Controversial DCI (Finals) Shows

[denverjohn]

1972 Des Plains Vanguard: 

Excerpts from Hair including Prisoners in *****Town

Protest style sirens referencing police at civil rights demonstrations.

Gang fights (using WWS) and theatrically acting.

 

[MikeD]

3 hours ago, wolfgang said:

As a historical context for your project, either early DCI or pre-DCI, the Madison Scouts had a female play Alice for Alice in Wonderland.

Aside from having a lady in an all-male corps, the introduction of a themed show was itself controversial. Old timers, pkease elaborate.

More than the Scouts in 71.

Garfield in 71 did a Revolutionary Was show, with the 2nd year of the Peace Sign drill. We passed out a printed libretto of the show to fans, a decade prior to Regiment. In 70, our first Peace Sign was formed to "White Rabbit:, and the heads of the VFW hated us,

The Cavies did a partial Circus show, with costumes and movement.

The Brassmen did a themed show featuring all sorts of rock and roll and anti-war stuff.

We all made the Drum Corps News "End of drum corps" articles.

I think the Scouts little girl was the corps director's daughter.

 

[LabMaster]

8 minutes ago, MikeD said:

More than the Scouts in 71.

Garfield in 71 did a Revolutionary Was show, with the 2nd year of the Peace Sign drill. We passed out a printed libretto of the show to fans, a decade prior to Regiment. In 70, our first Peace Sign was formed to "White Rabbit:, and the heads of the VFW hated us,

The Cavies did a partial Circus show, with costumes and movement.

The Brassmen did a themed show featuring all sorts of rock and roll and anti-war stuff.

We all made the Drum Corps News "End of drum corps" articles.

I think the Scouts little girl was the corps director's daughter.

 

And the bellyaching still goes on but for many, their history may not extend this far back. The bitd for many,  could be mid to late 70’s,  and maybe for others it’s the 80’s.  And still others want to stay in the 60’s.  60 years ago.  

[Standrews]

St. Rita's staged an insurgency, complete with rioting, smoke grenades and rifle line in gas masks.

Edited January 31, 2025 by Standrews

[contraguard05]

Wasn't the Cadets singing amen against the rules and a hot topic?

I recall Crown getting some heat(ha) over the Inferno, both for some of the silk designs and the partner choreography. The silks were inspired by art from the time period depicting the second circle of hell - punishment for lust.

BD got hate for a solid 8 years or so starting in 2009 for not doing enough moving and playing or difficult color guard choreography but still placing 1st or 2nd, winning CG many of those years. 

Bluecoats 2017 had Fosse inspired costuming and people thought it was too risque (along with a portion of the commenters making gross comments about performers who were minors).

[Terri Schehr]

2 hours ago, Standrews said:

Nobody comes close to 1971 St. Rita's.

I didn’t see them. I’ll look for a video. 

[Terri Schehr]

1 hour ago, MikeD said:

More than the Scouts in 71.

Garfield in 71 did a Revolutionary Was show, with the 2nd year of the Peace Sign drill. We passed out a printed libretto of the show to fans, a decade prior to Regiment. In 70, our first Peace Sign was formed to "White Rabbit:, and the heads of the VFW hated us,

The Cavies did a partial Circus show, with costumes and movement.

The Brassmen did a themed show featuring all sorts of rock and roll and anti-war stuff.

We all made the Drum Corps News "End of drum corps" articles.

I think the Scouts little girl was the corps director's daughter.

 

Bill Howard’s daughter.  
 

 

[verzephobe]

51 minutes ago, Standrews said:

St. Rita's staged an insurgency, complete with rioting, smoke grenades and rifle line in gas masks.

There’s no way!!!! This will be a GREAT topic to show them if I’m able to get video; thank you so much!!!

[craiga]

I was on tour with BAC 2009 as a volunteer rv driver.   The show was the "Core of Temptation".  The guard uniforms were ...highly effective. We were at a show in or near Fort Walton Beach, FLORIDA  and there were several local church ladies screaming at our souvies crew demanding to speak to the corps director.  They accused us of "mocking the downfall of mankind". Once we got out of the deep south the audiences were going nuts for the show.

 

[Terri Schehr]

There’s a thread from twenty years ago about 1971.