Tuesday Trivia: June 30, 2009

We had two members respond to last week's Tuesday Trivia - double the response of the week before!

Here's last week's two-part question:
How many NJ AL championships did the Saints win, and in what years?

From Pete Chez:
Jo, If I remember correctly (and maybe I'm not - the 70s were a lot of fun you know), you could either compete in the show OR the parade. So my guess is '69. Purely a guess. If I'm way off base, DON"T PRINT THIS !!!! thanks.

From Jackie Bodzas:
To answer your question: 26 World Series championships and 39 American League pennants. Ooops ... I think that is the Yanks, not us.

And now, for the official answer:

I have no clue. I had forgotten about the either-or stipulation - thanks to Pete for the reminder, and to Jackie for confirmation. As far as how many and what years, the only one I can remember for sure is the guard field championship we won in 1973 (see the picture from the balcony at the Cara Mara below). We may also have won the guard title in 1972, but can't really say for sure. I seem to remember at least one parade win (could be the 1969 thing that Pete remembers), and I thought the corps won the field show once as well (1976?).

Thanks to my little brothers for responding!


Now, for next week's question (and I DO know the answer to this one!):
What corps used horns from the disbanded Saints in their DCI Championships alumni performance?

Remember ... prizes, prizes, we have no prizes!


Ready to send in your answers? Click here to submit, or if that doesn't work, send them to joparente DOT saintsdrumcorps AT gmail DOT com by the end of the day (whatever your time zone) on Monday, July 6th.


All for now - corpsdially yours from jo!

Tuesday Trivia: Legions

Looks like Tuesday Trivia is also starting to bottom out ... only one person responded ...

Here's was last week's two-part question:
What is Lisa's last name, and who is she related to in the Saints?

Here's what Jackie Bodzas sent in (two separate submissions):

Hmmm ... she looks like a nice enough girl (except for the orange jacket, but that is my personal demon to deal with).

• She could be Pete’s sister in law
• She could be Bucky’s great, great-granddaughter
• She could be one of Goober's kids
• She could be my long lost sister
• She could be Stoney’s second or third wife
• Would you believe Peter Boyle's daughter?
• Oh wait, I know exactly who she is related to ... Jo - it is your third cousin; Floyd on your father’s side who had a nephew by marriage whose wife had three sisters: Betty, Bonnie and Beatrice. Bonnie had four children, the third's name was Samuel who had six kids by his fourth marriage, the youngest which had two girls - twins each named Lisa (because she couldn’t decide which child to name Lisa). Lisa (the younger) had three kids named Lisa, Lisa, and Lisa. This is the middle child: Lisa Parente!

Well, Jackie did correctly guess that I do, indeed, have a cousin Lisa Parente - she's a SECOND cousin (daughter of Greg, who's the son of Greg, and who has a son Greg and a grandson Greg) ... but it's not that Lisa.

As far as the orange jacket goes - that was the inspiration for the Trivia question.

The real answers are - Lisa isn't related to ANYONE from the Saints, and her full name is Lisa Marie (Venezia) Lawrence. She's a member of the 2009 NJ American Legion State Champion Melrose Blackhawks, and is part of the all-girl mello line. She stopped by the mini-reunion for a bit on the way back from Wildwood.

Now, for this week's two-part question:
How many NJ AL championships did the Saints win, and in what years?

Remember ... prizes, prizes, we have no prizes!


Ready to send in your answers? Click here to submit, or if that doesn't work, send them to joparente DOT saintsdrumcorps AT gmail DOT com by the end of the day (whatever your time zone) on Monday, June 29th.


All for now - corpsdially yours from jo!

March Moments 2009: March 29 - Memories from 1976, Chapter 2

March 29 - Memories from 1976, Chapter 2
by Mary Cassidy Ryan


1976 - a great year! And, always have a Plan B.

One of my best thoughts was our stop at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater. What a difference it made to be off the gym floors and in actual beds! I recall that the practice field was great as well as the laundry room (luxury items when on the tour)! My roommate was Diane Markowitz (hope spelling is right). I would love to hear from her!

When the season concluded in Wildwood, it taught me how important it is to have a "Plan B" in place. Although I practiced with you all over and over, I had limited time with Duke E's Jitterbug+++. When called upon to do it alone in Wildwood, I really messed up! My right arm went into denial. I did a poor job! With much thanks to all of you, the performance was great! Afterwards, Mr. Kadash picked me up and you all applauded! I recall putting my shako over my face, wishing I did a better job! Thanks!

Last summer I moved back to San Antonio, Texas, after a one year venture to Louisiana. Our city will host the DCI southwest regional contest on July 18th. If you plan a visit anytime, let me know, I would love to hear from you. Cell: 210-632-3848 email mmc_ryan @att.net.



Comments or questions about our March Moments series? Click here to submit, or if that doesn't work, send them to joparente DOT saintsdrumcorps AT gmail DOT com.

March Moments 2009: March 26 - My First Time, Chapter 6

March 26 - My First Time, Chapter 6
by Craig "Clav" Stephens


I still remember how incensed (no pun intended) I was when we marched into the Garden State championships and saw off to the side the Crossmen burning a Saints T-shirt on a cross.

I vividly recall the memory of stomping on Crossmen and Bridgemen buttons as we headed towards the field.

I remember inspections.

My most vivid memory is seeing The Saints for the first time. It was at the Garden State Championships. The only reason I could even tolerate going to the show was because, well ... it was at Wildwood.

I watched with detached boredom the expected drudgery of one corps after another.

Then The Saints took the line. I knew I should look interested as my brother was marching (The Skull aka Art Stephens).

Then 6 notes were played that took my breath away and changed my life forever.

I know ... dramatic much? LOL But it's the truth. For if I had not heard that off the line I'd have never met my wife.

I blame ya'll and will never forgive you!!

LOL

j/k

Sort of ... *whistles*



Interested in submitting your own favorite memories for March Moments? Click here to submit, or if that doesn't work, send them to joparente DOT saintsdrumcorps AT gmail DOT com.

March Moments 2009: March 16 - My First Time, Chapter 4

March 16 - My First Time, Chapter 4
by JoAnne Parente


Let's jump to the first time the Saints Guard competed down Wildwood at Legions - I think it was September 1970.

Summer guard was very different than winter guard that season - while we were still performing the Manual of Arms on the floor, we had already made the leap to taped music by then. In a reversal of fortunes, Legion rules called for a posting of colors, with cadence provided by up to three drummers.

For a couple of weeks before the contest, I had a recurring dream that our flag poles wouldn't fit in the stantions. My fear multiplied when Ralph Fair told us we'd be using the Colleens' stantions instead of our own during the show.

I shared my concerns with Ralph and Tony more than once those last couple of weeks before heading down to Maxwell Field (truth be told, I probably made them crazy over it), and even asked a couple (or a hundred) times if they measured everything.

Then, it happened.

Instead of our normal, small-profile plastic endcaps, nice-white-brand-new cane tips with a broader diameter were placed on the bottom of our poles after our last pre-show rehearsal - all the better to help us get through inspection.

The flags didn't start falling until the forward march after posting colors. As we headed away from the stantions (a mandatory move), every flag dropped except the National Colors. Terry Gyorfy held the American flag erect and balanced on the top of the stantion as she took her two steps away from and back to the posting line.

Given the hefty penalties (lack of posting as well as dropped equipment), we withdrew from the competition after leaving the field.

I still carry the lessons learned with me, over three decades later.


Interested in submitting your own favorite memories for March Moments? Click here to submit, or if that doesn't work, send them to joparente DOT saintsdrumcorps AT gmail DOT com.

March Moments 2009: March 6 - El Khobar Lives

March 6 - El Khobar Lives
by jo

Desert Song and El Khobar are among my favorite memories of what happened OFF the field in 1974.

The winter before, we were all told to report to the Annex to see a movie. No one was excused, and no one was told what it was all about. A couple hours later, we walked out of the Annex with a clear vision of what Desert Song really meant.

For the first time, we were asked to keep a secret about our summer repertoire, and keep it we did. It was the year we really turned the corner as a competitive corps, and I'm still sad about missing half that summer season (again, apologies to those who had to get shots after I got sick!).

At every guard show that winter, Karen and I hung the bright green El Khobar Lives! banner somewhere prominent on the gym wall. Didn't matter who asked about it, we always answered the same way - come see us this summer and find out for yourself. Worth Ake was close to bribing me for the lead on the story, and I wouldn't budge.

Another part of the memory, of course, was the standup recruiting soldier cutout that we -ehem- borrowed from the Armory where we practiced summer drill. He fulfilled his duties admirably at the NJA championships in Wildwood that May, fully dressed for the occasion.

I'll leave the summer season memories for that year to those who were active participants in pulling it off. Looking at what DCIs have become, we were YEARS ahead of the game.

left to right: JoAnne Parente, Soldier Boy El Khobar, Terry Gyorfy

Interested in submitting your own favorite memories for March Moments? Click here to submit, or if that doesn't work, send them to joparente DOT saintsdrumcorps AT gmail DOT com.

All for now - corpsdially yours from jo!

Tuesday Trivia: Wildwood Motels

So, what were the places in Wildwood where we stayed?

The answer was out on www.saintsdrumcorps.com for all to find, on page 9 of the 1980 Reunion booklet:

• Cara Mara
• El Coronado
• Forget-Me-Not (breakfasts only)
• Lollipop Motel
• Mauna Loa
• Rio Motel
• Saratoga Inn
  

Given that there's been little interest in Trivia lately, I'll be taking a break on it for awhile. Start submitting some more general interest Trivia questions, and we'll resurrect it.

All for now - corpsdially yours from jo!

Tuesday Trivia: Wildwood Motels

Yeah, yeah, yeah - I know I'm posting this on Wednesday. Live with it.

First, on last week's Trivia - no additional submissions were received by e-mail about instructors and their corps, so we'll retire that question for the time being. A hint on a BIG omission - can anyone say Dukes?

Now, to this week. Kim Mega Trimblett made the following posting in the Saints Guest Book a few days ago: I was looking at news online and came across the "Filthiest Hotels in America" and #4 was the Eden Roc in Wildwood. Wasn't that one of the ones we used to stay at?

Here's the question: What were the places in Wildwood where we stayed?

Click here to submit your answers, and remember - prizes, prizes, we have no prizes!

All for now - corpsdially yours from jo!