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The
Northeast Mummers March On
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I'd
like to share with you the story of how the Fancy Brigades got
to march up Broad St. behind the String Bands. In 1972 our club,
the NorthEast Mummers Fancy Brigade became a member of the Golden
Sunrise Fancy Club.
Prior to 1972 the NE Mummers were a "Special Mention Group"
marching up Broad St. Each of the Mother Clubs: Hog Island,Klein,
Oregon and Golden Sunrise had 5 brigades in each of their clubs.
These clubs had the power to pick and choose which brigades
could participate as a member of their club. After the 1972
parade, the Golden Sunrise dropped the "Juniata Fancy Brigade"
from it's ranks. The NE Mummers were then accepted into the
club as a brigade. The other Fancy Brigades resented the Mother
Clubs over the release of the Juniata Brigade.They were aware
that any one of them could be next and for no apparent reason
at all. The Brigade Association discussed many times at their
monthly meetings about going on their own but there was never
enough solidarity to make the move until 1977.
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On
New Year's Day 1977, the NE Mummers placed ninth in
the Brigade standings and the entire brigade was overjoyed.
However that joy was short lived, because at the first
Mother Club Meeting for Golden Sunrise an argument between
our captain and the Mother Club Captain got us tossed
out of the club. The other brigades decided that was
more than they could stand and they all left their Mother
Clubs in protest over our dismissal.
This
brought the brigades together but they had no major
association to march with. The Captain of the Clevemore
Brigade, Mr. Ralph Tursi and the Captain of South Philly
String Band, Mr. Jim Donagy were able to convince The
Philadelphia Department of Recreation to have the Brigades
recognized as their own Division. The String Band Association
backed the idea as long as the Brigades marched last
behind them.
So on New Year's Day 1978, the Brigades first marched
up Broad St. as their own division and the rest is history.
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Eventually
as our numbers decreased, we were not able to compete and
the club folded. For years now the last remaining members
of the NE Mummers ( myself, Ron Bispels and Jerry Gallagher
) have been going up the street with Tom Purul of the Purul
Comic Club as a "Group".
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Tom
Purul and Jerry Gallagher
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year we decided to join a Comic Brigade ( Classic Comics -
Roaring 20's ) and enjoy going down 2nd Street together. We
were amazed on 2nd St. how many people still remember the
NE Mummers and how successful the Fancy Brigades have become
since those days when they started marching up behind the
String Bands.
I hope you like this little piece of history and can pass
it on to your viewers. Joe Gallagher
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At
the Clubhouse before the Parade
Tom Purul, Johnny Bispels, Jerry Gallagher,
Mike Gallagher and Ron Bispels
In
front of the Mummers Museum waiting to go down 2nd Street
Jerry G, Johnny Bispels, Ron B, Mike G (in back) , Joe
G and Ronnie Bispels
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