First competing group arrived on the line as twilight descended over the field and the floodlights picked up the blue, white and black of Reading Pa.'s Buccaneers with Frank Ferraro, swashbuckler in charge. To the plaintive request of "Please Don't Rain On My Parade" they made their presence known and progressed through "America the Beautiful" as C.P. and into "Czardus" with an excellent John Ferraro solo well received by the audience. Before this was the concert proper of "Baubles, Bangles and Beads", but that is really over before you get to realize what it is.
The "thing" of the season with them is a new cymbal holder carried like the horizontal bass and having 5 cymbals. Finger cymbals are also used effectively. The percussion section as a whole is larger than ever, and John Flowers is mighty proud of it. Would you believe strains of "Merrily We Roll Along" played as a drum solo? Believe it!
Fourth place these merry pirates, but I sure hope you do not count them out for I have a feeling they've hardly started to fight!

A one point penalty cost the Hempstead N.Y. aggregation to lose this one, and I wonder whose head will roll for that one. Their off the line is just great - the horn work is clean and precise as they turn to face the stands, marching to the audience side and leaving the flags on the far side of the drums in the middle. When these two units move forward, the horns, in an oblique formation, march over to join them. The "oh's and ah's" from the people voiced their approval for the maneauver which is really showy.
The rendition of "Ritual Fire Dance" with solo by Bob Murphy also caught the fancy of the viewers and the "xylophone" (or whatever) seemed to be used steadily in this and other numbers that followed. Sorry to say, I just didn't go for it and think it tended to distract from the horns. "American in Paris" is still the big number for the "Sunshine Kids" and that solo by John Cameron is - wowee!
The contras were used to particular advantage by this group. The overall show was excellent but the finale seems to leave one up in the air waiting.

The Skyliners really went to town and I got a much better idea of their music during this show. They're using "Swan Lake" off the line with a bit of "Flight of the Bumblebee" squeezed in. They reminice in their exit too, with more old favorites. The concert of "Concerto in F" is one of the nicest I've ever heard - the solo like silk. "Aquarius" is done in the best style of any yet noted by this writer and really swings. "I Dig Rock and Roll Music" is complete with "Pepe" leg scratch and his mellow horn.
This is THE musical field show of the year, and I'm sure you'll agree if you get to see it.
Another "Would You Believe" ... That the Skyliners would take high M&M honors at the first show of the year? ... Whew!

The Yankee Rebels must have the SHOWMANSHIP show of the year in their new production. Bedecked in new uniforms of orange and white with the familiar gold trim remaining, this is a much improved group over the last few seasons. Tru Crawford has done wonders (with much help, I'm sure) and is directing too. They start out with familiar southern type stuff such as "Robert E. Lee" and "Alexander's Ragtime band" and do a real blues concert leading into "Camptown Races" in a wild arrangement. The culmination of their presentation is the splitting of the corps into two sides, North and South, each playing their own type of music, but finally coming together to "Battle Hymn of the Republic", presenting the colors with flags of both sides crossed in the finale. This is made even more effective by half of the color guard using the familiar "Stars and Bars" of the Confederacy, minus the stars, and the stars appearing on the flags of the other half of the guard on a blue field. The outstanding job was put together by Tru Crawford and Ricardo Gabriel, who are certainly to be complemented.

Tonight's event was climaxed by the appearance of the Caballeros of Hawthorne, who as usual, are "high class" all the way. Varied Latin music is presented with clean horn work and the percussion rhythms being beaten out in their persuasive style.
The Cabs took home the drumming trophy, and those new drums just might have had something to do with it.

The hosts of the night, The Hurricanes, played to a crowd which had been particularly responsive all night, but when "their" Hurcs showed up they really went wild.

By this time it was beginning to get chilly and everyone was happy to get the corps back on the field for retreat and the presenting of awards. There were quite a few surprises as the figures will show. This may well be the best show of the season, even being so early and if you missed it, I can only say - "Sorry 'bout that."

The Hamden High School Jazz band offered to entertain the early arrivals and did a very professional job of just that until it was time for the show to begin.
First to appear were the exhibition corps, The N.D.-ettes of Bridgeport, under the direction of Pat Callahan. The girls did a grand job making it quite evident that they are a power to be reckoned with in the upcoming season.