Sunday, April 19, 2009

Wanderers Drum & Bugle Corps, ca. 1964-66


Well, I found these old photos and thought they sort of belong here. Maybe those of you who were around in the 1960's will remember the Wanderers Drum & Bugle Corps, sponsored by American Legion Post 8, New Rochelle, New York. I spent three years with the corps (1964, 1965 and 1966) before joining the Sunrisers Drum & Bugle Corps, sponsored by the B.P.O.E. of Massapequa, New York, for the 1967 season.

I judged (National Judges Association) for a few years after that but my playing days were over.

Here are some photos of the Wanderers' drum line from those years. I think we were playing on Slingerland drums.

Some of the guys chimping for the camera in Bethlehem, PA, before a show, July 4, 1966

The Wanderers Drum & Bugle Corps at Fort Slocum, NY, 1964

The Wanderers Drum & Bugle Corps at Fort Slocum, NY, 1964

Joe Verlezza, Tom Anestis, Bobby McKay, John Bicknees (sp?), Sal Iarapoli (sp?), ?, ? at the Legion Post prior to boarding a bus to whereever, ca. 1964

Top: Bill Gill, Contra Bass (don't remember name), Doug Ogden, Les Dahlstadt, Ellis Mirsky, Jimmy Redmond, Curt?
Bottom: he hung around with us, Curt's younger brother?, Joe Verlezza, don't remember
Significant is that many of us were wearing our "We Got Screwed" t-shirts, hand-painted by one of the corps members as a reminder of our defeatist attitude that we were better than we actually were and that the judges were always getting it wrong

Our New Uniforms (1966 Season)

Don Stewart lays in a crisp bass drum roll in concert at Fort Slocum, NY, 1964

Some of the guys in NYC before the Puerto Rico Day Parade, 1964

Don Stewart, Downtown NYC for Puerto Rico Day Parade, 1964
(Bill Stalzer in the background)

Ellis Mirsky, Downtown NYC for Puerto Rico Day Parade, 1964

6 comments:

  1. in your photo of NEW UNIFORMS the second from right is Jim Mac Farlane--lived on L I at time.
    would like to write--kmmac@sover.net

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Gun Hill Corps., broke up and then men joined the Chessmen, the they broke up and half the corps., went to the Wanderers and the other's went to Hawthorne and Sky. Gus Rubel

    ReplyDelete
  3. great pics! my dad was director of the corps 1965-67.
    Jay Morlot

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks Jay,

    Good to hear from you. You played contra bass when I was in the drumline.

    Ellis Mirsky
    Blogmaster@FieldDrums.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Played in the drum line last half of 66 & allof 67 which I think was the last year. Might remember my dad Louie Marcone.
    He really got a kick seeing the photos.
    Joe Marcone

    ReplyDelete
  6. Joe,

    Great to hear from you. I remember your Dad. We had a lot of good times together.

    Don Stewart, Joe Verlezza and I get together from time to time.

    Give your Dad our regards.

    Email me direct to BlogMaster@FieldDrums.com

    Ellis Mirsky

    ReplyDelete

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