Dick,
I, for one, agree with you, except I will go one step farther and state that I believe the drum corps were "real" drum corps, back then. They were real military style "drum corps". They did not have that "band" look that today's corps have. They came on the field from the left end and exited to the right instead of from the opposite side of the field, as bands do. Even back then, we resent our drum corps being called "bands" The one exception was the Preston Scourt House Bugle Band from Preston Ontario. They called drum corps "bugle bands, back then. Their "marching and maneuvering was much more precise and in a traditional military style. The music, in many cases, was even better. The music of corps like the Hawthorne Caballeros, Reilly Raiders, Archer Epler, Syracuse Brigadiers, Geneva Appleknockers,St Josephs of Batavia NY, St Kevin's Emerald Knights from Dorchester, Mass, and many others, was awesome. They didn't march sideways in order to keep the sound directed at the small audience many shows have today. They played to all parts of the field. They had real style and beautiful shows, back then. Today's corps do play some very good music, but that is where there greatness ends. I don't enjoy watching what today's corps have become!
Tom Marquis
Former Satan's Angels Sr. Corps Member