drumzx

Just sent to the Patriot News: Dear Patriot News, I've been informed that as of today, the Hershey Spectacular, the drum and bugle corps competition long associated with Hershey's stadium, has been cancelled, and in my opinion, all in the name of greed. The negotiations to secure the site with a written contract instead of the oral agreement used for many years, failed to come to an agreement that would've been fair to both parties and especially to the many, many drum corps fans from around the country as well as international fans. The announcement of cancellation stated that "Several key items of the contract were of issue, most notably was an estimated price increase in excess of 110%". Five Star Brass Productions wasn't looking to increase their ticket prices by 110% and in fact, in their annual mailing, they reaffirm their desire, intent and position to hold the cost of the competition to its current level. To me, that means that Hershey Entertainment had no true intent to allow this competition to take place in their stadium and they put Five Star Brass Productions at a distinct disadvantage knowing that the FSB Productions organization would not charge typically accepted exorbitant entertainment prices for a drum corps competition event. To me, this was an attempt to capitalize on the drum corps world's desire to see some of the best drum corps in the world right here in central Pennsylvania. With that, I applaud Five Star Brass Production's stance in that they refused to take the typical big corporation stance of over charging the public for entertainment. I applaud them for maintaining their values and for keeping those of the drum corps fan base in the forefront of their negotiating position. I respect all of their efforts on behalf of those of us that love the activity. At the same time, I abhor the Hershey position. I abhor that money is so much at the forefront of their very existence. I abhor much of what they have grown to become; Hershey Park happy? I don't think so. From parking fees to the cost of ANY entertainment associated with the Hershey name. . .well, as the price goes up, I can tell you how little I have gone to Hershey for any entertainment. And I can now tell you how much less I will go. Shame on you Hershey. Would it have been so bad to allow this event? No, it might've even been historic!

CRAP! <**>

Look at those nice bass drums and tenors. . .the equipment that is. . . :P

You are right Jeff. . .'88 was fun. There's other years on the horizon; not this year but another is coming.

Yeah, again, they kind of spoiled me for quite a few years. I couldn't quite understand why no line following them could play like them! I thought it was pretty easy after only one year. What a shocker to my ego system it was. . . :o

I believe I DO remember that but the year is way beyond my ability to retain details like the year. . . :) . But you also made me think of the one or two competitions held inside Harrisburg's Farm Show Arena that wasn't as big as a football field either. Remember that 6' or 7' wall inside the arena? It was kind of the same thing where we had to compress our shows to fit in. I even remember one drill move where we were smack up against the walls because there wasn't any other place to go. :D

Great memory Ben. . .fun show to do . . . . and we had great players in that snare line that year. . .but wow. . .the memory still has me paralyzed. . . :)

I did order some material from a company. . .it's a polycarbonate, 1/16th of an inch thick so I should be able to cut and shape. It's supposed to be very tough. . .sadly, it's clear. But if I don't like it or it doesn't work, I'll give your idea a shot. Brittany Murphy huh. . . . Yum! I'm hooked!

If all else fails, I'll give that a try. And who's picture is that on your avatar?

The difference in sounds was because they gave training for the use of drum keys.

Hmmmmm. . .okay. . .I'll give that a shot. There's a Dick Blick on my side of the river. I'll check there first. . . Thanks Greg!

Anth, tried both but without luck. Maybe I looked in the wrong department. Moyer used to get it from a plastics company but it became more and more difficult. He finally stopped trying. I'm thinking the stuff is 7 mil vinyl but I can't be sure. I wonder where Pearl, Yamaha and all the other companies get their stuff. It's a bit frustrating. . .

I want to make my own sound projectors but have been having trouble finding the material. I think it's like a 7 mil thick vinyl material but I don't know where to look! Any suggestions?

Sounds like a gang thing. . . :sshh:

DDAN, some cool memories in your post. . .nice job. . .

. . .for?

I was thinking about this again, remembering Mt. Carmel and the Mounties. Remember them? They were the Cabs in Mountie uniforms.

Mike, saw you down there with Bruce! I was above you guys right on the 50 two rows from the top! I kept waiting for you to turn around (when I was looking down in your direction) but snot that you are, you never did! Though I didn't get to say hello, it was good "seeing" you down there! Who was Bruce sitting next to, on his left side?

Jim, you're right. I remember the uniform thing too. All in all though, cool corps!

And where is the entertaining one?

Ah heck, I remember where the 37th name came from too!! A return of note. :) The Keystone Kavaliers were a breakaway from the Westhoremen. . .were a group that were unhappy with the direction of the corps. This was before the corps dropped the name Bonnie Scots. The corps didn't fold though. We merged back into the Westshoremen with the Bonnie Scots portion of the name dropped. It was a reorganization of both groups to strengthen the one. 37th was only ever a parade corps formed to be a fund raiser for the Westshoremen. It was intended to be fun, do Halloween parades and again, become a fund raiser for Westshore. 37th was never anything but a parade corps.

HOLY HISTORY! I'm in the bottom picture. . .this is from either '64 or '65.. .I carried a flag for two years before converting to drums under John Flowers. I remember those flags! They were the bomb. . .oh, no.. .wait, they were friggin' heavy!!!!! :o

My first year marching was '64. . .last marching year was '83.

Very HOT. . .

Yes, they were fun shows to do But Mt. Carmel is where it really all started. . .