The Idlers ~ Online
One Tradition Remains...
QR Code for The Idler's Wikipedia entry.
The newly formed Idlers quickly drew the attention of the Academy's bandmaster Don Janse, and began building their repertoire and fame. Within two years the Idlers had recorded two vinyl albums and had performed at the White House and on the Ed Sullivan television program.
Don Janse went back to school in the early 1960's and John Heffermann briefly directed the Idlers. When Don returned he brought a number of new tunes which would soon become Idlers staples, including arrangements of "Banua"," The First Time I Ever", and the "Coast Guard Hymn".
Photo of CGA vocalists including some Idlers, mid-1960s. If you recognize these men, please help identify them by leaving a comment below.
The 60's ended with The Idlers more popular than ever. They recorded a third full-length album in 1968 entitled "Good Times Are Not Over".
The Whitehouse Performance
(submitted on behalf of Lynn Crosby, I'60)
I don't know whether you have seen it or not, but my classmate, Bob Finan, class of 1960, touched on the Idlers' trip to the White House in an article published in the April, 2006, issue of the Alumni Assoc. Bulletin. Bob's remembrances are fairly accurate, because he has told me he used to write to his parents regularly. He rediscovered these letters and has had many good times reading about his experiences at the Academy.
To add to Bob's account, I would offer these recollections of mine. The "hot, dusty" quarters Bob referred to was actually an open bay barracks with lines of racks with folded over mattresses. 1960 was only 15 years after the end of WWII, so I suspect that it was a WWII "temporary" enlisted barracks that probably hadn't been used for some time. We did get a tour of the White House but only the "public" areas as I recall. But it was a tour especially for the Idlers (ie no other group was on the tour.) Before our performance, we were provided a meal in a basement room of the White House. fIt was not a "sit down" meal as I recall, but it was a lot better than the "box" meals we were used to getting on our cadet trips.
Bob says our performance was in the East Room. There was no stage, just a riser for us to stand on, so we were close to the front several rows of guests. Rows of chairs were arranged across the room for guests. President and Mrs. de Gaulle and President and Mrs. Eisenhower were right in the front row of course. I believe Vice President and Mrs. Nixon were in the second row, as well as former NY Governor Thomas E. Dewey. Gov. Dewey was the Republican candidate in 1948 when President Truman was elected President. President de Gaulle was his usual stoic-faced self during our performance, VP Nixon fell asleep, but it looked to me as if Ike and Mamie were really enjoying themselves. They were smiling and, in fact, Ike kept time with his foot during some of our musical selections. After our performance, Ike made it a point to come up and greet each one of us with a handshake, his famous smile, and a thanks for singing for him and his guests.
I was not one of the original Idlers but was selected to join in 1958-1959, the second group of singers. The picture in the Bulletin accompanying Bob's article shows 14. I believe the Idlers expanded to 16 in 1958-1959. My 1960 "Tide Rips" has a brief description of the Idlers and says we were 16 voices. But the picture in the yearbook shows 20 cadets. I think we may have had 16 for performances but 4 understudies. Thus the picture of 20.
Bob also mentions the Lincoln Sesquicentennial celebration in Washington. DC. I, too, have fond memories of this appearance before a joint session of Congress. Don Janse wrote a special musical arrangement for the Gettysburg Address which we performed. It was a stirring and inspirational piece of music. The goose-bump kind. We used to fondly and proudly brag that Don could put the yellow phone book to music if someone wanted us to perform that.
The Idlers 1960-1969
I recognize quite a few in the photo. I don't want to start naming folks if you have identified most of them. I will tell you that I am on the far right of the first row (the directors hands are in front of my body). This picture was taken during my first class year (my only year as an Idler) but I can't remember the occasion. If their are still any unidentified people in the posted picture, I might be able to help.
I did make the trip to the Ed Sullivan Show. My greatest memory of the trip was how Mr. Sullivan's people kept nixing the songs we wanted to sing. The 2 songs which received the shortest auditions were "What do you do with a drunken sailor" and "The Eddystone (spelling?)Light". I guess if Elvis couldn't show his pelvis then we couldn't sing about a drunken sailor or of the lighthouse keeper sleeping with a mermaid. We ended up singing the Coast Guard Hymn.
I wish I could be present for the reunion, but unfortunately I have quite a lot going on here in California and cannot get away. I wish you a happy song and memory filled reunion.
Warm regards,
Bob Willoughby '61