Vintage Baton Blog
The Vintage Baton Blog is the comprehensive collection of all posts on this site. A team manages the site. Consequently, we publish posts quite frequently. These include photo essays and single, iconic images; original interviews; memoirs; testimonials; tributes; memorials; obituaries and more. In addition, all posts have an overarching category, the link for which appears in the dateline of each post. At the end of each post are tags. These are much more specific to the post. For example, “1940s” is a category while “World War II” is a tag. Basically, users can explore content by clicking on various categories and tags. Have fun exploring!
W.A. Thomason, North Carolina State Drum Major (1940)
Walter Aldine "W.A." Thomason, was a talented drum major, twirler and tumbler for North Carolina State University. His earliest recorded performance at the University was in 1940. According to Ancestry.com, Thomason was born in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1920 and...
Eastern Kentucky University Majorette Marches in Christmas Parade, 1970s
An unidentified Eastern Kentucky University majorette marches in a Christmas parade, 1970s. We love the old fur-trimmed majorette costumes, which have remained popular over the years. Click here to see a few more via past posts.
The Firettes at Engine Company 8, Nashville, Tennessee (1960s)
The Firettes was a group of championship baton twirlers in Nashville, Tennessee. They won the World Baton Twirling Championship of 1964. These photos were taken at Nashville Engine Company No. 8, circa July 1965. If you know anything about the Firettes please contact...
Armistice Day Parade, 1941
A drum majorette leads an Armistice Day parade in Kentucky, 1941. Armistice Day is an international holiday observed each year on November 11 to commemorate the end of World War I.
Child Twirlers March at Adlai Stevenson Rally (1956)
68 Years Ago Today Child baton twirlers march at a Democratic party campaign parade during a political rally for Adlai Stevenson, Chicago Stadium, November 3, 1956. Source: University of Chicago
Vintage Brown University Band, 1942
Brown University students Robert Hackett (1919-2003), Class of 1941, and Kenneth M. Greene (1920-2021), Class of 1942, pose with guest majorette Betty Brown Lee, 1942. Brown was an Ice Capades star. Photo Source: Brown University Alumni Magazine. Photo published with...
Majorettes Practicing Formation, 1962
Woodward High School majorettes, Toledo, Ohio, practice formation for a half-time show, 1962. Source: Ohio Historical Society
Majorettes at the All-American Soap Box Derby (Ohio, 1969)
Akron Majorettes performing at the parade for the 32nd All-American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio. The Derby, which kicks off today, July 14, 2024, was founded in 1934. Also, those are the smallest hoop baton we have ever seen in pictures. They're quite small compared...
Mark Nash, Living Legend
Please check out our newest page, Mark Nash, A Living Legend. Click here to see it now. In case anyone is wondering, pages provide better design features than posts while posts allow for categorizing and tagging. Thus, we published this content as a page but want to...
Beverly Fladas, North Dakota Baton Twirler (1949)
Baton Twirling Class, Tuley Park Fieldhouse (1963)
An instructor leads a group of girls in a baton twirling class in a gymnasium at Tuley Park Fieldhouse, Chattham, Illinois, circa 1963. Source: Richard J. Daley Collection, University of Illinois
Katherine Stump Werntz Kridler (1925-2013)
Katherine Stump Werntz Kridler (1925-2013) and her identical twin sister, Betty, twirled for College High School, Warrensburg, Missouri. They were also majorettes with the Central Missouri State University Drum and Bugle Corps.
Wisconsin Majorette in Treble Clef Costume (1945)
A La Crosse State Teachers College majorette poses in her marching band uniform featuring a treble clef at the shoulder and and hemline decorated with a musical staff, symbols and notes. This costume is very similar to what Mary Hartline wore in 1955, 10 years after...
University of Wisconsin, Madison Twirler Pam Albrecht Twirls Hoop Baton, 1967
Twirlers Dressed Like Jail Bird and Cop March with Police Marching Band (1965)
Conejo Valley Days Parade, 1965 | A police marching band is led by two twirlers, one dressed in a costume inspired by prison garb and another dressed up like a member of the po-po. I was so amused by this photo I had to find out if there was any video of this parade....
University of Kentucky Baton Twirlers (1960)
In September 1960, the University of Kentucky "Marching 100" band added a trio of majorettes to halftime performances. The trio included freshman Karen Shields, Susan Mendel, and Donna Wilson. It was the first time the university featured majorettes in the band since...
Hasbro “Get In Shape Girl” Included Fun Batons (1985)
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...
Twirling Legend Major Eugene “Gene” Shea (1928-2015)
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,...