Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4: The Cal Aggie All Male Marching Band

(1961 - 1973)

By 1961 enrollment at UCD had grown to 3300 students. The campus was growing by leaps and bounds. Some feared that the rapid growth would damage or even kill Aggie spirit. This concern was voiced by UC President Clark Kerr himself while addressing the issue of UCD expansion. But growth was not the only source of attack on Aggie spirit. During the 1960's, student activism would endanger Aggie spirit. The Free Speech Movement at Berkeley, the 1964 and 1968 Presidential Election, and the Vietnam war commanded many students' attention. School spirit, sports, and the Aggie Band seemed to be irrelevant and a waste of time and energy that could be better spent on more politically and socially relevant issues. Yet despite the turmoil, the Aggie Band was able to find a place for itself.

The most dramatic development in the Cal Aggie Band's history occurred in early 1961. On March 22, 1961, the Executive Council of the ASUCD approved of a change in the Aggie Band's constitution that would limit membership in the marching unit of the Band to men only. Women could still participate in the Concert Band during the spring; but only men could march. The University Concert Band would eventually develop its own identity over time since for the first time the Marching Band and the Concert Band not would share the exact same membership. The petition to change the Band's constitution came after the Band itself voted to become an all male band. Most of the women in the Band voted for this change. At the time this was not considered a radical idea. Most collegiate bands at the time were all- male. The Aggie Band was simply conforming to the national trend. Picnic Day, April 15, 1961, saw the debut performance of the Cal Aggie All Male Marching Band. The Band marched 38 men that year.

Why an All Male Band?

Although all male bands were standard through out the country at the time, why would the Cal Aggie Band seek to become all male and why would the women of the Band vote themselves out? In 1961 the movement to recognize the political and social equality of women had not yet gained wide acceptance. Women were to become wives, mothers, or fill other "feminine" roles in society. The campus and the Band wanted a band that was more spirited, harder playing, and harder marching. If "femininity" was purged from the Band, then the men would not feel restrained because of the presence of women. They would not have to watch their language or behavior. Free of "feminine" restraints, male camaraderie could build which would result in a more spirited band. The spirit of the Band would come from the men being allowed to act flamboyant, uninhibited, and unrestrained. Many interpreted this to mean crude, course, and vulgar.

Some of the men felt that since the women had voluntarily left, and not necessarily with the best of feelings, they had an obligation to become as "spirited" as they could so that the women's sacrifice would have been worthwhile. The Band's spirit did not become necessarily more crude and vulgar, but it did have a "masculine" quality about it. Since it was generally accepted and believed at that time that men were stronger and more physically fit than women, a band without women could practice and perform more rigorously than a band with women. Since the Band would not require separate accommodations for men and women, travel would be more efficient and cost effective. The All Male Band was welcomed, applauded, and encouraged.

Women did stay involved with the Aggie Band. Some of the former women bandsmen and girlfriends of the current Bandsmen formed an informal organization called the Women's Auxiliary to the Marching Band (WAMB). Bandsmen referred to it as the Women's Organization of the Marching Band (WOMB). WAMB rendered support services to the Bandsmen such as providing refreshments at football games, carrying music and equipment, and most importantly, by showing up to parties and other social events.

Seattle World's Fair Trip

In November, 1961 the Band officers and Larry Austin wrote to Albert Rosellini, the Governor of Washington, asking for an invitation to represent the University of California and the State of California at the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. The Governor kindly forwarded the request to the World's Fair committee who suggested that the Band perform on "California Day" scheduled for May 4, 1962. But already the trip was in trouble. The Band officers and Larry Austin had not received permission from the proper University officials (namely Emil Mrak, President Clark Kerr, and the Board of Regents) to request an invitation to the World's Fair or to even write to the Governor of Washington. The University's position was that it was not the place of the Aggie Band to put itself forward as a representative of the University of California and the State of California with out first getting the permission of the Regents or a State Official. Chancellor Mrak pointed out that it was President Kerr who was to write the letter to Governor Rosellini, after approval from the Board of Regents. Chancellor Mrak passed this on to Dean Young and asked him to "take all possible steps to correct this and to avoid embarrassment for all of us." Dean Young called the situation serious and recommended to Prof. Rosen, Music Department Chair, that Larry Austin prepare a formal request that should be forwarded to President Kerr "through the normal channels." Ultimately, Larry Austin and the Band officers sent the appropriate letters to the appropriate officials. On January 2, 1962, the Band received its invitation to appear at the Seattle World's Fair to represent the University of California and the State of California.

The trip was budgeted at approximately $3000. Each bandsman was to pay $20, the ASUCD Executive Council agreed to contribute $1000, and the final $1000 was to be raised through a benefit concert put on by the Aggie Band as the University Concert Band. The University was unwilling to contribute any funds for the trip, but it would permit the use of the University Concert Band for fund raising purposes. Aggie Bandsmen sold tickets to the benefit concert by going door-to-door in uniform throughout the city of Davis. The World's Fair Benefit Pops Concert was held on March 18, 1962 in the Memorial Union Assembly Hall (Freeborn Hall). Over 1100 people showed up to support the Aggie Band, nearly half of them community members. The Benefit concert did not raise as much as expected, but the ASUCD voted to cover the difference ($350).

The 42 members of the Cal Aggie Band left for Seattle by bus on May 4, 1962. The Band arrived in Seattle on May 5. Designated "Band of the Day" the Aggie Band performed at the Fair on May 6, 1962 both in concert and in a marching exhibition. Due to the rain and a muddy field at the performing stadium, the Band quickly innovated a marching show that could be done in the space of its marching formation. As the Band marched about the Fair, it would stop, perform its show and move on. This show was well received by the crowds at the fair. Much of the music played was arranged by Dr. Austin (who arranged most of the music for the UC Berkeley Band for their Brussels Tour of 1958). Music played included University traditionals, excerpts from the 1812 Overture, West Side Story , Camelot, and fight songs from the other UC campuses, USC and Stanford Universities. One trip highlight, that even made the wire services, was a picture taken of the Band by Soviet Cosmonaut Gherman Titov. It was reported that Titov enjoyed listening to the Band until they began to play God Bless America when Cold War politics required him to mask his pleasure. The Band returned to Davis on May 8.

The Seattle trip marked the debut of the Aggie Band's unofficial song book. Many of the songs, limericks, and other activities had come into use the prior fall. These songs and limericks were of the bawdy, ribald, lewd, and vulgar type that men traditionally sang while in school, the military, fraternal organizations, and service organizations. At the time they were acceptable outlets for youthful exuberance and energy. These songs and new ones made up over the years would be sung by Bandsmen on the long bus trips to games as a means to wile away the hours on the road. Even after women re-entered the Band, these songs continued to be sung. Eventually female oriented songs would be written and sung with the same vigor as the older male oriented songs. As effective as these songs were in building camaraderie and fellowship within the Band, outside social pressures and changing views on acceptable behavior would eventually prohibit them in the early 1990's.

Band Retreat

The Band held its first Retreat in September, 1962. Cal Aggie Band Retreat can best be described as an event that "acquaints the new bandsmen with the distinctive marching style of the CAMB, with its tradition and spirit, and with the other members of the organization." It is here where new bandsmen, otherwise simply called 'freshmen', learn to march, learn the music, and learn what it means to be an Aggie Bandsmen. Old Bandsmen have an opportunity to refresh their marching and music. But most importantly, it is the time that all Bandsmen get to know each other and begin building the esprit de corps that is absolutely vital to a good performance season. The first retreats lasted 3 days, the weekend before Orientation or 'O' Week. Much of Retreat was spent issuing uniforms, instruments, and music. After marching and music rehearsal during the day, the evenings were spent in activities that allowed old and new Bandsmen to interact socially. The establishment of Retreat underscored the Band's commitment to become more professional, more polished, and better prepared for its public performances. The Aggie Band wanted to become more respected and admired, not only for its spirit, but also for its musical and marching ability that could compete with the bands at UCLA and UC Berkeley.

Mav'rik Band Established

Since 1958 a small group of bandsmen had been putting together a small pep band for Aggie basketball games. Usually numbering no more than fifteen, they would wear Bermuda shorts, Hawaiian shirts, suspenders, ties, and a Bowler (Derby) hat. This small band of rooters would become known as the Bowler Band. This uniform was the travelling uniform during the Seattle World's Fair trip. The Bowler Band was modeled after the Straw Hat Band at UC Berkeley. In 1963 the Band wanted to set itself off from the UCB Straw Hat Band. UC Davis was beginning to acquire its own separate identity from UC Berkeley and the Band did not want to be a Berkeley Band imitation, so it was decided that the Bowler had to go. This led to the creation of the Mav'rik Band. The uniform decided upon for the Mav'rik Band was one consistent with the Aggie identity: jeans, white shirts, string ties and cowboy hats. The Mav'rik Band first appeared in 1963 in Humboldt at a Humboldt State/UCD football game when 13 bandsmen traveled north to root the team on. The purpose of the Bowler Band and the Mav'rik Band, was to bring Aggie spirit to basketball games. The Mav'rik Band could effectively eliminate the home court advantage at away games and completely overwhelm visiting teams and fans at home games.

The Spirit of the Davis Campus

School spirit was being affected by two different forces during the 1960's: Campus growth and increasing student activism. Some students and faculty felt that the existence of "Aggie Spirit" was threatened by campus growth. As early as 1962 there were discussions about what could be done to improve school spirit at UCD. With the expansion of the College of Letters and Science, many students began to wonder if the term "Aggie" still applied to UCD. While the student population of UCD was growing, the campus was no longer the domain of the agricultural student. Even the campus buildings were beginning to convert from agricultural uses to other academic uses. For example, in 1962 the livestock judging pavilion was moved and reconstructed to become a theater, and renamed Wyatt Pavilion. Even the ASUCD seem unable to cope with the pressures exerted on school spirit. There was a reluctance to promote school spirit as a unifying force within the student body. The Rally Committee remained "unofficial," that is its membership was never officially approved by the ASUCD Executive Committee throughout most of 1962. The Rally Committee was responsible for the organization of student rallies and other spirit events. In 1971 the ASUCD Executive Committee did not even appoint a Homecoming Chair. As a result there was no Pajamarino or Homecoming for the first time. Many began to look to the Band to promote school spirit instead of the Rally Committee or the ASUCD.

National politics and the increasing political and social activism also had an effect on "Aggie Spirit." Student political activism became widespread through out the UC system during the 1960's. The more notable events were the Free Speech Movement in 1964 and the Peoples' Park incident in 1969. Many students believed that the University of California was an oppressive, undemocratic institution. To support the University in any way was to support the University activities that the students were protesting against. To these students, many of whom held positions in the ASUCD and the California Aggie, the Aggie Band was the "rah-rah" spirit of UCD. They believed that to continue to support the Band would be to support the oppressive, undemocratic activities of the University. School spirit was frowned upon and derided by these students because it was viewed as an unquestioning devotion to a corrupt institution. Editorials in the California Aggie repeatedly attacked the Band, Yell Leaders, Song Girls, and UCD athletics, particularly football. Even the "Bossy Cow Cow" cheer came under fire from the editorial board of the Aggie. No institution was free from the scrutiny of the political activists. In 1966 a ballot measure was put to the student body proposing the abolishment of the ASUCD itself. The measure lost by a 4 to 1 margin.

But to many Bandsmen, school spirit had nothing to do with the politics of the University, but was the pride in being a Cal Aggie, a student at UCD. Bandsmen, like their fellow students, were politically active, some of whom would participate in marches on the state capitol in Sacramento or travel to Berkeley to participate in demonstrations there. And many students took pride in the fact that their band, the Aggie Band, was "gross and disgusting." The Band's antics amused and delighted many UCD students and fans. In 1963, the California Aggie reported that at a dinner stop in Bakersfield, Bandsmen blocked the entrance to the parking lot of the restaurant with a telephone pole just as they were leaving. At the All Cal Weekend that same year, Bandsmen "kidnapped" a UCSB baton twirler so that she could invite the UCSB band to a party. The Mav'rik Band specialized in impromptu, unscheduled performances at shopping malls, dorms, and street corners through out California. The Aggie Band was not a conservative, safe, generic college band. It was a band that appealed to students that wanted to challenge the system and question authority. What better way to accomplish this than through gross, disgusting, and unpredictable behavior.

Both those who supported the Band and those who did not pointed to the Aggie Band as the strongest spirit organization on campus. The creation of the Mav'rik Band allowed the Band to be more spontaneous and unpredictable. The Band was also appreciated outside of Davis. In the Fall of 1972, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors awarded the Aggie Band with a Certificate of Honor, recognizing the Band as "one of the finest college marching bands in the nation." Yet the Band still had its detractors at home. One California Aggie columnist theorized that the reason for this was that the Band was not sophisticated and did not take anything seriously on a campus were sophistication and seriousness were almost entrance requirements.

The Boardwalk Bowl

In 1970 Jim Sochor became Head Coach for the Aggie football team. In his second year as Coach he led the Aggies to their first conference championship since 1963. The 1971 season is also best remembered for the "Miracle Game" were the Aggies scored sixteen points in the last twenty seconds of play to beat Hayward State 30 to 29. The Aggies would remain Far Western Conference (later reorganized into the Northern California Athletic Conference) champions for over 20 years, an NCAA record for consecutive conference titles. The Aggies went to their first bowl game since 1951 when they traveled to Atlantic City, New Jersey for the Boardwalk Bowl on December 9, 1972. the game was played inside the convention center that had been hastily converted to a football stadium. As a result of the hasty enterprise the end zones were only six yards deep instead of the usual ten. This greatly interfered with the Aggies passing game which resulted in a 35 to 14 loss to the University of Massachusetts. A number of Aggie fans, including the Aggie Band traveled to Atlantic City in support of the football team. While there the Band performed on the Boardwalk to no one in particular since it was raining at the time.

The Cal Aggie All Male Marching Band presents a paradox. Although it was created during a time of increasing social and political awareness, its membership was closed to a large portion of the campus population. To some students the Band represented a simple minded obedience to an authority that was inherently unjust and oppressive. To many others the Band was representative of themselves. While some Bandsmen did not agree with the policies of the University, they still took pride in being Cal Aggies. At a time when school spirit was being threatened, challenged and denigrated, the Band was preserving it. While the Aggie image was being reconsidered, the Band maintained it in the form of the Mav'rik Band. As some students grappled with the relevant issues of the era, the Aggie Band sought only to amuse, entertain and delight not only themselves but the audiences too. The Cal Aggie All Male Marching Band began with a trip to Seattle and ended with a trip to Atlantic City. And in between it became the Spirit of the Davis campus.

Storm Clouds on the Horizon

Changes were on the horizon. Chancellor James Meyer established a Task Force to Study Opportunities for Women on the UCD Campus in April 1970. The National Organization for Women began to hold meetings on campus in 1971. By 1972 the Womans Caucus announced that it would consider filing lawsuits when it encountered cases of sex discrimination. Generally, woman on campus and within the Davis community were becoming more politically aware and active. In the Fall of 1972 UCD hosted a symposium on the role of women in society. On October 10, 1972, the California Aggie printed a letter from a parent wondering why his daughter could not join the Cal Aggie Band.