|
We hope you enjoy these photos You can click on a photo to enlarge it. Depending on your browser settings, you will then have to either move the sliders of your browser to view the entire photo, or click the enlargement a second time to enlarge it a second time. |
|
|
Click here to view the Joe Hoener photo collection from early 1970s |
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
Click here Frosty
Pommerenke 1965 collection |
The Argonne rebels are compiling a database. Please send an email to Roger Pommerenke or Scott Ward to be added to the Argonne Rebels alumni database. Please include name, years marched, position in corps, address, and phone number.
In August 1947, John Taff, a notable Great Bend, Ks, musician
and Rev. Joseph Tockert, organized
a drum and bugle corps for the St. Rose Catholic Boy and Girl Scouts. The
corps was initially sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and made its first
public performance Nov 26, 1947. Old timers recall the contributions of Ray 'Jiggs'
Schulz, 'Fuzzy' Brewer, Bill and Mary Lou Fryberger, Harold Hollis, Charles Miller, Grant Hoener, Don Bowsher
Sr., Tony Schartz, Harold Kunzelmann, Les Anderson, and Lou Grubb.
Click
here for an email from Joe Boley on the beginning of the Rebels and John Taff.
Click here for an email from Harold Kunzelmann,
Jr. on John Taff and the beginning of
the Rebels
In 1949, American Legion Argonne Post 180 assumed sponsorship, and membership was open to any area youths. The Post was named after the famous WW I battle in Argonne Forest, France.
During the 50s and 60s they marched against the best corps on the Great Plains like the Sky Ryders from Hutchinson, Ks, and the Troopers from Casper, Wyoming. They gradually improved and competed in several VFW, American Legion, and DCI championships. In 1955 the corps won its first state contest. From then on, they were usually the Kansas champs (unless the Sky Ryders got lucky). (See more on this era).
Probably their best year was 1972 when, under the direction of Glenn & Sandra Opie, they won the American legion championship and placed 5th in the DCI championship. Unfortunately they did not do as well in succeeding years. The last marching/competition season for the Argonne Rebels was 1979.
Many residents of Great Bend remember hearing the rebels
practice at night. (The Opie horn
line could be heard in almost all parts of Great Bend). I would drive my
'56 Chevy to the practice field behind GBHS. I remember the
high observation tower that someone built on the practice field. I never
climbed it, but I think it was tall enough to see Pikes Peak. Who built it, and what happened to it...
Click here for email from Louis
Grubb who answered the tower question.
In 1963 the Argonne Rebels traveled by bus from Great Bend, Kansas, to Miami, Florida. They stopped for dinner in Birmingham, Alabama (Continental Trailways had confirmed it would be safe). While food orders were being taken, several members of the Argonne Rebels were assaulted by white supremacists because 3 members of the Argonne Rebels were African American. One Argonne Rebel was taken to a hospital for medical attention. Click here for email from nurse and sponsor Marcia Cannady. The Rebels went on to Miami and placed 10th in the American Legion National Championship. Click here for emails from eyewitness to the attack.
African Americans were never bared from joining the Argonne Rebels. In 1958 the Rebel feeder corps had three African American musicians, there could have been others prior to that date. Sandra Opie gave music lessons to several Great Bend youths, so they could be good enough to march with the Rebels. One of her students was Phil Briscoe, a African American youth.
Click here
for email from Phill Brisco, one of the three African American Rebels assaulted in
Birmingham
Click
here for a photo of Phil taken in 1962, the year before the Birmingham incident
(also Joe Terry and Terry Lewis)
At first the Argonne Rebel color guard carried real WWI 30-06 Enfield Rifles. Later they carried real WWII Springfield Rifles that could fire live ammo. According to Glenn Opie, "The reason we liked them is that they were unique. Each weighed around 12 pounds, and as you would flip the rifles, etc., they would rattle - good showmanship!" (webmaster's note: Remember the rattle of rifles in the opening of A Few Good Men)?
Gar Shields emailed that a girl named Wynette McCarter was
drum major in 1954. Marcia "Cannady" Ochs emailed that the Color Guard in 1955 was commanded by a
girl named Jackie Johnson carrying her saber. Two other girls, including
Marilynn Johnson carried rifles and competed at the state tournament in color
guard competition. These girls carried modified rifles that were made lighter by hollowing-out the wooden
stocks. It was also about this time that the Rebels started competing against the all girl
corps from Enid, Ok., the Legionettes.
Click
here for Oct 14, 2003, email from Gary Shields, Rebel '52-'55
It is believed that 20 to 30 couples have married after meeting each other in the Argonne Rebels. I recall one overnight Rebel bus trip (1962?). A couple hid behind the uniforms hung in the back of the bus, and made-out! (unfortunately it was not me). The next day, one of the chaperones moved the uniforms to a different part of the bus.
There are rumors that during the 1950's some of the Drum Corps expenses were paid by profits from illegal slot machines next to the bar at the American Legion Argonne post. The post was raided more than once, and the slot machines confiscated.
Speaking of uniforms, remember the pre-show inspections at the starting line? We polished our instruments and shoes, more than once, before each show. Some people were so nervous that they would faint during inspection! I don't recall a Rebel fainting. I think it was usually a Sky Ryder, who could not handle the stress of competing against the Rebels. When did inspections stop? Was Amnesty International involved? I remember someone was penalized for not wearing his white gloves at inspection. He said he wanted to keep them clean! I think it was the same person who made-out in the back of the bus. Click here for email answer from Glenn Opie.
196
1 Argonne Rebels (MP3 audio).Recording session
outside GBHS, summer of 1961. Two tapes were made. This tape was
made by Roger Pommerenke. Unfortunately the recording was partially destroyed by
his brother's guitar recording a few months later.
Concert 245KB
I Believe 108KB (compare to
competition recording made a year later, below)
Bloody Mary 115KB
1962 Argonne Rebels (MP3 audio).
Recorded live in Madison, Wisconsin, July 14,
1962. These show tunes will take several
seconds to download, unless you have broadband. ALLOW A FEW MOMENTS TO DOWNLOAD. In the same order
as performed (off the line, color presentation, concert entry, concert,
concert exit, specialty, exit).
1971 Argonne Rebels Audio
Real Audio clip 1971 Stereo. (Unfortunately real audio (RA) is not compatible with many browsers).
More Argonne Rebel Information
m 1962 including the road show to Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa
Other sites:
The Truth about Great Bend, Kansas. Stuff they didn't teach in school
www.argonnerebels.com Rebel Dallas Martin is webmaster. Official site for August 6-7, 2004, Rebel Reunion in Denver
Salina, KS, Silver Sabres Drum Corps Argonne Rebel CD's, DVD's, and VHS tapes for sale. (click on "for sale")
Please email webmaster, Roger Pommerenke GBHS '64, at rmpommerenke@hotmail.com with ideas to improve this web page. Jpeg photos and nostalgia will be especially appreciated. The webmaster marched with the Rebel color guard for part of 1961 and 1962. He recently retired and thought he would have fun writing this webpage. Visit his home page at members.cox.net/pommerenke
Click here to access a printable version of this page
Copyright 2003 - 05
