US Naval Reserve Midshipmens School - Capstan Yearbook (Notre Dame, IN)

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. .gvf ' YK H. X . fttiis. gg- 'Ll M K ..jwf,Ez.3f:'k S PROBABLY the most active organization during our lN1idshipman days at Notre Dame, the Drum and Bugle Corps was also probably the most essential. Wherever we went together it was they who set the pace for us. When the lone bugler from their ranks awakened usffalways at the cold- est time of the morningffwe grumbled and swore revenge, but when he turned us in at taps we agreed that perhaps he would make a good sailor some day. Organized by Chief Buglemaster Tainter during the first week of the indoctrination period, the Drum and Bugle Corps started with eight mem- bers. By the time we began Midshipman School there were forty, and led, by Drum lNIajor lvlidship- man R. DufHe, they had ironed out the wrinkles that necessarily punctuated their first offerings. Practice was limited to fifteen and twenty min- utes a day but the Corps still found time to im- provise new numbers and startling arrangements of the old ones. Few of us will forget the Hrst time they sprung the three trumpet chorus of i'Anchor's Aweighw one night at evening chow formation. And but for the fear of Saturday work detail many of us would have danced, a la Harlem, when we heard the brisk syncopation of Bombs at Bayn. 'Vs' H811 ? . 'Q X . L. 5 i t Emp, u 'Q .fi 3' it t f .

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OLLI' OTH Brooks Atkinson and Burns Mantle com- pletely ignored the Notre Dame Midshipmens, production, Happy Houru, which was presented on October 30, in Notre Dameis historic Wlashing- ton Hall. Neither Olsen nor Johnson, nor Gable nor LaMarr, nor even the Studebaker Chorus were principals in the show. There were no Hollywood contracts for the lovely female leads, but from the standpoint of the 1100 Midshipmen who were there, Happy Hour was excellently done, com- pletely funny and presented in a very shipshape and seamanlike manner. The writing was done by W. Leggett and A. F. Berliner was the show's general chairman and stage manager. Most of the humor was supplied by P. Larmer who had done gag writing for NBC, notably for the Fibber McGee and Red,Skelton programs. The work of coordinating the acts into one show was done by A. E. Penelosa. Outstanding individual acts included the Girl Skitn, starring a very fetching and voluptuous female who slightly resembled Cook, a Northwestern football star of last year. As directed by G. M. Critchell, it was one of the eveningls highlights.

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I182l PPRENTICE Seaman Sam Holmes men- tioned to some of his friends last October that Lt. Palmer wanted to start a dance band at the Notre Dame Midshipman school and Seaman Holmes added that he would very much like to be in on the deal. No one heard much about the whole matter until one night a few weeks later. Midshipmen returning from chow heard the un- mistakable strain ofthe 'cAnvil Chorusw sounding off from the lst Deck classroom in Badin Hall. That was the first concert by the Midshipman Orchestra. It started out as a rehearsal but the word spread even faster than scuttlebutt and soon the chapel was filled with jumping, stomping, lxfidshipmen. While Verdi took one of the worst poundings of his career, the listeners cheered. More rehearsals followed, always in that short hour between 1800 and 1900. When the Lounge was opened in Morrissey Hall they played weekly con- certs on Friday nights. They drew such crowds there that they wound up finally shooting the works in Washington Hall. It was the first time no one fell asleep in his seat. But then it was the first time no one snapped a chalk line at them. Composed of thirteen men, including Midship- man Holmes, their leader, the band boasted of men who had played in college and professional dance bands throughout the country. Midshipmen John Evans and Marvin Decker formed the top sax men in the group with Midshipmen Harry Berchin and P, C. Hume close behind. Berchin is the man you saw so often leading the jam sessions with the best boogie woogie piano ever heard in these parts. ln the trumpet section the Midshipman school produced T. Harper, Charles DuBois and Howard Knox, the last named being the boy who did the comedy acts in between bars. The two trombonists whose solos made us forget the men we used to hear back in the old days were Midshipmen Stuart Park and Dave Fowler. In the rhythm group we had first, Midshipman C. E. Davis who played hob with the drums every time we heard him. He doubled between the or- chestra and marching us to class. He never missed a beat in either place. Midshipman Sylvan Dubinsky not only played the piano harmony parts but added many solos in the weekly concerts. The last polishing touch to make the band complete was added by Midshipman Orville Gross and his guitar. These were the men, then, who made up the Notre Dame Midshipman School orchestra. When asked to play a number they didn,t have, they im- provised, when asked to swing, they swung. They were the most obliging band the world ever saw.