A Visit to the Museum - XV
Curator Bill Ives of the Marching Pageantry Arts Museum has been extremely busy these past few months promoting the Museum in the community and sorting through and inventorying all the artifacts that have been streaming into him. He has also taken a few road trips to collect donations of uniforms, equipment, and other artifacts of the activity which have been generously provided to the Museum.
Bill recently took a long drive west to meet with Jim Mason to discuss drum corps’ history and bring back a number of artifacts from Star of Indiana and Blast! Jim, of course, was director of the corps from its inception until leaving competition for other endeavors. He was directly involved with the corps’ series of performances and tours with Canadian Brass and producer of the Broadway musical, which brought the drum corps style to international fame and a Tony Award.
The Museum was also recipient of many invaluable items from the Cadets’ various incantations (Holy Name Cadets, Garfield Cadets, Cadets of Bergen County, etc.) Among these items (currently being held separately) are uniforms, flags, and trophies won by the corps through the years.
Percussion equipment inventory received from various donors has also grown. The list of complete bass drums, cases, individual heads, and other percussion items continues to swell the Museum walls.
The Archer-Epler VFW Post 979, which houses the Museum, continues to be used for rehearsals for ensembles performing at the recent Great Alliance of Seniors (G.A.S.) reunion in Williamsport, PA, Memorial Day commemorations, and other events.
Making room in the post for these activities is also a job. However, recent additions of shelving and cabinet space and the organization of newsletters, publications, pennants, buttons, and program books, help to preserve these items and store them in a more orderly fashion.
Ortie and June Beaumont brought a carload of items to the G.A.S. Reunion for the Museum. Shakos, uniforms, and jackets from the Canada’s Marching Ambassadors, Jolly Jesters, Canadian Commanders, and Leaside Lions Majorettes were donated, adding to the growing representation of the great Canadian corps. Bobby and Diane Burke sent a package to the Museum containing jackets from the Hawthorne Caballeros and New York Skyliners, a uniform top from the Long Island Sunrisers, and a t-shirt representing the Richard “Butch” Anderson Memorial Trust Fund.
Nathan Huxtable, a Ph.D. candidate in Ethnomusicology at the University of California at Riverside, spent some time at the Museum to research drum corps in the Japanese internment camps during World War II, as well as some Chinese-American corps. Students wishing to do research at the Museum are welcome. You should contact the Museum in advance at the address and phone number listed below. With drum corps publications going back to the 1950s and a wealth of available audio recordings, the archives can prove to be an invaluable asset in creating your dissertation.
The Museum was recently graced by a visit from music educator Dr. Andrew Shanefield. In addition to getting a full tour of the Museum, he was interviewed by Bill Ives and discussed the many corps he marched with or taught over his 40+ year career in the activity. (That audio interview and others will be made available at a later time on the web site.) Dr. Shanefield has been affiliated with Bluecoats, Cadets, Cadets 2, Carolina Crown, Cavaliers, Crossmen, Pride of Soka, River City Rhythm, and others.
The Crossmen Alumni have been rehearsing at nearby Upper Darby High School for their performance during DCI Championship weekend in Indianapolis. The Crossmen’s legendary “Bones” made an appearance; the uniform donated by Steve Calzone. Jay McMahon, Bob Price, and Mark Heckman assisted in setting up and dressing the mannequin. Rick Reedy will be bringing a number of Crossmen memorabilia to Indy for setup and display at the hotel. The corps also offered a clinic to music students at the high school. Their band director, Doug Ballard, marched with the Crossmen in the 1990s, prior to their move to Texas.
The first items from a corps based in Virginia were recently donated to the museum. Mark Hudson and Debby Hines met poolside in The Villages, Florida and began talking drum corps. John Hines had marched with the Earls of Bucks and brought Mark’s Young Americans jackets to the post, along with copies of Fanfare magazine, Mark’s Drummer of the Year and Charter Member plaques, and two corps yearbooks.
Mike Del Vecchio paid a visit to the post and brought some vintage t-shirts with him. Mike, now 91 years old, is spry and “still ticking.
Ernad Sisic has recently released information on the new Museum web site, which recently became live. While it is a work in progress, with many items to be added (photos, inventory lists, charts, graphs, etc.). A listing of the Museum’s Board of Directors, the MPAM Team, the gallery, and upcoming events will be coming online soon. The web site may be accessed at http://www.mpamuseum.org. You’re invited to check in from time-to-time and watch its progress!
The Marching Pageantry Arts Museum is currently located at the historic Archer-Epler VFW Post 979, 6736 Marshall Road, in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia. Bill Ives is President, CEO, and archivist of the museum corporation, an IRS 501(c)(3) charitable corporation. Donations of drum corps, marching band, and color guard memorabilia are always welcome. Cash donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law and may be made payable to:
Marching Pageantry Arts Museum
c/o Bill Ives
1024 Second Avenue
Media, PA 19063
The museum, a member of the American Alliance of Museums, is currently open on Monday evenings from 6:00 to 10:00 PM by appointment only. Bill can be reached by e-mail at ivesbill@mac.com or by phone at (610) 937-6555.
The Marching Pageantry Arts Museum – “A story worth telling and worth knowing”