Episode 005: The Archer-Epler Musketeers

“Like so many other corps, the Archer-Epler Junior Drum and Bugle Corps had its humble beginnings during the dark days of the “Great Depression”. Almost all corps of that period were associated either with veterans’ organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, or with the Catholic Youth Organization.
Most pre-War corps were “neighborhood” groups, and represented a meaningful outlet for youthful energies in an era before formal activities like Little League had yet been organized.
In the cases of poorer communities, Drum and Bugle corps often provided one of the few ways a child could travel to distant towns and cities.”

 

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Episode 004: St. Kevin’s Emerald Knights

“The observations that follow are based on my experiences with one of the finest and most entertaining corps to perform in the quest for fame and glory in the 1950s and 1960s.”
– Paul Flaherty

 

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Episode 003: The New York Skyliners Part 3

“There are many words that can describe the emotions felt during the 1980s:
turbulence, disappointment, elation, satisfaction, agony, survival and sorrow.” …

 

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Episode 002: The New York Skyliners Part 2

“The start of the ‘Big Sound’ was in 1960, when the horn line went from 28 to 48 players. Eric Perriloux’s drum line became a fierce weapon and the corps won its first show in Jersey City, beating arch-rival Hawthorne.” …

 

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Episode 001: The New York Skyliners Part 1

“When New York Customs House employee William St. John organized a junior drum and bugle corps in 1932, the boys of his corps averaged 9 years of age. They lived in the area around the west end of 125th Street, where the West Side Subway rumbles over head.  There isn’t much room for kids to play there, except when police close off nearby La Salle Street as a play street in the hot summer months.” …

 

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Welcome!

Welcome to the Drum Corps History Podcast!

This is an ever-growing blog where I will discuss Drum Corps History through Podcasts (mp3 files).

The time constraints on Diceman Radio make it impossible to get as deeply into the history of the corps as I’d like. With Podcasts, there IS no time limit, so I can ramble as long as I want!
(Grin)

So keep checking back as the episode list grows, and we delve deeper into Drum Corps History!

Ron

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