Skyliners Win 2nd 'Dream Corps' show
By Tom Gilmartin
Drum Corps News July 11, 1962

Milford, Conn., June 30 - The second annual "Dream Corps on Parade" contest held in this city tonight turned into a nightmare for those corps competing, whether losing or winning. Those corps finishing in the top spots couldn't believe some of the scores received by their competitors, and those on the bottom were as equally, if not more, surprised at the outcome.

The N.Y. Skyliners, sporting a superb all-around show, captured a hard fought first place spot and were over 7 points ahead of the last place corps; Yankee Rebels. The Skyliners also captured high horns with a score of 26.80 and high drums with a score of 27.10. The Archer-Epler Musketeers of Upper Darby, Pa., captured the best Drum Major award. Two corps, Archie and the Yankee Rebels, each received 1 point flag penalties.

The scores announced at retreat ceremonies are as follows:
1. Skyliners ......................... 87.40
2. Reading Buccaneers ...... 83.08
3. Reilly Raiders ................. 82.10
4. Archer-Epler .................. 80.94
5. Yankee Rebels ................ 80.14

SHOW SUMMARY

The local Milford Police Cadets were the first corps on the field with a fine exhibition routine. A good showing for the large audience.

From that point on, began the competing corps for the evening. First off the line were the Baltimore Yankee Rebels. The Rebels came off the starting line with power plus in horns and drums, but hit a little shaky in M&M. The M&M quickly straightened out and the "Chesapeake Bay Boys" sported their finest show yet this season. The crowd appeal was not at its highest point, as all first on the field corps can vouch for, but this corps was still able to work for good applause and a standing ovation as they left the field. The Rebels never lost that hard power from the time of the "Rebel Yell", to the last strain of music.

The second corps on the field, Reilly Raiders, had real "hot" crowd appeal in their horn spin when they again made it with no heads getting knocked off from the lashing horns, the "sitting on knee" routine in "Mandy", and those strong solos. Power, Plus! It seems Reilly is now working on the Buddy System. They don't leave that poor soloist out there on the field all by his lonesome for that high-G in "Irish Eyes".

Archie!! Nice, Nice, Nice! One of the VERY few corps left in the country that can have the fans jumping in their seats with a routine of marches. That famous Archie-sounding horn line is still with it, and they really prove that they have what it takes in that "Camelot" concert. We are still waiting to see King Arthur and the round table appear to top it all off. A real broadway drama sound came through at the finish line with the roll by a tenor drummer on the bass drum.

The Reading Buccaneers hit the people with a nice sounding horn line on "Maria" and "Climb Every Mountain". "Muskrat Ramble" is still the good crowd pleaser it was last season. This corps had a nice, smooth show in all captions. "Beyond the Sea" going off the field has real class.

The N.Y. Skyliners, gathering up the biggest applause of the evening, hit the field real strong and never faltered in a real stylish show. This corps, ended up with an easy win score over all opposition, played and marched hard right to the very end. As a matter of fact, they looked, on the finish line, like a corps that was trying to SQUEEZE out a close win.

The Bridgeport Troopers, second exhibition corps of the night, looked much improved over past seasons, and they should prove a threat to some of the "top guns" in the Northeast. They had a real pleasing show. Glad to see the "Bunny Hop" being played with no jumping.

Judges for the competition were from the Eastern States Contest Judges Association, and are as follows: M&M, A. Kazazian and J. Meyer; Drums, E. Fitzgerald and J. Mallen; Bugles, B. Baggs and P. Mahfouz; GE, M. Petrone on M&M, W. Carrig on bugles, and E. Pierce on drums.