr. B's (long story), some buffet place if we were lucky and had enough $$$. Some kids just brought a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter. In 1976 when we won Class A US Open, they took us to a GREAT pizza place in Marion Ohio after the show. This was a special night so the staff let those of us who were of age (18 at the time) order beer. We had a lead soprano who was a BIG GUY - Jim Jenkerson (or 'Jenkie"). He ordered a large pizza (22" - I still remember it) and a pitcher of beer.....and no one dared get near him as he polished it all off by himself! That is a night I will never forget. Not just the meal, but because of the way we won, we knew we would win DCI Class A the next week.

'Fragments' A collection of small bits of tunes so short you can not recognize them - even if you know the song, or that they don't build to any conclusion . Oh wait.....that show concept has been done by many corps over the past 10+ years, just under different show names.

George was one of the classiest people I have ever known. A true gentleman and a fierce competitor - but never at the expense of his competition. Marching under him was truly special..... he could pull more emotion and fire out of the people under his direction than they ever knew they had in them! The last time I saw George was at the Buc's home show a couple of years ago when he directed the alumni corps. When the drum majors came on for retreat, George marched with them and he stood taller, marched better and had an 'air' about him that all of the other DM's could only wish to have. I am proud to have known George and marched under his direction.

I appreciate the fact that the mallet instruments can be played at an appropriate dynamic level and be heard - not beating the crap out of them! Other than that, not much!! The synthesizers are REALLY annoying to me, I would like to see them gone. The Bluecoats solo treatment was pretty cool though.