CALIFORNIA MARCHING YOUTH BANDS FROM THE 70'S AND 80'S

[OCDM]

Fun topic.

Dave Schaafsma actually mentioned the "Glendale Continentals," a name I've not heard in years. I can give some of that history.

I believe the old GYB was an outreach of the City of Glendale's Park & Recreation programs. It was sponsored by the City. I don't recall the founding director, but my very, very, very hazy memory is that he was the director of one of the Glendale high schools. But I'm not so sure about that.

The band went on the skids in the early 1970s. Dave Bellis, who I believe taught at one of the Pasadena Jr. High Schools (and whose son was a professional musician?), became band director in 1971 or 1972. Bellis was in his 60's at the time. He only lasted a year at the helm. The Board then hired Doug Coe, who used to be the band director at La Canada High School. Coe directed the band for two or three years. Coe was a popular director, and went about "reinventing" the band. It changed from GYB to the "Glendale Continentals" -- a reference to the George Washington's Continental Army -- changed colors to red, white and blue, and marched with a live musket, which a Betsy-Ross type character aimed in the air, and shot at the beginning of competition -- a la Orange Glen. The color guard marched wtih the original 13-stars-in-a-circle American Flag. This was in the time period of the bicentennial, so the change made sense, I guess. The problem was that the band still marched in the old GYB uniforms, which weren't exactly true to the theme -- unless one compares shakos favorably to tri-corner hats.

The Pageantry Productions folks didin't like the gun, much. It scared horses. But it was very popular with the crowd. Not sure you could have that after 9-11.

The band at its height marched 60+ members plus a color guard of sorts. I think it did some traveling, including a trip to Hawaii. Musically, the band did okay; it didn't touch the Winds or the Royal Cavaliers, but it held its own over time.

I believe funding dried up (sound familiar?) some time in the 1980s. However, I wouldn't be a good reporter on this issue.

I probably could find pictures somewhere . . . .

[creed61071]

I was in the Rock Falls band from 1980 - 1984, I have an older brother that was in the band from 1969 - 1973. His name is John Stites. I was a rifle all 4 years including the winter guard. I marched with Cavaliers from 1982 - 1984.

[CrystalMage]

It's great to see this thread is still going!

I finally updated my website. I used Prism to compress/convert the video clips and I'm happier with the results. There's still a delay when trying to play them, but not too bad and some are fairly long clips.

So, if you're interested, my website is http://www.blackboxbuster.com and there's a "Youth Bands of Southern California" page.

On the bottom right part of that page, there's a link to the first clips page, which as excerpts of the Royal's 1979 field show. And on there, on that "clips" page, there's yet another link to a dedicated Los Cabarellos clips page - their 1979 field show and their 1980 shrine show.

For anyone interested in TAYB ( Torrance Area Youth Band ) clips, there's a dedicated set of pages starting from the "Youth Bands of Southern California page" and I compressed their clips as well.

Thanks

Michael

[Fillydog]

It's great to see this thread is still going!

I finally updated my website. I used Prism to compress/convert the video clips and I'm happier with the results. There's still a delay when trying to play them, but not too bad and some are fairly long clips.

So, if you're interested, my website is http://www.blackboxbuster.com and there's a "Youth Bands of Southern California" page.

On the bottom right part of that page, there's a link to the first clips page, which as excerpts of the Royal's 1979 field show. And on there, on that "clips" page, there's yet another link to a dedicated Los Cabarellos clips page - their 1979 field show and their 1980 shrine show.

For anyone interested in TAYB ( Torrance Area Youth Band ) clips, there's a dedicated set of pages starting from the "Youth Bands of Southern California page" and I compressed their clips as well.

Thanks

Michael

Great. I was there helping with M&M for the Cabbies in I think it was 79 or 80. Also nice you have some LBJCB Shrine Show pics on your site. In the early 70's there was the Bellflower Youth Band that Lee Mitchell directed. Wish I had some pics of that one. We wore tall fur hats that were faded red(pink) and the old Lakewood youth band unis,etc. After that band I then later went to LBJCB since Lee Mitchell had left and the Bellflower basically fell apart.

Phil

[CrystalMage]

Hey Phil,

Great to hear from you. Well, we worked together back in those days.

Bellflower Youth Band. I don't remember them off hand. Although, the name sounds famliar, like they used to march in the Downey Christmas parade in the early 70s, is that correct?

Wasn't there a Southgate Youth band as well? I also remember the San Fernando Valley Youth band, because they always played the can-can or something like that while the sousaphone players danced to it. Either that or I had funny trips on my asthma meds back then!

My parents took a lot of photos of parades, particularly in the early 70s, so hopefully, as my father finds more, I'll have more to scan.

Michael

[Gonzofoto]

Wasn't there a Southgate Youth band as well?

Yes, there was a South Gate Youth Band. I saw them many times during the late 80s and early 90s in events such as the East Los Angeles Christmas Parade, the Downey Christmas Parade, the Hawthorne Community Parade, and other events. I posted a video taken from a taped broadcast here, and I apologize for the deterioration evident in the VHS tape. I don't know when they went inactive, but apparently it was in the late 90s.

[Fillydog]

Hey Phil,

Great to hear from you. Well, we worked together back in those days.

Bellflower Youth Band. I don't remember them off hand. Although, the name sounds famliar, like they used to march in the Downey Christmas parade in the early 70s, is that correct?

Wasn't there a Southgate Youth band as well? I also remember the San Fernando Valley Youth band, because they always played the can-can or something like that while the sousaphone players danced to it. Either that or I had funny trips on my asthma meds back then!

My parents took a lot of photos of parades, particularly in the early 70s, so hopefully, as my father finds more, I'll have more to scan.

Michael

Heh....cool. I also remember Monte's little sister at Magic Mountain, hahaha. heh.

Yep...there sure was a Southgate Youth band and they were pretty good too.

Bellflower was early 70's and Mitchell had brought in a ton of Centenniel Jr. High kids from Norwalk. When Mitchell left as he was about to take on the directorship of Excelsior high band in Norwalk, we had to do the Downey Christmas parade without him and with only 16 Bellflower members left.(remember, tall skinny pink fur hats....twas embarassing,heh) It was at that parade that Mark Juista, who was a Bellflower alumnus and had marched with his high school band(Bosco), dragged me over to see LBJCB march in with their powerful drum section. I was of course hooked from seeing that and the very next week got my grandmother to take me to my first practice. They were huge and had a ton of older players to look up too. Quite something to be part of with a 30 man trumpet section,etc. Was nice finally "winning" parades too for a change,etc. Learned a ton in LBJCB.

[old french horn guy]

hello all from phoenix oregon. the memories just keep coming in. the site with the pics from the parades and field show are awesome. now i need to find the pictures my dad took so i can share with you. it's mostly royal cavaliers, but hey, we are a special group now. thanks for the memories

[CrystalMage]

Bellflower was early 70's and Mitchell had brought in a ton of Centenniel Jr. High kids from Norwalk. When Mitchell left as he was about to take on the directorship of Excelsior high band in Norwalk, we had to do the Downey Christmas parade without him and with only 16 Bellflower members left.(remember, tall skinny pink fur hats....twas embarassing,heh) It was at that parade that Mark Juista, who was a Bellflower alumnus and had marched with his high school band(Bosco), dragged me over to see LBJCB march in with their powerful drum section. I was of course hooked from seeing that and the very next week got my grandmother to take me to my first practice. They were huge and had a ton of older players to look up too. Quite something to be part of with a 30 man trumpet section,etc. Was nice finally "winning" parades too for a change,etc. Learned a ton in LBJCB.

It's great to hear your experience. I can imagine being awestruck with such a large band, as LBJCB always had quite a presense about them - I guess that's why they typically would be the last band in some parades, particularly the Santa Claus Xmas parade in Hollywood. And they were typically one band that we, when I was in TAYB ( Torrance Area Youth Band ), would compete with for the sweepstake's trophy at parades. We considered it a grand victory to with sweepstakes because of the quality of our competition, such as LBJCB. As well, the Royals, Whittier and one year, Rock Falls! And a bit later on, the Santa Anna Winds.

I started Torrance, basically following in my brother's foodsteps. He had joined just a few months before I did. His trumpet teacher, Norman Bailey, had been trying to get him to check it out, and when he finally did, he liked it and joined. I was anxious to join too, so I did in February of 1971. I was the youngest and smallest one there, so I can appreciate what you say about plenty of older kids to look up to, to learn from. I had a lot of problems with asthma back then, but somehow, I didn't when i was marching and playing with the band. It was a great activity for me that I could be fully engaged in.

[CrystalMage]

hello all from phoenix oregon. the memories just keep coming in. the site with the pics from the parades and field show are awesome. now i need to find the pictures my dad took so i can share with you. it's mostly royal cavaliers, but hey, we are a special group now. thanks for the memories

that would be great to see those pictures. The Royals were definitely a fixture in the Youth Band circuit back then.

My computer crashed just after I updated my website, but I'll be able to download all the data onto a new computer once I get one - in the future LOL. If I do gather enough pics and what-not, I'd like to eventually expand it some youth bands have their own pages or threads of pages..

Were you in the Royals when they did the fieldshow in 1979?

[Fillydog]

Bellflower was early 70's and Mitchell had brought in a ton of Centenniel Jr. High kids from Norwalk. When Mitchell left as he was about to take on the directorship of Excelsior high band in Norwalk, we had to do the Downey Christmas parade without him and with only 16 Bellflower members left.(remember, tall skinny pink fur hats....twas embarassing,heh) It was at that parade that Mark Juista, who was a Bellflower alumnus and had marched with his high school band(Bosco), dragged me over to see LBJCB march in with their powerful drum section. I was of course hooked from seeing that and the very next week got my grandmother to take me to my first practice. They were huge and had a ton of older players to look up too. Quite something to be part of with a 30 man trumpet section,etc. Was nice finally "winning" parades too for a change,etc. Learned a ton in LBJCB.

It's great to hear your experience. I can imagine being awestruck with such a large band, as LBJCB always had quite a presense about them - I guess that's why they typically would be the last band in some parades, particularly the Santa Claus Xmas parade in Hollywood. And they were typically one band that we, when I was in TAYB ( Torrance Area Youth Band ), would compete with for the sweepstake's trophy at parades. We considered it a grand victory to with sweepstakes because of the quality of our competition, such as LBJCB. As well, the Royals, Whittier and one year, Rock Falls! And a bit later on, the Santa Anna Winds.

I don't remember Rock Falls but I remember the main reason LBJCB would be last band was they were the previous years' sweeps winner, hahahaha.... Dunno if that also had anything to do with being last band in the Hollywood Christmas parade being that it wasn't competitive. There were often other bands much larger than LBJCB in that parade,etc.

I started Torrance, basically following in my brother's foodsteps. He had joined just a few months before I did. His trumpet teacher, Norman Bailey, had been trying to get him to check it out, and when he finally did, he liked it and joined. I was anxious to join too, so I did in February of 1971. I was the youngest and smallest one there, so I can appreciate what you say about plenty of older kids to look up to, to learn from. I had a lot of problems with asthma back then, but somehow, I didn't when i was marching and playing with the band. It was a great activity for me that I could be fully engaged in.

I so often wish the youth bands would/could come back. I'd love to send my trumpet students to a local youth band especially here in the Inland Empire. LBJCB was large but even better was that there were older CSULB students in the band to look up to also. They did more than just compete in parades tho. Many great concert/stand up performances in parks like for the "Starlight Serenades" in Recreation Park.(thousands would show for that) Movie premiers, Openings of Knott's Roaring 20's section and Disney's Space Mountain. TV show at Knott's with Frankie Avalon, a "Tribute to Ira Gershwin" with Liza Minelli at the LA Music Center, the Hawaii trip(before there was any Invitational), playing "Berlioz Requiem" with the Lakewood Philharmonia, Vegas every spring,.....all kinds of neat fun gigs. Marker obviously knew how to market the band and it greatly enhanced us kids' experience,etc. It was nice to feel like I was part of something big/great, more advanced than my high school band.

[fieldshowqueen]

OK ... I was just on one of those Classmates forums and the subject of "that marching group that came to Loara in 1974/75 who had taps on their boots and who were only drums and brass and rifles and who completely trashed the newly painted and sanded gym floor ..." came up. I think this was the Black Knights ???!! Anyone remember this and can confirm? Mr. Marino? vore?

[Bandmaster]

OK ... I was just on one of those Classmates forums and the subject of "that marching group that came to Loara in 1974/75 who had taps on their boots and who were only drums and brass and rifles and who completely trashed the newly painted and sanded gym floor ..." came up. I think this was the Black Knights ???!! Anyone remember this and can confirm? Mr. Marino? vore?

Well it was NOT a youth band! So why is this question in this thread?

I believe the "Geneseo Knights" Drum & Bugle Corps, from Illinois, came to California that summer and competed in DCI shows in SoCal. But there was no "Black Knights" drum corps in California during that time. The "Velvet Knights" would be the only other choice, but they were from here locally, so I doubt they would have needed housing at a local school, unless they used the gym just for a rehearsal?

[Fillydog]

OK ... I was just on one of those Classmates forums and the subject of "that marching group that came to Loara in 1974/75 who had taps on their boots and who were only drums and brass and rifles and who completely trashed the newly painted and sanded gym floor ..." came up. I think this was the Black Knights ???!! Anyone remember this and can confirm? Mr. Marino? vore?

Well it was NOT a youth band! So why is this question in this thread?

I believe the "Geneseo Knights" Drum & Bugle Corps, from Illinois, came to California that summer and competed in DCI shows in SoCal. But there was no "Black Knights" drum corps in California during that time. The "Velvet Knights" would be the only other choice, but they were from here locally, so I doubt they would have needed housing at a local school, unless they used the gym just for a rehearsal?

I don't remember Geneseo coming out in 74-75, but I DO remember them coming out with Phantom in 81 tho. I knew one of their members whom I met at Whitewater on tour in 78 when I was with the AK.

If we're talking boots on a gym floor it also coulda been AK's guard? Altho I don't remember them with taps and such. That sounds kinda dangerous on a gym floor? Wouldn't that be tending to be a bit slippery?

Heh....but yer right. Now we're getting into "drumcorps", heh.

[CrystalMage]

My view of LBJCB in the Santa Claus Lane parade is that they not only had a great presence with their uniforms, big sound, good sound, and large numbers, but also, they were consistent in generating that presence. So, they were reliable. If you needed a impressive, All-American band, LBJCB was as good of a bet as buying stock in IBM usually would be!

And I do know the parade officials for the Hollywood Santa Claus Lane parade had certain standards, such as being able to march at least a certain number of members. And I also figure, but I’m guessing, that LBJCB at some point in the past, established itself with the parade.

So, it makes sense to me why they would be invited to many events. You really couldn’t go wrong with having them at an event.

I remember that the Cabbies marched in that parade in 1979. And the reason we qualified was due to a membership drive that was geared, at least in my view, to have enough marching members to qualify. Even then, we marched an Odd-Even formation to give the appearance of a larger band.

In the Cabbies case, some of us would rather have forgone that parade and put higher standards on the new members skill on their instrument. We were getting cleaner during that past summer and were enthusiastic about that. But, in time, things worked themselves out – flaky folks didn’t like the work involved so they left, and those who enjoyed being there, improved, and it was fun having a lot of members who enjoyed the whole thing.

Yeah, Marvin Marker definitely had a flare for pageantry and he created the band to express that for sure. He found a niche and really made it work.