Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Was 1971 The Best Or What?!

Up front this is neither bashing DCI, DCA or any organization that currently causes my inbox to be filled with literally hundred of pre-season requests for money to enable youngsters to participate in what was once to me a source of pleasure, learning and personal growth. All things being equal, (which they are not!) I don't think the amount of time and energy put into today's product is equal to the sheer verve which the corps of my era displayed. The forced pageantry and beauty queen smiles of the now so called guards do not win me over. The short, seemingly one dimensional shows don't cause me to cheer. Yes, the musicality is better - all the players are now pros. Their instruments are probably better made. And yes, Jimmy drum corps today is what it is today - change is good, change is change. As a writer, I wouldn't trade in my MAC and go back to an IBM Selectric typewriter, ever. But I am respectful of the past and would like to think that my memories of what once was - the fleeting months of competition, the agonizing winters of rehearsals, the summers like 1971 or even 1965, the togetherness - that's all good stuff to me. Drum Corps didn't die in 1971 and again yes, something else was born. 30 years from now, perhaps those of you who weren't able to participate in an activity that brought together kids from all walks of life and different economic strata for free (that means no dues, no fees, no paying for your own uniform or instrument etc.) will see how folks like me hold those times so dear.
But the fact that so many corps have simply gone away still hurts
What I remember most though are those great shows like the Danny Thomas Invitational, World Open and CYO Nationals, U.S. Open and the like. that's when you would find a mixture of corps like these with scores like this - competition was fierce.
Sunday July 18, 1971
Lawrence MA Danny Thomas Invitational
1 27th Lancers 84.450
2 Santa Clara Vanguard 84.100
3 Troopers 82.300
4 Cavaliers 81.000
5 St. Rita's Brassmen 80.950
6 Boston Crusaders 80.300
7 Madison Scouts 78.300
8 Blue Stars 77.850
9 De LaSalle Oaklands 73.800
10 Blessed Sacrament 70.450
11 Argonne Rebels 69.900
12 Spectacle City Mariners 52.350
And for the record, here's how we closed our show after using all the energy we could for just about 9 and a half minutes and then running - yes, running to our exit set up ...
West Point Alma Mater Reprise

Puppet

Sunday, September 20, 2009

My First Post: What I Miss About Drum Corps

This isn't all I miss:
Inspections.
The Great Weekend shows in MA!
Driving all night from NYC to wind up in a Howard Johnson's to eat in Ohio where people would say things like: "I never saw a colored person in person before - you are much more behaved than we see on TV" (True!)
The honesty you would receive from a corps that beat you and the admission that you did a great job in spite of that.
The corps that would lend you equipment when you needed it.
The fact that all the corps members you were competing against were under the age to vote.
That when you had a hole in your horn line, it was because that guy was "over there."
Sitting with kids you never met before and might not ever see again and sharing your experiences.
Answering questions like: "How Do You Guys Do That?" and not really knowing the answer.
Having to explain to kids in Kenosha, Racine, Jacksonville that being a Black kid from NYC is not that much different from them.
Not really knowing (before the internet, and yes we had Fleetwood album covers and Drum Corps New and Moe Knox's great photos!) what the corps you would be competing against looked like.
How boring Idaho is.
How every Motel pool is exactly the same - it was very good to know that.
That Indiana was even more boring.
That every practice field before the show was a pit of holes.
That hot dogs everywhere are different.
That butter in Madison tastes better than anywhere.
That we could eat butter.
That we could eat food - real food in real restaurants - If Howard Johnson's counts.
That we didn't have to sleep in gyms on the floor.
That our uniforms were always clean.
And because, when we were on the road, (on tour) people in the towns, (except Jacksonville Florida in the late sixties) treated us with good will and knew that we were just young kids out of our element.
Those were great times to travel throughout this country and a great learning experience - our naive outlook at 15 & 16 was something that today's 19 & 20 year old participants cannot even fathom.
Every single moment was new. Every mile traveled was an adventure. Every new town, show, morning and evening was something wonderful to perceive. I miss that the most.
I miss the starting gun.
I miss the camaraderie.
I miss coming home over the Verrazano Narrows or George Washington Bridges and seeing the NYC skyline and know we were home.
And I miss knowing that we were going to do it all over again the next weekend.
Puppet

About Me

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Old school work ethic, new school adventure. Keeping up with no one and making sure I'm ahead of the pack.