elphaba01

"Drum Corps Died in 72": I still have the T shirt. Remember it? The Cavalier clown dancing on the tombstone? Elphaba WWW

"The Marching Dead?": As "Bad' as those old VFW and Legion organizations were said to have been, please remember: that's where the activity STARTED. As someone who grew up with Legion and VFW championships at the State and National levels, (1958-1966) we were very lucky to have those titles to shoot for. It seems to be in vogue to badmouth those old Veterans organizations, but please be advised: That's WHERE the DRUM CORPS activity came from. Elphaba WWW

"Other Champions out There": Well said. This is actually a REALLY good post. It's been a long time since I've seen this much commentary after a DCA Championship. "Revolution" in the air? Elphaba WWW

"Philadelphia Story": Indeed, DCA HAS been there before. DCI also with their 75 & 76 Championships at Franklin Field. Philly is no stranger to hosting large influxes of people (They ARE hosting the Pope's visit this year), and providing for DCA's Championship should be well within their capabilities. DCI has (As well as several large Marching Band Groups) held major shows in the area with contests at WCU's Stadium complex and the Union's stadium in Chester. Most of the Eastern seaboard units are within a reasonable distance, and the Southern and Mid West units would be no worse off than before. Just a thought. Elphaba WWW

"Cab's Judge Hunt": Don't know about this Championship but "Back In the Day", the US Marshal's Service would have had the vans waiting and escorted the "Adjudicators" straight into Witness Protection....... Congrats to all corps who campaigned in 2015....... Elphaba WWW

"Common Corps Tune": Another 1965 "Common" number was "It Had Better be Tonight" Both Blessed Sacrament and the recently merged Rochester Grey Knights Post Crusaders used it. Elphaba WWW

"Phenoms": How about "Hello Dolly" in 1964. I remember the Barnum Festival of that year where the only corps that Didn't play it. the New York Skyliners, won the contest. Elphaba WWW

"Grenada": "Grenada" was indeed the "OTL" for St Raphael's in 1962. "Macarena" came back in 1963 as their opening fanfare. My crystal ball of ancient tunes fogged over. "Experiment in Terror" received some VERY disparaging remarks from horn judge Don Angelica (And very bad horn score) at season's end. Elphaba WWW

"Madam Butterfly": St Raphael's did use that number. I remember they learned it half way through the season. Jim Donnelly wrote it. "Opus One" was the second half of their "Concert" feature in 1961. I believe they played "Grenada & Green Eyes" for "Concert" in 1962, and the theme from "Experiment in Terror" in 1963. Elphaba WWW

"Play Misty for Me": St Raphael's first half of the 1961 "Concert" was a tune called "Misty". Hawthorne Caballeros had a really great version of "Captain from Castile" in the early 1960's, but may never had used it. It is on the "Concert" side of the 1961 "Music of the Hawthorne Caballeros" Fleetwood LP. This is a really great thread!!!!!!!!! Elphaba WWW

"Drum Corps was "G" Bugles": Most of the Alumni corps are still using "G" bugles. Scout House, as a junior bugle band carried "Bb", and as an Alumni corps continue to use them. Elphaba WWW

Father Louis DeProfio": I did not personally know him (My great loss) and only got to actually see and meet him when Park City Pride was being formed (And with whom he had a VERY great deal of contact), but the man's reputation in Fairfield County drum corps was HUGE!!!!!!!!!!. Elphaba WWW

"Loretto Knights": Best 24 MAN horn line indeed. Upset Cambridge Caballeros and Boston Crusaders at a show in Ansonia Ct "Way Back" in 1962, and got past a fading St Vincent's Cadets in the finale of 1961. Sadly the corps was folded at 1962 season's final show at Union City NJ along with cross town rival St Catherin of Sienna Queensmen. Both these corps were recorded by Fleetwood Records, in concert (Brass by Night) at the end of 1961. It's one of THE great "Concert" recordings Fleetwood made. Elphaba WWW

"Anchor's Aweigh": I believe Jim Ott taught their horn line. Elphaba WWW

"The Age of Enlightenment": Tony Schlecta was quite the character, in an age of drum corps that was positively filled by them. It is very sad to see that these individuals are long gone. And with them so much of the "Character" of drum corps. That "Roll Call" would include both Hy Drietzer and Joe Genero who taught us in the Lancers, Carmen Cluna, Bob Daniels, "Pepe Nataro", Walter Winkleman, Don Angelica, "Butch" Anderson, Alan Smythe, "Wild Bill" Hooten, Jimmy Russo, Bob BellaRosa, Ralph Silverbrand, the Yankee-Rebels "Stripper", and so many others that I'm sure Andy Lisko could bio. A few years ago, I saw an article written by Al Karls, a former Racine Scout and DCI judge that described the current activity as "Vanilla". Sad to say, it appears he was correct. Elphaba WWW

"Tony the Terrible": 1961, VFW Finals, Miami: The on-the-field brawl between St Marys Majestic Knights and St Vincents Cadets. Tony droned on through the scores, OBLIVIOUS to the "Gang Fight" going on just down the field.. No Fleetwood "Announcement of Scores" band that year as the battle sounds turned up on the mics. 1964: Cleavland: Garfield Cadets slip into VFW Finals with an incorrect Prelims number (Which THEY knew was wrong BTW) keeping the Bridgeport PAL Cadets and Racine Scouts, who had tied in Prelims for 13th place, out of the night show. I believe this happened to St Raphael's Buccaneers two years earlier. Guess Tony had it in for Connecticut units...... 1966: The Prelim numbers shuffle (As described by Andy) that resulted in the famous "Sit In" by IC Reveries at Finals. No doubt there are many more...... Elphaba WWW

"Submit A Bid": HEY!!!! If the old (And legendary) Roosevelt Stadium were still around I would. Talk about a piece of DC History. Even DCA was there in 1972. Elphaba WWW

"Evening With the Corps at Carnegie Hall": I was fortunate to have attended the 1962, 1963 and 1964 " DCN "Evenings" shows. Remember them well. Elphaba WWW

"Drummed Out": This is possibly a "Bounty Jumper". Guys like that "Enlisted" for a "Bounty" paid by another person (Male) that was avoiding combat duty in the Federal Army during the Civil War. When his hair grows back he'll probably "Re-Up" again with a different regiment from a different state, for the "Bounty". Elphaba WWW

"Not Yankee Rebels": Actually this is the infantry unit from Sheridan WY that marches with the Seventh Cavalry drum corps from that city. Elphaba WWW

"Magic in the 1960's": 1963 was our very first year in completion (Ct Royal Lancers). What was possibly our first "Exposure" to 'World Class' junior and senior drum corps was at the Dream Contest. We were the "Intermission" corps between the shows. Can you imagine a "First Year" M&M corps at the DREAM, bookended by St Kevin's Emerald Knights and the New York Skyliners. Many weak knees in those blue Bermudas...... Mine included. Over to you Mr Lisko..... Elphaba WWW

"Mixing It Up in the Park City": Remember the Klien standstill all too well. It was the only time St Ann's ever beat the Royal Lancers. Aside from that, I don't recall Garfield being there. BSGK won, and I believe Selden was runner up. This was Joe Genero's first year with St Raphael's and they previewed his new show that evening. Great memories. Elphaba WWW

"Pop Quiz": Of the corps represented in this picture, which TWO would close their doors at the end of 1962. Can you name the corps in question and the contest venue that saw their demise....... Toss up question: What LINY senior corps benefitted greatly from one of those two corps disbandment..... Elphaba WW

"Boston Garden Standstill 1962": Yes, I was there, yes I was still in St Ann's, and the contest MAY have been before the split. I'm not completely sure of that. We MAY have lost some members. I remember staying until after the Legion State contest. From the pictures Moe Knox put in DCN I can see some of the faces I remember from St Ann's and some of the other kids (The original RL) are not shown. (There is a 1962 picture of RL from the Barnum Parade on the Park City website showing several of former St Anns members) It was a great night of drum corps, with Cambridge upsetting St Kevin's by one half tenth, and the FABULOUS exhibition by Hawthorne. They absoultly blew the place apart. Scores: 93.46 Cambridge Caballeros 93.40 St Kevins Emerald Knights 89.70 I.C. Reveries 85.40 St Raphaels Buccaneers 85.20 Holy Trinity Cadets 83.90 St Anns 83.50 Andrews Sabers 74.00 Milford Spartans Courtesy St Raphaels website Elphaba WWW

"Drum Corps News Qualifier 1962": I actually still have the issue of DCN that this shot appeared in. The contest was a mid-winter standstill hosted by DCN. The top four finishers St Catherin's Queesmen, Blessed Sacrament,, Garfield Cadets and Selden Cadets moved on to the DCN "Finals in New Haven Ct. The DM standing next to Al LaRoca is from the St Catherin's Queensmen. The other "Qualifier was held in Boston MA at the Garden and won by the Cambridge Caballeros. That shows top four included St Kevin's Emarald Knights, IC Reveries and St Raphael's Buccaneers. The Finals of the DCN winter series Garfield Cadets (Who won), Blessed Sacrament, St Kevins Emerald Knights, Cambridge Caballeros, St Catherine's, IC Reveries, Selden Cadets and St Raphaels Buccaneers. This show was held "Back in the Day" when drum corps was a year round activity. Elphaba WWW