The young man at the very start of the film demonstrating the rotary and piston valves on a Mellophone is my brother Eric, SCV1970-1975. He was the 1975 1st place DCI I&E Mellophone champion.
Back in the days there was no Audition we tried out, and made it in the line and by June we marched in field competition, and that's how it was back than.
Ah, Santa Clara and the show with two different tempos. Genius. Then the bottle dance. My favorite show. Marched (mellophone) for years, Jr. and Sr, wouldn’t change a thing. 1967-78.
I remember when we received lead soprano parts. We all looked at them and said to Gail, these are Fxxxin Violin parts !! He just looked at us, smiled and said, yeah….So?
I marched in Spirit of Atlanta 1979-1984. My wife marched in the 27th Lancers 1978-1983. We met on the first leg of our tour in 1979 in Altoona, PA and have been together ever since. I really, REALLY miss those days. The simplicity of it all. The camaraderie was incredible. Though the kids today are very talented, they're no more talented than we were back in the day. We just had shows that were geared towards the fans instead of the judges. Not saying that we didn't care at all what we scored, just saying entertaining the fans was our #1 priority. I personally do not think that exists today. Back then, once you made a corps, you were in until you're 21. Now you have to try out every year, which I personally think really doesn't help the quality of the shows as much as it hurts the cohesiveness of the bonds between members and staff. Sorry if it sounds like I'm dogging on DCI of today. I just see it as, A. much less entertaining and B. the community connection just isn't there anymore like it was. Thank you so very much for posting this. Even though I wasn't marching in the early 70's when this video was made, it still shows all of the values, love, and togetherness that also existed during my wife's and my years in DCI.
This was the tape we watched in 1976 when our HS band director took a mad leap and switched us from traditional high-step marching band stuff to corps style. It was a massive shift at the time. Our crowd didn't know what to make of it, but we bought into it with everything we had, and SCV was who we emulated based on this program. Wild to see it so many years later.
I miss these days! I was a majorette for 15 years. I also played cymbals, and twirled flags, and not the light weight flags they have now, ours had like a regular size wood pole ( solid not hollow inside) and two big metallic gold flags one on each end...i twirled knives as well (not sharp, the ones made for twirling with the hooks on the ends), and if we were short somewhere I would usually fill the spot like banner carrier or color guard. And bells a few times.It's such a bummer that you are forced to retire at 21 or 25 yrs old.
Earlier today, we had our 2023 Alumni Corps Reunion in Marion, Ohio. We had members from nearly every decade of our organization represented. As always, we love the time we spend together, sharing our memories, remembering those we lost since the 2022 reunion. Every year we can gather together is memorable.
An interesting statement by Gail Royer on "a kid that joined in October that was just learning to play, is marching with us this summer" those were the days....You didn't necessarily have to know how to play when you joined a corps, you were taught how to play your instrument and march, and many times, members would join at 15 or 16 years old, and march with the same corps until age out year at 21. Unfortunately, as the Drum Corps activity has grown and evolved, the kid coming "off the street" and joining a top 12 corps has pretty much gone by the wayside to auditions, callbacks, contracts, and previous experience in high school or college marching band, or some form of musical training or experience. The result has been just a quantum leap in quality and musicianship over the years (in addition to using amplification, electronic instruments, and concert tuned instruments vice "Bugles"), increasingly challenging arrangements, and truly mind-blowing visual performances. Drum Corps has evolved, but I wish it could do so and retain that "bring in a kid off the street" ethos that helped create many of the top tier corps we see perform today.
oldschooldrumcorps While You have to love the Blue Devils, SVG, cadets and other top corps you got to hate them as they cannibalize other corps by taking their best and hold them back from being true contenders. One year we even lost our instructor because he wanted another kick at the can before he aged out.
That's also another drawback...I also lost good members and instructors, although one instructor went on to become a DCI judge. I believe if DCI can let up on the local competition circuits like The Garden State Circuit ( which was a incubator for great Corps like the Hawthorne Muchachos, The Bridgemen, CMCC Warriors, and other Corps) who would still be around today if they had local competitions to develop and grow instead of trying to compete with muti-million dollar operations like Blue Devils, the Cadets, etc.
I do not think todays arranging are musical at all. The charts today are sliced and diced all to fit a "theme or concept ". Total sell out musically to visual props gimmicks choreography dancing ridiculous costumes etc. I have not bought a CD to " listen" to drum corps in ages.
Today these drum corps shows are considered to be "politically incorrect" because of the "Presentation of the Colors" and playing American patriotic music.
The young man at the very start of the film demonstrating the rotary and piston valves on a Mellophone is my brother Eric, SCV1970-1975. He was the 1975 1st place DCI I&E Mellophone champion.
Tell Him Brian Said Hello.
Hi Allison
Back in the days there was no Audition we tried out, and made it in the line and by June we marched in field competition, and that's how it was back than.
This is a classic!!!! It NEVER gets old. Amazing Drum Corps....and still to this day. Gail Royer is smiling down, I'm sure!
No. Kidding. My favorite.
Those were the days
My Rookie Year with SCV.
Ah, Santa Clara and the show with two different tempos. Genius. Then the bottle dance. My favorite show. Marched (mellophone) for years, Jr. and Sr, wouldn’t change a thing. 1967-78.
I remember when we received lead soprano parts. We all looked at them and said to Gail, these are Fxxxin Violin parts !! He just looked at us, smiled and said, yeah….So?
This is true Drum Corps. I wish there were films of small competitions with the White Knights from NJ the Patriots Drum and Bugle Corp from NC
I marched in Spirit of Atlanta 1979-1984. My wife marched in the 27th Lancers 1978-1983. We met on the first leg of our tour in 1979 in Altoona, PA and have been together ever since. I really, REALLY miss those days. The simplicity of it all. The camaraderie was incredible. Though the kids today are very talented, they're no more talented than we were back in the day. We just had shows that were geared towards the fans instead of the judges. Not saying that we didn't care at all what we scored, just saying entertaining the fans was our #1 priority. I personally do not think that exists today. Back then, once you made a corps, you were in until you're 21. Now you have to try out every year, which I personally think really doesn't help the quality of the shows as much as it hurts the cohesiveness of the bonds between members and staff. Sorry if it sounds like I'm dogging on DCI of today. I just see it as, A. much less entertaining and B. the community connection just isn't there anymore like it was. Thank you so very much for posting this. Even though I wasn't marching in the early 70's when this video was made, it still shows all of the values, love, and togetherness that also existed during my wife's and my years in DCI.
Those were the days. When Colorguards were badass.
those kids are in their 60s now!
This was the tape we watched in 1976 when our HS band director took a mad leap and switched us from traditional high-step marching band stuff to corps style. It was a massive shift at the time. Our crowd didn't know what to make of it, but we bought into it with everything we had, and SCV was who we emulated based on this program. Wild to see it so many years later.
Awesome Film ... RIP Gail. You truly made a Difference!
Ol' skool baby!
I miss these days! I was a majorette for 15 years. I also played cymbals, and twirled flags, and not the light weight flags they have now, ours had like a regular size wood pole ( solid not hollow inside) and two big metallic gold flags one on each end...i twirled knives as well (not sharp, the ones made for twirling with the hooks on the ends), and if we were short somewhere I would usually fill the spot like banner carrier or color guard. And bells a few times.It's such a bummer that you are forced to retire at 21 or 25 yrs old.
Earlier today, we had our 2023 Alumni Corps Reunion in Marion, Ohio. We had members from nearly every decade of our organization represented. As always, we love the time we spend together, sharing our memories, remembering those we lost since the 2022 reunion. Every year we can gather together is memorable.
When Corps carried the American Flag ! - what more can I say ! ( for now)
So much respect for these Corps Members.
Great stuff!!!
1:48 mark. Anaheim Kingsmen Guard. The best in Drum Corps
SCV beat them almost every year in winter guard.
Drumcore the fire that will never go out
An interesting statement by Gail Royer on "a kid that joined in October that was just learning to play, is marching with us this summer" those were the days....You didn't necessarily have to know how to play when you joined a corps, you were taught how to play your instrument and march, and many times, members would join at 15 or 16 years old, and march with the same corps until age out year at 21. Unfortunately, as the Drum Corps activity has grown and evolved, the kid coming "off the street" and joining a top 12 corps has pretty much gone by the wayside to auditions, callbacks, contracts, and previous experience in high school or college marching band, or some form of musical training or experience. The result has been just a quantum leap in quality and musicianship over the years (in addition to using amplification, electronic instruments, and concert tuned instruments vice "Bugles"), increasingly challenging arrangements, and truly mind-blowing visual performances. Drum Corps has evolved, but I wish it could do so and retain that "bring in a kid off the street" ethos that helped create many of the top tier corps we see perform today.
oldschooldrumcorps While You have to love the Blue Devils, SVG, cadets and other top corps you got to hate them as they cannibalize other corps by taking their best and hold them back from being true contenders. One year we even lost our instructor because he wanted another kick at the can before he aged out.
That's also another drawback...I also lost good members and instructors, although one instructor went on to become a DCI judge. I believe if DCI can let up on the local competition circuits like The Garden State Circuit ( which was a incubator for great Corps like the Hawthorne Muchachos, The Bridgemen, CMCC Warriors, and other Corps)
who would still be around today if they had local competitions to develop and grow instead of trying to compete with muti-million dollar operations like Blue Devils, the Cadets, etc.
i was one of those kids
I do not think todays arranging are musical at all. The charts today are sliced and diced all to fit a "theme or concept ". Total sell out musically to visual props gimmicks choreography dancing ridiculous costumes etc. I have not bought a CD to " listen" to drum corps in ages.
Stan Kenton, yeah!!
Ralph Hardimon and Tom Float in the center of the '73 Anaheim Kingsmen.
Drum Corps has not changed
The hell it hasn't
Got that right, Viney!
Hey thumper what's up.
I made to you tube. 12:33 I'm one of the tympani players.
Well who won?
Vanguard won with a 78.85. Blue stars got second with a 77.85.
Today these drum corps shows are considered to be "politically incorrect" because of the "Presentation of the Colors" and playing American patriotic music.
16:30
Also, THIS IS SO OLD JESUS
What happened?
You said it!