Southern Notes 6-5-63

By W.W. Jacobus
DCN June 5, 1963 issue

I would like to take this opportunity to thank again Mr. Ray Samora and his entire staff for the wonderful hospitality and opportunity they gave to my Loris (S.C.) Marching Lions in the recent Carnegie Hall Show. This was a moment and much appreciated shot in the arm that has promoted and brought back into South Carolina another Junior Drum and Bugle Corps, the LORIS MARCHING LIONS' Corps.

Just before the Lions left for New York, they purchased St. Mary's equipment and will bring out in a few short months, a very unique organization that will be able to perform as a corps and as a band. They are the Loris Marching Lions under the direction of yours truly so keep your eyes open this one is expected to sky-rocket.

We will have one of the most unique set-ups because the kids will have a double set of instruction on musical instruments as the same students prepare to perform as two completely different organizations. With a "ready-made" drum line, color guard and drum major set up, the Loris musicians will start this summer to come forth on twenty five bugles. Then this fine outfit can be presented at any time as a band or as a corps by just switching equipment in the brass and reed lines. The Lions' will come out with a nine-man drum line, ten-girl color guard, twin drum majorettes and a twenty-five man horn line, plus, for band shows only, a six-girl majorette drill team. The future of this organization is unlimited and you can expect to hear many big things about them.

CARNEGIE HALL was a moment that will linger forever in the minds of the Loris Bandsmen and their 60 adult Boosters who made the 1,500 mile trip to New York on three chartered buses. For most of the adults and half the bandsmen, it was the first opportunity to see and hear the big corps and what a thrill this turned out to be. GARFIELD, CONNECTICUT and HAWTHORNE seemed to be the favorites of the majority. For the Lions, the performance they presented was a true all out effort for a bunch of drum corps-minded kids on band instruments. The favorable crowd reaction helped them so much. The thrill of the Big City with its' many features kept the Southern youngsters amazed. It all came to an end too soon as the caravan headed southward. A stop off in Washington for pictures to be made in front of the Capitol concluded the dream week-end for the Loris Lions' - who are now SOTH CAROLINA'S only JUNIOR DRUM CORPS.

Yours truly met many, many wonderful people that I had corresponded with before and also many writers for the corps publications. It was a delightful experience have Betty and Joe Waters and Bob Hunter and Vic Kalman with the crowd. Also Harvey, Pete and Bill and too many more to name. When you are around a fine group of corpsmen like these, you can easily see why the world of Drum Corps is making fast progress.

We have high hopes of returning to New York in 1964 with a LORIS LION BAND-CORPS combination. Loris, S.C. is a small rural community but they have gone 100% drum corps. If you ever come South, stop off in Myrtle Beach and anyone can tell you where this small tobacco town is. They too will tell you about the fine musical group that comes from here, the Loris Marching Lions.

The Barnwell SCARLET KNIGHTS Band of S.C. is making plans to present an exhibition at a Northern contest this summer. Here also is a true drum corps-styled band whose director is a firm lover of drum corps.

The next appearance and their final show of the current school year will be the two parade and a standstill show of the Loris Fun Festival on June 6th and 7th. On September 6th, the Loris Lions will make their Premiere presentation of the Loris Lions' Band-Corps football show. The pre-game performance will feature the band and the half time M&M show will be presented by the Corps.

To Ray Samora, Dick Blake, Carol and all the other Drum Corps News people, may we say "Thanks Again" for giving the Loris Lions their big break at Carnegie. It is because of people like you that Drum Corps in the South are still in the making and with your continued support, the South will come forth with some top units in years to come. Keep your eye on Florida and South Carolina.

I'm sorry I missed several columns and will try to get back on the ball. I also have a big undertaking with the All American in this area.

Doremus Post*

DCN June 5, 1963 issue

1964 V.F.W. Nationals Slated For Cleveland

DCN June 5, 1963 issue

Are you one of the units who just plan for the present, or do you PLAN AHEAD? We in the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. realize, that some of the Eastern corps will be unable to attend the Seattle Convention because of the tremendous cost, and while a few will come for which we are grateful, many will stay home and plan for 1964.

The 1964 V.F.W. Nationals convention will be held in Cleveland, Ohio, and the tentative dates are set for August 21 to 28. The contest dates will be from August 23rd to 26th inclusive.

Tentative plans are also being made to hold a New York World's Fair contest on Saturday, August 29th, at Flushing Meadow Park, New York Worlds Fair Grounds.

At the present time, this will strictly be a Junior Drum and Bugle Corps show, with $3000 in prize money awards.

Since coming from New York City recently, thru the New York Convention and Visitor's Bureau, this office has received letters from the many New York Hotels, offering group rates for this contest, which are very reasonable - from $2.50 per person per day (two - three or four persons in a room). We hope to have a master list made up of those hotels in time for the Seattle convention.

V.F.W. rules will apply to this contest which will be held on a planned V.F.W. day at the Fair, with one exception - the size of the contest field. The arena is smaller than a football field, and the dimensions are 110' x 270'. So plan ahead - if you will come to Cleveland in 1964, why not plan a few days at the New York World's Fair and also inter into this contest.

This advance information is for the purpose of advising contest directors in the New York area of the dates, so that they can plan their contests on dates which will not conflict with the above and give the units in that area an opportunity of entering this contest if they so desire.

More information will be forthcoming on this matter.

Sincerely,
A.J. Schlechta
Contest Supervisor

Wandering With The Waters 6-5-63

By Betty and Joe Waters
Drum Corps News 6-5-63 issue

The Alpine Girls drum and bugle corps is perhaps the largest all-girl unit in the country with over 100 playing members. They were organized in 1958 by Mr. Vincent Bruni and a handful of interested parents who reised the necessary funds to purchase instruments and uniforms to get them started. Uniform design was chosen from sketches submitted by members of the parent group. The name "Alpines" comes from the Swiss style of uniform.

In the beginning 30 girls were enlisted, and their first season saw them become the most crowd-appealing parade corps in Monroe County. By the end of the season, they were invited to appear as exhibition corps in two Class "A" competitions, an honor unheard of for a first-year corps.

Their second season saw them go M&M in six American competitions, and they were invited to appear in the Canadian National Exposition in Toronto, Canada. At this time they were presented a Canadian flag by a Canadian Legion Post and are one of the few American groups who have been extended this honor.

They placed second in the 7th district American Legion Championship contest in the Junior classification and their very active color guard placed high in the State Championships contest in Albany, New York in 1961.

The girls have become known as the Sweethearts of the Drum Corps world and are one of the most colorful and crowd-pleasing corps in the country today. This group is one of the four units which comprise the United Drum Corps of Rochester, New York.

They are directed by Mr. Vincent Bruni. Father Udall is musical arranger, the horns are instructed by Ronald Jacobs and John Damschroder, and drums are under Collin Campbell.

Music for 1963 begins with an off the line fanfare from "Quo Vadis", into "El Cid", a unique arrangement of "Bill Bailey", and a change of pace with "Two Different Worlds". Their three part concert consists of "Flower Drum Song", "You Are Beautiful" and "Begin The Beguine". The military is represented by "El Capitan" and "The Thunderer." Color Presentation is "America" into "Miserlou" and exit with "Beyond The Sea."

(click on pic. for a clearer view)

CORPS PERSONALITY: The picture of the most attractive girl you see here is of Onnie White, a drum corps member since 1959, at which time she became a member of the Alpine Girls as rifle bearer. On September 6th., 1963, Onnie will be 17. She is a junior at Eastridge High School in Irondequoit, N.Y. where she is majoring in business administration. She plans to continue this study at Cobbleskill on the Hudson. Her ambition??? Secretary and/or model.

Her favorite junior corps is the Optimists of Toronto and she favors the Reading Bucs in the senior division. Garfield's King of Kings is her most enjoyable music.

Onnie has recently transfered to the Statesmen color guard, where she is featured rifle bearer. One of the nicest girls we know and a great asset to any color guard we give you Onnie White.

NEWS & VIEWS: We would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank the members of the Geneseeans of Rochester, N.Y. for having been made the first honorary members of this corps. In our estimation this is one of the hardest working outfits in this area. We wish them continued success in all their endeavors.

Doug Saunders of the York Lions tells us they have been invited to the Lions International Convention in Miami Beach June 19th - 22nd. Have fun, Doug.

Received a button from Jim Wolfe of the Albion Grenadiers of Albion, N.Y. commemorating their annual contest which will be on August 10th. This will be an all-junior show with the Optimists from Toronto, the Mighty St. Joe's of Batavia, N.Y., Alpine Girls from Irondequoit, N.Y., the Conqueror from Hamilton, Ontario, and the Magnificent Yankees from Utica, N.Y.

Thanks to Charles Eastland for the wonderful copy of the Mariner's Log. Keep it coming, Chuck, and congratulations on taking second place in junior baritone bugle individuals in the Pacific Northwest Standstill in Seattle.

Something new has come to the world of drum corps in the form of Celebrations Unlimited. This is an outfit run by Jack Barr of Warren Cornplanter fame and Jim Deigan. They have formed a booking agency for contests and parades to work in association with committees interested in promoting drum corps activity.

Celebrations Unlimited have on tap so far a senior contest on Labor Day in Lock Haven, Pa. co-sponsored by the Lockhaven Central Labor Union and the Lockhaven Lancers junior corps. Judges are All-American Pa. Chapter with a total prize money of $1650. A parade and all junior contest have been contracted for Sheffield, Pa. This is a first for the city of Sheffield and will be sponsored by the local Volunteer Fire Company with a prize card of $1000. Any information concerning these events or Celebrations Unlimited should be addressed to Jack Barr at Box 322, Warren, Pa.

Remember --- Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself. --- Hang in there.