Church sponsored corps folk needed for a DCI.org article

[Paq]

St. John's Girls in the 50s and 60s was sponsored by St. John's College which, at the time, was the only Catholic HS in the City of Brantford. Oddly the twist happened when a second Catholic HS (named Providence) opened in Brantford in the late 60s and it was an all girls school, leaving St. John's as an all boy school. So funnily, St. John's All Girls Drum Corps was sponsored by an all boy HS. We wore the school's colours, green and white and were given the school as a practice facility and were told how short we could wear our skirts (in the early years). This of course started to fall apart by the late 60s and big time by the early 70s.

[Puppet]

Back in the 50's and the 60's every parish either had a drum and bugle corps, band, or drill team.

The parishioners welcomed the activity will open arms. On certain Sunday's there would be a special collection for the corps towards uniforms, instruments,

etc.

The kids in the corps would pay dues ($l.00 per week), and they would also be selling chances on a "case of cheer"!!!!!

Quite a few parish's would have a bingo once a month. Just imagine gambling in the Catholic Church!!!!

CODI

Ahh - FUNDING!

We paid no dues at St. Rita's and the church wouldn't allow us to run a Bingo on Church grounds. So we rented a real "bingo hall." It was a renovated Movie theater in a place called Ridgewood Queens and seated about 1,500 people. Every Thursday night that first winter, it was packed and we used the proceeds to outfit the corps, pay for our instruments and all new equipment and of course the new uniforms. Calling Bingo was my very first announcing gig. We who worked the Bingo took the responsibility very seriously - as you can see.

LOL

Puppet