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Los Gatos High School

Marching Band and Color Guard

A Visual History

Note: This slideshow was created by Jean Melax, Marching Band parent from Fall 2018 to Fall 2021, and presented at the MB/CG end-of-season awards ceremony on November 19, 2021.

As some of you know, I was the LGHS Music Dept Admin for a short time between the fabulous Ms. Sathe and the equally fabulous Ms. Redo, and while I was there I was inspired by all the LGHS memorabilia that had recently been returned from display at the NUMU museum, and I wanted to research more about their history. So I spent hours and hours looking through every single yearbook in the school library (from 1897 to 2021) and I took pictures of any page remotely music related. I’d like to share with you some highlights about the marching band and color guard history at LGHS. This photo is from the 1975 yearbook, we will come back to it later.

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1927 Yearbook: First mention of a band: “From the members of the two orchestras there was formed a twenty-four piece band, which has played at basketball games, parades, and, finally, at the Fiesta de Las Rosas in San Jose”

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1928: First Band Uniforms

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1932: “The High School Band has been one of the most outstanding organizations for which no credit is given, so everyone should be proud of the good work it does. The band is always willing to help out any program in or out of school, just for the pleasure of playing…”

1931

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September 25, 1936 Oakland Tribune: “This view of tangled timbers shows the result of the gas explosion that wrecked the new Los Gatos High School (music) building, injuring 11 men and imperiling 600 students. The students were moved to safety a few minutes before the blast came because the odor of gas had been detected. "

April 1937: New Music Wing opens

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1938

1942

1954

Uniforms from 1938 to 1954

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Uniforms from 1955 to 1968

1957

1955

1966

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Uniforms from 1969 to 1986

1971

1981

1982

1985

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Uniforms from 1987 to 2001

2000

1990

1989

1996

2000 “Excalibur” sword

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Uniforms from 2002 to 2017

2005

2003

2015

2008

2015

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Uniforms from 2018 to today

2021-2022

2018

2021-2022

2018 student’s answer to the question “How has marching band changed you?”: “I’ve gotten a lot of new friends from it, learned many new life lessons, and how to approach certain problems and increase my responsibility”

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Drum Majors (1931 to today)

1931

1938

1958

1975

1985

2008

1993

2021-22

2012

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Majorettes (1939 to 1980): Per the 1949 yearbook, “Marching feet and whirling batons proved to be those of Los Gatos majorettes. They were especially fine this year, walking in and out among the band members”

1939

1949

1960

1962

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The Majorettes got to play with fire!?

1973

1977

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All Girl Drum Corp (1950 to 1954):

Per the 1951 yearbook, “The drum corp has been a bright and colorful addition to our school this year. Set off by gay new uniforms, the girls participated in several parades, where they distinguished themselves as a competent and attractive marching unit”. In 1952 the Drum Corp won first prize in the San Jose Balloon Parade. The drum is on display in the Music Building hallway.

1954

1950

1951

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The ‘zany’ Pep Band (1959 to 1989)

1959

1966

1978

1989

The pep band used to do a lot more than play at football games. Per the 1984 yearbook, “The World Famous LGHS Pep Band was comprised of … musicians and drummers who were fanatically devoted to the subtleties of music, the art of having a good time, and the finer points of bad taste in fashion … The band members attended a variety of sporting events, ranging from girls basketball games to track meets to … football games ... they hired themselves out to parties, played to special assemblies at (elementary) schools, and even competed in a tournament of pep bands, which they took first place, winning $100 and a trophy … The musicians were famous for their gaudy orange and black dress and commando entrances, and had been known to kidnap a mascot or two.” What do you think, Mr. Hill, should the pep band hire themselves out for events again, maybe do promposals for example?

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Flag Girls / Small Flags / Short Flags (1969 to 1986)

1969

1973

1980

1979

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Banner Girls / Tigger Banner Girls / Tall Flag Girls / Flag Unit / Flag Team (1972 to 1996)

1974

1975

1992

1985

1980

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Drill Team (1974 to 1996)

1974

1979

1982

1991

1988

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Banners (1964 to today) and Shields (1981 to 1997)

1964

1975

1979

1981

1985

1987

1996

Carried by Banner Girls, Banner Carriers, the Drill Team, the Shields, the Shield Squad, and the Identification Unit

2017?

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1975

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Color Guard (1997 to today)

1997

2000

2004

2009

2015

2012

2021-22

1997 yearbook: “Color Guard is like an expression of music, and, with teamwork, you bond, make new friends, learn how to work together, and trust each other”

2005

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1978