Anaheim Kingsmen

When the Explorer Scouts came into existence, corps founder Don Porter had enough contacts within the military to secure practice sites on military installations such as taxiways and hangers. This military style carried over into the corps members' dress and behavior, precision and bearing as well, even out of uniform. Haircuts were short, sports coats were required, and "corps members were encouraged to walk in step with each other when seen by the public out of uniform."

The Explorer Scouts split into the Velvet Knights and the Anaheim Kingsmen in 1963.

Also known as The Blue Machine, the Kingsmen first made VFW Finals in 1969, placing ninth. In 1970 they placed second at American Legion Nationals. With a fifth-place finish at VFW Nationals in 1971, they became a charter DCI member.

Kingsmen sponsorship from such uniquely Anaheim industries as Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, and the California Angels, as well as a strong parent group, ensured the group's financial strength.

In 1972, the  Kingsmen, Argonne Rebels, and De La Salle Oaklands joined with the ten corps from the Midwest Combine and the United Organization of Junior Corps as founding members of Drum Corps International (DCI), which remains as the sanctioning body for junior corps in North America

The Kingsmen's leadership situation was not as stable as its finances were. Long-time director Don Porter resigned suddenly in the spring of 1972, to be replaced by interim directors Don Wells and Don Linscott. Reports throughout the drum corps world had the corps folding. Despite the difficulties, after just six weeks of tremendously long hours and concentrated practice, the Kingsmen headed east and was able to win U.S. Open and CYO Nationals. They placed third in the first DCI Prelims, but then put together a great performance and made their mark in drum corps history by becoming the first World Champions in the history of the fledging Drum Corps International.

1972 was the Kingsmen's finest hour, but their success was part of the cause of the corps' eventual downfall. The concentrated rehearsal schedule leading up to the DCI Championship left no time for paying performances. This, combined with a motel stay the night before Finals and the loss of the financially savvy hand of Don Porter, left the Kingsmen unable to continue at the same level of intensity. The corps remained a contender for only three years before going inactive in 1975 to "reorganize its finances."

The Kingsmen returned to DCI competition from 1982 to 1986, but the corps never placed higher than 28th. Thereafter restricting itself to local West Coast performances in Class A60 the corps met with some success. While preparing for the 1987 season, their drum line was recruited by a Top 12 corps. When they also lost their fully loaded equipment trailer to thieves, the Kingsmen cancelled their season.

Operating under the slogan "spectemur agendo" (Let us be judged by our actions), the corps  moved to Stanton, California in 1989 and reorganized their bingo operation, which continued to run into at least 2002. The organization also purchased its own building in Garden Grove.

The Kingsmen have been active in winter guard and percussion ensembles since the late 1980s. A small brass and percussion ensemble named Star Corps was formed in 2002 with the intent of it being the startup for a return of the Kingsmen, but has gone no further. 

The 286-member Kingsmen Alumni corps marched a full field show exhibition at the 2007 DCI Semi-Finals at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on August 10.  

[rec.arts.marching.drumcorps, catherineburr@yahoo.com, 1/22/2002; www.thekingsmen.org; Garrison Kean; Phil Norris; Keith Wilbur, Drum Corps World, various issues; A History of Drum & Bugle Corps, Steve Vickers, ed.]

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