I
was a member of Ozzie's Marching Charger Band, from 1964 to 1969. I
remember marching through the tunnel of Jack Murphy Stadium for the
first "Home Game" for the San Diego Chargers in 1968. Those were the
days my friend.... we thought they'd never end. Dan Chester '72
I
played the flute in Ozzie's band 1960-62. We practiced
marching at John Muir elementary school. I remember going to
Disneyland twice for Fourth of July parades. We were at the start
of the parade and had been given free tickets, so off we went to the
donkey ride, which usually had enormous lines. I remember the
Bakersfield Fair and the early Charger games, which were held at the old
San Diego High School stadium. When they began the half-time
displays for the Chargers, the group was given a set of huge white
fibre-glass tubas. This was probably their introduction to the
world of music. The idea being to bring them to the
attention of the nation -- Barbara Whilldin ‘67
I played drums in the marching band at
about age 12-14. We rehearsed with Ozzie Wissell in the store back
room, then went out to the ally behind the store to practice marching.
My Dad, Marshall Sleet, taught at Ozzie’s. Ozzie later led a famous life
as an underwater photographer and made many films. Dick Ambrose with
the other partner at the store, and I took drum lessons there, maybe
with Myron Collins. Dena and Dick Blackwell were there at the time, too.
Dick and I played in the NOMADS -- Dave Sleet ’61
Sandy Lindem Bowman ’63 and I twirled baton for Ozzie's band in the
first game the Chargers played in at the old Balboa Stadium up until
they replaced us with actual cheerleaders. I started marched with the
band from 1957 thru 1962. I remember marching at San Diego State
for practice and in the large lot next to Ozzie's. Other members
of the band from Crawford that I can remember are Ronnie Van Horn '60,
Jim Snead '60, and Dave Hyatt '61.Ozzie, Dottie (his wife) and Dick
treated us all like we were their kids. They were wonderful. It was a
great time to grow up -- Beverly Swaim Wickstrom ’62
I took guitar and clarinet lessons there. That sure looks like my '57 Ford parked in the lot -- Sylvia Wicke Ryerson '68
I
remember "Ozzie's Marching Chargers Band" very well. My brother Rick
Watson played the drums in the band. They used to practice in the
parking lot at Grossmont Center. They were thrilled when they followed
the Chargers to the San Francisco area to perform at half time. They
were looking forward to having their parents see them on TV. But what
did we see??? Baron Hilton's teenage sons putting on a very lame skate
board demonstration at the side of the field. The parents were
disappointed and the kids were fit to be tied that they were up staged
by a couple of rich kids on skateboards. They jumped off the bus all
happy and excited. "Did you see us?" And we had to tell them that we
hadn't seen them. They were so upset that a lot of them wanted to quit
the band. Since the local games were blacked out, and since we never
went to a game we never got to see the band perform. They had practiced
so hard and so long for their TV debut and we couldn't even hear them
over the chatterbox announcer -- Nancy Watson Wingo (Horace Mann ’59)
The band in question was Ozzie's Band (I played clarinet in
that band in the mid-50s). The music store, of course, was Ozzie's
Music -- John McMullen ’63
The answer to Don Roger's question is -- Ozzie's Marching
Band, which became Ozzie's Marching Chargers. My sister, Michelle Silver
Walker '71, later became a baton twirler for the band. I would send a
picture, but I'm afraid she would never talk to me again -- Mark Silver '69
(Oh, c'mon Mark -- send the picture. She'll never know -- JF)
I
remember the band mentioned in the Memories page -- Ozzie’s Marching
Band. I was a trumpet player in the band for several years. My older
brother was a trombone player. I am not sure if my little brother was
playing saxophone when Ozzie’s was still around. I got my first trumpet
from Ozzie’s (still have it)! -- Rick Leu ’71
I sent an email today to Don Rogers regarding the question
he asked about the band who played for half times for the San Diego
Chargers when they first came to San Diego. That band was Ozzie’s
Marching Band/Ozzie’s Marching Chargers and I was so lucky to be part of
the band. I twirled baton in the corps from 1964-1969 and have been
trying to connect with others in the band for over ten years now. I
would love to have a reunion before Ozzie leaves us. He is still alive
and is about 90 some years old now, so time is of the essence. Maybe you
can post something to the website to see if anyone has pictures etc.
Mine have been lost/stolen over the years and when I tried to find out
what Ozzie’s did with the old pictures that use to be on the wall in
their El Cajon Blvd store they had no clue. I have visited Ozzie’s Music
store in Poway, the only one left, and they stated Ozzie probably has
them. I have left my name and number several times for Ozzie but no
communication from him yet. Anything you can do would be greatly
appreciated. Thank you for all you do, John!! -- Lanette Theoldore Proulx ’71
In regards to Don Rogers '69 question about the half-time
band at Charger games, it was Ozzie's Band. Ozzie's Music Store was near
70th and El Cajon. So you are asking yourself how I would know such a
fact? Well, I just happened to be an old member of Ozzie's Band, playing
the clarinet. I was a member from 4th grade up until 10th grade. What
years would that have been? 1966-1972? Of course only the Advanced Band
did the half-time shows, parades, band reviews etc. I did many a Charger
game and held first chair clarinet for many years -- Terry Appleby '74
Greetings from snowy Rochester NY where we're getting a
late winter storm. I've shoveled eight inches already with more on the
way. The band that performed half time shows up until the 1970s was
Ozzie's Marching Band, and was known in the ‘60s as Ozzie's Marching
Charger Band. I remember marching in at least two half time shows in the
"new" San Diego Stadium, the first of which was October 26, 1969 when
the Oakland Raiders played the Chargers. I still have the ticket stubs
that my parents used to see the game. Each Field Reserved seat was
$6.00. Thanks for the email each week. I look forward to reading the
continuing adventures of "Fry-Man" ! -- Karen Kessler '75
They practiced at John Muir
Elementary School on Mohawk St (their band building was on El Cajon Blvd
near 69th St). They used to wake us up every Saturday morning! That was
in the late ‘40s and early ‘50s! -- Jeannine Berger Passenheim '60
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I was one of the
Chargettes with the Ozzie Marching Chargers. I remember those
twice-a-week rehearsals doing all those high kicks in the parking lot at
Grossmont Center. We spent hours sewing beads and sequins on the
lightning strike on our uniforms. My Grandfather saw me on TV but I
don't think my parents even took pictures of me in my cute uniform. If
anyone has pictures from back then I would love to see them -- Ellie Clark Piltz '67
I was also involved in Ozzie's Marching Band as a baton
twirler but later I was one of the Charger Girls that did the dances on
the side of the field. Can you see if anyone has any pictures???? Thanks
-- Leslie Herrmann ‘70
I
was wondering if you have any photos of the Charger’s playing at
Balboa Stadium from 1965-1967. Ozzie’s Marching Chargers and the
Twirlers of Oz performed during pre-game, half-time and post-game.
The baton corps also performed as the “Chargettes” during the games. We
were stationed around the track and rotated every quarter. Also, do you
have any photos of the band performing in any of the local parades?
Thank you for your efforts -- Carla Hilger Medlock ’68
