cabalumsw

Andy: I did see you perform at Clifton and that was why I asked. I hung my sticks up after the 2004 season. The double congas took a toll on my back over the years and Smitty and Chris Sortino asked me this season to try out the "lighter" double tenors but I think the desire and fire are gone as well. Doing a drill requires a time comittment which I really prefer not to do. I was fortunate to relive my drum corps days another ten years with the Cabs Alumni and for my kids to see what I used to do in my younger days. So while all my drum corps friends were heading up to Rochester, I was down in Wildwood, my favorite drum corps end of season spot. I sat on my room balcony, with a beer in hand, and reliving the old days of the New Jersey American Legion Convention Days.

Hey Don: I am glad you finally agree with me! The Skyliners were wound up real tight that night. they had problems off the line and didn't recover till after the traffic jam. Exactly what we were told by some of our staff who were scouting Skyliners performance before we went on. If you saw our performance at Prelims, you would have seen a marching machine. I saw Skyliners behind the outfield fence watching our performance at Prelims. We all knew it was going to be a dog fight and we met the challenge. Jim Costello told us if we did the same job we had done at Prelims that morning, we had an excellent chance to beat Skyliners at Finals based on exactly what you said. Was there BS behind the scenes, so be it I had nothing to do with it. As Frank Nash said, the guys on the field have no control over the guys with the pads. I would have to say our marching and maneuvering execution won it for us that night, despite what you thought of our show that year. My brother in law, who was a Skyliner and Cabs fan, even conceded that we were like a machine at Finals and thought we won. As far as expecting to win every show, don't you think every corps aspires to do that?

Hi Andy: Did you "retire"?

Go Hawthorne!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Mr. Siglow: The point I was trying to make was your specific reference to the drum parts being watered down in Chicago. I do not remember any drum parts being watered down as you say they were and I did not believe Dave Saccente was alluding to that. Hell, we always used Nationals to make changes in the drill. We made drill changes down in Miami in 1974. By the way, how have you been? Repectfully, Steve

Dave: Another question. You were in the drum line that year. Do you remember George Tuthill and Jack Pratt watering down our parts in Chicago? I have no recollection of that but I have heard that one too from someone who was not even there! I must have been sleeping from all the rehearsing we did.

Speaking of respect, I loved the Hurricanes OTL in 1972, it was a Stan Kenton number correct?

Hey Dave: Behave now, LOL! If you have read his posts he flip flops back and forth. Several posts he rips Hawthorne saying we deserved fifth at Finals in 1972 ,then he says he has no problem with Hawthorne and even drank with us in Chicago. Yeah, probably to gloat. All I can say is I have a DCA 1972 patch that I still wear today and I have a video copy of our performance that night at Finals. We can listen to all who cried they were cheated by timing judges and the sort and that we were not really good in 73 and 74 because it was just everybody else sucked worse than us. Sour grapes is all it is. We who were there know how hard we worked in Chicago and it paid off. Everyone was enjoying seeing Hawthorne while we were down but we did not give up. I highly respected the 1971 and 1972 Skyliners because they were indeed a very good corps but we were hungrier at the end of the season in 1972.

Bob: Glad to see you are enjoying yourself. I marched 5 years with the Cabs competing corps and 10 years with the Alumni from it's inception up until 2004. I chose to leave because I wanted free time during the summer months. I miss playing and seeing friends but I personally do not want to commit that much time. Perhaps when I retire from work and get bored I will do 5 more years to get to a total of 20 years of service with the Cabs organization. I consider myself fortunate to have marched when Jimmy Costello was in his prime and when the Cabs won three straight DCA championships in the 1970s. I see you were with the Royals Airs in 1966. I was at the 1966 Dream as a fourteen year old kid and was awed by one of the greatest shows I ever witnessed. I could not even talk after that show! Good luck to you and hope your back holds up! Steve

You do have to understand that when the Caballeros Alumni started in 1995, most of the members had not played in over 20 years. Some of these guys were older and played during the 1950s and 1960s with Hawthorne. I played with the Caballeros in the 70s and was tickled pink to be able to play with these guys, who were Caballeros I had seen playing as a kid, with the Alumni corps. These guys made an all out effort to play and I could care less if it was dirty. One member, who was suffering from lung cancer, played with the corps as long as he physically could. The first 5 years of the Cabs Alumni existence membership was closed to just former Caballeros. As the older guys left due to age and passing away, it became more difficult to recruit from the ranks of former members and the corps was gradually opened up to those who played with other corps. There were many who jumped from other alumni corps and thus the Alumni corps of today.

Fran: Hang in there! The body has a wonderful way of healing itself. My Dad had a massive stroke after having hip surgery and we were told by the doctors he had no chance. Unfortunately, some brain damage did occur that affected his eyesight but the paralysis and any other effects disappeared over time. Barb is still young and the fact her brain function is intact, the paralysis will disappear. Of course prayers also did help him as well. Give my regards to all your family and Cheryl and I will pray for all of you. Your faith in God will help you through this. Steve

Frank and John: Sounds like sour grapes, vintage 1972, to me! If anything it was a tossup between us and Skyliners but for us to be in fifth place at 72 DCA Finals? I don't think so. We were like a marching machine at Prelims and Finals that year. It was the Crusaders just narrowly beating us at American Legion Nationals that turned it around for us. As I have mentioned before, we worked our tails off from the end of July of 72 and we steadily rose in the standings. We peaked at the right time because we had a huge turnover from 1971 and it was this corps that was the basis for the great seasons of 1973-1977. I do agree that we were pretty friendly with Rochester though and I do not want to get into a pissing contest over something that happened 35 years ago. It's in the books and it is done! Peace to all! Amen! 1972 DCA Championships September 3 - Roosevelt Stadium - Jersey City, New Jersey 1 Hawthorne Caballeros 90.60 2 New York Skyliners (1.0 Pen.) 89.75 3 Reading Buccaneers 88.65 4 Tie - Rochester Crusaders 88.20 4 Tie - Connecticut Hurricanes 88.20 6 Les Diplomates 82.35 7 Yankee Rebels 80.45 8 Long Island Sunrisers 76.00 9 Hamburg Kingsmen 74.30 10 Pittsburgh Rockets 73.90 11 Burlington Commanders 63.15 12 Rhode Island Matadors 58.95

Hi John: We did not play the soprano effect in 1972 in Patton. As we went backfield, it was basically baritones playing. As we turned back the entire horn line played to the stands as we came across the field. I believe before the season started , the soprano effect was in but was removed . You are correct as far as the show being revamped with the OTL revised. The OTL was a medley of a Kerchner original, Portrait of a Dying Matador (?) and Captain from Castille. Siboney was replaced by Sabre Dance. It was a very wild and dynamic season to say the least.

I will confirm it was George Tuthill.

Eric: I know what you are saying. I don't think you will see rehashes in old music due to the differences in drum corps of yesterday and today. Today's drum corps presentations are based on big productions and themes. Everyone has their own preferences. Just be thankful there are alumni corps that can recreate the sounds of yesterday and the old and new coexist together.

The "recycled music" is cool, especially when I won three DCA Championships playing it and then again playing it with the Caballeros Alumni for ten years.

I remember the year of the noreaster. As we came down the turn into the waterfront, from the drumline I could see the color guard flags suddenly veering from the wind. I remember getting blasted in the face with a cold wind and rain. That was the nastiest parade I ever marched in.

Hi Mike: When we were offered to do the Steelers-Dolphins game in 72, Cos pooled the corps. No one wanted to ride the bus to Pittsburgh to perform on New Year's Eve so COs told the Steelers we wouldnot be coming to Pittsburgh. When told why no one wanted to do it, the Steelers offered to charter a plane for us and promised to have us back to celebrate New Year's Eve. We flew out of Newark early that morning and were back in Newark by around 7 pm. Nice deal and no bus ride! I remember doing a Redskin game in 1971 and staying at Fort Belvoir in Virginia the night before the game. We did Giant games at Yankee Stadium, the Yale Bowl and at Shea Stadium in 1975 as well as Jet games.

But you know what? It's all in the past and it's over. It's fun to debate it and also to be able to write about those times because they were truly memorable and I would never trade the era of drum corps that I marched in with another. The rivalries were intense and made it that much fun. .

I have collaborated with some of my Caballero bretheren and they wanted me to mention 1971. They want to know why you don't mention 1971 and the judging discrepancy that cost the Caballeros the 71 Championship. Joe Morello and the other drum judge were close on all the other corps except the Caballeros, where there was a wide gap between the two. Hmm, something smelled rotten. 1975? One tenth difference but no way Sky should have won that show. I assume the pummeling we heaped on you in 73 and 74 was too much.

Mike: Yes he was an English teacher now that you mention it. I remember him working on his thesis on one of our lengthy bus rides. I also remember him reading some heavy literary works as well. Artie and Al came to Hawthorne the same time prior to the 1972 season.

Mike: Jack Pratt came to Hawthorne after the 1971 season. In fact, he wrote the last drum solo in 1972 which is still played by the Alumni corps. He stayed with Hawthorne through the 70s. He was a very unique character. I believe I once spoke to you regarding Art Bouvier and Al Nichols, two of several Garfield Cadets who came to Hawthorne after the 1971 season.

Jeff: I marched with Cabs, was in Chicago, was in the drum line and there were no watered down parts. George Tuthill and Jack Pratt worked with all the sections. I was in the "tenor" (double conga section) and the only major change to the repertoire was replacing Siboney with Sabre Dance during the season. In fact, the drum book for Sabre Dance was more difficult than Siboney. I believe that change was made three weeks before Schenectady. Look at the Prelim scores, there were no penalties there and we beat Sky by over a point. The supposed source from our our drumline who mentioned the watered down parts was the same guy who was razzing Sky's drum line during retreat at Schenectady and was pulling people's chains with that story. If Mike wants to believe that, he is entitled to but I am just stating what I knew being a member of Cabs that year.

1972 DCA Championships September 3 - Roosevelt Stadium - Jersey City, New Jersey 1 Hawthorne Caballeros 90.60 2 New York Skyliners (1.0 Pen.) 89.75 3 Reading Buccaneers 88.65 4 Tie - Rochester Crusaders 88.20 4 Tie - Connecticut Hurricanes 88.20 6 Les Diplomates 82.35 7 Yankee Rebels 80.45 8 Long Island Sunrisers 76.00 9 Hamburg Kingsmen 74.30 10 Pittsburgh Rockets 73.90 11 Burlington Commanders 63.15 12 Rhode Island Matadors 58.95 Prelims 1 Hawthorne Caballeros 91.25 2 Reading Buccaneers (Tie) 89.90 2 New York Skyliners (Tie) 89.90 4 Rochester Crusaders 88.05 5 Connecticut Hurricanes 87.70 6 Yankee Rebels 85.20 7 Les Diplomates 84.55 8 Hamburg Kingsmen 79.90 9 Sunrisers 78.75 10 Pittsburgh Rockets 76.05 11 Burlington Commanders 71.10 12 Rhode Island Matadors 70.15 13 New Bedford Whalers 63.80 14 Bonnie Scots 61.45 15 Boston Renegades 59.75

In 1972, on December 31, the Caballeros played halftime at Three Rivers Stadium for the AFC Championship game between the Steelers-Dolphins. The year the Dolphins went undefeated.