[Dixielandjazz] 76 trombones

[Burt Wilson]

Talking about bands. In 1954 I did the pre-game and half-time announcing for
the USC Trojan Band in the LA Coliseum. That  year we went to the Rose Bowl
in Pasadena to play the Big 10 Champion, Ohio State. The USC bandleader, the
legendary Tommy Walker (as a student he would lead the band and rush down to
the field to kick the extra points and than back up in the stands to lead
the band. Whew!) knew that the USC bandsmen would not be able to match the
precision of the OU band, so he dreamed up a half-time stunt that had each
member of the Trojan band wearing a "horse" which fit around the waist (held
in place by suspenders) of each musician. The effect was a merry-go-round
look. The coup de gras was that each silver "horse outfit" had a bolt of
maroon material extending all around it, down to the ground. Thus no one
could see if anyone was out of step or not. Needless to say, the band was a
sensation and "won" the half-time. Tommy Walker went on to work at
Disneyland, staging outdoor spectaculars. Alas, USC lost the game.

Burt "I've go tickets for the USC/Notre Dame game" Wilson

-----Original Message-----
From: dixielandjazz-admin@ml.islandnet.com
[mailto:dixielandjazz-admin@ml.islandnet.com]On Behalf Of Bill Horton
Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2002 10:06 PM
To: DJML
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] 76 trombones


I couldn't count them, but it looked like the Ohio State marching band had
at least 76 trombones at the game today...  in which Ohio whipped arch-rival
Michigan.

Musical tie-in:  "We Don't Give A Damn For The Whole State Of Michigan"

Bill "Former Buckeye" Horton



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