The Spartans are here!

The Spartans Fancy Brigade is here and already cleaning up. Literally.   The newest Fancy Brigade went out this weekend and cleaned up the ball field complex at EOM.   Nice job, Spartans.  Adults and younger ones were on hand.

The Spartans NYB is the newest Mummers Fancy Brigade.  They are and want to be very community minded, so they took it to the streets, painting and sweeping and bagging.

The Spartans are a family-oriented club and hope to attract members who think that way, too.  Congratulations to Jerry and all the members and good luck as you prepare for New Year’s.

Members of the Spartans NYB already doing their part in South Philadelphia!

2013 Show of Shows

The wows kept coming this afternoon at the annual Philadelphia Mummers String Band Association Show of Shows. Thousands of fans clapped, cheered and strutted with the Captains and the 16 bands of the String Band Association. The show began with Polish American and Captain Nick Magenta heralding what was to come with their theme, “A Rio Good Time.” Trilby and Uptown followed. Then Greater Overbrook and Duffy. Greater Kensington, Broomall and Durning finished out the first half. Captains and members of the bands paused at intermission to talk with the crowd and be photographed with the fans. Lots of interaction in the people business that is the Mummers.
The 2nd half started with a rousing performance by Aqua and Captain Ron Iannacone. The imaginative Hegeman followed. Then Avalon, Ferko, South Philadelphia, Woodland, Quaker City, and 1st Prize Fralinger. Then came the Captains in a finale capping the 3 hour show. This may have been the last Show of Shows in Boardwalk Hall. Next year the show could be in North Wildwood or Philadelphia.
Congratulations to Hall of Fame inductees Dan Marakowski, of Fralinger, Dan Spencer, of Ferko, Mark Danielewicz, of Polish American, and Joe Volkert, of Quaker City String Band.

Big Changes

Big changes have come on the power block of 2 Street in South Philadelphia.  Fralinger and Quaker City, two of the most successful string bands of all time, have voted to replace key members in leadership positions.  Fralinger has a new Captain and Quaker City has a new Music Director.

Fralinger Captain Thomas D’Amore lost a close election to Scott Wray.  Admirers of this band and folks who know Scott wish him all the best.  However, this is also a head turner to many since Thomas has won First Prize Captain 3 of the last 4 years and the band has won First Prize in 2 of the last 4 years.  Thomas has not only excelled as a Captain on Broad Street, but has been professional in his public role as Captain and giving of his time to charitable causes.

Fran Rothwein is no longer Music Director of Quaker City String Band.   QC has selected Michael Spanky Brown for the role.  Spanky is another talented and hard working member of Quaker.  Fran has served as MD for nearly 20 years in one of the most successful periods of the band’s history.  He is a flat-out good guy, and talented, too.  Quaker also recently gave him an award for coming back from illness.

Well-meaning Mummers everywhere should recognize the quality and contributions of Thomas D’Amore and Fran Rothwein, and we should all hope that in whatever capacity they choose and Mummery allows, that we will see and hear more of them.

The Parade is a Go!

The 2013 SugarHouse Casino Mummers Parade is officially on track!  Mayor Michael Nutter, Congressman Bob Brady, Deputy Mayor Michael DiBerardinis, Mummers Division representatives and others today announced the joyful event at a news conference outside the Philadelphia Visitors Center at LOVE Park.  The 113th annual parade* is, of course, scheduled for New Year’s Day with the Comics leading off as usual from Broad and Washington.  Mayor Nutter praised the uniqueness of the parade and how no one will ever get anything like it anywhere in the world.

Congressman Brady talked about the importance of these Philadelphia traditions continuing.  The Philadelphia Traditions Fund also presented the mayor with a check for $100,000 to defray costs of the parade.  Each year, the Fund helps support about 10 major parades and festivals in the city and a few smaller ones.   Also on hand today were several children who had won the Mummers drawing competition.  The city has made some adjustments to the bleachers this year. There will be more bleachers, especially at the main “A” Stand judging area at 16th and JFK.  More bathrooms and food vendors, too.  But, the most comfortable place to witness the parade will be in your family room, watching on PHL17.   PHL17.com will also stream the parade for Mummers fans, especially those in the Armed Forces.   PHL17 reports viewers watched the e2012 parade online in all 50 states and 85 nations.

*This is the 113th official parade, though really 2 parades in the first half of the 20th Century did not take place.  But, for simplicity and because some Mummers still strutted in their neighborhoods in those 2 years, folks still count from 1901.

Fralinger Fire Fund To Aid Victims

Fralinger String Band is announcing that all the money donated to the Fralinger Fire Fund will be donated to the families adversely affected by the fire.

The string band had feared that the December 10th fire had destroyed all of its props.  But leaders of the historic band say they have made a final determination that the water and smoke damaged props are repairable.  The Fund was established before that was known, and although there is some cost of repair, the band will not touch any of the donated money for itself.

All proceeds donated to the Fralinger Fire Fund received from December 12, 2012 through January 1, 2013, will be given to the fire victims.  Fralinger encourages continued donations to the Fralinger Fire Fund in order to assist these families.

Fralinger expresses its gratitude to the Fire and Police Departments, L & I, other Mummers and non Mummer residents who have been involved in saving as much of the warehouse as they could and assisting Fralinger in the recovery.

Angels, Chips, Mutts, Mums and More

I can see the Mumrise.  Yes, it can be a busy summer with parades and appearances, but it’s this time of year that all things Mummers begin to increase in frequency.  Among these things are rehearsals and fundraisers for the clubs and fundraisers for charity made possible by Mummers.  For example, Jessica Eastwood and the 2^nd Street Shooters are throwing a benefit, Angels for Diabetes, to raise money for the American Diabetes Association.  Stop on by the Downtowners Hall, 2^nd and Snyder, Friday night, the 14^th,  from 8pm to midnight. I hope to get by there.

Also, all you cow chip fans, the next day, Saturday the 15^th, you could win thousands of dollars by taking part in the fundraiser for the Fancy Brigade Association. There will be a cow. There will likely be something that the cow has to do and when the cow does what a cow will do, well, somebody will win big bucks. I’m talking maybe 10-thousand dollars.  It’s at 4^th &  Shunk at the Murphy Recreation Center. They’re selling 3 by 3 squares for 20 dollars a block. The cow is let loose at 2pm. Get your block in before then.  May the chip be with you.

And while we’re talking animals, on October 6^th, the 3^rd annual “Mums & Mutt” event takes place from Noon to 4 at Burke Playground.

You can help the Mummers Museum this Saturday, the 15th and maybe save some money on groceries.  As Rocco says, there will be a huge food and new merchandise auction starting at 2pm.  Watch the cow and then come on over and save some moo-la.

Woodland String Band holds its annual Red Cross Blood Drive on Saturday, September 29^th.  No, this is not how they won. They are great, charitable Mummers.  You can be one, too, and give blood and save a life.

And, finally, on Friday nights, it’s always a party at Hog Island.

Enjoy the season.

The King of All Music

Hall of Famer Joey King today celebrated the grand opening of King’s Music at 13th and Passyunk in South Philadelphia.  The Pep Band and other performers stopped by today. Joey is in his 49th year as a Mummer.  He played with the Garden State String Band, South Philadelphia, Ferko, Woodland and Trilby and most recently, about 15 years, for Quaker City String Band.  His new store looks great.  It’s a full line store with Fender and other guitars, top of the line Selmer  saxophones and those gleaming Zildjian cymbals.  Joey says King’s Music also offers lessons.  Whether its banjo, piano or drums, sax or whatever, you know the lessons will be good if Joey’s involved or overseeing it.  The King family has been and still is a major family among the String Bands and now Joey even ups the ante by starting his small business all about the music.  Congratulations, Mr. King, and best of good fortune to you and King’s Music.

Remembering Auggie

I last saw “Auggie” last month on the night Woodland String Band celebrated its first prize finish.  He had had surgery the same day and still showed up.  You knew he wasn’t feeling great and used a wheelchair to get about, but, as usual, he made everybody laugh, everybody smile, everybody feel better.  Frank “Auggie” Roberts had this effect on me and I knew him the least of all the hundreds of people in the room.  Maybe it’s what you should expect from someone born on St. Patrick’s Day.

Losing someone who loved life so much and losing them so young is difficult for those close to him.  Auggie was only 50 when he passed away on May 7th.   My condolences to Franny, Annie and Jessie and the Woodland String Band family.

courtesy Tom Loomis

Auggie was at the heart of Woodland String Band and you could argue, what Mummery is all about. He was a Mummer through and through. As his friends tell you, even as he fought cancer, he just kept winning, and making others happier.  He was a show-stopper and scene-stealer and you loved every minute of it.  And, if this wasn’t all so damn serious, you’d half expect him to walk, or roll, through the door tomorrow and say, “You didn’t really think I’d left, did you?”

courtesy Tom Loomis

Woodland String Band President, Tom Loomis, said it best Monday night when he wrote, “This evening, the world of Mummery, the Woodland String Band and the Roberts family lost a true champion. A fighter until the end.  We love you, Frank “Auggie” Roberts. Rest in Peace, brother, and thank you for all that you have given us and the great memories you left behind. One Heart-One Spirit!!!”

The first viewing for Frank “Auggie” Roberts will begin Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church on Moyamensing Avenue in South Philadelphia.  A second viewing will take place Saturday morning at 8:00, followed by the Funeral Mass at 9:45 a.m.  There will be a proud Mummers send-off.

Thank you and farewell, Frank “Auggie” Roberts.  Everyone who knew you is singing, “We’ll Meet Again.”

25th Ride for Life

The 25^th annual Ride for Life benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association was a rumbling, rousing success this weekend in Bethlehem.  As the weekend got underway, endless rows of Harleys filled a lot on Saturday at Steel Stacks, a marvelous venue centered on the behemoth of an old blast furnace.  The big ride was Sunday.

All sorts of good entertainment filled much of the weekend, led of course by the Bacon Brothers concert Saturday  night. Among the high points was MDA National Goodwill Ambassador Abbey Umali singing  “Lean On Me”  with Kevin and Michael Bacon. Fans of the Mummers were on hand to also hear, “Son of a Mummer.” The Bacon Brothers Band is ending its latest tour. They’ve begun work on a new CD and performed a song from it, “493 Miles.”

The weekend was a great anniversary fundraiser and spirit lifter. Many MDA families were there and of course, more than a thousand Harley owners and riders. For two and a half decades, Harley Davidson dealerships and Harley owners have been riding to raise money for research into neuromuscular diseases and support the services provided by MDA. They continue to set the pace and, provide hope and their goodwill is yielding success.Thanks to all the riders from Atlantic City to Harrisburg, the Poconos to Delaware, who joined in the celebration.This year’s MDA “Show of Strength” will again be on PHl17 Labor Day weekend.

Shining Brightly

The stars shined like the Mummers Museum spire last night at events in South Philadelphia.  It is so great to see the tower radiating light again.  2nd & Washington is evermore the beacon.

 

The champion Murray Comic Club, led by President Rich Porco, celebrated another successful year and recognized its stellar members at its banquet held at Epiphany of Our Lord School at 13th and Jackson.  Rich is a great leader who truly values each of his members.

The family of the late Jerry Murray was on hand to witness Jerry’s induction into the Hall of Fame.

 

 

 

 

Recognition continued at the Mummers Museum banquet at EOM in South Philadelphia. Among those honored was Dave Anderson, of Woodland String Band, awarded the Al Heller award for his contributions to Mummery.

 

As the museum tower suggests, the future is bright.