To start off the 2009 radio season I decided to explore one of the largest and perhaps one of the strangest city traditions in the country. In Philadelphia Pennsylvania, every year on New Years day, thousands of blue collar men - in a tradition stretching back over 100 years - take off their work-boots, set aside their labor and pick up banjos, saxophones and other instruments...these burly family men, put on intricate costumes lavishly decorated with bright sequins, feathers, glitter.... then they march.... in groups of 18- to over 60... they parade up Broad St from the Stadium area in South Philly, up more than 2 miles to City Hall ... all the while  playing music and performing their own signature struts...it's called The Mummers Parade.

But this iconic Philadelphia tradition almost didn't happen this year. In Part 1 this week on AVR we hear the voices of Dennis Quaile and his younger brother Chris, both hail from a Mummers family. Dennis is now one of the most sought after professional choreographers for the parade. He has seen many, many 1^st place prizes for his work and has sent thousands of Mummers up Broad St. including 6 clubs in 2009.

From these engaging voices we'll hear:

- The interesting and odd Mummers History

- How non-profit clubs produce this 15,000 participant parade

- How the clubs overcame the threat of cancellation due to a city budget crunch

- The inner workings of marching with a double bass fiddle in a huge feathery costume

- What those who have never seen the parade can expect to encounter


I went looking for a little piece about a crazy parade....but I found a deeper story of working families keeping up their traditions and spirits in tough economic times.

Part 2 in the AVR limited series on the Mummers Parade will include more from the Quaile bothers about their family involvement and how big men with saxophones lean how to kick step in time.... We'll also speak with a photographer at the event Danny Nowakowski about his unique experience and what he saw at the 2009 parade.
LINK- Danny's Photos
Music comes from an annually top-performing Mummers Club, The Quaker City String Band.
http://www.quakercitystringband.com/

If you have never heard of the Mummers just click play!

To start off the 2009 radio season I decided to explore one of the largest and perhaps one of the strangest city traditions in the country. In Philadelphia Pennsylvania, every year on New Years day, thousands of blue collar men - in a tradition stretching back over 100 years - take off their work-boots, set aside their labor and pick up banjos, saxophones and other instruments...these burly family men, put on intricate costumes lavishly decorated with bright sequins, feathers, glitter.... then they march.... in groups of 18- to over 60... they parade up Broad St from the Stadium area in South Philly, up more than 2 miles to City Hall ... all the while  playing music and performing their own signature struts...it's called The Mummers Parade.

But this iconic Philadelphia tradition almost didn't happen this year. In Part 1 this week on AVR we hear the voices of Dennis Quaile and his younger brother Chris, both hail from a Mummers family. Dennis is now one of the most sought after professional choreographers for the parade. He has seen many, many 1^st place prizes for his work and has sent thousands of Mummers up Broad St. including 6 clubs in 2009.

From these engaging voices we'll hear:

- The interesting and odd Mummers History

- How non-profit clubs produce this 15,000 participant parade

- How the clubs overcame the threat of cancellation due to a city budget crunch

- The inner workings of marching with a double bass fiddle in a huge feathery costume

- What those who have never seen the parade can expect to encounter


I went looking for a little piece about a crazy parade....but I found a deeper story of working families keeping up their traditions and spirits in tough economic times.

Part 2 in the AVR limited series on the Mummers Parade will include more from the Quaile bothers about their family involvement and how big men with saxophones lean how to kick step in time.... We'll also speak with a photographer at the event Danny Nowakowski about his unique experience and what he saw at the 2009 parade.
LINK- Danny's Photos
Music comes from an annually top-performing Mummers Club, The Quaker City String Band.
http://www.quakercitystringband.com/

If you have never heard of the Mummers just click play!