some old corps photos

[GMichael1230]

OK, this part I get. But Garfield never changed its uniform during that time (though the guard uniform constantly changed). So I don't see how that factors in, exactly. Trying to keep up with the drill/musical changes that Garfield wrought, I do get. But changing the corps' image, which is so encapsulated by the uniform? That I don't get, especially if it's an image that worked. Keep the stuff that works, and change the stuff that doesn't.

Of course, I can see how the "change for the sake of change" mentality was creeping in at all levels. It was happening long before Garfield asserted itself as a DCI superpower; you can see the "lovely" results in my own corps, above.

Trying different approaches to be fresh and add to GE......Visually nobody was going to touch them and anything was fair game....look at all the corps that changed the uniforms prior to 83 and then from 84 on........its mindboggling.

G

[KeithHall]

Someone was taking heavy duty hallucinogens in Ontario back then aye?

Here ya go (believe it or not, the entire corps wore this):

[GMichael1230]

Someone was taking heavy duty hallucinogens in Ontario back then aye?

Looks like Diana Ross & the Supremes drum & bugle corps !!

G

[lindap]

1974 Alberta All Girls at the World Cup

[lindap]

Alberta All Girls 1977 Enfield England; 1 of 5 guard uniforms we had that year; photo courtesy of lindap

[lindap]

Right there with you on Xmen and Freelancers. I never got to see Oakland live, so I'm not there with you at all. You're out in the snow by YOURSELF! HA! See how it feels!

Ahem.

We were drum corps 70-80 (2 corps Jr. avg. age 12, Sr. avg. age 16 1/2), winter guard 76-88,

stage band 88-91 and from 94 to 2004 we were...now where did I park my dogsled?

[HornsUp]

... from 94 to 2004 we were...now where did I park my dogsled?

Where's your ice skates ???

Edited July 7, 2010 by HornsUp

[byline]

Someone was taking heavy duty hallucinogens in Ontario back then aye?

Looks like Diana Ross & the Supremes drum & bugle corps !!

LOL, they did eventually put "plumes" -- more like yarn wrapped through wire, resembling Fuller brushes -- on the corps proper's busbies to make them look a little more presentable.

And, by the way, the young lady in the B&W guard photo from '80 is Leanne Blizzard, a superbly talented guard member who went on to march Garfield's guard (and I believe Skylarks, as well).

Edited July 7, 2010 by byline

[Jim Anello]

OK, this part I get. But Garfield never changed its uniform during that time (though the guard uniform constantly changed). So I don't see how that factors in, exactly. Trying to keep up with the drill/musical changes that Garfield wrought, I do get. But changing the corps' image, which is so encapsulated by the uniform? That I don't get, especially if it's an image that worked. Keep the stuff that works, and change the stuff that doesn't.

Of course, I can see how the "change for the sake of change" mentality was creeping in at all levels. It was happening long before Garfield asserted itself as a DCI superpower; you can see the "lovely" results in my own corps, above.

I remember seeing Crossmen in those quasi-Muchacho uniforms and saying to myself, "Now, there's a corps with an identity crisis."

One of the more unsettling uniform changes to me was what Belleville did with their guard uniforms in the middle '70s, We've mentioned more than once how magnificent their iniforms were in 1973-1974. If I recall correctly, in the mid to late '70s their guard was wearing white Star Wars storm troopers uniforms. THAT was really sad.

[George82]

You have to remember that this was all the result of the "garfield effect" Since 83, Drum corps as we knew it then...died ! And every corps was forced to change their game to catch up or compete, so to speak. Change for the sake of change happened at lightening spead from 1984 - 1988. Crossmen, along with all the east coast corps, were in deep trouble and none ever beat Garfield again in the 80's they had to try and come up with a way to stay relevant, evolve and fit into the new mold......go back and watch 1985.....visually, the worst year ever for any corps....such a sloppy mess fo everyone as they all were rushed to learn a new style of marching and playing, visually, they had to change the game too, and corps that succeeded were the ones that rose in the rankings...

It wasnt until 86 Blue Devils came back on the field with their own tried and true style and out powered everyone and took it all back and swang the pendulum back a bit. Who knows what would have happened if garfield didnt go do such an experimental mess in 86.

G

Actually G, you can trace the changes back to the 1983 season itself (influenced by 1982). Take a look and note how many corps started changing to white shoes, added shakos, then switching to white pants. The drill styles also began to change in 83 as well as how corps began to approach their programming. We uupset the apple cart and changed the game. We set the bar high and yes, it took alot of corps a long time to catch up.

If anything, 1986 was more of a "blip" than anything else. The Blue Devils were an amazing drum corps but it took them 8 years to win again so I fail to see how much pendulum swinging went on there.