BRASSO Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 (edited) If you've (I mean "all of you" you) never read it, it's well worth a half hour or so. http://starofindiana.com/history/rec5.html this was written by Bill Cook, but not in the 90's. It was a retrospective written years later by Bill Cook of his recollections of years before. One would think from reading Bill Cook's ( a great philanthropist and human being ) memoirs here re. Jim Mason that Jim designed a vengeful show for 93 as a frustration with the audience of 1992 to his Patriotism show. But nothing coold be further from the truth. The '93 show was written in hopes of challenging the Star performers and in hopes of winning a DCI Title, period. If Jim Mason was " upset with DCI audiences ", then logically it follows that he would leave DCI... never to return again to have his shows presented to DCI audiences... But what DID he do ( thats speaks to what JIM.. himself... was thinking ). Mason did an audience friendly Brass Theatre collaboration with Canadian Brass, then did an audience friendly follow up with the theatre production " BLAST". Mason later came back to DCI. What Corps did he come back to ? Well, he came back to the audience friendly Madison Scouts. Ask ourselves what type of show did he help design with the Madison Scouts the last couple of years ? Were these shows the type of shows where Jim Mason did not fully appreciate, respect and value the audience ? Why would Jim Mason be mad with audiences when there is nothing in his years of work that speaks to his distain for audiences ? Jim Mason has had issues with the JUDGING System of DCI. Both now and in the past. We know this. How do we know this ? Because he introduced as a proposal as recently as at last year's DCI Winter Meetings that the DCI judging format introduce his recommended " Entertainment Caption " as a new separate caption. (proposal not adopted ). Jim's proposal can only be viewed as an appreciation of audiences, not a rejection or a distain for audiences. Thats what we should take away from the career of Jim Mason... an appreciation of audiences, Bill Cook's retrospective memoirs notwithstanding. And my guess, Mason's career long appreciation for audiences will once again be found in the 2013 Madison Scouts show design that he has in store for national audiences next year as well. Edited August 17, 2012 by BRASSO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lincoln Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 (edited) It needed massive visual editing. Way too much going on. Too many silk changes! Too many stars in the drill! Too much Betsy Ross all over everything! Too much chaos in Amber waves, with scrims, flags of many nations, stalks of wheat, etc. etc.! Then ending with the ultimate "too too much" - the gigantic scrim featuring a sparkly Statue of Liberty (of questionable appearance) opened up in front of what was an already busy ending of American Flag drill with sparkly spinning silver stars. I'm exhausted just writing about it. The music was nice, so if they had cut out at least 40% of the clutter and simplified it all, it probably would have been great. IMO, Phantom '92 was even more over the top. It was like "Bob Guccione" meets the 1812 Overture. Edited August 17, 2012 by LincolnV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NakedEye Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 IMO, Phantom '92 was even more over the top. It was like "Bob Guccione" meets the 1812 Overture. LOL We used to refer to that one as "Cloth World's Newest Location." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Boo Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 ... Mason loves all audiences.... DCI or otherwise. He wrote the Star of Indiana music, ( including 92,93 ) and I'm glad he is back after" BLAST" and writing terrific fan friendly music now with the Madison Scouts. Jim Prime wrote almost all of Star's music and Robert W. Smith wrote Madison Scouts' music since 2010. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Boo Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 (edited) The notion that you think Jim Mason ever wrote a brass book for Star too funny for words. 1987 Circus Show. Jim wrote "Barnum and Bailey's Favorite." I have that on word from Jim himself. PS: I don't remember regarding the rest of the show, but he may have also done "Thunder and Blazes." Someone out there will remember. Edited August 17, 2012 by Michael Boo 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRASSO Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 (edited) Jim Prime wrote almost all of Star's music and Robert W. Smith wrote Madison Scouts' music since 2010. Yes. We sat right beside Jim Prime and chatted at the 2005 Quarters, where we all marveled at the Crossmen's Quarters music show performance that later unfortunately was deemed just short to keep the Crossmen in Finals( 13th) that year. Jim has a natural fondness for Pennsylvania roots Corps and was hoping they'd make it in that year. My understanding was that Jim Mason selected both the show theme AND the Music for Star in the 90's, and then Jim Prime then wrote the brass charts for the music that Mason selected. But who knows, its possible that I might've been wrong on these two's role responsibilities they had there at Star in the early 90's, Michael. If so, I stand corrected. Edited August 17, 2012 by BRASSO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hostrauser Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 92/93 Star is why, to this day, I think having the crowd involved in the scoring in any way, shape, or form is an absolutely horrendous idea. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRASSO Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 (edited) Wandering a bit off topic here, but Bill Cook was also passionate about preservation of historic places. Perhaps the best know of these is the West Baden Springs Hotel in French Lick, Indiana (home of Larry Bird). Eighty years ago, the hotel was a wonder of the modern world, and a playground for the rich and famous. After the stock market crash in 1929 the place emptied out almost literally over night, and never regained it's prior stature. Bill Cook was central to not only saving the building, but making it into a modern casino and resort. If one is ever in the area, it's worth checking out. A very cool building. I also think I read or heard somewhere once that Bill Cook... a self made millionaire... at the height of his wealth, was the 2nd or 3rd wealthiest person in the State of Indiana... definately in the top 3 I believe I heard anyway. Edited August 17, 2012 by BRASSO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuStu Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I also think I read or heard somewhere once that Bill Cook... a self made millionaire... at the height of his wealth, was the 2nd or 3rd wealthiest person in the State of Indiana... definately in the top 3 I believe I heard anyway. I think he was consistently No. 1 for many, many years. The only others I believe were his "competition" were brothers Mel and Herb Simon, shopping mall developers and owners of the Indiana Pacers. I think the only other billionaire in the state is Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRASSO Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 (edited) I think he was consistently No. 1 for many, many years. The only others I believe were his "competition" were brothers Mel and Herb Simon, shopping mall developers and owners of the Indiana Pacers. I think the only other billionaire in the state is Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts. Thats pretty impressive if he exceeded these people's wealth there in the state when he was alive. Edited August 17, 2012 by BRASSO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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