CALLICOON CENTER – Before movies came along in the 1920’s, the main source of entertainment in small towns across America was the town band. 

Though eclipsed by modern forms of leisure in most places, this tradition of the town band is kept alive by the Callicoon Center Band, which kicked off its summer concert series last week on Wednesday, July 1. 

Despite the heat wave, the concert area was filled by enthusiastic fans who enjoyed refreshments from the Fire Hall as they took in the traditional waltzes, polkas, and show tunes. 

Wednesday’s show was the first of 8 concerts in the series, which runs every Wednesday at 8 p.m. “rain or shine” through August 19. 

The free, family-friendly performance featured a wonderful 23-piece orchestra which played marches from the 19th and early 20th century. The sonic deluge of acoustic brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments into Callicoon Center was a welcomed change from the usual hum of air conditioners, lawnmowers, and weedwackers, which engulfs Sullivan County’s aural environment during summer.  

The tenure of this band is to be revered, as this week marks the beginning of their 92nd concert season. Conductor and Musical Director Jim Newton took the helm in 1976 after the exit of Conductor and Clarinetist Ray Shaara, who was instrumental in leading the band to perform at the 1939 World’s Fair in Queens, NY. 

Before Shaara there was Callicoon Center resident Clarence Krantz, who founded the band in 1934 and continued to play well into his 80’s. Another noteworthy member was Allan Sommer, who joined the band when he was 9 years old as a trumpet player, later became a drummer, and was president of the band for more than 40 years.

When professional trumpet player Barry Bryson moved to the area four years ago, he was keen on tapping into the musical community. 

“I wanted a place to put air through the trumpet,” said Bryson, who performs regularly at Arthur’s Tavern in Manhattan with the Creole Cookin’ Jazz Band. The Callicoon Center Band provided that place for Bryson, and he’s been putting air through his horn with the band ever since. 

Bryson said his favorite part of the concert series is “when we close the program with the march ‘American Patrol’”[written by F.W. Meacham in 1885]. When asked why the band’s music sounds so different from new music today, Bryson, without hesitation, replied, “Because it’s acoustic instruments you rarely hear!” 

As he reflected on the first show of the season, Conductor Jim Newton said the evening was special because “it was hotter than Hades and yet the band performed very well and we had a fairly good crowd.” 

Newton seemed to revel in his role, saying, “it’s fun to be a volunteer and direct these dedicated volunteers and then see the concerts with all the faithful people that come year after year, and then strangers come and say, ‘gee, that was really something.’“ 

The Callicoon Center Band returns to the bandstand on July 8, and every Wednesday after until August 19; don’t miss this authentic American tradition as the band waltzes, polkas, and marches through summertime.