A27Lancer

Suprised nobody's mentioned Boston Crusaders opening move from 2000. Very simple concept of the two fronts coming together and opening up gorgeously to the block. Draw-jopping!! And as simple as the idea was, I'm sure endless hours were put into cleaning it.

Adding to the sheer genius of that move is that George improvised it. It was never put down on paper as far as I know. There is a post somewhere describing how that drill was learned in a marathon rehearsal at BU stadium, when George was in very poor health.

OFFICIALLY, (correct me if I'm wrong), there was no fourth place awarded in 1977. Bridgemen would have had that honor, but were disqualified. I believe 27th was given fifth place.

Let's make it a quartet and add Bob Seger. I cringe every time I hear "Just take those old records off the shelf".

I was in the stands with a number of 27th alumni at semis, and we gave the loudest groans of all. It would have been great for BAC to make DCI finals for the first time in their home state.

I'm pretty sure we went to the Lander show. I think that's the show kids were handing programs for autographs through the window of the bus. LancerLegend will you confirm this?

We had a free night in Montreal after the 1977(?) season. We had performed half-time at a Montreal Alouettes (Canadian football) game. Somehow we ended up at the beer garden. I fuzzily remember Jim Centorino getting on stage with the oom-pah band, grabbing a trumpet, and playing the Mexican hat dance.

That's cool. I wonder if they knew WHY they were doing it, or if it was another of those great BAC traditions. I also heard that the stadium for the Bridgeport show was exit 27, and BAC's buses would take exit 28 and backtrack.

I remember seeing BAC doing jumping jacks when we were housed close by: "25 - 26 - AAAARGHH! - 28 - 29" They don't still do that, do they?

The drummer for Blue Man Group in Boston marched Madison Scouts. Didn't get his name, but I asked him if he ever marched drum corps, and he said Madison - some time in the nineties. Really nice guy, a MONSTER of a drummer!

Favorite instructor - George Zingali, although there were many great ones throughout the years. Favorite moment was taking the field for exhibition in 1994 with Lancers who marched before, during, and after me, former Boston Crusaders, I.C. Reverie friends from years before, North Star alumni, and the many others that made up that "alumni" corps. I will always recall that corps as the last great stand of the majesty of the East Coast drum corps scene. I also recall my first World Open. 1969, I think. Class B. The show went on forever - there were so many corps! No prelims, and scores were announced at the end. Oshkosh Warriors were the winners, and we (I.C. Reveries Jrs.) finished third. Wow! Another favorite was winning CYO Nationals in 1977. After a disastrous start to the season, we fought back and arrived home exhausted. I remember Gary Covitz telling us not to suck as we marched into Harvard Stadium, and the weariness I felt from the bus ride home from Allentown left my bones as the crowd stood as one as we began the overture to "Rocky". When the Bridgemen were announced in second place and the crowd screamed in approval of our win, Marc Sylvester who was next to me in retreat elbowed me so hard, that I have a sore spot in my ribs to this day. The early seventies as an audience member - seeing Anaheim, Madison, SCV, BD, St. Rita's, Des Plaines Vanguard, Troopers, and many others for the first time. They were my rock stars. World Open prelims and US Open when 50 or more corps would compete in prelims. Manning Bowl filled end to end with screaming fans. Busses EVERYWHERE, and every school for miles around had a corps practicing on its field. With banged up horns and rag-tag uniforms we took the field with the other kids from our neighborhood, and were rewarded with the applause and approval of the fans in the stands. Old phart just chiming in.....

Well, Magritte was not an Impressionest, but rather a Surrealist. Maybe Bluecoats will do a musical, perhaps "Hello, Dali"??

I have heard that Disney music is difficult to get rights to. Also, Michael, can you see the SCV website?? "Santa Clara Vanguard proudly presents their 1020 season , "BOO".

Duffy and Bill Ronayne and Rich LaCamera were the standards by which I set my goals as a member. Many would follow, but few would lead the way they did. Mary Flanagan is a woman who I regard as a saint. She gave her all for the corps behind the scenes like few did. God bless.

Can't answer for the 1986 corps (Lancerlady??) but as a member of a couple of Revere corps over a twelve year period, I WORSHIPPED the Troopers. I remember at 10 years old asking my parents if I could move to Wyoming to audition. The rifle toss around the Drum Major, the Sunburst, "Ghost Riders"!! Jim Jones and his legacy live on. BTW, it's the only drum corps t-shirt I still own. Your humility speaks the stuff of legends, Terri. Rivalries may rear their heads - but look at the wonderful relationships alumni speak of (Bridgemen vs. 27th are best friends and were once bitter rivals). In the end, it's all about the experiences.

White jackets, black pants and high spats were a problem. The spats especially - white shoe polish rubs off on black pants. The white on the drum line was 1978 and the high spats/black pants was 1976. Both were due to judges comments that our khaki blended in with the field. Blech to that in 1980. All were in khaki. Although I disagree with many uniform choices, I still believe the product outsells the color choices. Be it red, blue, white, green or khaki - the corps itself sells the show - not the uniform.

I don't care if there is electronic stuff, narration or people in scary clown make-up. Just go back to amazing me like you did in 2000, and so many other years. Just my opinion...

I kinda liked Harvard Stadium...... not a bad day!

Hmmmmm. I'm still younger than LancerLegend after all these years..... I was 10 years old and marched in the same parade with the I.C. Reveries. My neighbors from across the street (and babysitters) marched with 27th in the same parade. Little did I know I would end up there 8 years later! It was a different time and place. Neighborhood kids brought together to form a bugle band. Remember in 1976 how we had out of state members, and how unique that seemed?? Happy anniversary!

Netflix should carry "Santa Clara Conquers the Martians".

I had the pleasure to work with many 'Sader alumi over the years, most notably Jim Centorino and Charlie Poole. The fact that the Crusaders are not only still around, but a perennial finalist puts them in a league with very very few corps. The Crusader alumni who marched the lean years with 20 something horn lines (although fine lines and LOUD), are perhaps the most admired (oops, almost said revered) in the corps history. Good luck with the website, Bob.

"Like a virgin... touched for the very first time - yeah TODAY maybe!!!" 27 cents to Judy Tenuta

Well, back when I was young, all the shows were patriotic. But for sheer pageantry - Star 92

I THINK the first corps I ever saw was the Chelsea Scarlet Lancers. That would have been around 1965. Dad and I watched through a chain link fence. First time from the stands, I saw the Casper Troopers do the rifle toss "through" the drum major and the Sunburst. I was hooked.

High leg lift Play to the box 8 to 5's Cumberbund Citation cord Runners (the members who brought the score sheets to the tabulator) Color Pre Starting gun