SBrancheau

Dugg: Personally? I think guards SHOULD perform on a plain white or black floor, basic black uniforms and no props whatsoever. That would certainly level the playing field! Everyone starts out with the same thing! The only thing that's different is music and equipment work. That would separate 'the men from the boys'!

OMG...

1980 Bridgemen: In the Stone

In college, I marched with one of the girls in that guard! She was late to band camp, but we forgave her because they'd won.

Two words: JAMES BOND Jaw dropping.

Oh, those guard uniforms! They caused such a stir in the guard world...not ripples, a tsunami! Just an incredible performance by BD in 82...amazing, outstanding, jaw-dropping...there aren't enough superlatives!

Actually, I think it's longer than 2003, because there was some hiccup with the system and we had to start over. No hissy fits please.

The sound is actually very good. Indiana High School Marching Band finals were there last year and the sound quality was excellent...and that was WITH the windows and roof closed. Really, people, take a pill. It's an outstanding venue.

87 put Sky Ryders on the map for me. Such an incredible show...still gives me chills when I watch it on my "Legacy" DVD.

Belleville Black Knights Anaheim Kingsmen 27th Lancers - wacky for the khaki! Late 70's/early 80's BD Bridgemen - Always a classic! Kilties Phantom (white tops/black pants) Madison - 70's OOPS! Forgot Troopers! Always in my Favorite list!

Yes, indeed!

Sue, you said this better than I ever could. It's not a question of now versus then. To know where you are, you have to see where you've been. From 1980, a HUGE leap in the colorguard activity occurred. It wasn't just spins and presents, angle drills and "pikes". Flags and rifles suddenly helped illustrate what was being played musically - enhancing it, emphasizing it. The guard started being more than just an "arc in the back". They intertwined and became part of the drill, not just an afterthought. Think of the integral part that Sky Ryders' guard played in 87's "West Side Story"...what would that show BE without the guard?! It's great to look in the rearview mirror once in a while and pay homage to those that were instrumental (pardon the pun) in advancing guard to where it is now. Just as today's guards push the envelope with innovation, guards "in the day" also pushed that same envelope. Remember when BD's guard changed from split skirts, jackets, shakos and boots to the sequined jumpsuit? That one change set guard on its ear. The colorguard world buzzed about that one for quite some time.

I did?! Sorry.

Nope. No argument. These are the things that I miss. They're MY opinions - right, wrong or whatever. Feel free to add what you miss...or maybe you don't miss anything. That's fine too.

Puppet, that's you in the middle in the white shirt, isn't it?

What I miss (as a spectator - never marched): Skirts and boots on the guard Heck, UNIFORMS on the guard! 27th Lancers guard and rifles throwing EVERYTHING but the kitchen sink! "Concert" numbers - the "park and bark" or "park and blow" The "push the stands back 'cause the horn line's so freakin' loud" moments More entertainment - less "themes" Well-known music

That's no lie, either. I was blown away by the flag line, but oh my gosh, that rifle line! Lead by the incomparable LancerFi, the entire auxiliary was just jaw-dropping. They really set the standard for precision and tricks. Clean, clean, clean. If you want to see where today's guard evolved from, take a look at Anaheim Kingsmen and 27th Lancers. They are the standard of what precision is. Sally

Yonnenana: Amen to what Puppet said. THANK YOU a million times over for starting this gem of a thread! Lots of treasures! Sally

Amen and Amen.

Wow, SSJ was busy during WGI finals weekend, wasn't he? SSJ sightings everywhere!

I did not march drum corps, but I'd want a do-over on 1980's Finals...with 27th Lancers cranked all the way up!

18 in the early 70's? Anaheim Kingsmen 18 in 1980? 27th Lancers or Bridgemen 18 in 1987? Velvet Knights

MAY be?! Sheesh, there's no doubt that he IS...

Trish: Please tell that particular instructor to pull on the big boy (or big girl) pants and get over it. I like seeing realistic show reviews. It keeps it real.

But that's what we LOVE about Sebastienne...his delusions of grandeur! How boring the pagentry would would be without SSJ...