I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN PHILLY, GERMANTOWN, WE USE TO WATCH THE MUMMERS EVERY NEW YEARS DAY AND NOW I GET THE CHANCE TO WATCH THE MUMMERS ALMOST EVERY MORNING ON UTUBE. IT TAKES ME BACK TO WHEN I WAS A KID, THE 40S AND 50S, NOW I LIVE IN COLORADO AND MISS MY CONNECTION TO PHILLY, BUT THIS MOVIE REALLY HITS HOME FOR ME, I USE TO DRIVE UP EASTON ROAD FROM PHILLY TO WILLOW GROVE, ONCE A WEEK WHEN I WAS 12 YEARS OLD AND I REMEMBER THE ROUTE VERY WELL. FRALINGER, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES, I LOVE THIS MOVIE.
Channel 17 in Philly streams the parade each and every year on your computer I watch it had relatives there and would go each year when younger always a hit....not this past year but hopefully next.....
fralinger as well as many other string bands in philly are the greatest for upfront in your face entertainment ! nothing is better than knowing you rocked the crowd !!!
From someone who was in a string band for a few years back in the 80's, and did quite a few Christmas, Memorial day, and 4th of July parades, That had to be the fastest paced parade I've ever seen! I never remember walking anywhere close to that fast! Way to keep up the musical quality, with the fast pace, as only Fralinger could do! God, I miss Mummery!
My dad, brother, uncle & a few of their friends belonged to this band. One of the best bands there's! They eventually stopped wearing the big head dresses, especially high winds would knock them over. Remember hearing a string band on T.V. & on line will muffle the sound a bit. This band won a lot & they competed against two other. Ferko & I think, the other was Polish American!!
This group is excellent. Fine musicians, fine marchers, fine selections and plenty of the them. "String Band" is clearly a misnomer due to the dominate role of the saxophones. Sill, the overall sound is fun and I love those two string base players towards the rear. Congratulations on your 100th year. Keep up the good work.
The Ferko band has violins. The 100 anniversary video of the Frailinger band has two Ferko violinists (red jackets) step in for one tune. The bass sound could be provided with bass saxophones without string basses, but I believe there are not enough bass sax players and a new bass sax (Selmer) is in the $20K area. There is one or two bass sax player in this band and probably the others as well (I saw one in Ferko too). I believe (but I'm not sure) the "string band" designation came from the preponderance of banjos (and maybe violins?) back when the first bands were formed. Please correct me, if I'm wrong
I don't know if anyone will read this, but here goes. My buddy, TJ, wrote a book in which the Mummers are prominently featured. Part 3 is entirely devoted to South Philadelphia and the second part of the parade on 2 Street. The fictitious CONNOLLY'S String Band is based on Franlinger's. Give Bar Stools & Bus Stops a chance. It's fun... It's cheap... Please... And thank you.
You might be surprised to know how many Philadelphians will spend tens of thousands of dollars to go to Mardi Gras, but will speak about the Mummers as if they're complete trash. Very, very sad how many Philly natives have no idea what a cultural treasure we have in the Mummers.
@@crabbyoldman8209 ….I was in Drum and Bugle Corps, which is vastly different from this. But, as a musician, you recognize real talent. This looks like a blast and these guys are seriously talented!!!
I'm crying 😢too. This brings back the memories from childhood in South Philly. My mother sent us to every parade going down the pike! Sad today's children don't have the love for America inevitably forced into their souls by such as this like I did.
Love the music the costumes and the joy it brings to every one. would love to have some thing like this in the UK.. What is the history behind these string bands??
I wish you folks would come to Gettysburg......We need some culture... I grew up with the Greater Bucks and Harrowgate Bands... Every Tuesday night at the William Penn fire Company..i'd come in around midnight to spell their bartenders. Great times.
It's a specific local Philadelphia tradition - Mummers - costumed marching string bands. These Mummers bands go back nearly 150 years. They all compete on New Year's Day.
This specifically only happens in and around Philly in the USA. If you visit on New Years Day you'll see Fralinger and the other string bands strut down Broad Street - so if you like it, make sure to check out Philly on New Years. Apparently it's related to the old English and Irish tradition of "mummery".
Victor Song the song at 6:21 is called Paddelin Madeline home and at 8:15 is call "You've Got to start off each Day with a song" both are two of my favorites to play with the band. Thanks for watching!
The Ferko String Band performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in 1946 and 1948, Fralinger String Band was also featured in the parade a few times back then. I haven't heard of them going up to for any NYC holiday parades in recent history, sadly. Sometimes Mummers string bands will perform in downstate NY and New England - Aqua String Band does St. Patrick's Day in Springfield, MA every year.
no offens, i luv the music& histry. i watch'd the after shows @ nite wit my grand-pa. @ ritner. st in s. philly, drinkg ur brandy. gotta admit ur costumes belong in new york 4 halloween parade. what happen'd?
