Northern Thunder

Blessed Sacrament's last contests as a junior corps both came on September 4, 1972....one in Boonton, NJ and the other in Ridgefield Park, NJ.

I cleaned out my drum corps newspapers. Never thought I'd get rid of them, but finally had to do it.

"Go Go Tri-Knockers!", yelled by quite a group in the crowd, can be heard during Geneva's introduction on the U. S. Open record album.

St. Joe was disqualified some time after the contest was held.

https://usobit.com/obituaries-2020/09/daniel-j-dwan-september-14-1939-september-2-2020-age-80/https://usobit.com/obituaries-2020/09/daniel-j-dwan-september-14-1939-september-2-2020-age-80/

I am sorry to hear this news. Jerry was a great enough soloist to get Maynard Ferguson's attention with his performance at the 1979 DCI finals.

And, unfortunately, a black member of the Argonne Rebels was attacked by some white men in an Alabama restaurant while the corps was traveling to Miami for those American Legion Nationals. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17865425/the-hays-daily-news/

You're right about that, Jim.

Best story about drum corps in Vegas....when Las Vegas hosted the 1962 American Legion Nationals, they actually wanted to set off an atomic explosion to signal the start of the contest. DCI did hold an outdoor show in Vegas in the summer of 1981.

Truer words were never spoken!

In the thousands of contests I have documented over the years, I did see a contest with a 3-way tie for first place. I seem to recall it was in the early 60s, possibly in Wisconsin. Searching for it would be quite time-consuming.

The two corps merged in 1976, becoming the Buckeye Caballaros. They were known by that name until they folded after 1984.

Oops...wrong quote

Don't forget Genghis Barbie, the all-female horn quartet.

Here you go, Keith: August 9, 1972 Marion Cadets--78.20 Cardinals--69.40 Grenadiers--62.45 Mello-Dears--59.60 Royal Coachmen--49.20