PJS53

I bow to your superior memory sir. Hey, I guess we both look pretty hot in this picture huh?

The Green Machine in 74. Average age in the corps was supposed to be 14 or 15, though they looked a lot older than I did when we lined up next to them in retreat. Chrome TDR's. Mmmmmmm. Dang, I get cut out of another picture. I would have been the fourth tympani to the right. Yes, average age of the corps was quite low but probably a little higher than 14 or 15. I believe a lot of the guard and fair number of the hornline would have been pretty young. Drumline was probably not much different age range than most other corps of the time. A few younger guys on cymbals but most of the line in the 18-21 year range. This was my age-out year.

You know, I really don't think it took any longer than the group dismissal (I was going to use the term cluster####) that I've seen in recent years. Each corps knew they had to keep things moving and they left in an orderly fashion to get out of Dodge. I guess we didn't do a whole lot of running around to find and hug friends in other corps back then. Wait a minute, I'm not sure we had any friends in other corps

Excellent points! I have tremendous respect for the sacrafices made by so many of the principles involved in the formation of DCI. The kids in the corps included. I'm sure you would have liked a drive across town to pick up a first place nationals win! As I told a young friend the other day, in those first few years who was even sure this thing would last? Thank God those founders put trust in each other and hung in there. It really is an incredible story.

You know I've often thought the Brass Roots video should be required viewing for new corps members. In additon to Warren's thoughts, George Bonfiglio, Bill Howard, and Dave Kampschorer add their memories. It's amazing these guys actually pulled the whole thing off. When you consider that some even went so far as to put their home mortgages up as collateral it's pretty darn humbling.

Lancer Legend, you made some very thoughtful comments and points well taken. I am curious if you would elaborate on your comments about Warren. No slam from me coming I'm just not quite sure what you mean. Thanks

While "director" is not exactly the current title. I'd have to give props to "The Old Man" Don Warren. Been keeping us boys out of (serious) trouble for 57 years.

Despite the intense competitive spirit we all have, there are numerous stories about corps coming to each others aid in times of need. Do you have an interesting story to share? One of the oldies that I remember hearing about is that when Garfield Cadets (then Holy Name) lost their sponsorship with the church they had to come to AL Nationals in Chicago without drums. The Cavaliers gave Garfield their drums to use and the Cadets ended up beating the Cavaliers on their own drums! As I heard it this act of goodwill started a friendship that lasted between the two corps for years to come. I believe that was probably the 1958 season. I know I've seen corps coming off each others busses over the years (I think Bill Cook was a great one for helping out in that regard). Kind of funny to see some other uniforms come pouring off a Star of Indiana bus. Share your story please.

I say the next kid who bags on "old school drum corps" gets that Madison photo shoved in his face.

I was in the Twin Cities on business this week so made it to the Brookyn Center showing. No sound problems that I'm aware of but I wouln't have minded it a bit louder. Anyhow, it beat the heck out of sitting in a motel room alone watching TV reruns and trash. Lots of Minn. Brass folks around as well as good representations of Madison Scouts, and Blue Stars. Sorry I missed meeting Mike Oldmeyer. Here are a few random thoughts. Anaheim in 74 was a great show but frankly I'm a little surprised that Santa Clara 74 didn't edge them out. Great to see that show again and in addition to the already mentioned great guard they had a pretty smokin' drumline that year too. Glad they made the cut. Madison 75 will probably go down in history as one of the landmark shows of all time. The real emergence of "the Madison Sound". Ditto with BD 76 for lots of different reasons. Danny Boy still puts a lump in my throat. Sure wish we could regain some of the sense of humor that was lost when VK left us. Phantom Regiment had a gorgeous horn sound in 96 and I don't use that word very often. I saw the Star 91 show a bunch that year but watching it again gave me a new appreciation for the whole package they put together. Cavaliers 2002 show suffers the most from seeing it on the screen. There's just so much going on that is impossible to catch on film. I had a great time and kept hoping I'd run into some corps bum I knew so we could "bond". The crowd was very well behaved and gave appropriate applause to all corps.I did have a nice conversation with a young man who plays snare for Chops Inc. prior to the show starting. Thanks to DCI for doing this and I hope they plan new things to bring to us in the future.

That's funny! I guess "Iowa" is probably the most recognizeable street beat both in terms of longevity and popularity. I always liked the one that went: "chugga dugga boom wack diddy dum dum chutta boom diddy doodle de...." :)

1973 was the last year of Cavalier hall on Kedzie Blvd. in the Logan Square area of Chicago. It was actually our second hall since the original hall burned down just prior to nationals in 1967 (some othe Cavalier historian can fill you in on those details). The last few years on Kedzie the neighborhood had been somewhat deteriorating. One of the durties after rehearsal was to sweep and clean the hall. This was assigned to corps members on a rotating basis. I always remember the drum major telling us to sweep up carefully around any winos that might be sleeping on the steps leading up to the hall. :P

I've been trying to keep up with this thread every few days and I can't tell you how many great memories it brings back. Out of curiousity has anyone posted a photo of the Miami (Florida) Vanguard? If I remember right, they were a pretty good corps that declined shortly into the DCI era. Prior to that I think they appeared in a bunch of Nationals and though never in the top contenders were still a very respectable unit.

I'm excitedly optimistic but reserve a degree of skepticism. Sure would be nice to see the return of one of the classiest corps that ever took the field.

Thanks Rob, I'll see what I can do. I have a malfunctioning scanner so I'm going to try to borrow one from a friend and go from there.

To Uncle Z, Rob, and Paul "Never Been Under" Milano: Thanks for the shout out boys. Yes, I'm alive and well and living in St. Germain, WI. where it is a balmy -8 degrees this morning. Been traveling a bunch since the first of the year and just haven't had a chance to play much lately. That was a great shot of Brejcha. I'll have to let him know he's a DCP celebrity! If I can get an old photo scanned I'll try to post it of the whole tymp line from 73 which includes the late Kurt Groh. He's in that 74 shot too of course but to tell the truth I thought I was the guy on the far left in that shot! Too far to tell for sure. This is a great thread and brings back lots of memories of the glory days. By the way Paul, I saw Lenny Szulic last weekend. He's still doin' it with the Royal Airs this year.

Most of the unis already mentioned are/were great but I don't think I saw a mention of the original Blue Stars uniform. They were pretty cool with the short sleeves and gautlets, white crossed belt etc. And do I need to remind you of the infamous "hot pants" colorguard?

Very cool indeed. I believe Gadd says it was based on an old solo he had learned called "Crazy Army".

73, Really? Well thanks for the nice thoughts. About the only thing I remember about that performance was the feeling that we had poured about everything we had into that show and it just wasn't enough. Even though we had a "never say die" attitude I think we all instinctively knew we would be sitting out finals. The 74 prelims show however was a different story. That one's been told many times and still stands as my personal best Cavalier performance. We were fighting for our lives that day.

Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd was played every day on tour. For some unknown reason I also remember Paul Simon's Kodachrome and the Here Comes Rhymin' Simon album but I think that was a personal favorite not necessarily a corps choice.

No doubt. Paul is a heck of a guy and a Cavalier in every sense of the word.

Hey buddy, just screwing around with you. Leo hasn't needed a therapist appointment in a long time with advent of new meds!

Thanks for sharing the story Dan. I never knew that whole sequence of events. I always just thought of it as a show of brotherhood with a great competitor. Besides that it is a GREAT song and really lends itself to male choir well. Splooie and MYNWA!

Mariners were a really fun corps to watch. My wife who was a guard sgt. for the CYO Band (Chicago) at the time used to emulate some of the sabre tricks he did. That was before the days of sabre being a common piece of guard equipment.

Mitch, maybe you should just stick to the hornline threads. Now Leo needs a trip to the therapist too!