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Toronto Optimists: 1958
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Inspection (1958) |
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All who wanted to be part of the unit
that was being formed stood in the gym (at Jarvis
Vocational School) where things were to be sorted out.
It seemed like a hundred people were there. I don't
think that anyone took an accurate count, as horn
players lined the walls. drummers stood in the centre
and extra bodies stood wherever they could find a place.
People who had instruments held them. One fact was
obvious: with the average size of a Junior "A" Drum
Corps being 40 to 50 boys in those days, not everyone
would be given a position. Competition for places would
be intense but relieved somewhat when some fell away....
Mr. Baggs was there. He would be the Corps Director
which entailed, besides being responsible for the entire
operation, acting as a liaison between the Optimists
Club and the Corps. Barry Bell would be the Bugle
instructor, Lorne Ferrazzutti would be the Drum
instructor Mr. Eric Burton would be in charge of the colour guard.... The job of sorting out
people was made easier by the fact that most people
already held the instrument of their choice..... At first there was a surplus of members
but, as time went by, some drifted away. It appeared
that some were fed up with drum corps. Others felt that
the new corps wouldn't work. None of us, at this stage,
knew this either.
(excerpted from Colin Hedworth's book
on the Toronto Optimists) |
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On the front steps at De la Salle "Oaklands" (1958)
Click on the image for a BIG view!
Acrobat file with the names of the 1958 corps
members (a few names are missing) |
| That day of the picture we were all feeling
so proud, and this was going to be a picture that would be in programs etc.,
not really thinking that we were on the campus of our future rival. It was
Mr. Baggs who arranged for these pictures to be taken – at this time we did
not have Don Daber. There were other photos taken at this time and they
showed the Corps on the field in concert formation and a company front. I remember the day was quite long with the photographer having us
together in different poses. (Phil Hennings) |
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Toronto Optimists receive the City of Toronto Flag (1958) |
| May 3, 1958 at the University Armouries was
the first partial field show that we did in front of an audience. There
were several Corps there – Scout House, St Mary's, and several others that
I can't think of at the moment. The crowd was impressed with the colour of
our uniforms and the style of music we played – there was a new kid on the
block. Thanks to our music instructors – Barry Bell and Lorne Ferrazzutti. After
this show we were invited to perform in Batavia, New York – our first U.S.A.
appearance.
(Phil Hennings)
The Strange Case of the
City Hall Flag |
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September 13, 1958 in Galt, ON: The Canadian
Championships
The crowd was quite large, swelled,
no doubt, by the expectation of a true challenge for The
Title. Off we stepped, and nobody thought of anything
else for the next 15 minutes but their part to be
played. When the last note sounded across the finish
line everybody knew it had been a good show. The best of
which we were capable. Nothing major had gone wrong.
Marching off to prolonged applause, we took up
positions on a nearby hill, under a tree, to watch the
other corps perform. These included Scout House, De La
Salle, Grantham Police Boys Band and numerous others.
After all the corps were finished tensions rose as
scores were calculated. Came the moment of truth and all
pretence of relaxation was abandoned. What was done was
done and nothing could alter it now. All was
apprehension as the voice of the announcer droned over
the P.A. System. |
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Royal Knights |
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66.99 |
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Sky Raiders |
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73.33 |
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Grantham |
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77.09 |
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De La Salle |
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77.33 |
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Then, as announcers often do, the
second place score was given: 80.11
A nerve wracking pause ensued, then the words "Preston
Scout House" echoed across the park. The green shirted
crew exploded in a frenzy of youthful exuberance. Utmost
self-discipline had to be exerted in order for their own
first place score to be heard. It was 81.61 We had won
by a margin of 1.5 points! A solid victory that had been
accomplished by wins in the execution captions.
(excerpted from Colin Hedworth's book
on the Toronto Optimists) |
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Acrobat file about Toronto Optimists winning the
1958 Canadian Drum Corps Championship |
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