bzuccala

So I have to ask, Why does NO ONE ever mention The General Butler Vagabonds? It was a great, local, and competitive corps with more talent than anyone. We just never made it over the hump, but we had some great years. We won our first US OPEN Class A Championship with 72 members. We also were lucky if we had 36 horns. I believe the mid 70's were our biggest corps. We had about 100 members, but then things started to dwindle. As a World Class Corps 79 was the last really competitive year, Later, they did well in division III.

That is Brian Hickman, Glassmen Director. Great Director and Educator....................

General Butler Vagabonds had the Vagabond Cadets

Slippery Rock University has a Fall Guard. Practice is held MWF 4-6 Games on Saturday Afternoon/Evening Two High School band Shows (exhibitions) Allentown College Festival

In Western Pa. we had 3 Fife and Drum Corps: Meridian Woodpeckers, All Girls Cranberry Passajeros, co ed Somerset Tammershanners All Girl Meridian folded last year Cranberry folded in the early 70's Tammershanners: not sure of their status. Bruno

Hey Mike, I sent a reply this morning about The Catholic Daughters of America, ALL Girl Drum and Bugle Corps from Butler, PA. There were the first to capture the Class A and All Girl Title at the US Open 1968. They were organized in 1936 and disbanded in Fall of 1978. The Corps was run by the CDofA Court in the Butler Catholic Deanery. If you are interested let me know. Bruno Zuccala bzuccala@aol.com

The Catholic Daughters Of America from Butler, PA would be a good one. Bruno You can contact me if interested. bzuccala@aol.com

Greg is out of the Country doing missionary work. He also did not write the drill in 97. Bruno

I was 9 years old. Started in September of 1966 as a guard in the American Section. Back then, there was NO minimum age. Bruno

Yes, I was there in 80. It was my last year. Your brother does contact me once in a while. Nice to hear from him. Hope you find some old movies/videos. I am sure they are around. Good Luck, Bruno

There is a guard circuit within the local area. It is the Three Rivers Winter Ensemble Association. There is a show this weekend at East Allegheny High School, sponsored by the Golden Triangles and their Championships are the following week at Kiski High School. I marched in the GBV starting in the mid 60's and would love to see some old performances. Good Luck. Bruno

Ny-Penn Ciruit which served Souther Tier of New York and Western Pennsylvania O-Penn Circuit which served Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania Bruno

The Catholic Daughters of America (All Girls) were from Butler Pennsylvania and started in 1936. Their origin came out of the CDofA Local Court. They were the first Corps to win the US Open Class A and All Girl Title in 1968. I remember the city of Butler welcoming them back from Marion, Ohio. The CDof A also was the first local corps to travel to the midwest and compete for multiple days. They also sponsored "The Festival of Champions" at the Butler Stadium and had numerous nationally competitive corps in their contest. Later they were also a partner in the American International Open. They won numerous Pennsylvania VFW and American Legion Titles. Their winter guard was very competitive in the West Penn Circuit. Unfortunately, they folder after the 1978 season. It was always interesting at family gatherings when the CDofA and the Vagabonds competed with each other. My cousins and I enjoyed sharing stories. Bruno

Butler Vagabonds Royal Crusaders Silver Sabres Derry Patriots Sharpsburg Cadets Twin City Imperials Lyndora Girls Catholic Daughters of America Quasar (Penn HIlls) Sundowners Cambria Cadets Erie Mavericks York White Roses Chessmen Belvederes Brookhaven Crusaders Barcken Cavaliers PAL 84th Bucktail Regiment Port Clinton Sweethearts (Ohio) Lakeview Shorliners (New York) Cleveland Cabellaros (Ohio) General Putnam's Men (Ohio) Eaglettes (Ohio) Many of these corps competed in Western PA Exhbitions by, Meridian Woodpeckers Cranberry Pasajeroes Fife and Drum Corps

General Butler Vagabond Cadets