Jolly Jesters

Toronto, ONT Canada

Inactive Senior

Year	Position	Score	Theme/Songs
1957			Hi Neighbor * Wait For The Wagon * From the Land of the Sky-Blue Water * The Lady is a Tramp (from Babes in Arms) * Lady of Spain * Paris Medley * Semper Fidelis * You Belong to My Heart (from The Three Caballeros) * Bye Bye Blues
1958			Pagliacci * Another Opening, Another Show (from Kiss Me, Kate) * Be A Clown * Keep Your Sunny Side Up (from Good News!) * Smile * Blue Skies (from Alexander's Ragtime Band) * Stairway to the Stars * When You Wish Upon a Star (from Pinocchio) * The Greatest Show On Earth * You've Got To Be A Football Hero * Man On The Flying Trapeze * Skater's Waltz * The Greatest Show On Earth * Bye Bye Blues * Without A Song * Pagliacci
1959			I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles * Sneaky Pete * Be A Clown * She's Too Fat Polka * Fanfare * Paris Medley * Stairway to the Stars * The Greatest Show On Earth * Man On The Flying Trapeze * Skater's Waltz * Maple Leaf Forever * Bye Bye Blues * Without A Song * Pagliacci
1960			Fools Rush In * That's Entertainment * The Greatest Show On Earth * Be A Clown * Man On The Flying Trapeze * Sophisticated Lady * Take the 'A' Train * Beer Barrel Polka * Bye Bye Blues * You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To
1963			Besame Mucho * Mam'selle * Love Me Or Leave Me * One Hand One Heart (from West Side Story) * I Feel Pretty (from West Side Story) * I Want To Be An American * Maria (from West Side Story) * Parade of the Charioteers (Ben Hur) * If Ever I Would Leave You (from Camelot)

Position 200+ indicates Division II, Position 300+ indicates Division III, Position 400+ indicates Mini Corps.

CORPS Photos

The Jolly Jesters was a senior marching and maneuvering drum corps based in Toronto, Ontario. The corps was founded by Ted Reilly in 1957. World Drum Corps Hall of Famer Vince Macciocchi came on board in 1960.

The corps grew out of the Fifth Column Army Service Corps. In 1956 this group was invited to participate in a four-week competition sponsored by the Toronto Argonaut Football Club. To avoid conflict with union and army regulations, the corps rented clown costumes for this appearance and adopted the name "Jolly Jesters." To their surprise, the name/costume and show caught on. The corps decided that they would appear the following year in the clown uniforms. In 1957 the corps appeared in red and white satin clown uniforms, but the drum major/director Ted Riley dressed as a comical tramp.

In 1960, however, the corps moved on from the clown motif and donned dress blues. The corps' name changed to "The Jesters" at that time.

The Jesters merged with the Viscounts of Hamilton to form the Canadian Commanders in 1963.

[DCW, 8.31.03, p. 32; Ron Allard, RAMD, 5/25/2000; Ed Law December 2006]

Members (1)

Member Name	Section	Years Involved
Tarasco, Vince	Baritone	1956 to 1958

CORPS 7 items

Jolly Jesters
PDF Document

Jolly Jesters Featured in Toronto Optimists History Newsletter July 2021 Contributed by Bob Carell

Jolly Jesters

Jolly Jesters Overseas Cap from the Bill Ives Collection

Jolly Jesters

Jolly Jesters Overseas Cap from the Bill Ives Collection

Jolly Jesters

JollyJesters,Toronto,ON,Patch1-Jester(RE-2.75)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection Contributed by Richard Elmquist

Jolly Jesters

JollyJesters,Toronto,ON,Patch2-WhiteRedLetters(ELA)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection Contributed by Ed Law

Jolly Jesters

JollyJesters,Toronto,ON,Patch3-RedWhiteLetters(ELA)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection Contributed by Ed Law

Jolly Jesters

JollyJesters,Toronto,ON,Pin1-TheJesters(RE-2.75x1.75)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection

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Jolly Jesters

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1957 1 Photos

1958 9 Photos

1959 1 Photos

1960 3 Photos

1961 1 Photos

Members (1)