Captain88 Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 I was a student at Whitewater at the time, and 1972-1973 was drum corps heaven for me. There were corps practicing EVERYWHERE. Just south of the stadium was a series of football fields. At night, we'd put a sixpack in a cooler and go drum corps window shopping. Corps would be doing run-throughs. We'd watch, say, the Blue Stars run their show on one field. They'd finish their show in that field's end zone. We'd then walk twenty yards to the next field, where Hawthorne was lined up, ready to go. Just terrific. After practice was over, I would go the the local pizza joint nearest the corps - Red Lantern - buy a pitcher for a staff, sit down and have a beer with them. One night it was Argonne. The next night Muchachos. St. Andrews the next night. Out at Whiewater High School in 1973 were the Argonne Rebels and this new corps from Concord, CA that looked a little like Anaheim knockoffs. They scored in the middle 60s at prelims. They looked like a corps on the rise, but I had no idea of what they would become. In 1972, the weather was hot and sticky up to Anaheim, if I recall. The the wind changed, and it got very blustery before a major downpour erupted during the annoucement of scores. My brother was on the field as a photographer for Drum Corps News. He stuffed as many Kingsmen black plumes into his jacket as he could to save them from the rain. Great memories. Those fields are still there to this day 40 years later. I remember practicing on those fields in 89 suffering from a bad sunburn i got the day before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajlemm Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Still, in 1974, I had no idea that DCI existed. I didn't know it existed either...but then again, I was busy drooling in my crib... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barigirl78 Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 DCI Championships were not on the radar for most corps back then. I see only 39 corps competed in prelims. I was in the 507 Hornets and we only competed in our circuit (Eastern States Circuit), whose members were mostly from PA and Southern New Jersey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corps8294 Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Blue Stars '72, the should-have-been champions. Here's to the blue crew from La Crosse for keeping it going after all these years. From DCI to CCI to all the way back up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marchingartist Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 If 1972 was the first DCI Championships, then wouldn't that make this year #41? 1. 1972 2. 1973 3. 1974 4. 1975 5. 1976 6. 1977 7. 1978 8. 1979 9. 1980 10. 1981 11. 1982 12. 1983 13. 1984 14. 1985 15. 1986 16. 1987 17. 1988 18. 1989 19. 1990 20. 1991 21. 1992 22. 1993 23. 1994 24. 1995 25. 1996 26. 1997 27. 1998 28. 1999 29. 2000 30. 2001 31. 2002 32. 2003 33. 2004 34. 2005 35. 2006 36. 2007 37. 2008 38. 2009 39. 2010 40. 2011 41. 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay B Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 DCI Championships were not on the radar for most corps back then. I see only 39 corps competed in prelims. I was in the 507 Hornets and we only competed in our circuit (Eastern States Circuit), whose members were mostly from PA and Southern New Jersey. In fact, if you didn't read the activity papers or mags, or were connected to the activity in some way, you were probably not aware of DCI. I had gone to 70 and 71 VFW, so thought I'd travel to Minneapolis for 72 VFW. Well, there were a lot of fans there wondering where the corps were. That is when I discovered DCI, and I remember being pretty frustrated. Yes, there were only 39 corps at Whitewater, but all the best were there. The Cavies, Argonne, Bridgemen, and Kilts were the only top 12 DCI corps in Minneapolis. It took me until 75 to make a DCI championship. Got to Whitewater for DCI midwest 80 thru 82, and feel it is a pretty good place to watch and listen to drum corps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaporch Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 If 1972 was the first DCI Championships, then wouldn't that make this year #41? 1. 1972 2. 1973 3. 1974 4. 1975 5. 1976 6. 1977 7. 1978 8. 1979 9. 1980 10. 1981 11. 1982 12. 1983 13. 1984 14. 1985 15. 1986 16. 1987 17. 1988 18. 1989 19. 1990 20. 1991 21. 1992 22. 1993 23. 1994 24. 1995 25. 1996 26. 1997 27. 1998 28. 1999 29. 2000 30. 2001 31. 2002 32. 2003 33. 2004 34. 2005 35. 2006 36. 2007 37. 2008 38. 2009 39. 2010 40. 2011 41. 2012 You are correct - this is year 41, thus making it the 40th Anniversary. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin I. Zing Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 Blue Stars '72, the should-have-been champions. Here's to the blue crew from La Crosse for keeping it going after all these years. From DCI to CCI to all the way back up. The ORIGINAL LaCrosse® Blue Stars have such a great and noble history with DCI. That is why it is especially painful to watch them get screwed out of the FINALS this season. It still rubs me the wrong way and I think there is something that smells funny about the way they were treated. Judging by the PRIVATE MESSAGES and E-mails I've received, so do many others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TubaJon Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 The ORIGINAL LaCrosse® Blue Stars have such a great and noble history with DCI. That is why it is especially painful to watch them get screwed out of the FINALS this season. It still rubs me the wrong way and I think there is something that smells funny about the way they were treated. Judging by the PRIVATE MESSAGES and E-mails I've received, so do many others. Bro, do you just set on these forums waiting for someone to bring up the Stars so you can throw in a comment about not making finals? The members and alumni aren't even as frustrated as you it seems. We thank you for your support, but the season is over, and everyone involved with the organization is extremely proud of the season! And there is no reason to take away from another talented corps great return into finals. We will be back next year Mr. Zing, no worries. You just make sure you still have as much enthusiasm when you see the Stars on the field next year and give pleanty of support then. And by the way, we/they are still the ORIGINAL Blue Stars FCO for life! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyboy Posted August 22, 2012 Share Posted August 22, 2012 (edited) In fact, if you didn't read the activity papers or mags, or were connected to the activity in some way, you were probably not aware of DCI. I had gone to 70 and 71 VFW, so thought I'd travel to Minneapolis for 72 VFW. Well, there were a lot of fans there wondering where the corps were. That is when I discovered DCI, and I remember being pretty frustrated. Yes, there were only 39 corps at Whitewater, but all the best were there. The Cavies, Argonne, Bridgemen, and Kilts were the only top 12 DCI corps in Minneapolis. It took me until 75 to make a DCI championship. Got to Whitewater for DCI midwest 80 thru 82, and feel it is a pretty good place to watch and listen to drum corps. I find that quite interesting. Imagine the times before the internet and such, you show up to VFW to see championships in 1972 and most of the corps weren't there....amazing. So the first DCI Champs was Whitewater....and the VFW Champs was Minneapolis? Was VFW before or after DCI Champs? You are correct - this is year 41, thus making it the 40th Anniversary. 1972 was the 1st DCI Champs, so 1973 was the 1st anniversary. Thus 2012 was the 41st Champs, and 40th anniversary. Edited August 22, 2012 by jonnyboy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.