Pennsylvania Report

DCN Sept. 12, 1962 issue
By Fay & Francis O'Donnell

Western Penna's Labor Day week-end contest schedule was opened by a four corps show at East Hills Shopping Center near Pittsburgh the evening of August 31st.

Vern Acklin Cavaliers from Verona, Pa. returned to the contest scene after an absence of several years. The Cavaliers present some new music plus some from the past. This coupled with the familiar maroon and white uniforms brought back many memories to the fans.

The corps kicks off to "Who", then go into "Calypso Melody" and "Are You From Dixie?". Their concert of "I Don't Know Why" and "I Get a Kick Out of You" follow "Italian Street Song". From memory lane, there's "Jamaica Rhumba". This years' color presentation is "America The Beautiful" then it's toward the finish line to "Good Night". And might we say that the Cavaliers have had a good night as they have returned to the contest field. The corps scored a 62.3 for a fourth place.

The remaining corps; Sharpsburg Cadets - 72.9, Latrobe Colonials - 73.5, and Pittsburgh Rockets - 85.1 have appeared frequently in area competition. Their shows have been discussed. by various reporters throughout the season.

The following evening Sept. 1 the Pittsburgh Rockets were scheduled to be the first appearing corps at the Edensburg, Pa. Legion Airs contest. The announcer said that the Rockets would be late. The show started with the Westshoremen Bonnie Scots at their appointed kick-off time. They were followed by Rockets and Latrobe Colonials. The rain started during Latrobe's time on the field. Even though the contest was delayed for a half-an-hour the rain did not cease. It was necessary to declare it no contest.

We understand that a penalty was to be assesed corps that appeared late. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened if the contest could have continued.

Westshore drum section is looking normal again. Yes, Rockey is back on a bass drum! 'N speaking of the drummers ---- Dickie Admas will be returning Sept. 15th then things will really be back to normal..... Normie Warfle and his quartet of "friends" pleased the people during that "Alabama Jubilee" concert. Also they seemed to like the "look Ma, no hands" bit and the Westshore bombshell. Say, Jim Botts' color guard is looking better every trip out.

Seems that a lot of the people were looking for "Big Sam" Wiegand from Rockets but he was among the missing.

This is the first time this season that Latrobe Colonials were caught in the rain. Guess that they've been lucky. If the corps did not sound as good as usual, it's because they've lost a few of their members to the service and to school. Although Jeff Loux, who's one of Latrobe's drum majors, was absent this night look for him with University of Pittsburgh marching band as he is their drum major.

The rain that started at Edensburg put a very wet cover on the Allegheny County Fair show at South Park, sunday afternoon, Sept 2nd. With the rain continuing until close to contest time the corps presented a standstill exhibition. Due to the unfavorable weather conditions, the corps appeared in their practice clothes rather than uniforms. As the field was dotted with pools of water, the corps utilized a stage which is along the edge of the field. They appeared as they arrived at thr field. Blessed Sacrament followed by Madison Scouts, Optimists, St. Catherine's, Garfield Cadets, and Cavaliers from Chicago. The final corps of the afternoon was Pittsburgh Rockets who originally were scheduled to be the exhibition corps. Daniel Cook, contest chairman, introduced each of the corps and at the completion of the exhibition he also introduced each corps' business manager. At this time the County Commissioners presented the checks, which were of equal amounts, to managers of the corps which were to have competed. Dan Cook expressed the hope that the Junior corps would be able to return in the future.