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American Legion
QUAKER CITY BAND
QUAKER CITY BAND
One of Salem's proudest moments of history happened on Saturday, Sept. 14, 1957.
On that day our Quaker City Band, under the direction of Chester M. Brautigam, won the
coveted 1957 American Legion National Championship at Atlantic City, N.J. The Band
had been runners-up the two previous years - in 1954 at Washington, D.C. and in 1955
at Miami, Florida. Now, it had finally captured top honors in strong competition at the
American Legion's national convention. For four consecutive years it held the Ohio
Legion championship.
At Atlantic City the green and gray uniformed bandsmen outplayed and outmaneuvered three other crack Legion bands from Olympia, Washington, Woodbury, N.J. and New Braunfield, Texas to win the national title. They were first to play and march in the contest, which took place in Park Place along the Atlantic City boardwalk. The position for order of playing was determined by a drawing.
Our band executed its precision drills with finesse, and then playing a required number called "The American Legion March." This was followed by the playing of "Tchiou-Tchiou," arranged by assistant director Tom Williams, and Tchaikowsky's "Symphony No. 4."
Announcement of the first place winner was left until last. When the band from Olympia, Washington was named second in the contest (they had won the two previous years), the Salem band members knew that the first place honor belonged to them. Yells, cheers and hats filled the air immediately. A long-cherished dream had finally become a reality. The large crowd of onlookers seemed to share the bandsmen's enthusiasm, some commenting that the Salem band had staged one of the finest shows of any Legion convention.
The Quaker City Band's rating was 83.56, followed by Olympia, Washington with 81; Woodbury, N.J. with 73; and New Braunfield, Texas with 68.1. Almost immediately after the announcement, Brautigam reassembled his musicians and had the band parade down the Atlantic City boardwalk to the Ambassador Hotel 15 blocks away. Once inside the lobby of the hotel, their headquarters, the band struck up the familiar tune, "Down by the O-H-I-O."
By winning the national championship, the Salem band received a trophy, $1200 in cash, and was given the privilege of officially opening the convention on Sunday morning. On Monday the 70-member band (including color guard and majorettes) led the parade.
Salem welcomed its national champions home by giving them a breakfast at the Memorial Building early Tuesday morning, and a big parade down State Street. Four official cars representing the State Highway Patrol, Salem police, Columbiana County sheriff and township constables were among the caravan that met the band members at the Ohio Turnpike exit at North Lima. They were escorted into the city at 6:45 a.m.
About 242 people attended the breakfast, put on by the American Legion Auxiliary. The parade included 15 cars, 12 of which carried American Legion band members sitting astride the tops of convertibles, led by the Salem High School Band. Joinging the welcome was the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Signs and flags were much in evidence in store windows and on cars in the parade. A sign across downtown State St. read "Welcome Home, American Legion Band, National Champs, 1957." Over 1,000 people gathered on S. Broadway to see Mayor Dean B. Cranmer present the "gold key to the city" to Brautigam. Weeks later, on Oct. 12, a "banquet of champions" was held at St. Paul's School to honor the band.
Our town was, indeed, very proud of this outstanding achievement by the band. The SALEM NEWS had this to say on the day the band returned home; "Salem citizens' hearts quickened and chests swelled with justifiable pride when the weekend brought news of the American Legion Quaker City band's accomplishment of winning the national championship at Atlantic City.
"Although the bandsmen have been Ohio Legion champions four consecutive years and runners-up for national honors in 1954 and '55, they were content with nothing short of first place in the nation. Now they have it and well-earned it is. Behind the victory lie weeks and months of rehearsals and drills and other coordinated factors.
"In harmony as musicians, the marching band also has exemplified an espirit de corps that paved the way to fame and brought honor not only to themselves but to their community. Salem is proud of her American Legion Quaker City Band. Its members are the best ambassadors of good will that any community could have. Today's "welcome home" ceremonies are held in gratitude for and in admiration of the finest band in the United States."
Memories of this event are etched in the minds of those living memebrs of the 1957 band. Achieving top honors at the national level is, after all, not an everyday occurence. It may even be a once-in-a-century type of thing. For that reason alone it must be remembered and recorded in the Salem story.
At Atlantic City the green and gray uniformed bandsmen outplayed and outmaneuvered three other crack Legion bands from Olympia, Washington, Woodbury, N.J. and New Braunfield, Texas to win the national title. They were first to play and march in the contest, which took place in Park Place along the Atlantic City boardwalk. The position for order of playing was determined by a drawing.
Our band executed its precision drills with finesse, and then playing a required number called "The American Legion March." This was followed by the playing of "Tchiou-Tchiou," arranged by assistant director Tom Williams, and Tchaikowsky's "Symphony No. 4."
Announcement of the first place winner was left until last. When the band from Olympia, Washington was named second in the contest (they had won the two previous years), the Salem band members knew that the first place honor belonged to them. Yells, cheers and hats filled the air immediately. A long-cherished dream had finally become a reality. The large crowd of onlookers seemed to share the bandsmen's enthusiasm, some commenting that the Salem band had staged one of the finest shows of any Legion convention.
The Quaker City Band's rating was 83.56, followed by Olympia, Washington with 81; Woodbury, N.J. with 73; and New Braunfield, Texas with 68.1. Almost immediately after the announcement, Brautigam reassembled his musicians and had the band parade down the Atlantic City boardwalk to the Ambassador Hotel 15 blocks away. Once inside the lobby of the hotel, their headquarters, the band struck up the familiar tune, "Down by the O-H-I-O."
By winning the national championship, the Salem band received a trophy, $1200 in cash, and was given the privilege of officially opening the convention on Sunday morning. On Monday the 70-member band (including color guard and majorettes) led the parade.
Salem welcomed its national champions home by giving them a breakfast at the Memorial Building early Tuesday morning, and a big parade down State Street. Four official cars representing the State Highway Patrol, Salem police, Columbiana County sheriff and township constables were among the caravan that met the band members at the Ohio Turnpike exit at North Lima. They were escorted into the city at 6:45 a.m.
About 242 people attended the breakfast, put on by the American Legion Auxiliary. The parade included 15 cars, 12 of which carried American Legion band members sitting astride the tops of convertibles, led by the Salem High School Band. Joinging the welcome was the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Signs and flags were much in evidence in store windows and on cars in the parade. A sign across downtown State St. read "Welcome Home, American Legion Band, National Champs, 1957." Over 1,000 people gathered on S. Broadway to see Mayor Dean B. Cranmer present the "gold key to the city" to Brautigam. Weeks later, on Oct. 12, a "banquet of champions" was held at St. Paul's School to honor the band.
Our town was, indeed, very proud of this outstanding achievement by the band. The SALEM NEWS had this to say on the day the band returned home; "Salem citizens' hearts quickened and chests swelled with justifiable pride when the weekend brought news of the American Legion Quaker City band's accomplishment of winning the national championship at Atlantic City.
"Although the bandsmen have been Ohio Legion champions four consecutive years and runners-up for national honors in 1954 and '55, they were content with nothing short of first place in the nation. Now they have it and well-earned it is. Behind the victory lie weeks and months of rehearsals and drills and other coordinated factors.
"In harmony as musicians, the marching band also has exemplified an espirit de corps that paved the way to fame and brought honor not only to themselves but to their community. Salem is proud of her American Legion Quaker City Band. Its members are the best ambassadors of good will that any community could have. Today's "welcome home" ceremonies are held in gratitude for and in admiration of the finest band in the United States."
Memories of this event are etched in the minds of those living memebrs of the 1957 band. Achieving top honors at the national level is, after all, not an everyday occurence. It may even be a once-in-a-century type of thing. For that reason alone it must be remembered and recorded in the Salem story.
1950's
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