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Gahr High School Band
Fall 1965 - Spring 1986
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Gahr Band History

By Anonymous - Posted on May 26th, 2008

In the Beginning

by Ken Haar

It started in the fall of 1965 when Gahr High School opened.  The band consisted of 27 band members.  Due to lack of bodies, we could not participate in half-time shows so we played in the bleachers for the first year.  The band was small, but very enthusiastic.   A lot of popular students in the school were in the band.  The band grew bigger every year.


Some facts of interests:

1966   

We had enough students to put on half-time shows.

1969   

We made our first record album of our first spring concert at LBCC.



Also a lot of the band parents wanted to form a booster organization and so it was formed.



We replaced the "second hand" uniforms with the purchase of new uniforms which were eventually replaced in 1976.


1970   

We decided to take a field trip to famous Catalina Island.  We preformed a concert in the Casino Ballroom.  No one in the band will ever forget the Hermosa Hotel. (Which it's still there to this day, the only thing holding it up are termites, bugs, and 35 years of paint!)  And so the historical band trips began!

 


 

Half Time Shows

Let’s talk about music, after all music was a BIG part of the bands life!  The half time shows were always fun because we had a theme.  Here’s a few that I can remember:

  • Tribute to Liquids

  • Salute to Animals

  • 50's Rock and Roll  

  • Halloween
  • Dixieland
 

 

 1972halftime1


After the football games (when we won), we’d go to the rally platform and play the fight song, then we’d head for a pizza parlor to celebrate.

  shakeysfarrels-reduced

 

Spring Concerts

The spring concerts were held at LBCC, and what a great concert hall it was. With everyone in dark colors it made us look together, impressive and proud.  I really liked the dance band coming up from the pit.  We recorded many albums, how many of you still have yours?  We even videotaped one year.  A couple of my favorites to open the concerts were, Victory at Sea and William Tell Overture.  We always ended with either America The Beautiful or Battle Hymn of the Republic.







 

Spring Musicals

The spring musicals were a lot of work, but very rewarding.  Here's a few that I can remember:
  • Bye-Bye Birdie
  • The Music Man - we had a lot of band members in this show
  • Oklahoma
  • Oliver
  • Fiddler on the Roof - we had a few in this one too

 







 

 



With the help from the boosters we began having fund raisers to help us buy instruments; the letters for in front of the band, equipment for dance band, and stuff that the school district could not afford to buy us.
Some of the fund raisers included:  

  • Spaghetti dinners
  • Christmas tree lots 
  • Firework stands
  • Carnivals
  • Pancake breakfast
  • Car wash
  • Candles
  • Smellies
  • Popcorn
  • Auctions












 

 

 

Over the years the band had its traditions too:

  • Yearly band trips1971stageband
  • Spring flings
  • Spring concerts
  • End-of-the-year awards banquets
  • Dance band jobs
  • Themed half-time shows (made the drill team nuts)
  • Officers breakfast at Bob's Big Boy 
  • Beach parties in the summer
  • Bowling in the spring
  • Bike riding the river bed
  • Pomona Fair in the fall


We continued our yearly trips:


1971 - The first trip to Hawaii. We chartered Western Airlines all to ourselves. We took everything but chairs. We stayed at a private school in their dorms. We ate in their school cafeteria. The total cost for the week per person, lodging, meals, and air was $135.00!

1972 - We toured the Southwest U.S., including the Grand Canyon.  We played for the Navajo Reservation. I'd really like to know who started the pillow fight on the bus and made me get in trouble on the way home?

1973 - Back to Hawaii

1974 - Catalina

1975 - Hawaii

1976 - Mazatlan, Mexico

1977 - Hawaii

1979 - Hawaii

1978 - Southwest

1980 - Catalina

1981 - Hawaii

1982 - Las Vegas

1983 - Tahiti

1984 - Azure Seas Cruise

1985 - Hawaii

1986 - Catalina


Final comments:

 

I actually would have liked to have said more, but there’s too much to remember, I need all of you to add your comments from your years in band.  Next, I’d like to particularly thank the committee members, John Pacente, Tim Thomas, Lynn Vlasschaert, Steve Howe and Diana Rook (Aguirre) for all the hours, and hours they’ve put into making this website outstanding and mind-boggling.  Without them, we couldn’t have this extraordinary band reunion get together take place.  Also, to all of you who have helped make contributions by sending pictures, comments etc. to his website.  I can’t believe how many band members still stay in touch after so many years.  The Gahr Band was really something unique. Kind of like a close family.

 

I’d also like to thank all of those band parents and boosters for all of your support over the years.  It’s because of you the band had so many wonderful experiences and many successful years and without your support, we could never have been the band that we were! 

 

Again, thanks to you all.  I’m really looking forward to seeing each and every one of you on Friday night August 17th.  Please don’t leave without talking to me that night.  We might be there all night!

 
Your band director,
Ken Haar
Las Vegas, NV

For those who wish to contact me, my email address is:
Rubberlps@aol.com

(That's what they called me in my trumpet playing years)
 

 


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