Bill Price's Drum Corps Diary

DCN Sept. 12, 1962 issue

After quite a sustained absence from this corner, yours truly is back on the job. My truancy, however, was a legal one due to many factors: National Guard Summer Camp for two weeks, moving into our new home, and all the varied and seemingly never ending jobs that come with fixing up a new home.

My absence was probably a soothing balm to my critics, but it was a sincere pleasure to receive correspondence from those who wondered what happened to the column.

Down to work.... From Bill Freeman of Westernport, Md. (home of the Blue Angels Sr. Corps), comes news that the City of Frostburg, Md. is interested in starting a senior corps. Any persons or organizations having good used equipment for sale are asked to contact Robert Goldsworthy, Frostburg D & B Corps, Frostburg American Legion, Frostburg, Md. Bill explains that the Legion is not sponsoring the corps, but that the corps is using the post as a temporary meeting place. Bill promises to keep us posted on the corps' development.

Fellow drum corps scribe Gene Monterastelli from out Ottawa, Ill. way sends news of some of the behind-the-scenes activities in the midwest. Gene, for those few of you who may not know, writes a fine column for another corps paper.

Ol' buddy Maureen Mulhern of Portland, Maine forwards news of the fine show put on by the Sabres at the Lions' International Convention in Nice, France. Maureen sends a picture of the Sabres' fine young feeder outfit, the Andrews Sabres Jets. The unit, organized in '59, has been highly successful in their three years, and is trained by members of the Andrew Sabres.

Locally, on the Maryland scene, St. Mary's Jr. Corps and the Hamilton Yankee Rebels, both of Baltimore, again reign as Maryland junior and senior champs, respectively. Hamilton, on the national scene, is enjoying its greatest season in years, perhaps its greatest.

Marked improvement has been shown by the reorganized Little Flower Corps. Successful seasons also are being enjoyed by the Zorro Raiders, Hurricanes All Girls and Dundalk. Outside of Baltimore, while several corps have done outstanding jobs in '62, perhaps the most striking example would be the improvement shown by the Westminster Starlighters.

News briefs.... Fleetwood's Carnegie Hall Album fantastic - a must for all serious corps fans..... several letters from Sarnia, Ontario boosting the new all-girl corps, the Marching Saints..... another successful Drum Beauty staged by the Stillwater, Minn. Jaycees.

Not much this time - hope to do better next article.