2B or not 2B

OK. You want to talk Parades. Most Fun Award goes to: NYC "Puerto Rican Day" Parade". I was with "NYC Skyliners". We had 2 paid Sponsors. So we divided the Corps in Half. I was with the first half. Just about at the end. We dropped out of the Parade. The people there were mad, got called Many different names in 2 Languages. Then when the other 1/2 of Sky came along we jumped up gave them a loud Greeting, and ran down and joined. The Corps had Stopped, and we played another song and the Crowd went Nuts for us. Most Embarrassing Award goes to -- a NYC "St Patrick's Day". Yes at the Worlds Largest St. Patrick's Day Parade. I was with the Neptune, NJ "Shoreliners". When we stopped and Played in front of St. Pats., Cardinal and all,) and played "Never On Sunday" (not a real great Irish song). Scariest Award goes to: "Orange Bowl Parade".(again with Neptune "Shoreliners") First let me say this was Before the 1964 Civil Rights Act. President Kennedy was supposed to be their. But was killed just months before. We were about 1/3rd Black. The Names we got called along the parade route were Horrible. Then also some of the route had few People, So we moved All the Blacks to the inside ranks to protect them from thrown objects . Largest Amount of Drum and Bugle Corps Award goes to: VFW Nationals in NYC. It had OVER 75 Corps (and I believe Corps of the North from ALASKA). Although some of the Corps did not Compete in the Field Contest.. (like Corps of the North) I think ONLY about 48 were in Prelims) NYC has ALWAYS been big for many Corps in the Metro area (NYC, NJ). I marched in: Macy's Day, St. Patrick's Day(Irish), Columbus Day (Italian ) Von Stuben Day (German), Puerto Rican Day(Puerto Rican), Salute to Israel Day(Israel), Pulaski Day Parade(Poland) Labor Day Parade(U S Workers) and MORE.

Something I have tried for years to get are: 1 - (BS) "Golden Knights Senior Corps. Two shows I remember being in were Exhibition at the "1975 Dream", in Jersey City. AND Prelims at for DCA Championships in Rochester. 2 - 1976 "NYC Skyliners" at any show that year. Would like Video with Sound. 3 - 1966 St. Lucy's Cadets. Any show that year.

WOW ! ! I am not a Big Fan of DCI, or the direction they are headed. I call it DCBI (Drum Corps Band International). Yet Year after year. I like Phantom Regiment. Can someone please Explain why I always LOVE "Phantom Regiment". I am OLD and prefer more of the Old Style. Phantom is NOT Old Style. It is like how my Favorite Cavies was "Machine". Loved that. Can hardly call that Old Style, yet I loved that also. Almost Never like Blue Devils. BUT do like Santa Clara Vanguard. They do a lot of shows I like. Not very Old Style there either. What is it in Phantom and SCV that gets me? And Blue Devils and Carolina that turn me OFF?

Yes. I was one who bought a FULL uniform. I was a member of the Alumni Corps. I think it was $150.oo and they would either put your name on a tag or you could dedicate it to a past member. I dedicated mine to Mr. Worden. (He also drove the Corps Equipment truck. Which I rode in to all but 2 shows.) Maybe that is a way to do it again! Oh the stories I could tell about those years on the Road in Sky's Equipment truck. Great and fun along with the work involved.

You want to talk BAD Birth Date's. My wife's B.day is 9-11. You would not believe how many times people would tell her, "OH, That's Too Bad." So we do not do anything that day. We just celebrate it, on 9-13 "Our Wedding Anniversery".

When I use to drive a lot, I always tried to time it so, I would cross the Washington / Baltimore area between 12 midnight and 1 am. Rush HOURS were over, and the bars were not closed yet. Sail right threw. God, remember when it was between: Clifton HS had about 3 shows a year, Newark Schools Stadium had 5 or 6 Shows a year alone. Jersey City had at least 2 National's type shows. and some times 3, Garfield HS Garfield Invatational ALL within about 10 or 15 miles of each other. And, I mean with TOP Name Corps. Both Local Corps and some far away Nationaly Famous Corps would come. ALL summer, EVERY year, A Good Show almost every Weekend, all summer long. Both JR and Sr Corps. From the Last weekend in MAY too Mid September. Full Field Compititions (and that is NOT counting Many other more local shows at other High Schools Stadiums in that Same area.) Could see about 20 Full Field Contests a year).

I want to Thank All of you that have replied. This has been very Interesting. Well done.

First let me say. I DO NOT mean this as a "ANTI / hate or anything post. I was wondering why the Pit has to be in front of the Field Show? In Orchestra the Percussion things are in the BACK of most all instruments. Yet on Broadway and Los Vegas the pit is in the FRONT. with all instruments, and yes again even there the Percussion things in the back of that. Then even POP, Rock, Etc. There is the Percussion is to the rear of them. I do not go when I can because I almost always have to sit on the Field level or at best the Front row and See Very Little or Hear the Corps (or any at all. Just the Pit. (I am handicapped and use a wheel chair) Since almost all Pit instruments and are Electronic/miked. why does it have to be IN FRONT?

A few answers for Xandandl. The Muchachos from New Hampshire are an EXIBITION/Parade Corps. They are not really an Alumni Corps. They do many events in New England. They were a Compitition Corps in 50s, '60s and I think '70s. I don't believe I have ever seen them in a solely "Alumni" show. The DCA Cabs are just that. A DCA competing Corps. Then there is the "Cabs Alumni" Corps" from Hawthorne, NJ. They are Big and just about the Best in the "Alumni" area of things. The "Muchacho's" were a JUNIOR Compitition Corps that became Nationaly famous in DCI. Although they competed for many Years before DCI. Going to WILDWOOD, NJ, is about 2 different things. The First Full Weekend in June is The New Jersey State "Elks Parade". Many Elks Lodges hire "Alumni" Corps. AND I mean BIG name ones: BS Golden Knights, NYC Skyliners, Caballeros, Bridgemen, Reilly Raiders, Archie, and many more. They come for the whole weeken, and Most give Free Concerts at either their motel and/or the the sponsoring Elks Lodge. They have some DCA and DCI coorps (Like: Fusion, Bush, Jersey Surf, and Raiders that also show up at times also.) Then a week or so later, in June. IT IS A FULL DCA show. Usually: Cabs, Buc's, Cadet2, Fusion, Hurks and such. The FIRST DCA Compitition of the Year. Small stadium, BUT, a Good show in a Good place to have fun on the Beach and Boardwalk and Drum Corps. Hope this helps.

Sure liked that music. Hope they can play it as close to the Original as possible.

Interesting!!!! I have been waiting to hear more about the Muchacho's. I saw when a news release was put out. But nothing after that. Let's hear MORE on them on here. Back on topic. I hope to make the Skyliners ALUMNI - Metro Regional in New Jersey. I have been to that, and it was GREAT. Well run, Great Corps and Individuals, Good, food, many "meet ups" with people we seem to miss. Like I said Great Well RUN Event!. Good Luck Sky Alum for another BHOF event this year.

It is hard for me to believe that at one time (and for a Long Time) 4 States Dominated JR Corps & SR Corps. In Both Quantity and Quality. Being in New Jersey here is what I have noticed. In JR Corps it was: New Jersey, Mass., Ill. and Wisc. in the Top 10. The last VFW States I was in, had 19 Corps. and I can Name 4 or 5 Field Corps that were not in it. Making the Top 5 was a GOAL!!!! In SR. Corps it was: New Jersey, Penn., New York, and Mass. Now New Jersey has none in JR Top 10, Or Top Corps in Quantity or Quality. I know we have some pretty darn good Corps. Let's face it. sure don't have two or three in Finial's any more. In SR/All Age: New Jersey. We are hanging in pretty Good Though in both Quantity and Quality. New York/Penn./Mass., have almost died off. But then look at ALL the New places Nation Wide in Both areas. Plus we have the New Alumni Corps.

A lot of my thinking is about the "Fan in the Stands". It all seems to (me, anyway) Flow Better. It also gives the people sitting in the Stands in the Goal Line to 30 yard line more of a chance to connect to the Performance. Then with the show moving on to the 30 to 30 have the best advantage The move to the closing then gives AT First, at least a part. Their best viewing. Granting that the ending will most likely be closer to the 50 again. That too me, gives everyone a part for them to connect to the Corps on the Field. A Beginning and an End. I am not saying Each area gets 1/3 of the Show. The Center (30 to 30) area would clearly get more than 2/3s or more, of the show. Heck the first part might be Less than 1 and 1/2 Minutes . But that area would gain more of a chance to what is coming. Making their seat a little more worth the money they have paid. Just an idea to think about.

Good Luck GOVIES another Midwest Corps. Always at the top.

One of my FAVORITE Corps. Like to see you in Finals this year!

Very Good News. Keep it growing!

GOOD Luck this year. Keep it Growing !!!

Great to hear !!!

Being Old Style. I prefer that shows START left of the 50 Yard line. In any way they like. From straight down the Goal Line too Any Formation they like. Then the same in Reverse for the end. It seems to give a beginning and end to each Corps show. Start and build to the BIG ending. Have those "Fans in the Stands", Jumping up and Cheering BEFORE the show even Stops.

The following is JUST a QUESTION, nothing more. With these New changes in DCA. Why do we need DCA as a Separate Organization? (Maybe it should be a - Separate DIVISION - of DCI. Due to, ALL AGE and a very few other things.)

Another interesting story about Drum Corps and Macy's parade. One year a friend of mine was a Director with the a H.S. Band from Florida. They too were to be at Start and bring in Santa at end. Well they got to NYC and forgot their Cymbal's. He called me and I called the Quartermaster for the NYC Skyliners. (I had helped him all the season before on Sky's Truck). He said I could get them for the Band. BUT, I was responsible to get them back for the next rehearsal. So I drove up from central Jersey to NYC to deliver them. Then as it turned out MY home town was having the our City Christmas Tree Lighting the next day. So the Band, came down to PLAY for it. As a thank you to me. The City was amazed at how Large the band was. They were given (Every member: a Lunch by the City Fire Dept., Key to the City by the City,, a small Glass with the City Seal and more trinkets. And it was Front Page News with photos and all. So the NYC Skyliners Cymbal's equipment marched one more time than the Corps. Although not many knew about it.

Best To DON & Bonnie. Take care we have you both in our prayers.

Ray and others. These last few replys are what I was getting at over all. FROM these Corps and many others accross the nation are where all the "Guess Whos" came from. They went on spreading out to other Corps. Some became Famous, some not so much. Now as to "Ishmpeming Blue Notes". THANKS to your for coming to my Corps aid at VFW Nationals. Your Director and the Commander of the Michigan State VFW Commander coming to defending us when a Building Manager came and gave us trouble. To Defend my Corps members for "Sitting" on the steps of a building while waiting to step off into the VFW National Parade. in 1966 in NYC. I know as an Absolute FACT. That: "Ishp. Blue Notes", "OLC Ramblers", "Spamett's" , for sure were real Corps. I know there was a Corps named "Hell Gate". They were from New York City. But not sure they were a Church Corps. No Idea about Ferns or Gardenias.

Yes, that is why I say we here in Jersey were Spoiled. Between Newark Schools Stadium, Clifton Stadium, and Roosevelt Stadium. We could see TOP shows almost EVERY weekend. The Jersey U.S.Top Corps mixed with some Top LINY Corps, and the just below that level Corps. Also think of Roosevelt Stadium had shows like: The Preview of Champions, The Dream, VFW Nationals, The World Open, and the DCA Championships. . Then also TWO of those shows( DREAM & Preview) Were with National Corps added in. (Chicago Cavies, Casper Troopers, Skokie Vanguard, St. Kevin Emerald Knights, Boston Crusaders, St. Catherine's Queensmen, Selden Cadets, Toronto Optimists, ETC) in The Dream and Preview of Champions. Every Year We got to see the Best of the Best down to the Local type corps Every weekend. (AND we have not mentioned the Senior scene much also with the Best of the Best.)

Mike I do not remember them. But being in Jersey. We sure were Spoiled. Remember also had just up the road apiece in any direction. We HAD "Garfield Cadets", "Patterson Cadets", "St. Vincent's Cadets" and St. Patricks Cadets. ( not to mention 10, 15, or MORE within 20 miles of Newark. When we, in the rest of the New Jersey, had a GOAL of getting into the Top 5 at States in those days.