dc oldtimer

Funny. What was also funny is that while marching CAC888 last year, we saw many of the same groupies that followed us "back in the day". Only they are married with children. But it was funny seeing them in the stands and at practices anyway. The general unwritten rule for corps jackets (I am assuming it is the same for The Scouts) is that only members and FMM's can wear them. Period. Now the only recent exception to this rule are the several female (and male) "honorary Cavaliers". There has been much debate about this exception within the Cavalier rack and file but since several of the BOD's, including The Old Man, seem to at least mildly approve of this, they get a pass by many FMM's. But there are still the hard core believers that the jack is ours and ours only. Same years ago I brought a non-drum corps girlfriend to the DeKalb IL show. The weather turned and she was freezing. I draped my corps jacket over her shoulders in an attempt to be, well, Cavalier. One obvious hardcore Cavalier shot daggers at me with his eyes whole show. After the show as we stood up, I took the jacket back explaining the rule, and she actually understood and gave it back with no problem. As we were leaving I told this guy I know the rule but I was being a gentleman, as all Cavaliers should be. He didn't care. He basically said he didn't care if she died of pneumonia. A little too extreme for me but views on the subject will very.

That's OK, has been said before, drum corps was dead years ago. It's just more people believe it as these new rules get passed. The next phase will be when woodwinds are on the field. It's not a matter of if, it's when. Then BOA and DCI can merge. Then the words "drum corps" at least will never be used again. Where do you think now days "drum corps" gets its members? Bands. End of discussion.

Nice. Some corps park and blow. Some corps can't march. Some corps guards stink. Some corps drum lines can't play. Some..... ......you can choose one thing from every corps to pick on. MOZART So then you like it? You really like it, Your Majesty? JOSEPH Of course I do. It's very good. Of course now and then - just now and then - it gets a touch elaborate. MOZART What do you mean, Sire? JOSEPH Well, I mean occasionally it seems to have, how shall one say? How shall one say, Director? ORSINI-ROSENBERG Too many notes, Your Majesty? JOSEPH Exactly. Very well put. Too many notes. MOZART I don't understand. There are just as many notes, Majesty, as are required. Neither more nor less. JOSEPH My dear fellow, there are in fact only so many notes the ear can hear in the course of an evening. I think I'm right in saying that, aren't I, Court Composer? SALIERI Yes! yes! er, on the whole, yes, Majesty. MOZART But this is absurd! JOSEPH My dear, young man, don't take it too hard. Your work is inge- nious. It's quality work. And there are simply too many notes, that's all. Cut a few and it will be perfect. MOZART Which few did you have in mind, Majesty?

Just speculating but it did take them some time to get the rights ironed out. Maybe it was this piece that was the difficult to get. Again, just guessing.

Last time I donate money to your site. :) KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love your site. I know it would be a huge project but any effort in getting pre-DCI numbers out there?

From what I know this is correct. It is MY opinion that Jeff left The Cavaliers to move onto bigger things. Orginizations like SCV and BD are certainly bigger (i.e. multiple unitis like b corps, c coprs, drill units, etc) The Cavaliers are well, that's it, The Cavaliers.... and that's fine of course. But SCV and BD offer positions like VP of Operations that other corps don't to over-see multiple units. This is a great challange that Jeff will be great at. I think it would be a relative "demotion" if he took a directors job considering SCV is structured like a corporation. Plus, I feel there was truth in what he said upon leaving The Cavaliers; that the daily drum corps grind on the road was getting to him. And he's right. I don't know how he did for as long as he did. It's a TOUGH life.

AMEN SISTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best post in a long time on this site.

This was tossed around a bit some years back but some thought that Rosemont might have a problem with that. "Don't tick off the hand that feeds you" Briefly, I think in 79, we were not sponsored by the VFW in Park Ridge. It was moved to a VFW in Chicago and Chicago Cavalier T-Shirts were made (I have one yellowing in a box in the basement) but that soon changed once Park Ridge stepped up again ........ only to back off again a few years later. Enter, Rosemont.

I agree too. Ya know, until my daughter was born, I didn't care. Now I care. Seems to be an easy item to make money off of.

76. I don't think we went to Stillwater in 77. and yea, that sounds like us. I was a little, skinny, shy 15 year old kid back then but there were plenty of guys who had a "way with the ladies". LOL! We were happy when you and SCV were around. We got tired of looking at all the Phantom and Guardsmen girls!! LOL! Plus, they knew us too well "Is it soup yet?" "No, it's still water"

BD girls for me. True story: 1977, in Boston (CYO or World Open... not sure) we were taking the field after Blue Devils performed. Our GREAT horn instructor, Jim Elvord, always knew how to motivate us. As we entered the field he had a spray bottle of cologne in his hand and he sprayed a little bit on each horn player’s neck. He said something like: " Blue Devil girls dig this stuff. Trust me". We went out there and beat them in horns that night (our hornline was VERY good that year) Anyway, one downfall..... it attracted a gazillion mosquitoes... but we smelled GREAT!!! ... and I did talk to a few Devil guard members that night so I guess Jim was right. :)

Ya know, looking at some of these pictures from 80, they show the attendance level back then. The stands were packed.

Last I heard Cavaliers were working on copyrights. They obviously can't announce until then. We can only assume this means it will not be an original show.

Maybe I'll have some Absolute before their show

Just FYI, here is the history of drill designers of the Cavaliers: 1951-1952 Art Garikes/ Dick Snyder/ Glenn Hatton/ Sal Ferrera 1953-1954 Dick Folsum 1955 Sal Ferrera 1956 Earl Joyce 1957 -1968 Lenny Piekarski 1969-1972 Paul Litteau 1973 Scotty Wild 1974 Bob Hesner 1975 Bob Hesner/Tim Guare 1976 Steve Buglino 1977 Steve Buglino/ Bob Hesner 1978 Bob Hesner 1979 Gary Czapinski (rewrites by Ralph Pace) 1980-1981 Ralph Pace 1982-1983 Steve Brubaker 1984 Steve Brubaker (with help from Tim Guare) 1985-1989 Steve Brubaker 1990-1991 Steve Brubaker (with help from Greg Poklacki) 1992 Steve Brubaker/ Greg Poklacki/ Michael Gaines/ Jeff Fiedler/ Mitch Rogers/ Gordon Henderson/ Chris Marchetti/ 1993 Michael Gaines/ Mitch Rogers 1994 Mitch Rogers 1995 Greg Poklacki 1996 Greg Poklacki (rewrites by Pat Ruddy/Mike Tarr) 1997 Vince Noble 1998-2008: Michael Gaines

Cut us some slack. During those "Dark Years" it's all we had!! It was the one advanatage we had coming off the field earlier then you guys in the Scouts. You guys were always on last or near last so we had at least an hour head start to "mingle". It was interesting. I remember one show as we walked off, the girls were lined up along the fences. Several just came right up and started talking to me even before the official "at ease". For a nerdy trumpet player like myself, it was a little weird at first.... then I got use to it. LOL!

.... about 3 minutes before that he fell off the podium. Now THAT would have been a great picture!!!

You must of had heat stroke.

I was there. It had to be 200 degrees that day and we were in full uniform. I remember standing there and everyone bytching about the 100 photo's being taken while we just stood there for about 1/2 hour. The ONLY good thing about that day was that we got some free time for my first time in DC. Great photo's! Thanks!

Cavalier Alumni Corps..... ..... sorry, had to throw it in

As what many have said a gazillion times in gazillions of similar topics, it is apparent that DCI has made the decision to change the activity to attract new fans, members and staff. Even at the sake of losing the Old Schoolers who have supported this activity either financially or with their volunteer time. Remember, in 1976 DCI finals attracted upward of around 30,000 fans. Now days, they are lucky to get 20,000. Logically, attendance should be increasing not decreasing if the number of FMM's and their families increase..... if they remain fans. Ain't happening. I look in the stands at shows and I still see the same people that marched in my generation. What will happen once we go away? I think we'll find out in the next several years if Hoppy keeps suggesting new rules and they get approved.

Unless they take from the brass, drum and guard to add WW's.

Enough chatter. PICS!!!!

Excuse my ignorance but are they doing a retrospect this year for their anniversary? If not, then I can only say "been there, done that". Many accuse The Cavaliers of "the same old, same old" but it seems I have heard this from the Cadets a dozen times over the last 30 years. If they are, then I'll cut them some slack because I love WSS.... no matter who's playing it..... a long as they march it, not perform a musical on a football field like 94. 84 was great.

Actaully, just wait a few years. If Hoppy gets his way, you'll be able to play the sax on a DCI field really soon.