XDome

You can only bowl or drink at the beach so much (or in JC's case- SO much ).... then you have to find something else to do.

Royalairs Des Plaines Vanguard St. Paul Scouts Argonne Rebels Kilties

The only problem I had was that the lights were too @#$%*%^^#$ loud. For all y'all that didn't like the traffic today, wait 'til tomorrow. You ain't seen nothin' yet....

It was the same thing this year - most people only showed up to see their corps and left when it was done. I think there were only a handful of people (I was one) that stayed for the entire day. It was the same situation at prelims in Orlando and Denver, too. I came to prelims because that's the one show where you can see everyone perform. The first time I only went to see my old corps and I wasn't expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed by the quality of the performances. I cannot understand why attendance is so low - 22 corps (all of them entertaining) for $10 (plus $2 for parking within 100 yards of the seating area). Yeah, the stadium was small, but that works for me - I doubt if I'll be able to harass the announcer at the Rose Bowl.... ps to the sound board guy from OC - I was only kidding about needing a building permit..... B)

And the same uniform (pretty much) since 1964. Maybe it's time for a change - either something totally new or revert to the old Explorer uniform (spats and all!) B)

97 Madison Scouts (seems to be a popular show here...) During the final chord, the drum major whips out a the jolly roger flag and then takes a photo of the audience.

[Milwaukee Circus Parade- 4 miles through the streets of downtown Milwaukee, directly behind every horse in the bloody state... When I marched in this parade back in 69/70 they also had a s###load of elephants. It was 11 miles long back then, too - longest and hottest parade I ever endured. Huge piles of steaming mutant tater tots. Showed up real good on our white shoes, too. Yuck!

My personal favorites: Our Lady of Mercy All Girl Drum & Bugle Corps, Milwaukee, WI and the Eaglettes from Sandusky, OH

JC (you bad boy) - The guy you're refering to passed away several years ago, according to a post on classmates.com. I SWEAR my brother and I had nothing to do with it! Anyway, he's on permanent 'free time' now... Jim

This is not a new thing... In 1969 when the Racine Scouts were at VFW Nationals in Philadelphia, two kids got hit by rocks thrown by locals while we were practicing. We weren't allowed to go out in groups of less than 6.

JC - I'm with you. I'd love to see Captain Crunch on the field again. St. Paul Scouts and Des Plaines Vanguard are also high on my list. Jim

My first show was in 1964 in Racine, Wisconsin. Troopers, Royalaires, Racine Scouts and Kilties. It was the Troopers that impressed me the most.

Two of my favorites did not make the list: Our Lady of Mercy (Milwaukee, WI) Sandusky Eaglettes (Sandusky, OH)

How can you have an all-time best color guard poll that does not include the Troopers? No disrespect to the guards listed, but the Troopers deserve to at least be on the list.

I grew up in Racine in the 60s/70s, and it was the Troopers that first impressed me the most, in 1964. Nobody could march like the Troop back in those days. Already being a member of the YMCA, I tried to join the Kilties, but alas, it was too expensive. Our friendly neighborhood milkman (it was 1964 after all...) had a son in the Scouts and persuaded my parents to sign me up. He invited us over to his house and his son performed some solo piece on the baritone, (I have no idea what it was, other than LOUD) and I'm thinking, "Dang! This looks pretty complicated..." Anyway, he went on to win a VFW solo title a couple years later while I was still in the Boy Scout corps and I eventually got to wear the dome.

Our Lady of Mercy Lord, have Mercy......

Yes, John, we have met...I was known as Jim Brittell, baritone, Racine Boy Scouts 65-67 and Explorers 68-72. Now people call me Jim Brittell....hmmmm. Maybe we're confused about the drums (and it definitely could be me... ). As I recall, from 65-68 the Boy Scouts had silver drums with the two red stripes like in #3 and the Explorers had the red/silver/blue drums. Guess I'll have to dig into the family photo albums and see about that. You're right about the uniforms, except that the Boy Scouts had long sleeved shirts, and the neckerchiefs were white with red trim....at least until 68. Of course, there was the "summer uniform" with short pants, short sleeve shirts and knee socks. They were pretty inexpensive uniforms. All the corps provided were the shoulder patch and neckerchiefs and sashes - we had to buy the rest. In fact, that was one of the reasons I joined the Scouts instead of the Kilties - the Kiltie Kadets made you rent the so-called musical instruments in addition to buying the uniform and the membership fee cost more. Plus, back in those days, the Scouts kicked the Kadets' butts good. It was nice while it lasted. B) There was another reason I didn't join the Kilties, but I haven't figured out how to include the photo on this danged web site....

It's true. My first year with the Racine Explorers was '68. The last year they wore the green uniforms (mainly for parades) was '67. I missed out. Oh, well. Wish I had a picture, too. Any of you former Chrome Domes out there have one? I know you're out there..... B)

Are you sure about #3 being Racine Scouts? I recall their pre-Chrome Dome uniforms were not the standard Explorer uniform, but were more of an olive green and they wore white Aussie-style hats. How come there weren't any photos of Madisons West Point uniforms?