2B or not 2B

Well: I do not like Cab's new Unies at all. Look very Junior Corps or Band. Not very Latin at all. I did like Last years though. Seemed to fit name and Corps, Style, Class, and History. As for Sky. They are OK I guess. (Far better than the last time they made that drastic change. They were Horrible.) These new ones seem to tie Old with New some. An up date to the New Styles of today

Fran: I know Kelly's (which has won this category more times than the Buc's have won Championships) will win again. Although I could Overdose at Khors. I think Cape May Fish Market could over take over 2rd place. But then, doubt I would want to skip, Mack's Pizza. Just 4 more reasons not to miss this Great Show.

Sad to hear. Always enjoyed them.

OK let's get them Merged up. The " Shenandoah Brigade " and their home show should be called: " Thunder in the Shenandoah " (Not going to happen. Just having fun)

Did I miss something or do the Skyliners have NEW uniforms?

WOW. Neve thought about it, I was in '66 VFW Nat's and saw all that Sit in stuff. also. Then to Think I got too Meet with, Talk with, March with, Be Instrusted by, (at one time or anouther WITH): That "Roll Call" - Hy Drietzer, Joe Genero, Carmen Cluna, "Pepe Nataro", Walter Winkleman, Don Angelica, Lefty Myers, Butch Anderson, Alan Smythe, "Wild Bill" Hooten, Jimmy Russo, Bob BellaRosa, Ralph Silverbrand, Marty & Jimmy Hurley, Ray Priester Andy Lisko, and MANY MORE.

The BigW statement is similar to how I feel about things. For me it was from a Post a last year that was on here about the Score's. Seems after a Corps Competes they get a score. THEN that score is CHANGED after a "Group" of Corps is redone in some areas.

Yes Andy. You are right. You hit the right Target. Knowing the difference between JR and SR.

I think Guess Who. Is a fine place to BE. More active at times, less active other times. I would be a member if asked. An Awful lot of GOOD People here. Stories and Photos that need to told and Photo's shown. All that NEED'S to be passed on.

I am SORRY if my post has caused a problem. Maybe I should have worded it different. I was thinking on a Positive way it could add More to what is done. Adding one or two from the Netherlands for example. They are quite Good. With the New DCA rules. They might do very well. As too it keeping out a North American Corps. Would you NOT want the 10 BEST Corps possible in the "WORLD", at the "WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS". Letting in the 11th best Corps from prelims gives them a chance to at least Show fans the Champions who you are. I am a Kilties fan since 1966. I would have preferred they Competed. But at least I got to See and Hear and enjoy them. But I must say. No International Corps has finished lower than 8th place in Prelims. Meaning at least 2 more spots in the Championship would still be available to North American Corps. Just leave the VOTING to the 11 (I like odd numbers prevents ties) HIGHEST Scoring "North American Corps". I do not think they(International Corps) want a vote. They have their OWN Circuits back home. I still think DCA does it better.

I don't know the exact DCA way they do things. BUT, DCA has indeed had International LISTED as members. First The "Inspires" from Japan. They did very well. Closer to the TOP than the bottom, Then came the "Kidsgrove Scouts" from Great Britain . Who were also not a bottom Corps either. In Open Class. And lets not forget "Heartliner" from Germany. They were Class A., and they indeed did not make finals. Think about coming all the way from GERMANY, and being one spot out of Class A Finals. I believe they all DO have an Evaluation, before they come. Just like the North American Corps do. It is the DCA "WORLD" Championships. If they are NOT. It should Change the name to: "North American Championships". I know it is sad that a Corps like the "Kilties" missed out getting a Score. But They DID get to be seen on the Field at Finals. They are one of my Favorite Corps and was glad about that. Oh and by the way. If you go to the DCA Site. The "Kidsgrove Scouts" ---> ARE LISTED as a MEMBER Corps, Photo and all on Member Corps.

Jim: The (BS), "Golden Knights Senior" Corps only lasted the One Year. We came in 13th out of 19 Competing Corps in Rochester. The next year there just was not enough people to keep it going. So many of us moved on to SKY, Cabs, and Sun. I went to SKY in 1976. But if you have a GK SR from that show in 1975. (or our Exhibition at '75 Dream.) I sure would like one.

Rayf. I was with NY Sky in '76, and it was at a Montreal CFL 1/2 Time show. But, Yes the crowd was very Good to us. and I meant HERSHEY not Harrisburg for a Big Show. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim; Yes it was Hershey in '76, and a very good crowd, But meaningful for another reason for me and the Sky Equipment truck. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Let me know if you two want to hear it. As I have been on a Paul Harvey ..................."and the rest of the Story", in my posts rants lately.

Ray P and all: How Lucky and PROUD I am to have competed in: The National Dream (Both JR and SR parts. Many years apart) and VFW Nationals at Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, NJ American Legion Nationals in RFK Stadium in Washington, DC Barnum Festival in Bridgeport, Conn. March of Champions (Yankee Rebels show) at Baltimore Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, MD Can't remember the show name. But, the Big Show in Harrisburg, PA I was actually trying to find out more about the BIG shows of today. But Four of the biggest memories' of mine were: 1 - Standing on the Staring Line at the '66 Dream (my First big time Contest). Looking straight ahead to the Finnish Line Seeing a Solid mass of people in the End Zone seats. . As Full as at the 50 yard line. Watching the Kilties on the field, and scared 1/2 to death. "What have I got myself into?" But as most of you know. That disappears once you start. 2 - March of Champions in Baltimore. We had started the season not doing very well. So we Changed the Entire off the Line. Both Music and Drill. But this was the night we put in the NEW stuff. AND by God. We hit it off Fantastic and that made the rest of the show Also as well. The Crowd went absolutely BOZO Crazy. We did not win and the Crowd was really Angry. The 4 Season Song "Oh What A Night" always reminds me of that Night. 3 - Barnum Festival in Bridgeport. Thought I was going to Choke to Death with all the Fireworks Smoke at Retreat. Great show Great Fans though. 4 - Montreal Olympic Stadium in Canada. We were hired to do the 1/2 time for the CFL team. The Stadium had a part of the Olympic Closing Ceremonies Pre game, then us for 1/2 time on that Huge football field. Remember it was marked for a CFL game. Longer and Wider than American Football. What Great fun. Special also for me because I got to ride the Corps BUS. I always worked the Equipment Truck with Gene Warden and another guy.

I think they could have 3 Regional Shows. One in the Mid West. (Minn. or Wisconson). One in Atlanta area. One in North East. (NJ/NY/PA area). Then make it Mandatory that each Corps at least make the Show in their Home Region. The problem I have is : How to get as many Corps as Possible go to one Regional Outside their Home Region. That is the hardest part.

Other Than the DCA Championships. What is the Largest Attended Show year after year?

New York had a lot of trouble with the School Start date for the Junior Corps. Which was one of the reasons Senior Corps did so much better for so much longer. Oh well that is how I saw this. But. They did have some mighty nice Corps in the Different area's (both JR and SR) of Drum Corps. I was in the Hudson Berkshire Circuit. Had about 5 NY Corps. Then 3 or so Circuit's from lower NY State and NYC area. AND, lets not Forget the " Mighty St. Joe's Batavia ", JR Corps.

I wonder if more Corps from Europe might be getting a little more interested in joining DCA. It seems United Kingdom and Germany did VERY well in DCA, (also Japan across the Pacific). Maybe some of the Dutch Corps might be interested now with the New Rules Changes. (Remember Kingsgrove MADE FINALS both Years.) I am sure more than one of the Dutch Corps could do that also.

Yes a boy in New York City. (late '6os or 'early '70s) I believe it was the Bronx Kingsmen marched and played the full field show on Crutches. He did some solos. So with a little drill re-writes. It worked out well. Before and after that had seen many in arm sling march. (helped hold the spot in the drill work better. But, they did not Play.)

This I & E is a well run Contest/Show. It is at a nice location. Good food and drink. Meet up with many people, Big Names and those that don't get out a lot also. I have been to this BHoF Metro Regional. Enjoyed it very much.

I remember when: "ships were wood, and be burly men manned the Sails" and " You can't paint 2nd place on the Base Drum". (well at leased the one about the Base Drum anyway.) When I started in Drum Corps you made GOALS that were possible. At Both VFW and A.L. States. Our first goal was to make the Top 10. (New Jersey had from 15 to 20 Corps in STATES every year. Now remember, N.J. had from 3 to 4 National Contenders every year( between 1956 and 1976). Then you could have 3 or 4 more that gave them hell each year. Keeping those above on their toes. To keep them on improving . When Corps like ST. Vincent's, Blessed Sacrament, Audubon, and St. Lucy's left us. That is where the Corps like Bridgemen and Muchachos stepped right up from. So any way. The next Goal was a whole lot harder. Make the TOP 7. So Between , 12 and 15 Corps went to a State Contest and KNEW there was NO WAY ON EARTH you could Win. But we could Watch and Learn from all those Great Corps. Then one day WE could Step Up to our Next Goal.

Good Luck Southern Knights. Sounds Like you are doing all the Right Things to make things Progress in a Proper manor. Keep it up!!!

Would it not be cool if " Revolution of Queensbury" came to the United States and could take a day or 2 to come to New York State. They could stay in Queensbury, NY, Then within 10 miles NW to Lake George (named after the King) and visit Fort William Henry. Then about 5 miles (from Queensbury) to Fort Edward, NY. After that about 10 miles north of Fort Edward is Whitehall, NY. The up to (about 10 miles up to Fort Ticonderoga, NY. All very much to do with the American Revolutionary War and British. Would be very educational with their Name and all.

"....turned my health care over to the Veterans Administration (gasp) - the positive spin of which is that I'll never need complicated surgery because the VA practices a one size for everything Euthanasia." Agree! Too this I BELIEVE They are very good at playing Govt. "You Gotta" (Got to). I honestly believe the VA tries their best to see what they can keep you from getting done. (Job Security) As to Snow. I PAY to have it done. But to bring it back to Drum Corps. I remember standing on the field during Retreat of at least one show. In early 1960s in mid Sept., in the Hudson Berkshire Circuit. It was at either the North Adams, MA show, or Championship Finals in Pittsfield, MA. Yes it was just Snow flurries. But, none the less SNOW. I was with the Asbury Park, NJ "Hurricanes", and we at least had those heavy Cadet style uniforms. Don't know how the ones in those Satin tops did it.

Well Bucbari. I could add a Award for Oddest Happening in a Parade. (interesting day to bring this up.) This was in Jessup, Pennsylvania. (June or July) I was in NYC Skyliners. Doing a parade. When the local POLICE came and took me out to Call HOME. Now as use to be said by a famous news person. "The Rest of the Story" On Friday the 13th of Feb. 1976. I was shot in the line of duty by an Armed robber. I was out from work for a Long time. It was Point blank to the chest. It was very hard to clear up body fluids. They finally took the bullet out from my back. Well, anyway. I checked with the Disability people. They said I could March, but be Careful. (Marching counted as "THERAPY). So I did. I always road on the Equipment truck. I had promised I would call when we arrived. But, I did not call home to wife. (remember no one had Cell phones back then) What to do. Wife called the town police to see if they could help her. Check on a wounded Brother. Who knew they would come up to the Flag Line and take me out to call her. Always wondered what the people along the Parade route thought. Maybe it was just added to the "Bad AZZ Guys", from NYC. Little did they know it was a Brother Cop thing.