LancerFi

Thanks for not mentioning me! :P Can't see me in this one anyway....

Vickie, thank you for saying so. I cannot put into words what a true dream come true it would be to participate with you. Had I married for money instead of love I'd be there right now, but then there'd be 2 things to be unhappy about! Congratulations on what I know will be and out of body experience and more....

I feel that the left coast is so long over due it's almost ridiculous! Even if you forget the amount of titles and fabulous corps are and were from the west coast, you have to consider the amount of fans that have had to trek all over the place for finals year after year after year. For the poor members who have that long trip home year after year, I can only say that back in the mid 70s we came out to CA and I understand what 3,000 miles can be like. I say it's about friggin time.....enjoy it!!!!!

Yes, I remember. My sisters both marched without music then with a few drummers setting the beat. I used to love the sounds the weapons made as well as the stomping of the feet for added noise.....

Thanks very much! I really appreciated you posting this. And so quick as well....

X DM, excellent review! So much information and straight to the point....I enjoyed reading it!

Because there were so many options back in the day, you could be 6 or 16....I did the mascot thing very young and began marching at 12. It's really all relative. We had a 13 year old in our rifle line in 1980, she had marched in our winter guard junior corps and most of that guard could have stepped into any one of our spots. (In 1976 the rifle line was threatened with being replaced while we were in Iowa) However there were things that I did try to shield her from due to the age of the other members. I believe the average age that year in the guard was 16 or 17.

Nothing to do with age out ceremones but was wondering, does anyone remember there being fireworks at finals -- behind us so the guard never saw them!!?? We didn't move..... I believe during 4th of July shows there were sometimes good fireworks. George B. would do his own display (illegal in MA but I guess not in the various states we were in ) ...the buses would be facing sideways so no one would miss it!

I thought I read tht they perform prior to the first competitive corps. Someone will confirm.....

I wish it had worked that way in 1980. We took the GE trophy and lost the show. But today's GE is a very different animal.....

Good luck tonight! I know you'll tear up the field as always! And enjoy the ride.......

Thanks again! To tell you the truth, when I watch the video I'm not sure Spirit ended where they should have. Their hornline and drumline were top notch. But so were the other 2. I don't believe our hornline projected like BD, Spirit or B-men but I was on the field so I could be incorrect. The edge I believe should have nudged us to the top I think should have been difficulty. That show was a hard one to march, the guard book was more difficult I think than BDs - not sure about the horn line but drums were right up there. We did win GE however I'd say a huge percentage of visuals I'm actually still finding in other sections.....unreal. But....what can you do!!!

Zero % body fat but what about that head of yours fitting thru doorways???? :angel: :sshh: I mean that in a nice way. You were quite the popular DM and DC personality!!!

It's a secret....

Thank you so very much! Yes, between you and me is right! I liked our show as well but boy was that Devils show fabulous!!! If it had been held just 1 week earlier ha? They turned it on that evening, knew how to win, and we were just plain flat...when I hear that I do and don't understand it. There were many reasons for it but I wasn't flat and I don't truly know what constitutes people seeing a turned on group of people as opposed to not. BD didn't look anymore emotion than we did so I'm not sure why they blame it on a flat show. Yes the tempos might have dragged at prelims but it didn't feel that way at finals although it used to be all slow motion for me when I was on the field. I believe they just had a better corps - they were better than great that year! Also, one particular judge had us down, down, down in VA compared to the rest of the year (I believe I'm remembering that correctly)

Ummmm, back at you! Remember, we became alums/graduates on the same evening in 1980..... ^OO^ Didn't know that night it would be on of the most life changing experiences....and leave one of the biggest voids after marching all of those years.......

I don't believe I would consider SCVs journey along the same lines when I mention PR. It's the opposite of PR.

And remember GeGe (hope you don't mind ) ---- second place is not a winner. Trust me I know first hand. Although I do believe the best corps did win that evening......

I don't agree about raising the bar visually - during my era their horn line always had a certain something that I loved but when I say they are the most maligned corps in DCI or "bride's maid" as you put it, I've gotten my head bitten off. I and many of my friends and a a few people in the east might agree. I've gotten my head bitten off several times when I've said "maligned" so maybe that's not the correct word however I do believe a few times it could have gone the other way. My opinion is just that. It's my preference and opinions are like.....well you know the saying....

Here is a show ad from 81-just a little wrinkled.... Here are the scores from the show: Thursday August 13, 1981 Lansdale PA DCI 1 Blue Devils 87.800 2 27th Lancers 87.000 3 Crossmen 82.350 4 Spirit of Atlanta 78.300 5 Blue Stars 71.300 6 Memphis Blues 68.000 sorry it's so big!

27 years ago to the day - my age out year, the following show took place: Thursday July 3, 1980 Montreal QUE DCI Position Corps Score 1 27th Lancers 77.100 2 Madison Scouts 76.750 3 Troopers 64.650 4 Offensive Lions 56.500 5 Royal Crusaders 55.600 6 Arc-en-Ciel 48.500 7 Arbella 46.350

So true.... I have to state that after viewing the video 4 or 5 times and the last piece that is shown even more I still to this day cannot put my finger on what makes or gives the Kingsmen rifle line, actually the whole guard, more snap, they are crisp in a way that I cannot verbalize but can see in each move. I've not seen it before or after and have never been able to duplicate it myself although I tried very hard. Maybe someone else can explain what it is that they have that no one else does be in WGI or DCI...... Please let those ladies know there's someone very envious in Revere/Boston and that I salute them all. Kudos to the 2007 KAC!!!

What a great clip! I realize it's very early in the season and I realize it's a very short clip, but they sure look clean!

RIP Ed....Christa's a wonderful person. Her parents were very active with 2-7 in the 70's and beyond. I marched with Christa for many years and then she held a management-co-director type position and was very good at it. Dale, I'm sure you know all of this but I was taking myself down memory lane I guess..... Losing Ed was a blow to all that knew him...... He was a kind, thoughtful, wonderful gentleman...

That is a FABULOUS photo indeed. What class and what a leg lift....she looks about 7 feet tall!!! truly and ala Kingsmen type photo!