GUARDLING Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 (edited) It is really strange seeing a shako without an eagle. I just always took it for granted that they have one. I think I remember BITD there were some with some kind of a sunburst but do remember most with the eagle. The West Point head gear all had the eagle. The military connections to drum corps BITD may have something to do with it all Edited June 16, 2014 by GUARDLING 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NakedEye Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 I think I remember BITD there were some with some kind of a sunburst but do remember most with the eagle. The West Point head gear all had the eagle. The military connections to drum corps BITD may have something to do with it all There were only a few choices for many, many years: the eagle, the sunburst thing and possibly a lyre. As I recall, there started being a few more choices in the '90s and then when FJM took off, they started coming out with some different stuff. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quietcity Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 (edited) I honestly don't know if there's a major "story" behind it, but my understanding is the eagle has been there since pretty much the beginning (if I'm wrong, let me know). It doesn't really matter if it never comes back, but I always liked the fact that no matter how crazy BD went with their uniforms, the eagle emblem was always on the shako. I'm not a traditionalist, and BD can do whatever they want as far as I'm concerned ... but I like having some sort of little connection to the past. As for the full uniform: I'll reserve judgement for when I see it live, but that picture makes it look milquetoast. Looking at some old DCI yearbooks. Sure enough, in 1975, BD has an eagle on their shako, and this is before their open tuxedo look. However, my guess is that the eagle has no particular symbolism to BD. The eagle is /was simply a very common shako motif from way back. Here are others rocking' the shako /eagle look: 1975 Cavies (puffy sleeves too); 1975 Garfield Cadets; 1975 Freelancers; 1975 Royal Crusaders; 1973 Anaheim Kingsmen; 1973 Des Plaines Vanguard...I could go on and on. So, sure, BD has used the eagle for a long time. But special significance, or just habit? Any BD person know? (oh, and the sunburst was a distant second choice: Argonne Rebels, Guardsmen, couple others had it.) Edited June 16, 2014 by quietcity 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seen-it-all Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 (edited) To be fair, if the Cadets were to come out this year with their standard West Point style uniform and no eagle on the shako, I would probably be a bit more put off. Even if that specific detail on the uniform hasn't been given any type or special meaning or importance to their members (I don't know if it has or hasn't), that particular uniform would look odd without it, IMO. Edited June 16, 2014 by seen-it-all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spandy Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Phantom's rumored uniform change is now confirmedQuite the contrast between the two looks. IMO if the transition is done well, it could be really effective. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NakedEye Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Looking at some old DCI yearbooks. Sure enough, in 1975, BD has an eagle on their shako, and this is before their open tuxedo look. However, my guess is that the eagle has no particular symbolism to BD. The eagle is /was simply a very common shako motif from way back. Here are others rocking' the shako /eagle look: 1975 Cavies (puffy sleeves too); 1975 Garfield Cadets; 1975 Freelancers; 1975 Royal Crusaders; 1973 Anaheim Kingsmen; 1973 Des Plaines Vanguard...I could go on and on. So, sure, BD has used the eagle for a long time. But special significance, or just habit? Any BD person know? (oh, and the sunburst was a distant second choice: Argonne Rebels, Guardsmen, couple others had it.) It was the band uniform companies' equivalent to Henry Ford's statement: "you can have your Model T in any color you want, as long as it's black." If you wanted anything other than the few options, you had to make it yourself. Magic did that, with a thing we called the "hood ornament," a gold spike that was placed in front of the plume. It was originally cardboard, and then in '97 cut, folded sheet aluminum with metallic fabric hot glued over it (better name would have been "lightning rod"). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeN Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Phantom's rumored uniform change is now confirmed Quite the contrast between the two looks. IMO if the transition is done well, it could be really effective. Yikes. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjeffeory Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Traditions are made to be broken. Then everyone is generic and without identity. BORING Homogenization! I'm more of the school of thought where traditions are very important, and it's knowing which traditions to break that's important. This uniform is fine for them, and I kinda just want all the corps to go wild this year and see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikespeed Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Phantom's rumored uniform change is now confirmed Quite the contrast between the two looks. IMO if the transition is done well, it could be really effective. Are you KIDDING me, Phantom? I expect this from BD, but not from you! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregverdino Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 (edited) I kinda just want all the corps to go wild this year and see what happens. Ask and you shall receive? For more pictures of Phantom - scroll down @DrumCorpsFan Edited June 16, 2014 by gregverdino Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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