FHBob

That is a Bobby Hoffman drill, by the way. I am particularly pleased with the marching and visual aspect of the show. We worked very hard on that all year. Blue Meanies was intended as a "drum solo with backfield horn accompaniment". By the second tour the horn part had been dropped and it became a stand-alone drum solo which, as you say, fell flat. Our show underwent many changes that year. We were desperately trying to get our scores up with a somewhat stale show, management problems, and HUGE shoes to fill from 1972. Yes, the guard was amazing, as always. I was so thrilled to see this color video - hell, to see any video, from 1973!

As did I Jeff - shoulda joined Kingsmen one year sooner. However it looks like you made up for missing that first year!

Wow, a lot has been said in this thread about the Blue Devils. I saw their show twice, in June. It was clever, highly original, very complex, totally unique, precisely executed...and BORING. No emotion or beauty or mystery or excitement. None of the things that made me fall in love with this corps many years ago. They don't even try to blow you out of your seat with horns - a long time BD trademark. This is not a comment on the outstanding young people who are the corps members (whoops...students). But the fact that this show is winning so consistently is surely a comment on where the activity is at right now. I am disappointed that the DCI judges would so lavishly reward a presentation (it's not a "show" in my opinion) that so obviously makes no effort to reward the paying audience.

VERY well said. I agree with you completely.

I had many of the same feelings, Guy. Watching those videos was like watching a dream. The part that really hit me was the snare "turnarounds" during the quiet part of the color pre. Very dignified and classy. I started to tear up at that point.

Yes, it is wonderful footage, and it was a total surprise to me - I had no idea that DCI would include that in the program. We have the whole 1972 Kingsmen finals show on DVD, along with 27th at '72 finals. The very beginning of 27th's show is missing, however. Video is about what you saw in the theater, but the audio is quite good, and sounds like it might have been recorded with different mics than they used on the record. The ensemble sound when the corps is close to the sideline is better on the video.

The corps from Spokane that I remember was the Percussion-naut Patriots. Is that the one?

Just for everyone's information, Mr. Oliverio is not involved with the Kingsmen Alumni Corps.

Ditto - Bonnie Ott it is - you just have to trust us.

DCI seems to prefer to leave Saturday night exclusively for the top 12 Division I corps, and I can understand that. The conditional offer that the Kingsmen Alumni Corps has received from DCI is for Friday night in 2007. But it is a shame that anyone should miss Madison in 2006!

There have obviously been many instances of a corps "doing a dance" - including a dance routine or a dance segment into their show. The Americanos and SCV were mentioned among others. Heck, the Kingsmen guard did the Highland Fling during Folk Song Suite for three years. I think the original question at the top of the thread was asking when guards abandoned a military or semi-military style in favor of a complete show made up of dancing, emoting, and jazz running. A better question might be "when did guards stop marching" which is I believe another thread on another forum.

These are all good ideas - especially '84 Blue s. However, what you WILL see at DCI 2007 is the return of the Anaheim Kingsmen (Alumni Corps) going on last at semi-finals, honoring the 35th anniversary of their winning the first DCI Championship.

YES - it would be great - and a well-deserved tribute. What do you think Stanley would have liked to hear?

Thanks, Paul - and thanks for being a good sport along the way. We know that you support our efforts, and it is appreciated. It will be a memorable performance.

And the town just LOVED the corps! Churches, schools even the neighbors would be out cheering the corps at rehearsals and providing"Home Cooked" meals-something that was REALLY special to the corps members in the days when corps didn't have food trucks etc............fast food was the steady diet on tour!(or for us real dinosaurs, we went and hunted our own! :P ) In the late 60's and early 70's The U.S. Open was "THE" show, at least in the Midwest. Yeah, some of my fondest memories of youth involve Marion OH. and the U.S. Open.(but that's another story!) The people in Marion were awesome. They actually gave our tour convoy a police escort from just outside city limits all the way to the high school. They treated us like celebrities (which we were, in a way). I remember the helatious thunderstorm and rains - I also remember catching fireflies out on the lawn of the school one night. I had never seen fireflies before. Our show at prelims was probably the best horn show we did all season. It was early in the morning and I guess we just relaxed and let it fly.