Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3: Renewal, Re-Organization, and Re-Vitalization

(1946 - 1961)

Life at the College of Agriculture, Davis Branch, quickly returned to normal at the end of World War II. The U.S. Army turned the campus over to the University in October, 1945 and classes began later that month. The next decade would see tremendous growth on the Davis campus. The School of Veterinarian Medicine would open in 1949, the College of Letters and Science shortly after in 1951. The Administration of the College of Agriculture was transferred from Berkeley to Davis in 1952. In 1959 the Davis campus would become a general campus of the University of California. Enrollment also began to grow. In 1950, 1,600 students were enrolled at Davis. Davis was in the process of separating its self from the Berkeley campus and developing its own separate identity.

One of the casualties of World War II was campus spirit and tradition. While the male students at Davis went off to war, the women transferred to Berkeley to continue their studies. After the war, the ex-GIs came back to finish or in some cases start college. Many of these GIs were "war weary" and did not wish to participate in extracurricular activities or to observe campus traditions. It was the women who held and maintained the Aggie spirit and traditions while they were at Berkeley, and it was they who tried to bring them back to Davis. Often they would meet with great resistance from the ex-GIs. Also at Davis were the students just graduated from high school. In contrast to the quiet, studious, mature ex-GIs, the younger students were boisterous, loud, and experiencing life on their own for the first time. It was these younger students that embraced Aggie traditions and spirit.

Not all ex-GIs spurned Cal Aggie traditions and spirit. The Aggie Band, under Gittinger and King, returned in the Fall of 1946 with 36 bandsmen, most of whom were ex-GIs. Gittinger and King continued the unique practice of having a Drum Majorette when they recruited Evelyne Rowe in 1946. Much the same as Mary Jeanne Gilhooley, Evelyne Rowe was a twirler who was placed in front of the Band to give the illusion of leading it while Dr. King would pass the commands to the Band as he marched alongside. While traveling Evelyne Rowe would stay with her two chaperons in hotels. Bandsmen would usually stay in local school gymnasiums. Evelyne Rowe did not even travel in the same bus as the Band. Instead, she and her chaperons would travel by separate car. The object was to prevent any romantic entanglements with Bandsmen. She would later marry Richard Rominger, who was a trombone player in the Aggie Band at the time she was Drum Majorette. Evelyne Rowe was the Band's Drum Majorette from 1946 to 1949.

While the 1946 Aggie Football team did not do so well (0-5-2), the Aggie Band was once again earning praise. An open letter in the California Aggie praised the Band: "Although the football season has been rather unsuccessful as far as games won, you have maintained the fine standard set for you by preceding bands. In this sense we consider yours to be the outstanding victory of the semester."

"Doc" King left UCD in June, 1947 to study at the Harvard School of Education. His departure was considered to be a great loss to the Aggie Band. He had turned the Band into one of the best drilled bands on the West Coast. Although the Aggie Band's musical ability was only considered fair; its marching, drills, and stunts made it one of the showiest bands in the state. Dr. Gittinger would assume new positions with Veterans Affairs and Student Activities. His position with these offices would preclude further involvement with the Aggie Band due to time commitments.

The Band Award

The ASCA Executive Committee authorized the formation of the Cal Aggie Band Award Society in May, 1948, for "the promotion of interest and participation in the Cal Aggie Band; for the promotion of music activities for the fostering of school spirit; for the promotion of fellowship among its members; and service to the University." According to its constitution, the purpose of the Society was to recognize and present to the ASCA Executive Committee those bandsmen eligible for the Band Award. To receive the Band Award and become a member of the Cal Aggie Band Award Society, a bandsman must have participated in all Band functions, including all football games at which the Band appeared, for two semesters. The Band Award itself was a chenille emblem and a certificate. After earning the Band Award three times, a bandsman would be awarded a dark blue sweater. The Band Award represented the highest level of commitment and participation in the Aggie Band. Throughout the 1950's, 60% to 85% of bandsmen would receive the Band Award. Even into the 1990's, the Band Award, which would come to be known as the "Red Hot" Award, still served to identify those bandsmen who have committed their time and energy to the Aggie Band. The recognition of those bandsmen who did dedicate their time and efforts to the Band promoted the Band by encouraging bandsmen to return the following year. The establishment of the Band Award, the Cal Aggie Band Award Society, and its constitution represented the first attempt by the Band towards self-perpetuation and stability.

Growth and the Recruitment of Women

Dr. Lawrence E. McArdell was appointed Director in 1948. McArdell helped revitalize the Aggie Band with two innovations. First, McArdell expanded the repertoire of the Aggie Band by introducing popular songs into the Band's standard music library. In addition to the standard marching band repertoire of marches and school songs, in 1950 the Band began to play arrangements of the newest popular songs such as Goodnight Irene, Tzena Tzena, and Hoop-de- Doo. The addition of the new music was met with great enthusiasm from the student body who took pride in the "hip" sound of their Band.

Next, in an effort to increase its size and strength, the Band began the active recruitment of women in 1949. From 1946 until 1949 the Band was all male. This was not a set membership policy, but merely a de facto condition. By including women in its membership, between 1950 and 1960 the Band would double in size to over 60 members. The opening of the College of Letters and Science in 1951 facilitated this drive as the campus was attracting more women students. In 1950, five women joined the Aggie Band.

Actively recruiting women also made the Aggie Band very unusual. During this time and well into the 1970's, college marching bands were, for the most part, strictly all male. The Cal Aggie Band was going against the popular trend by being a coed band. During the 1950's, women would make up at least 45% of the Band's membership with a similar number earning the Band Award. Women played an active role in the leadership of the Band, the most notable being Ann Jacobsen who was Student Director from 1953 to 1955. Unlike the practice of having a Drum Majorette, the inclusion of women in the general membership of the Aggie Band was not a gimmick. The women participated with the men as bandsmen and just as actively. The Aggie Band's coed status often caught the public by surprise. Whenever the Aggie Band caught the attention of the press, such as its appearance at San Quentin Penitentiary in November, 1958 , much was made of the fact that the Aggie Band was a coed band.

McArdell also began to expand the scope of student management in the Fall of 1950. He created the position of Student Director and Don McClure was elected to be the first Student Director. Curt Storr was elected to be the Drum Major, the first male to lead the Band on the field since Perry Miller in 1938. At the time the Band only had five officers: Manager, Student Director, Drum Major, Librarian, and a Representative-At- Large, all of whom were elected from the Band by its members. This was the beginning of the long standing practice of the student management of the Aggie Band.

Campus Support

With addition of new, popular music and the recruitment of women; the Aggie Band was creating quite a sensation both on and off campus. The student body was proud of its Band. the Band received praise from beyond the campus whenever it traveled to Southern California or the Bay Area. There was talk of buying new uniforms to replace the old and decaying 1938 set which had been augmented with some used UC Berkeley Band uniforms bought second hand.

During the 1950's one half of the Aggie Band budget was spent on transportation, lodging, and meals for the Band as they traveled to football games in Berkeley, Los Angeles, and Nevada. One of the inducements to get students to join the Band were the all- expense paid trips. The Band would generally travel by Greyhound bus and would stay in hotels at their destination. Even a trip to Berkeley would require an overnight stay in a hotel, like the Claremont Hotel. Generally, there would be two to three bandsmen per room and the Faculty Director and chaperons would each get their own room. The ASCA was willing to spend money on sending the Band on trips across the state because of the student body's great pride in their Band.

In 1953 Prof. Jerome Rosen became Director of Bands at Davis. In 1954 he requested $1500 from the ASCA to replace the existing Band uniforms. This sum was equal to two years' transportation. Prof. Rosen suggested paying for the uniforms over a three year period. He pointed out that the current uniforms the Band was using, which replaced the original 1938 uniform, were bought second hand from the UC Berkeley Band after they had considered them too old to wear. Rosen recommended replacing the uniforms within two years. Rosen commented that "we have not enough hats to go around, and have had to give bandsmen hats of two different colors and patterns." Rosen urged the purchase of new uniforms as a morale builder for the Band and the entire student body and that it "reflects no credit on our school to send out a shoddy looking band." Finally, in 1956, after six years of waiting, the Aggie Band received new uniforms.

Although the Director, appointed by the Dean of the College of Agriculture in Berkeley, could control the Band on a day-to- day basis; the ASCA could influence the Band and what it did through its control of the budget. Cooperation between the ASCA and the Faculty Director was essential for the smooth operation of the Aggie Band. In time this need for cooperation would become the source of tension between the ASCA, the Faculty Director. and the University Administration.

The Constitution of 1955

Problems did develop as a result of the Band's two way relationship with the ASCA and the College of Letters and Science. The Cal Aggie Band was funded and supported by the ASCA. The College of Letters and Science, through the Music Department, funded and supported the University Concert Band. The ASCA did not want to pay for the activities of the University Concert Band and the Music Department did not wish to pay for the activities of the Cal Aggie Band. In the Fall semester the Band would be the Cal Aggie Band and it operated as a student activity. During Spring semester the Band became the University Concert Band and bandsmen would receive academic credit from the College of Letters and Science, with the exception of basketball games and Picnic Day where it would be billed as the Cal Aggie Band. A general agreement was worked out that the event or performance would determine if the Cal Aggie Band or the University Concert Band were performing and the bills would be sent to the appropriate office. The ASCA purchased most of the instruments while the College of Letters and Science appointed the Faculty Director, also known as the Director of Bands.

In 1953 a controversy arose over the control of the Faculty Director. The ASCA Executive Council, in an attempt to maintain its control over the Band and to stop what it saw as University Administration encroachment upon its authority over student funded activities, tried to remove Prof. Rosen as Aggie Band Director. They notified Rosen in the middle of a football game that he was no longer the Director. Bandsmen were not consulted about this surprise action by the ASCA Executive Council. This caused some alarm within the Administration, which had only recently gained its independence from Berkeley and desired to establish its control over the campus. There were a number of faculty members involved with student funded activities that could be affected by this new ASCA policy. They included the faculty advisors for the Chorus, Dramatic Art, and the Women's Athletic Association. These faculty members, Prof Rosen, Dean H.A. Young, and Provost Stanley Freeborn agreed that because of the nature of the activities it would be natural to recognize them as part of that faculty member's regular duties. Thus, they reasoned, these faculty members do not serve at the pleasure of the ASCA. It was argued that if the ASCA was not satisfied with their performance, that should be brought up with the appropriate academic office. The cause of the problem was the unspecified relationship the Band had with the ASCA, the Music Department, and the University Administration. In order to avoid similar problems in the future, Provost Freeborn ordered that a constitution for the Band be drawn up that would address the relationships all of these organizations would have with each other. The constitution was to provide a means of communication between the Band and Prof. Rosen. Finally, the Administration wanted it established, as articulated by Dean Young, "that in supporting the band financially, the Student Body is not 'buying' a band." The Band was to be "controlled largely by the student participation in the activity together with the advice and comment of the Faculty Advisor."

In May, 1955 a joint committee of the University faculty, ASCA appointed representatives, and representatives of the Aggie Band met to draw up the Aggie Band's first constitution. The Constitution of 1955 outlined membership, officers, and their duties. The Band offices were Manager, Student Director, Drum Major, Assistant Manager, Librarian, and Stunt Director. The office of Representative-At-Large was eliminated. The Student Director was to conduct the Band in the Absence of the Faculty Director. The Drum Major was given complete authority over the Band when in marching formation and was the Drill Master of the Band. The Stunt Director was put in charge of stunts and props, and served as the Band's representative to the Rally Committee. The Manager was the Band's executive officer and in charge of all activities other than music and marching. The Assistant Manager was to aid the Manager. The Librarian was in charge of all music manuscript and was the Band secretary. The new constitution incorporated the Band Awards Society. According to the new constitution, the Band was to perform at all home football games, the All-University Weekend and at invited meetings of the University and Student Body. Bandsmen were expected to attend all performances, rehearsals, and practices. The 1955 constitution helped settle many problems and began a period of stability that would last for about fifteen years. It also firmly established the student run status of the Band.

The Gittinger Award

The Price Gittinger Perpetual Band Award was set up in 1957. Donated by Dr. Gittinger, the award is given annually to the Bandsmen who contributed to the Band's improvement and welfare. Dr. Gittinger wanted the award to be set up not only to honor worthy Bandsmen, but also to promote the Aggie Band on campus. Richard Ramsey, the Student Director and organizer of the first "Pops" concert, was the first recipient.

The Best Little Band in the West

Larry Austin became Faculty Director of the Aggie Band in July, 1958. Previous to becoming Faculty Director he was the Assistant Director and arranger for the UC Berkeley Band. He quickly began to promote the Band through vigorous recruitment of old and new members. The Band had grown to over 45 members by this time. One of the first things Larry Austin did was to request a 150% increase in the budget for awards. Austin wanted to provide more attractions, such as more awards, free refreshments at games, banquets, and other special benefits, to encourage more students to join the Band and to encourage current bandsmen to stay. He pointed out that "there is no fellowship or even musical pleasure in an organization that seems rarely to recognize the needs of the individual members." The ASUCD denied the large increase in the awards budget but did agree to allocate funds for game refreshments and a yearly banquet.

In 1959 the Band had grown to over 50 members. To respond to this growth, the ASUCD had agreed to supply the Band with more uniforms. The 1958-59 budget included expenditures for 10 new uniforms at $75 each, 70 rain capes at $1.70 each, and 50 pairs of spats for $3 each. Aside from the uniform purchases, transportation and lodging still accounted for nearly half of the Band's budget which included Greyhound bus, meals, and hotel expenses. All expense paid trips were still considered adequate inducements to encourage membership in the Band.

The Aggie Band began to aggressively promote itself in the late 1950's. Frequent press releases announcing each upcoming football halftime show were printed in the California Aggie. Examples of these shows include the South Pacific show with an erupting volcano and music from the Broadway musical, Panorama of the World of Bands featuring The British Grenadiers, Rule Britannia, Stars and Stripes Forever, Anything you Can Do, and Sing, Sing, Sing. The last show of the season was the Wild West Show in which some bandsmen arrived on the field in the Wells Fargo Stagecoach. Aggie Band shows continued to be imaginative. Many shows would feature the Band doing choreographed dance steps, such as a sailor dance or even the Charleston, different marching steps, and a wide variety of music played at each show.

The public opinion of the Aggie Band during the late 1950's was: "Hard playing, hard marching, hard of hearing, hard drinking." The California Aggie reported on the All Cal Weekend in 1958 that "the band was as high- stepping and precise as the widely acclaimed Berkeley Band." The Aggie Band had grown and changed since it started up again after the war in 1946. New uniforms, new music, new organization, new leaders, and new additions to its membership. But what had not changed was the Aggie Band's spirit and pride in the Davis campus. Likewise, the student body and the rest of the campus took pride in the "Best Little Band in the West."