Shooting Stars History Page

Bill McIntyre's Shooting Stars celebrated 50 years of New Years mummery in 1997 with the presentation of "Thundering Drums - A Gathering of Nations." During those 50 years, we have never strayed from the principles of our founder, Bill McIntyre.

While the techniques we use have evolved from homemade suits and "accidental" drills to the use of high-tech gadgetry, professional choreographers, costumers and designers - our core values remain firmly rooted to the ideals of family and camaraderie.

The Shooting Stars were established as an organization where families could participate. This togetherness was the keystone upon which the Stars were founded and it continues today with members growing up in the Shooting Stars and staying with us well after they no longer carry a suit on New Years Day.

We invite you to spend some time here and learn about our beginnings and our history.

 

1947-1950: A Star is Born

The history of the Shooting Stars begins on January 2nd, 1947 when a group of intrepid New Years Shooters from the McGrale Club decide to enter a presentation in the Fancy Group category in the 1948 New Years day parade. Included in the group was a young man named Bill McIntyre who was making the change from the comic division. Bill, elected as leader of the group, lead "Prince Charming and His Escorts" to a 5th place finish.

For the 1949 parade, the group selected "Shooting Stars" for their presentation. With suits purchased from Hegeman String Band and outfitted with silver sequined hats, silver stars and shooting star backpieces, the "Shooting Stars" earned a 2nd place finish. Unfortunately, Bill McIntyre was stricken with the flu that year and had to give up the Captain's suit to Fran "Wings" Murray.

Major changes marked the 1950 parade. This year saw the Fancy Brigades emerge with their own unique judging criteria. This was also the year that the group from the McGrale Club officially became the Shooting Stars New Years Brigade in honor of their 2nd place finish the previous year. The newly formed Shooting Stars captured their first 1st place prize with their "Hades on Parade" presentation.

1947 - 1950

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1951 - 1972

 

1951-1972: Accidental Drills and the Emergence of a Dynasty

The Shooting Stars once again captured the 1st place prize in 1951 with their "Pride of Kilarny" presentation and in the process forever changed the face of the Fancy Brigades. When the brigade spontaneously began dancing to the tune The Thing, they inadvertently became the first brigade ever to perform a drill in the judging area.

The Stars continued their winning streak with 1st prize finishes in 1952 with "Congo Ceremony" and again in 1953 with "The Harem." The Stars had made their mark, winning the top prize the first four years after the Fancy Brigades category was established. The stars rounded out the decade by taking 1st prize in 1958 with "King Jesters" and again in 1959 with "Oriental Fans."

In 1972, after an amazing 25 years as Captain, Bill McIntyre retired from marching and passed the Captains suit to his son, Franny McIntyre.

1951 - 1972

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1973 - 1989

 

1973-1989: Takin' it to the Street

The 70's proved to be a turbulent time for the Fancy Brigades. Legal battles with the city and the mother clubs over the establishment of the Fancy Brigades as a separate division threatened to tear apart the Mummer's tradition. Cooler heads prevailed and the Fancy Brigades Division paraded for the first time on January 1, 1978.

To mark the occasion, Franny McIntyre lead the Stars to a 1st prize finish with "Aqua Fantasy." Once again the Shooting Stars showed their innovative talents when they unveiled elaborate floats featuring a turtle drawn clamshell and a sea diver pulled whale.

With the 80's came a new decade and a new Captain, Billy Morrison. Billy got the ball rolling with a top five finish in 1981 followed by 1st prize in 1982 with "Masters of the Occult." 1982 was a first for the Fancy Brigades as the Shooting Stars gained national exposure when National Geographic featured a photograph of the brigade as it paraded down Second Street.

With the 1985 presentation of "Dancin," the Shooting Stars once again paved the way for radical change. Dennis Quaile arrived as choreographer, bringing sophisticated dance routines to Broad Street not only for a few specialty suits but for the entire brigade. The stage was now set for the spectacular floats and high energy dance routines that distinguish the Fancy Brigades from the other divisions.

1973 - 1989

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1990 - 2000

 

1990-2000: The Brigade of the 90's

Sadness struck the Shooting Stars in 1990 with the passing of their founder Bill McIntyre, Sr. A true friend and mentor, Bill's death gave new determination to the Shooting Stars as the brigade officially changed its name to Bill McIntyre's Shooting Stars NYB. The brigades clubhouse was rededicated that year as McIntyre Hall in honor of its namesake.

Mickey Adams arrived as Captain in 1991 and after five years of leading the brigade had captured 1st prize not once, but three consecutive times - 1992, 1993 and 1994 with presentations of "Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun," "Singapore Swing," and "Outta This World."

The Shooting Stars marked their 50th anniversary in 1997 by capturing 1st prize with "Thundering Drums - A Gathering of Nations" and again in 1999 with "Olympus - Myth and Legend," who will ever forget that horse.

Mickey's vision and creativity has lead the Stars to once again change the nature of a Fancy Brigade performance. The integration of modern day technology and Mummery through the use of heavy machinery, high tech gadgetry and spectacular floats and props results in a dazzling New Years display.

2001 – Present: More Success

The Shooting Stars carried their success of the 1990’s into the new millennium.  In 2003 the brigade captured their 14th first prize performance with “Scotland, Land of Clans”.  The Star’s followed up that presentation with another first prize performance in 2004 with “Creature Double Feature”.  Mickey’s vision continued to show during this presentation with the use of a movie theater sized screen projecting classic horror film clips during the brigade’s presentation.  In 2008 the club captured their 16th Brigade Division Championship with “India…Land of the Tiger”.  The innovative use of foam and four scene changes made this performance possible.  Unable to perform on New Years day Mickey turned the captains reigns over to Co-Captain Michael Adams who also captured 1st Prize Captain honors.  2009 brought Mickey back as the club captured 1st prize again with their presentation of “Mythic Knights…Defernders of the Realm”.  Once again the Stars used four scene changes with a fire breathing dragon in the finale to capture their 17th Championship.

No one knows what the future holds but one thing is certain; Bill McIntyre's Shooting Stars will be there, leading the way.   

1990 - 2000

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Presentations

Bill McIntyre's Shooting Stars

Presentation and Prize History

Year

Theme

Prize

Captain

1948

Prince Charming and His Escorts

5

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1949

Shooting Stars

2

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1950

Hades on Parade

1

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1951

Pride of Kilarny

1

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1952

Congo Ceremony

1

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1953

The Harem

1

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1954

Hawaiian Jubilee

3

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1955

Sons of the Nile

8

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1956

Our American Heritage

2

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1957

Christmas in Kilarny

9

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1958

King Jesters

1

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1959

Oriental Fans

1

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1960

Garden of Fountains

5

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1961

Skater's Waltz

7

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1962

Rio Rita

6

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1963

Oriental Temple Dancers

5

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1964

Wee Bit of Scotland

8

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1965

Hello Dolly

6

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1966

Safari

8

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1967

Satan's Empire

12

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1968

This Land is Mine

11

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1969

Legend of the Phoenix

13

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1970

Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show

12

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1971

Persian Market

12

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1972

My Lady's Fan

16

Bill McIntyre, Sr.

1973

Broadway Follies

6

Franny McIntyre

1974

Carnival De Brazil

5

Franny McIntyre

1975

Land of the Aztecs

13

Franny McIntyre

1976

A Time for Celebrating '76

13

Franny McIntyre

1977

Mongol Empire

12

Franny McIntyre

1978

Aqua Fantasy

1

Franny McIntyre

1979

World Beyond the Horizon

6

Franny McIntyre

1980

Witches Sabbath

5

Franny McIntyre

1981

Utopia (The Impossible Dream)

5

Billy Morrison

1982

Masters of the Occult

1

Billy Morrison

1983

Exotic Safari

8

Tom Cloney

1984

Night of the Wizard

7

Tom Cloney

1985

Dancin'

4

Billy Morrison

1986

On stage at the Moulin Rouge

7

Billy Morrison

1987

Rockin' Mountain Madness

7

Billy Morrison

1988

Land of Make Believe

2

Billy Morrison

1989

Junkyard Saturday Night

13

Billy Morrison

1990

High Noon at Low Tide

3

Billy Morrison

1991

Flying Down to Rio

4

Mickey Adams

1992

Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun

1

Mickey Adams

1993

Singapore Swing

1

Mickey Adams

1994

Outta This World

1

Mickey Adams

1995

Toyz in the Hood

5

Mickey Adams

1996

Magical Mystical Tour

5

Mickey Adams

1997

Thundering Drums - A Gathering of Nations

1

Mickey Adams

1998

Spirit of Africa

2

Mickey Adams

1999

Olympus - Myth and Legend

1

Mickey Adams

2000

Wonders of Ancient Egypt

2

Mickey Adams

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Eldorado, Quest for the City of Gold

Live at the Museum

Scotland, Land of Clans

Creature Double Feature

Mars Attacks

Pirates, Lost Treasure of the Abyss

An Arabian Nights Tale

India…Land of the Tiger

Mythic Kinghts…Defenders of the Realm

2

5

1

1

4

2

2

1

1

Mickey Adams

Mickey Adams

Mickey Adams

Mickey Adams

Mickey Adams

Mickey Adams

Mickey Adams

Michael Adams

Mickey Adams

 

Hall of Fame

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Stars Home Page

 

Bill McIntyre's Shooting Stars Hall Of Fame

Name

Year Inducted

Name

Year Inducted

William McIntyre Sr.

Ed Casper

Foster McKoskey Sr.

Mike Ohrenick

Joseph Turczak

William Morrison Sr.

Austin Sanbron Sr.

Tom Cloney

William Hilbert

Francis Olsen

Francis McIntyre

William McIntyre Jr.

Tom Mortka Sr.

Walt Piotrowski

John Seibert

Spence Satinoff

William Morrision Jr.

William Nolan

Jim Driza

Lou DiPinto

Jim Swizewski

Tom Bryson

Wayne Lelle

Mickey Adams

Tom Smith Sr.

Mike Ward

Jack Keenan

John Urick

 

1979

1979

1979

1979

1979

1980

1980

1981

1981

1981

1982

1982

1982

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1992

1992

1993

1994

 

Brian Smith

Mike Rutter

Jim Bradley

Jim Henderson

Jim McCullough

Danny McIntyre

Sean Keenan

Nick Armata

Al Howlett

Dennis Short

Rich Wallace

Jim Walen

Michael Adams

John Birch

Sonny Weneck

Mark Averill

Ed Farmer

Shawn Finnimore

1995

1996

1997

1997

1997

1998

1999

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hall of Fame

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Stars Home Page