royal-air canada

This picture might have been on the cover of Drum Corps Digest in 1966 but it is not of the 1966 Corps. I marched with the Chicago Royal-Airs then. I'm guessing maybe 1964 or earlier from the female Drum Major shown. Notice our corps president Mr. Sie Lurye (R.I.P) standing on the side of the street in between the third tenor drummer from the right and the third snare drummer from the left to the right of the bell of a soprano horn. (Facing the picture)

Toronto, Canada Second Signals (Sig's) 1926 I believe. Also known as Canada's Marching Ambassadors.

My first year was 1961 with the Stockton, California Delta Thunderbirds Junior Drum And Bugle Corps.

My greatest moments of the 2000's were marching a full field show again after a 34 year hiatus in 2002 at the DCI Championships in Madison, Wisconsin and the DCA Championships in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 2002,2003,2004,and 2005 with the Chicago Royal-Airs Reunion Corps and then practicing for two years and again marching a full field show with the Anaheim Kingsmen (KAC) Alumni Corps at the DCI Championships at the "Rose Bowl" in Pasadena, California in 2007. Go Big Blue's!

I don't know if this has been announced anywhere else but for anyone who might be interested in seeing some good rudimental drummers. The KAC Kingsmen Alumni Corps (Drumline) will be doing two performances tomorrow Sunday December 13th at 10:30 am and 12:30 pm at the Church of the Southland in Anaheim, California. They will be doing a performance of Josh Groban's "Little Drummer Boy" accompanied by the Church of the Southland's Worship Band and vocalist. More information can be found at their website xkingsmen.com. P.S. As of this time there will be at least 12 of the snares who marched in the Kingsmen (KAC) 2007 performance at the DCI Championships in Pasadena in the "Rose Bowl" as well as Bass Drums, Marching Tymps etc.

Since your mentioning the Anaheim Kingsmen, for anyone interesting in hearing some good rudimental drummers the (KAC) Kingsmen Alumni Corps (drum line) will be performing Josh Groban's "Little Drummer Boy" twice tomorrow, 10:30 am and 12:30 pm at the Church of the Southland in Anaheim, California with the Southlands Worship Band and vocalist . More information can be had at the Kingsmen website xkingsmen.com. P.S. The count is now up to at least 12 of the snares, from the Kingsmen's 2007 performance at the DCI Championships in at the 'Rose Bowl" in Pasadena, as well as Bass Drums, the marching Tymp's ect.

If your referring to that defending 1965 CYO, American Legion, and VFW National Champion Corps from Chicago so as not to be confused with the all girl corp from back east or the San Francisco bay area corps with a simular name the correct spelling is "Chicago Royal-Airs".

It was the next year after the I.C. Revere protest at VFW Nationals in 1966, after driving nonstop all the way up from the VFW Nationals in New Orleans to compete in the American Legion Nationals in Boston that the Legion got the deserved sit down in protest from us in the Chicago Royal-Airs when the Legion demanded a $1.00 head tax from each marching member to be able to enjoy the privilege to march in their National Competition! Not from us would they get it! Instead Sie payed the fee then we were told to go up in the stands where we sat down in protest in uniform and watched the show. Marched a few days later at CYO National in Boston for a more deserving organization.

Hey Mike, Thanks for remembering one of my old early California corps. The Joaquin Caballeros. Do you remember the name of that song?

Paul Milano, Drummer with the Chicago Cavaliers and Chicago Royal-Airs Alumni Corps marched in this Corps.

Cathy did you also have a sister named Jane who marched in the Vanguard guard?

The Chicago Royal-Airs bass drummers and the cymbal players usually wore satin blouses for various reasons. But not always.

How about the wall of sound from that 60 man horn line of the 1967 Chicago Royal-Airs. It was the largest hornline out on the field back in those days. Just hearing again Chicago "My kind of town" fanfare followed by "Ballyhoo March" off the line still brings shivers to me. Good times......back in the day.

Went to a Halloween party last Saturday it was a "True Blood" party and of curse everyone dressed appropriately as characters from the television show with our viles of blood hanging around our necks as an extra added touch. This next Saturday, Halloween Night, will be marching my fourth consecutively Anaheim Halloween "Spooktacular" Parade with the Anaheim Kingsmen Alumni Corps (KAC). Full Cadet uniforms with blue blinking lights and all as usual. Musical tunes to be played? What else "Mickey Mouse Club" theme" and "March of the Blue Meanies" That should be scary enough in itself! LOL

Any ideas yet on the appropriate music to be played? Might be looking for a soprano (G horn) and a Honor Guard position. How long is the parade route? What is the deadline to sign up by?

Number 2 has the same last name as the original founder of the Anaheim Kingsmen although not related, He did also marched in the 23 man Contra line of the Anaheim Kingsmen Alumni Corps where the sign "Casa de kontra" made it's original debut back during our camps. Although he never marched with the original Anaheim Corps he did march in local California High School marching Bands. The fellow on the end of the right hand side did march with us in the Chicago Royal-Airs Alumni Corps prior to joining the Caballeros Alumni Corps.

So, might there be any other folks out there who might have attended and recorded or taken photos of this show? Again is there anyone out there who might know of a way to enlarge photos off of the old viewmasters cards or know of a place to go and possibly find out? I do own a few old viewmasters but that doesn't help me in this case to be able to see them.

So the challenge to anyone and everyone is .... Is there anyone out there that has figured out how to copy such view master pictures yet? If so let us know here please. Was this picture you put up on here from a view master also? Did anyone else who might have also been with you possibly take any pictures of the event?

The fellow on the right played Contra for the Des Plaines Vanguard and the Chicago Royal-Airs Alumni Corps when they were still marching field shows and on occasion helps out Mr Tom Day by playing for "Bugles Across America".

I believe when I ask Paul Milano about it once before he said he had nothing picture wise regarding the Chicago Royal-Airs only the Cavaliers or something like that and nothing regarding a recording. If I am wrong on this matter in any way please correct me Paul. Jim do you have any other photos from this show especially of the Chicago Royal-Airs?

OMG. I marched in that show with the Chicago Royal-Airs. For years I've been trying to find a recording of that performance to no avail. Anyone know of anyone that might have recorded it? And if so where one might be found? Please reach me with any info at royalaircanada@hotmail.com or on Face Book P.S. By the way folks please that's Chicago Royal-Airs with a Hyphen. Thank you very much. Larry Caro

The Chicago Royal-Airs had a "B" Corps.

Chicago Royal-Airs 1965 ENOUGH SAID!

This corps sure looks NICE Eh! I bet that they would be great representatives from one country to another....and hello to Cathy and all the other Royal-Airs out Chicago way from RA's Larry and Mickey.

I'm sure it would have brought a smile across his face to be able to see and hear the 22 Contra's in the Anaheim Kingsmen Alumni Corps performance of their concert number of "Mambo" from West Side Story, during their show at the DCI Championships in the "Rose Bowl" in 2007. R.I.P. Don.