Mummers Parade

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/27/19 at 12:08pm

Lately I've been viewing videos of Philadelphia's Mummers Parades and am thinking of heading out there to catch the parade in person. I have a question about the leader of the band, though.

The leader swaggers in front of the band moving from left to right and often playing to the bystanders as he did so. I remember Robert Preston did pretty much the same thing in THE MUSIC MAN film.

Is there a reason for this?

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 9:33am

Bundle up Dollypop because it will be cold as crap on New Year's Day.  I know from experience.  I now watch at home on television.

I don't have a definitive answer to your question but would surmise that the "Captain" struts left to right to be seen by both sides of the street.  Broad Street is very wide.  The string bands used to march in military formation when the Mummers began in the early 1900's, but that has changed over the years into being full out Broadway style production numbers at the judging station.  They still remain in formation for the two mile walk down Broad Street, except for the Captain.

I'm going to surmise that The Music Man choreographer was influenced by the Mummers.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/28/19 at 10:05am

Thanks!

[ChildofEarth]

Posted: 6/29/19 at 3:59am

I don’t have an answer for you HOWEVER the Mummers put on a great show down on the Wildwood, NJ boardwalk that is much more comfortable temperaturewise that you may want to explore