Bellettes

The Bellettes drum and bugle corps was originally organized in September of 1936 as the VFW Post 1739 “All Girls” drum corps.

Being eager to get underway, they called their first rehearsal in October and entered their first field competition in June of 1937 at the VFW state championships in Peoria. Belleville, knowing they had a championships corps, immediately started to raise funds to improve it. The Bellettes participated in about 30 parades a season and started with blue and gold uniforms. With the taste of competition fresh, the girls worked hard to better themselves and were rewarded by winning first place at the 1938, 1939 and 1940 IL VFW state championships.

During this time, the corps was under the management and instruction of Albert Kneedler, who retired to enter the service in 1942. Due both to the war and the untimely loss of their leader, the corps struggled over the next several years to survive but were successfully held together by other active members of the Post. In 1948, the VFW Post girls corps returned to field competition at the VFW Nationals held in St. Louis and Betty Ann Laux, their attractive majorette, topped all other outstanding majorettes, winning the prestigious drum majorette award.

The corps continued its competitive showing at the IL state championships in 1949 and the following season, now under the direction Maurice Kniepkamp, acquired new uniforms of Kelly green jackets with braid, gold skirts and ties, Kelly green hats with gold plumes and white gloves, shirts and shoes. With these new uniforms, the girls morale and spirit rose as they finished 3^rd at the IL State Fair. In 1951, they purchased white mother of pearl drums and chrome bugles on their way to another 3^rd place finish at the IL State Fair. Due to a lack of funds, the corps, now known as the Bellettes, didn’t have an instructional staff and found themselves learning on their own. Although the effort was certainly there, they realized that competing against well instructed corps was not the proper way to progress.

They did, however, manage to place 3^rd once again at the 1952 IL State Fair, in spite of losing their championship majorette that year. 1953 was another big year for the Bellettes, even thought they lost their manager, Glen Clark took over and when the girls came off the field at the East St. Louis VFW state competition, they were awarded first place honors. Recognizing they had champions on their hands, the Belleville community quickly raised the necessary funds to the corps to the VFW Nationals in Milwaukee, where they placed 27^th. Marian Louise Firnkes, better known as “Ducky”, continued the tradition by winning the majorette award.

The 1954 season was not as successful as the previous year but they did manage to finish 2^nd at the IL VFW state championships and 5^th at the IL State Fair. The year 1955 bought along several changes in the Bellettes roster. Tom Barnage became the new manager who immediately brought in a new instructional staff as the corps rallied to 4^th place finishes at both IL sate and IL State contests. The corps saw more improvements the following year, adding a musical director to their staff and new flags for the guard section on their way to a 6^th place finish at the IL VFW state championships. The next two seasons saw the corps continue its participation at the IL State Fair, finishing 5^th in 1957 and even competed at the 1958 MO VFW state championships, placing 4^th.

The 1959 season was disappointing for the girls as they initially thought they had qualified for the finals at the IL State Fair but were later informed they were in fact disqualified due to an error by the timing judge. As a small consolation, the corps was allowed to appear in exhibition that night. Throughout the 60’s, the Bellettes continued to compete at both the IL VFW state and IL State Fair championships and returned to the 1965 VFW Nationals held in Chicago, placing 47^th.

At one time, they wore wool jackets and skirts with white long sleeve shirts.  Some summer days were so hot, they would remove their jackets and march with white shirt and the gold skirts. In 1970, the corps participated at the Mid America Open championships with a 9^th place finish and competed at the 1971 VFW Nationals in Dallas, placing 31^st in the prelims. The 1972 season was a rebuilding year for the corps, competing locally before returning to the VFW Nationals preliminary rounds in 1973, held in New Orleans, where the corps finished in 22^nd and in Chicago, placing 26^th in 1974.

Over the next two seasons, the Bellettes competed once again regionally with trips to the IL VFW state and IL State Fair shows, completing their long standing history with appearances at the 1977 VFW Nationals in Minneapolis, placing 14^th in preliminary action and the 1978 VFW Nationals in Dallas, finishing 12^th.

Throughout their entire history, the Bellettes were always supported by the Belleville VFW Post 1739 but due to rising costs and inflation at that time, the corps disbanded in 1979.

Jim Adair, Belleville Daily Advocate, Aug 08, 1956, page 12; Paul Legault (DCX)

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