elphaba01

"Pre DCI" The 1969 VFW Prelims had several non finalists destined for greatness. Madison Scouts (On the way back from a dismal mid sixties), 27th Lancers, as well as Santa Clara. Going even farther back WAY back in 1962 VFW Prelims saw such "Legends in Waiting" as the Casper Troopers, St Josephs of Batavia, Blue Rock, Skokie Vanguard and the Rockford Phantom Regiment finish out of Finals. Elphaba WWW

"Horlick Field": Racine Wisconsin. It is one of THE most famous venues in drum corps. Alan Karls, retired DCI judge and Racine Scout has actually written a BOOK about it called "Drums Along the Foundry" giving the history of drum corps shows held there going all the way back into the 1950's. Our cross town rival St Raphael's Buccaneers competed there in the Racine Scouts show in 1962 on their way to VFW Nationals in Minn MN. Elphaba WWW

"Brassmen's Penalty": I "Heard" that the Brassmen's penalty was a timing penalty due to a malfunction with their drill instructors watch. It was dropping several seconds from each minute, which resulted in the problem and the resulting costly penalty. They seemed to recover rather well as they beat several of the WO Finalist's at the next days Danny Thomas Invitational. Elphaba WWW

"Name Change Anyone": Pre DCI: The Alamo Rangers became the Chicago Royal Airs, winners of the 1965 VFW, CYO and American Legion national Championships. The Sunnyvale Sparks evolved into the Santa Clara Vanguard. I believe the Blue Devils Drum & Bell Corps turned into the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps. Elphaba WWW

"Start at the Bottom:" Denver's Blue Knights started "Way Down" and worked themselves into a "Top Twelve" finisher. Going "Way Back" Hutchinson KS Skyriders made it into the "Top Twelve" after years of struggle. Elphaba WWW

"Competitive Season" 1964 comes to mind. Boston Crusaders won CYO (The inaugural), St Kevins Emerald Knights (In a GREAT late season comeback) won the National Dream, Racine Kilties won VFW, (Talk about an "Upset"), Chicago Royal Airs won the World's Fair Championship, Chicago Cavaliers won the World Open., and Garfield Cadets won the Legion Nationals. All of the above competed against each other at the VFW Nationals, and several other contests prior to and after the Veterans Championship. As far as "Knock down drag Nationals prelims" go, 1964, 66 and 1969 were spectacular. Great memories. Elphaba WWW

"Indoor Shows": Bridgeport CT was the site of several indoor "Standstill" shows way back in the day. I remember St Raphael's show at the Klien in 1964 which was actually a standstll CONTEST that Blessed Sacrament won, and a a big junior-senior show at Notre Dame HS in early 1965 that included almost all the "City' units as well as the Connecticut Yankees. There were most likely several more.... (Andy?) With all the junior corps in Fairfield County, there was a bevy of competition color guards, and the parent units usually hosted a contest that would feature a standstill exibition by the corps. Bullard Havens HS was usually the venue for shows held by the PAL Cadets, St Ann's, and St Raphael's. Elphaba WWW

"Wonderful Time In Drum Corps": INDEED!!!!!!!!!! Piling into a car and riding off to Hedges Stadium or Bullard Havens Tech to watch the PAL Cadets, or to the US Naval Reserve at Seaside to watch St Raphael's Buccaneers, over to Stratford to watch the Yankees, or up Route 8 to catch the Connecticut Hurricanes, A truly 'Wonderful time in Drum Corps'. Elphaba WWW

"Back to the Sixties"; St Kevin's Emerald Knights had a GREAT female concert DM in the early 1960's. Her name was Barbara Bergdoll. Her brother "Buzzy" Bergdoll was their great French Horn soloist, and her Dad, Frank "Buddy" Bergdoll was St Kevin's horn instructor and music arranger. Elphaba WWW

"New Name": Thinking of your geographaical location and it's connection to the Civil War-War Between the States, how about "The Stonewall Brigade", after the troops of Confederate general Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. The Brigade was renowned for it's marching speed, and was sometimes revered to as "Jackson's Foot Cavalry". Elphaba WWW

"Pieces of the Drum Corps Pie": Welcome to the new normal. Thank god for Fleetwood, Stetson Richmond, the old PBS broadcasts, and EBay. Elphaba WWW

"1964 VFW National": Thanks so much for the link. Loved the picture of the PAL Cadets at the inspection line!!!!!!! Elphaba WWW

"New York Corps": Although not a "NYC" corps upstate St Joseph's had a good placement at 1964 VFW Nationals Finals, and then got hammered out of WO Finals by several of the corps they (Racine & Madison Scouts, Troopers, Bridgeport PAL Cadets). Anyone out there in cyberspace know what happened? Andy? Elphaba WWW

"Merry Christmas": TO ALL!!!! And to ALL a good night!!!!!!!!! Elphaba WWW

"Maria": Hawthorne Caballeros in 1990. Elphaba WWW

"St Catherine's Queensmen": You nailed it. Over the winter of 1960-1961 they learned an almost entirely new program from Joe Genero, and featured baritone legend Billy Hightower in their concerts of "Tin Roof Blues" and "Black Bottom". They had a stellar season with wins over Garfield Cadets and tied Blessed Sacrament at season's end. Elphaba WWW

Mergers: What ever happened to the Boise Potatoes? Understand they mergeed with the St Sixtus Purple Dragons and became the St Sixtus Purple Potatoes......)) Elphaba WWW

Mergers: Vauge memories of Dumont Police Cadets and Our Lady of Lourdes Cadets merging with Fairlawn Police Cadets and pieces of several other North Jersey corps for a HUGE enytry at the 1964 World Open. 1964 Cihcago' Spartans were a merger corps of Morton Grove Cougars and the Chi-Angels. I believe it lasted one year and then folded. Skokie Vanguard benefited from that merger coming unstuck. Bridgeport CT's two big guns St Raphael's Buccnaeers and PAL Cadets attempted a 1968 late season merger but it failed. (Andy Lisko can give chapter and verse on this one".) Many more mergers in senior and junior corps. Northern Thunder can no doubt name them all!!!!!!! Elphaba WWW

"Yuletide Greetings": Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to all!!!!!!!!!! Elphaba WWW

"F Troop": Sgt. Major Morgan O'Rourke from "F Troop". (Forrest Tucker). Elphaba WWW

"Keith Markey": Probably at LEAST 20 YEARS ahead of his time. I was lucky enough to be in Bridgeport back in the late 1960's when the USAFA corps did the exhibition at the Barnum, and heard and saw them at several USAFA Academy football games. Several of our Royal Lancer guys marched with them in the middle 1960's also. Incredible arrangements, incredible talent. Elphaba WWW

"Lucky to Have Drum Corps at All": Well said (As usual). Although I never had the honor of meeting Mr. Donnelly, or playing any of his music (Our cross town rival St Raphael's Buccaneers did), both Joe Genero and Hy Drietzer who wrote and taught for us in the Royal lancers talked about him often as well as mention Bill Hayes, the Mura's, (One of whom, I understand just died), Frank Bergdoll, , Scotty Chapell, and several others whose names escape me. Elphaba WWW

"Interesting?": VERY INTERESTING!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!!!!!!! Elphaba WWW

"Drum Corps died in 1971!!!!!!" I stand corrected. My crystal ball needs some new batteries,.............. Elphaba WWW