A long time ago--30 years to be exact--spectators at Harvard football games were entertained by the University Banjo and Mandolin Clubs. In 1919, with the season already underway, a group of musicians decided that Soldiers Field fans needed a little more pop and a hand might add the needed virility to the then all-male cheering section.

There aren't any more Banjo and Mandolin Clubs, but there haven't been any complaints yet for the Harvard Band now ranks among the nation's finest, either on the gridiron or on the concert stage.

Growing, Growing...

Only 45, men filed into Sanders Theater for the first rehearsal, and only after notice had been placed asking for former members of the wartime Regimental Band to come too. And, since there was no equipment available, musicians were expected to bring their own instruments and music stands.

Arrangements were made with the HAA for seats that turned out to be in section 35, the same place occupied by today's band. With Frederick L. Reynolds '20, directing, the group played at its first game on October 2, 1919, while Harvard beat Boston College 17-0. Though they made only one trip away that year--to Princeton--the band played at every home game thereafter.

During that first season it shared playing time with the Banjo and Mandolin Clubs, which had combined under one management, and the Glee Club, all sitting in the same section.

Finances and Tea

Financial worries have plagued the band throughout its history and they started early. From the beginning there was no money for essentials, so a series of tea dances was organized., Wearing dark coats and pants the budding band's members performed at these which were held in the Union.

For the season's high point, the Yale game, the band had 80 members, but 35 of these didn't play. It was a good show, though. During the early winters of the organization's career, two dance bands were formed to travel around the country raising funds, and upon their success depended the band's life the next season.

At the most there were 60 regular members during the years to 1929. Sometimes, however, improvisation was necessary. At one game, for instance, violins, borrowed from the dance orchestras, were brought into the stands to play missing clarinet parts.

And Into the Stretch

By 1929 there were usually 80 or 90 men in the stands on Saturday afternoons. Among them were Malcolm H. Holmes, '28, the band's present director, and Leroy Anderson '28, now a famous arranger. Holmes banged the base drum at Soldiers Field, but played the violin in the orchestra at other times.

The year before the band obtained the huge base drum now wheeled in at half-time during games. As a present to the grow-organization, the Associated Harvard Clubs presented it at a meeting in Philadelphia in 1928. According to present values the drum is worth between eight and ten thousand dollars.

It takes the hide of one whole calf to make each head, and several years of seasoning are necessary to make the drum playable. In twenty years the monster percussion instrument has become practically the band's trademark so, though the high cost of transportation is prohibitive--always over $100--it is usually carried to all nearby games as well as Soldier's Field.

Of Thee--Wintergreen