During the 1980s fitness craze, Hasbro Toys and Games released Get In Shape, Girl! fitness box sets, one of which paid homage to baton twirling and rhythmic gymnastics. The Twist ‘n Twirl box set featured a sky blue hoop baton, a baton fitted with pink and white pom poms and a lavender...
The following article is reprinted with permission from the Chicago Sun Times. It was originally published on April 22, 2015. Before World War II, baton twirling was dominated by men. And Gene Shea was one of the best. He twirled across the nation and in Canada, Ireland, Korea and Japan. He met...
Above Left: Vonda Kay Sigmon Roberts, Head Majorette, Stonewall Jackson High School, Charleston, West Virginia, 1969 From the 1969 Stonewall Jackson High School Yearbook, The Jacksonian: As representatives of beauty and grace, the majorettes of Stonewall Jackson ranked well above the average...
Donna Tickle Hewett poses in a Mary Poppins costume, late 1960s. The costumes were for a special routine performed by the Stonewall Jackson High School Majorettes, Charleston, West Virginia. They were made by a majorette mom, the mother of Vonda Roberts (nee Sigmon). Photo Provided
This black and white series of photos features Sharon Wall, majorette, Strom Thurmond High School Band, Johnston, South Carolina, 1970.
Mamie Allen | Brighton High School, Jefferson County, Alabama, 1950s. Miss Cole (Possible first name: Jean, Jessie or Dorothy) Brighton Hight School Majorette, Jefferson County, Alabama, 1953-1956.
Lela Gaye Wright, circa 1950 We haven’t seen many professional portraits of majorettes sitting on the floor.
Sandra Cartwright (nee Sale), was a majorette with the Kilgore High School Band, Kilgore, Texas, 1956. She was born in 1938 and died in December 2023, at the age of 85. Click here to view more hand-colored photographs of majorettes.
Veronica “Bonnie Cakes” Sadler (nee Syfax) was born in Mississippi and attended Central High School, Columbs, Ohio, where she was a majorette. Sadler died in 2016. Photo Provided
Carol Ireland twirled with the Westbury Steerettes, a drill team in Houston, Texas, in the 1970s. Carol was the team’s mascot in 1973; a twirler in 1976 and head twirler in 1978. Check out the giant pom poms on the ends of her baton in the picture below. Reminds me of roller skate pom poms....
Happy World Baton Twirling Day! Here are some pictures of the late Monta Jeanne Gayhart (nee Smith) a collegiate twirler who was featured in the October 24, 1952 issue of LIFE Magazine. Gayhart was the University of Oklahoma “band twirler.” Gayhart was born in 1932 and died in 2000....
Elizabeth Vracec Riedel was a majorette at McKee Rocks High School, Pennsylvania, 1956. During the 1950s, the school had more than a dozen majorettes. In August, a family member donated her uniform to the McKee Rocks Historical Society. It was in perfect condition Photo Soure: McKees Rocks...
