This column was originally published in the July 20, 2016 edition of the Cherokeean
A few weeks ago the A Frank Smith Methodist Church got a surprise visit from Hunter and Totsy Cunningham, who have just moved to Nacogdoches. Hunter was church choir director while he was Alto High School Band teacher from 1959-1962. Discussing memories of his band and choir experiences made me want to see what the Alto Herald had to say about the AHS band.
Although there were several city bands in earlier years, the first mention of a high school band is in 1929. Fortunately, we have a picture of this band. It is obvious that they did not have uniforms, but there is a good variety of instruments. The band, along with the choir and the elementary school rhythm band presented YE OLD-TIME MUSICAL PROGRAM at the Majestic Theater on Busy Bee Street to close out the school year in May.
Soon after 1930, perhaps because of the depression, the band seems to have petered out. Later news stories refer to 1939 as the “first year of the band”. I have always been told that Mrs R R Stribling was responsible for getting the band started and raising money for the uniforms. It must be true. She is listed as being the “sponsor” of the band, and the parade pictures of 1940 certainly show some fancy uniforms, especially for the Drum Major and Twirlers.
After a lapse during World War II, the band was reorganized in 1948. Representatives from the music department at SFA came to help with the promotion. They brought different instruments to show, and found 30 students who expressed an interest. Individual members of the Lions Club offered to sponsor students who could not otherwise afford to participate.
Band uniforms and instruments are expensive and schools often cannot afford to supply them, so the Band Mothers, later called the Band Booster Club, stepped up to help. They held carnivals, cake walks, bake sales and raffles and manned concession stands at ball games. The Lions Club was a strong supporter of the band and helped financially.
Band directors came and went. Few stayed more than a year or two, but each put his or her own spin on things. Max Neal had a jazz band, Hunter Cunningham put on intricate half-time shows, Mike Norris had several students accepted for the all-girl band at TSCW, Betty Thorn took the band to the Rose Parade in Tyler.
The Herald often printed pictures of the Drum Major and Twirlers and sometimes, but not always the band sweetheart. The band was always a big part of Homecoming and Christmas parades in town.
As well as the band and the majorettes, the music program included an elementary school rhythm band and a choir. Hunter Cunningham told me about having most of Alto’s winning football team in his choir. He also had a 27-voice girls’ choir. During the 50’s the Harmonettes made quite a name for themselves, singing on radio and TV. Some of the members were Bobbie Martin, Sunny Terrell, Patricia Schochler, Shirley Lenard and Glenda Smith. A male quartette composed of Billy Lee Black, Harold Clifton, Johnny Steed and James R Gilcrease also appeared on television.
Since 1966, which is the last date of our digitized Herald, the band has made a lot of progress. Perhaps someday we will be able to update this story. In the meantime, see some pictures of the band.
There were lots of choices for band photos in the Stella Hill Library archive site, even without going into the yearbook collection. We’ll begin with one that looks great but comes with no information. I’m guessing this was from the 1950s. Looks like they had gotten new uniforms recently. Perhaps some of the viewers will remember these folks?
This one is from the other high school in Alto, Booker T. Washington. It’s an amazingly sharp image of their band from sometime in the 1950s
Identification is already taken care of on this image of the 1959 band. All except the band director – I’ll bet someone can name him.
This one from 1990 is a little bit less historical, but will probably hit closer to home for many people.
No, these weren’t high school students, but it was such a cool photo I had to throw it in. Here is the caption from the Library Flickr site. “Alto Community Band – Organized before 1918 – was active until about 1922 Newspaper picture & article at library. Front: George Michael Hogan, John Tom Ahearn, Alton Todd, Carl Dickey, Jack Crawford, Malley Houston, Homer Houston, Elbert Watters, Back: Bill Francis, Coy Smith, Chester Gipson, Leslie Ross, Jesse Taylor, Herbert Brock, Carlton Odom, Howell Lee Walker (Leader)”
