1981

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY MARCHING BAND

Now on DVD and BLU-RAY!

On this new 2 1/2 hour double-disc DVD set are four pre-game shows, four Script Ohio's, the Marching Illini halftime show in Columbus, and complete OSUMB halftime shows for the Duke, Michigan State, Florida State, Illinois, Indiana and Northwestern games! OSU Marching Band director is Dr. Paul Droste and the drum major is Shelley Graf. Here are the films you'll see in order, and all are in COLOR! This 2-disc set is also available on Blu-Ray!

"The Buckeye Parade" - DUKE (34-13) - for the 13th annual TBDBITL Alumni Reunion, Prof. Craig Kirchhoff directs the combined OSUMB and Alumni Bands in the playing of the National Anthem. "DUKE" is formed to the east stands and the band plays "Blue and White", saluting the Blue Devils. "Cumana" is played in a double concert formation and Shelley Graf is featured in her first game as drum major. "PREXY" is spelled out to welcome incoming OSU President Edward H. Jennings and the band then exits on drum taps. Repeating its 1980 Fiesta Bowl show at halftime, the OSUMB enters from the west sideline with a flashback drill and playing "South Rampart Street Parade". In a double concert formation "Brass Roots" is played before "OSUMBlues" brings on the Alumni Band from the east sideline and the OSUMB marches to both end zones. From a six-block concert formation, the Alumni Band (director Dr. David Meeker), plays the march titled "Them Basses". Next, playing a chorus of "Beautiful Ohio", the band changes the six blocks into four revolving blocks while playing "It's a Small World". To climax the show, the combined bands form four script Ohio's, each facing a different direction in the stadium. "Chimes" and "Carmen Ohio" are played while the bands remain in the script, ending halftime.

"A Musical Masquerade" - MICHIGAN STATE (27-13) - Pre-game: Ramp entrance, "Star Spangled Banner" and after flag raising, the playing of the MSU fight song to salute the Spartans while marching into "MSU" facing east. Playing "Beautiful Ohio", the band next moves into formation for a block band drill and plays "I Wanna Go Back to Ohio State" before forming a Block O for the introduction of the 1981 OSU cheerleaders. Afterward, the band presents the "Go, Bucks, Go" band cheer with the cheerleaders before finishing with "Hang On Sloopy". "Chimes" and "Carmen Ohio" end pre-game. The halftime show is a humorous spoof on "those other bands in the Big Ten", beginning with an MSU style entrance and a University of Michigan type introduction and announcements ("UM Fanfare" and "Old Gray Mare") before the band proceeds downfield in a floating block "M" playing an OSU revision of "The Victors". Next, the band turns attention to Purdue's three ring circus ("Barnum and Bailey's Favorite") with a different show in each of three rings, the center ring with a "Golden Girl" bursting out of the "world's biggest drum". "The Boy From New York City" spoofs Northwestern as the band performs a block band drill. Not wanting to leave anyone out, the band next plays a "Big Ten Medley" in a diamond drill before also spoofing USC and the Trojan horse mascot ("Fight On" and "Conquest"). The show concludes with the incomparable "Script Ohio" by the "Best Damn Band in the Land", the Ohio State University Marching Band"!

"An Afternoon at the Pops" - FLORIDA STATE (27-36) - The "Star Spangled Banner" is directed by Manley R. Whitcomb, former director of both the Ohio State and Florida State University Marching bands. After the National Anthem, the band moves up field and into the letters "FSU" while playing the Florida State fight song. The music segues into "Those Were the Days" as the band forms "EDITH" and a public service announcement for National Fire Prevention Week reminds everyone that E.D.I.T.H. stands for "Exit Drills in The Home". Playing "Beautiful Ohio", the band next marches into a concert formation for an encore performance of "Brass Roots". Pregame ends with the band in an OHIO formation for the playing of "Chimes" and "Carmen Ohio". At halftime the band enters in a triangular formation from the east side playing "Pictures at an Exhibition" and ending in a concert formation for the playing of "Bugler's Holiday". Performing a parallelogram drill, the band then plays "In the Hall of the Mountain King". Next the band presents "Sabre Dance", a percussion feature. The show is culminated with highlights from the "1812 Overture", complete with the firing of cannons on the field and ringing of bells.

"Earth, Wind, and Fire" - ILLINOIS (34-27) - OSUMB plays host to the University of Illinois Marching Illini. Here you'll see the pregame and halftime performances of the Illinois band, and also the halftime show of the OSUMB. For pregame, Illinois performs it's traditional "3 in 1". At halftime, Ohio State pays tribute to "Earth, Wind and Fire", and enters from the east sideline playing "In the Stone". Then with "Got to Get You Into My Life" the band performs a kaleidoscope drill, and finishes in a concert formation for the playing of "Rock That!". The OSUMB ends halftime with a medley of four top hits by Earth, Wind, and Fire: "Africano", "Reasons", "Getaway" and "In the Stone".

"Applause, Applause" - INDIANA (29-10) - Homecoming Halftime Show - Entering from the southeast corner of the field, the OSUMB opens with music from the top Broadway show, "They're Playing Our Song", which finishes in a concert formation for the band's special guest, Sher Lynn Patrick, Miss Ohio of 1979. A former 3rd runner-up to Miss America and OSU student as well, Patrick's performance truly raises folk dancing to an art form. Getting nationwide applause for the best movie of 1981 is "Raiders of the Lost Ark", here played by the band while performing a line drill. To climax this show for the Homecoming crowd, the band presents a double Script Ohio.

"Sounds of America" - NORTHWESTERN (70-6) - Pre-game features the ramp entrance and National Anthem for flag raising. The OSUMB then marches up field playing "Go, Northwestern, Go!" and into an "NU" facing east, then segues into a large "75" facing west. The band plays "School Days" then "Academic Festival" as a P.A. announcement recognizes the 75th anniversary of the OSU School of Education. To end pregame, the band salutes the fans with the final Script Ohio of the home season. At halftime the band enters from both the east and west sidelines playing the recent hit from Neil Diamond, "America", ending in a concert formation for the presentation of the Buddy Rich big band swinger, "Beulah Witch". To end the show, a buckeye leaf is formed and the band plays a Bob Crosby hit from the past, now resurfaced in the '80's - "Big Noise From Winnetka". The band then exits the field to the north for a post-halftime "concert" for the student section. You'll hear some "Earth, Wind, and Fire" favorites as well as "Brass Roots".

To order this two-disc set of DVDs of the 1981 Marching Band season, send $49.95 plus $4.00 shipping and handling. Add $10 for Blu-Ray.

Mastercard and Visa orders are accepted by phone

Call RARE SPORTSFILMS at (630) 527-8890

NOTE: The 1981 "Skull Sessions" have also been re-mastered and are now on CD! The 2-disc set (both the ’81 season and Mershon Concert) is available for $24.95. Play 'em in your car!