Mummers in the News

Mummers By Frank Conforti

After searching high and low for news of the Mummers, we have found String Band Archives' on going articles by Frank Conforti to be most informative. Frank's articles are geared toward Mummers but supply insight and information all will enjoy reading. We begin with article No.49. Past articles can be found at String Band Archives .

Frank Conforti started parading at the age of 6, a juvenile in a Comic Brigade from his neighborhood in South Philadelphia. The brigade was part of Liberty Clowns Comic Club's lineup. Frank stayed with the Comics up till his time in the military, then, he paraded with a Fancy Brigade for about two years, before parading with the Oregon Fancy Club.

Frank started writing a Mummers Column in the South Philadelphia Review in 1970, and his column ran until 1996, keep in mind, he received no salary. Frank was approached by WPVI TV6, who then had the television contract with the Mummers, and from 1974 till 1979, he served as the on air color commentator for their New Year's Day telecasts, plus any and all other mummer related programs, He helped in writing and producing.

In 1980, when WCAUTV10 was awarded the television contract for the mummers, they also included Frank, and he performed the same tasks that he did at WPVITV6. When KYWTV3 took over the television rights for the mummers in 1986, they did not include Frank. He was paid for tasks at both TV Stations (TV6 & TV10). Currently, his column appears on line, also in MummerTime Magazine, stringbandarchives.com and now on MummersonNationalTV.com.

No. 65

6 DOWN & 6 TO GO - MEMBERS STAY- MEMBERS LEAVE- FUTURE LOCALES

The road to 2009 has reached the half way point. January to June is done, July to December, is about to start. The days and weeks strut by, and soon, the accomplishments or the fatalities of mummery for 2009 will be exposed. Inventory thus far, can be measured by each member of a club, brigade or string band, as to what your organization has put forth during the first half. Only you as a member, or an officer, can make that determination, and the positive attitude that each member has thus far brought forward. Members can either make the road to January 1, a smooth and faithful one, or one filled with pot holes of complaints and an attitude of not caring. As for the Associations, their monthly meetings tell the story, if attendance by the officers and the delegates and alternates remain well attended, then longevity , if meetings are more canceled, then the last rites have been performed.

(Read on )