Those Who Marched Were Great, Though Mummers Route Wasn’t
The Public Record • January 8, 2015
Page 20
FROM THE Mummers Museum, Ed Kirlin has strong opinions. “First off, you need to cultivate the music. It’s the Mummers that need to fix it. If you don’t have live music, you can’t march. There are too many 30decibel trucks with a DJ trying to make a name for himself by drowning out the hobo bands. The wench brigades only get five minutes in front of a judge and that doesn’t work. No one challenges the City on the time.”
FOR LAST 29 years, James Fiocca and John Jenkins have given their New Year’s Day to embody what Mummers are all Photos by Maria Merlino about.
JOE Stevenson, a wench from Froggy Carr, said, “Regardless of all the changes, it’s the 2nd Street wench brigades, like Froggy Carr that are the constant. We call it Quality Control.”
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NICK CANUSO and his brother Joe Canuso meet up with Pete Ciarrocchi at the PolishAmerican String Band. Pete is excited! “I think it’s great! We can leave the props behind us and dance,” he said. JOE RAFTER and Dan Stevenson flank Mayor of N. Wildwood Joe Rullo, originally from 2nd Street, who calls N. Wildwood the Philadelphia Riviera.
EXILE on Broad Street Froggy Carr was 900 strong and they bucked traffic but the City re-routed them anyway.
CAPT. Michael Adams and his son Michael, a third-generation Mummer, dreams of taking over the as Captain one day.
EOM PRESIDENT Ed McBride, NECA executive Ken Adams and Mike Lapergola exchange ideas on the change of route that abandoned South Broad Street. Lapergola has hopes that the change will help a dying trditioin, although logistically, it was a tough route. KILEY Schroeder, Wendy Hamilton, Local 98 Business agent Brian Stevenson, Luke and Lindsey Hirschler take a break from Broad Street and warm up at McCormick & Schmick’s.
KEEPING WARM against winds blowing through Center City’s concrete canyon are Michael Henkel, Miki Kirlen and Brigid Squilla. Brigid was waiting to see her hubby Councilman Mark Squilla transform himself into a character for Bill McIntyre’s Shooting Stars.
GM of SugarHouse Casino, Wendy Hamilton, is pleased as punch to support the annual Mummers Parade. Councilman Jim Kenney, normally a participant, applauded heartily when his Brigade marched past judges’ stand.
WINNINGEST Fancy Brigade, Bill McIntyre’s Shooting Stars are 2nd Street royalty. Mickey Adams has his figure and suit at the Mummers Museum as a Hall of Famer. Son Michael Adams took over Captain duties when his dad retired and Mickey’s brother Kenny Adams is very proud of his family’s acomplishments.
Al Schmidt Pulls In Support From Pittsburgh
KICKING OFF String Band division were many city dignitaries. From left were Fralinger’s George Badey, Deputy CITY COMMISSIONER Al Schmidt hosted a fundraiser in ORIGINALLY from Pittsburgh, Commissioner Al Schmidt Mayor and Chief of Staff Everett Gillison, Congressman Bob Pittsburgh recently by Congressman Keith Rothfus and lead- returned to his roots to help fund his reelection campaign. At Brady, NECA executive Ken Adams, Mayor Michael Nutter ership of Penna. Republican Party. Among attendees were well-attended funder were, from left, Andrea Karpinski, Bill and Deputy Mayor of Parks & Recreation Michael DiBerarMichael and Linda Bradley with Schmidt, right. Stringert, Judy McDonough and Commissioner Schmidt. dinis.