cabalumnidrummer

Ah - am I missing something here, Andy? Or are you???? Last I checked, the Bridgeport show IS the Barnum. Perhaps I'm underestimating the depth of your rich toungue-in-cheek humor. Incidentally, check the Barnum Festival website and look at the lineup for the Parade of Champions, both competing and exhibitions. Another great bargain at $5, and the first look at the reigning DCA Champs in the east this summer.

I'm with you on that, Fran. Not one of my favorites either. Now the crab cakes and French fries -- whole different story there!

I'm sure most folks know that those last two posts were also Fleetwood record jacket cover photos. The montage with Frank Dorritie, Pepe Notaro, and a NY Knickerbocker soprano was the 1969 "Evening With the Corps" album cover. The Skyliner night photo was the cover of the "Fresh Air Fanfare" album of 1969 (they won that show). In fact, you can see the album number in the lower left corner.

"Announcisizing" -- Is that an Ohioism, Andy? Perhaps it's 'jazzicizing' for the vocal chords of announcers???

Five days to go before the Stinger kicks off the 2012 season. Looking forward to seeing many friends, old and new!

I just learned of father Jim's tragic passing last night. How sad that such a wonderful man has been lost. For the past six years we attended his DCA HOF Mass on the Sunday morning before the Alumni Spectacular and Finals. He will be truly missed, another 'one-of-a-kind' individual in the drum corps world. He loved all corps, but was especially fond of the Cadets. Rest in peace, Father Jim.

Hey, Glenn, here I am. I was out of the loop for a bit, and as Nanci said, have been on Facebook more than here. I've become somewhat addicted to "Words With Friends" on there! (I started playing that as a diversion during some difficult time in January and February when my dad suffered a stroke and eventually passed away.) Meanwhile, we've also been busy getting new music ready to start the new season next week at the Dixie Stinger. I hope to see a lot of folks there. If all continues to go well, I'm also expecting to be back on the field this season.

Very sad news. Harry was a very nice man, and a terrific, talented photographer. Sincere condolences to his family and friends. Rest in peace, Harry.

Thanks for the information, Don. Tom is in our prayers for a full recovery.

I have heard the name, "St. Joseph's Ironbound Cadets" before, so that was nothing new to me when I read Andy's original post. However, this thread got me to wondering if the "St. Joe's Ironbound" is also the same corps as the (original) "Mighty St. Joe's" that I have heard referred to over the years. Is there someone out there who can clarify if they are two different corps, or one and the same?

We had Stingray drums for several seasons, in that exact red/white combination., though not the wedge model. Yes, they were very heavy for 14" drums. We/I replaced them in favor of the 15" Ludwig metal shell drums we currently use. They are not only lighter, but we feel they have a more authentic look and sound for an alumni corps. Reilly Raiders still have Stingrays, though a different model from those that we had. Yankee Rebels also had them until their disbanding in 2009, though they were using some of the small wedge snares for parades, so that will tell you something about the weight of the Stingrays.

Very sad to hear of Duke's passing. Seems like we've lost way too many good corps people lately. Rest in Peace, Duke.

Bob Steinhilber and Vic Kulinski were longtime friends and colleagues of Mark Teofilo. Many on here did not know him at all. I hope Bob and Vic will indulge me and not mind if I post my comments here from the Mark Teofilo Tribute page on Facebook. More corps folks should know about his legacy at St. Francis Prep, and the hundreds, if not thousands of young lives he enriched during his 25-year tenure there. He started out as a 'drum corps guy' but he went on to do so much more as a percussion educator and performer. Many others knew him far better than I did, but these are my personal reflections that I posted upon his passing. Rest in Peace, "Mr. T!" I first met Mark Teofilo in the summer of 1991. Our son Peter began his first band camp that August. At the time I was teaching drums at St. Clare's and St. Joseph's parish drum corps in Queens, and had recommended to several of my drummers that they go to Prep because of the excellent music program. Mark and I knew and respected each other's work before we ever met. During Peter's years there, I began to offer to help with the marching band drum section as a 'band parent,' and Mark graciously allowed me 'into his world.' At first I helped repair and tune the drums and assist loading and transporting the percussion equipment when they went to band contests. Eventually, he asked if I wanted to help instruct, and I became his informal, part-time snare tech, helping whenever I could be there. I was simply a drum corps drummer, but Mark was so much more. He may have begun drumming in drum corps, but he went much further, becoming an accomplished musician, an extremely talented percussionist. Our daughter Caroline started during Peter's senior year, and I continued to help with the marching drum section through her senior year. Six years later, our daughter Kristin arrived at Prep, and she, too, played in the percussion ensemble and marching band pit. She was thrilled that he picked her to play the tympani parts for the "Hallelujah Chorus" at the Christmas Concert. He could have done it himself, but he chose to let her have the chance to perform it. She considers that one of the highlights of her years at Prep and has kept that music to this day. Mark's work at SFP was far more than the marching band drum section, of course. Throughout the years, his Percussion Ensemble continued to grow and excel under his instruction and leadership. We would often talk about drum corps, but it was clear his interest was far wider than just marching percussion. He delighted in having his percussion ensemble become proficient enough that they were made a part of the annual winter jazz band concert. This year's Christmas Concert was the first we had seen in several years, and we were thrilled that the ensemble was part of it, and how good they were. He was clearly proud of them and pleased with their performance as well. I am glad I had the chance to talk to him that night. Little did I know it would be our last meeting. For the past twenty years, I have admired Mark's Teofilo's work, his dedication to his students and St. Francis Prep, and his overall professional demeanor. He was always an extremely respectful individual. For years, I told him to please call me 'John,' but he always greeted me as "Mr. Smith," right up to our final meeting on December 9. Come to think of it, I always called him "Mr. T" or "Mr. Teofilo," such was my respect for him and what he did for my own children as well as all his Prep students. He will be sorely missed by his friends, colleagues and students. I join with Bob, Vic, his Bridgemen friends and his St.Francis Prep colleagues in mourning the passing of their friend, Mark Teofilo.

Were those 20,000 concert-side seats, Don? If so, I stand corrected. I haven't been in that stadium since 1973, so I'm going purely by long-term memory. I didn't think it held quite that many people. I remember doing two contests a year there for awhile -- the Crusaders' show in June, and the DCA Championship in September. My fondest memories were the '70 and '73 DCA's -- for obvious reasons! I sat out 1972, so I never made it to Chicago for the Legion Nationals there. In retrospect, one of the greatest regrets of my drum corps competing days.

You can tell Fran has way too much free time during the off-season. June can't come soon enough if this is how the whole winter and spring is going to be.

My earlier answers were based upon those venues that still exist. However that is not the only path this thread has followed. If you're talking "best stadium" as far as atmosphere or ambience, Roosevelt Stadium, site of The Dream, The Preview of Champions, The 1966 VFW Nationals and The 1963 World Open, and the 1972 DCA Championship wins, hands down, no comparison. But, as others have said, the field was usually pretty awful. Often, the field was more dirt than grass, dusty from baking in the hot summer sun (though a few years saw it as a 'mud bowl!'), and the grandstand had generally less-than-desirable customer 'creature comforts' (some would call it a dump!). Still, the number one fond memory of stadiums in which I marched and competed. The atmosphere was electric, whether we came in first or last. If you were never there as either spectator or competitor, you have no idea how special those Dream Contest afternoons were!

No, we never marched in Altoona when I competed, and haven't with the Alumni, either, but I have heard it's very nice. I recall the stadium where we did an exhibition at a DCA show in Chambersburg, PA a few years back, and it was gorgeous. It was a high school stadium, but it felt like a college campus. A few of us remarked that night that we thought it would be a good venue for finals -- but I heard from several folks that the parking was inadequate. There have been DCI shows held there in recent years also.

Aquinas was okay, but wouldn't be my first choice (though I did win both my DCA titles there). I think it might be too small if it were still around unless a renovation were to expand it. I am somewhat partial to JFK Stadium in Bridgeport, site of the '66 and '67 DCA's, and several World Opens in the 1960's. Today, it has been completely renovated and has a gorgeous field. Neighborhood and parking issues work somewhat against it. Same thing for the Scranton Schools Stadium (not the Lackawanna County baseball park). It's a terrific venue since it's been renovated, but parking and surroundings are less than ideal, but not terrible. Allentown -- Nice stadium, but that climb up to the field level from the street below with a drum is murder, and again, parking has always been a tough situation, but DCI East seems to thrive there. Just one 'oldtimer's' rambling observations.

I could be mistaken (nothing new there!), but I seem to recall that the names Tommy and Charlie Howell were among the former St. Catherine's Queensmen who migrated to the Sunrisers following the Queensmen's demise. Iron Lips Dorritie could certainly verify this or shoot it down for us. I was just a kid who watched and followed both corps at the time, and remember the other St. Catherine's greats who moved to Sun, including the John and Ted Sasso (Fred too?), Orus Cavnor, Billy Cobham, Jack McQuillan, and of course, Mr. Dorittie.

Thanks Tony. I had no idea what years he had marched. Nanci, any more clues forthcoming???

Thank you, Jim! It's been a strange year for me after a rough time: shoulder surgery last December, stent implant in March, and a hip replacement in May. It was tough to have to stand on the sidelines and watch. Now I feel great and ready to go once again.

That was my guess with the G and K question, but Nanci (and Glenn) said no.

I think can do more than that, Rich. I'm hoping to join the corps about halfway. Plymouth in 2009 was the last time I marched a full parade anywhere, and it seems only fitting to begin a comeback in the same parade. The night show will be the first time I've played in line since my surgery, that last time I played being at Harrisburg in April.

Fours days to go, and the forecast is still looking good -- partly to mostly sunny and a high temp of 58 degrees. Promises to be another great Plymouth weekend experience. The tribute to Ralph Silverbrand will come at the end of our performance. We have confirmed that at least one of Ralph's daughters will attend, with the possibility of another as well. Ralph also had many friends from the Princemen and Reilly Raiders, many of whom are due to be there. I hope they get to witness the memorial tribute. It will be a special moment to end the evening.