Mike_B Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 (edited) Yes, the Erie Thunderbirds were in RCA. We managed a win & a tie for championships. Also Pittsburgh Rockets, Guelph Royalaires, and later Phoenix all won championships at one time or another. Canadian Commanders were awsome too. Hanover Lancers and Emaus Sentinels were always good. Dunkirk Patriots were entertaining, best "beer barrel polka" in drum corps. There were actually too many to list. I remember a year where we had like over 20 corps. ok, I'll list the ones I remember, which haven't been mentioned. Sudbury Imperial Knights, Kingston Grenadiers, Westmoreland Esquires, Cumberland Freelancers, Crusaders, ah the fuzz has rolled in, somebody help me out. cya Edited May 25, 2006 by Mike_B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pgh Guy Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 The Vern Acklin Cavaliers from Verona Pa, (up the river from Pittsburgh) and the Cumberland Freestatesmen were battleing it out for the last spot @ most of the shows in 1973, 74, 75....And along came the Vigillanties from Versailles, Pa. and the bottom spot was theres for the taking....Really great memories and friendships established within the RCA circuit.... Pgh Guy Bari 2 Extraordinaire Friend of SlyCooley1 PADCHOF John G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimF-LowBari Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 Did bunch o' RCA shows in 75-77 until Westshore got good enough for DCA membership. 1976 season almost all I saw was Hanover Lancers, Johnsonburg Diplomats and Hershey Chocolatier/York White Roses (merger corps). Hear Hersheys show so many times I can still play part of it in my head. Hershey came in last place every show in '76 until RCA Champs when they knocked off the Imperial Knights. 1977 was bunch of shows with Hanover and Johnsonburg except this time we were winning. Conversation from mid 1977 when we were doing both circuits: New corps member (NCM): Who are we competing against this weekend? Larry Hershman (LH): We're up against .. <list of DCA corps who royally kicked our butts> NCM: We're going to come in last!!! Why aren't we doing a RCA show we can win? LH (######): Because we can make more money coming in last at a DCA show than comng in first at an RCA show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ea1974 Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 Did bunch o' RCA shows in 75-77 until Westshore got good enough for DCA membership. 1976 season almost all I saw was Hanover Lancers, Johnsonburg Diplomats and Hershey Chocolatier/York White Roses (merger corps). Hear Hersheys show so many times I can still play part of it in my head. Hershey came in last place every show in '76 until RCA Champs when they knocked off the Imperial Knights.1977 was bunch of shows with Hanover and Johnsonburg except this time we were winning. Conversation from mid 1977 when we were doing both circuits: New corps member (NCM): Who are we competing against this weekend? Larry Hershman (LH): We're up against .. <list of DCA corps who royally kicked our butts> NCM: We're going to come in last!!! Why aren't we doing a RCA show we can win? LH (######): Because we can make more money coming in last at a DCA show than comng in first at an RCA show. My cousin marched in Brass Inc(the forerunner of MBI). Anyone remember RCA finals in Erie-1974? Would be glad to here some stories from that show. I watched it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razorphone Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 Sure I remember RCA Championships '74, it was my birthday,my home town and we won... well tied. RCA was a great circuit. Two more to complete the list - Syracuse Brigadiers Rhode Island Matadors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrycallaghan Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 The Kawartha Kavaliers, from Lindsay Ontario, were there in 72 & 73 and we did one show in the late 70's as well. Always top 3 or better in drums, strong horn line and entertaining show, just a little weak in the marching. Must be all the snow up here. b**bs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Ream Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 didnt someone start up a website that has a ton of rca history on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Matczak Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 didnt someone start up a website that has a ton of rca history on it? Roger Ellis?,................call for Roger Ellis? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diceman Posted May 27, 2006 Share Posted May 27, 2006 didnt someone start up a website that has a ton of rca history on it? I have about all the Championships here: http://diceman.home.att.net/rcas.htm I also have miscellaneous scores through the years for non-championship shows in the decades archives... -- Ron in Florida Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike_B Posted May 27, 2006 Share Posted May 27, 2006 (edited) Thanks Diceman. I marched from 70 to 75. Interesting to see what when on before and after those years. RCA was really our claim to fame. It was a fun ride taking a corps from nothing to 4 time RCA champions. DCA's was always a reality check, but we did march the night show on many occasions, 8th was our best placement there. I thought someone might wonder who the heck we are and what have we ever done, besides mini corps. Another thing is that back then, there were so many corps, especially when you were in DCA's AND RCA's, that we had a show somewhere most every weekend. I look at the schedule now and I feel bad for these lesser known or struggling corps, because they only have a few shows. It would be hard for me to commit a year of blood, sweat & tears for 3 or 4 shows. My hats off to you, you have the true DC spirit. I think they need something like RCA now. Imagine a championships where there are 16 corps and only a couple of them are from DCA's. That's what it was like back then. I admit there are a lot of corps up and coming, from all over the country. Are they going to have full seasons worth of shows in DCA? Thats what was fun, competing against your rival week after week, battling for tenths. Now your whole season is based on labor day weekend. Just an observation. Edited May 27, 2006 by Mike_B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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