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TagsThe Durning String Band of Oaklyn has performed since 1936
BY ERIC MODEL
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
JOURNEYS INTO NEW JERSEY
Say Philadelphia on New Year's Day, and you're likely to think of the Mummers.
Some 15,000 mummers ("Mummer" comes from the Old French momer, to wear, to wear a mask; pantomime. It means a masked or costumed merrymaker, especially at a festival – American Heritage Dictionary, 3rd Edition) clad in elaborate costumes perform in the parade each year. They are organized into four distinct types of troupes: Comics, Fancies, string Bands and Fancy Brigades.
Mummery is an old tradition in Philadelphia, and the famous Mummers Parade dates back to pre-colonial times, resulting from a blend of Swedish, Finnish, Irish, English, German, African-American, and other European heritages. It makes for a New Year's celebration in Philadelphia like nowhere else. Truly a Philadelphia tradition.
Less known is that Mummery is to be found on our side of the Delaware as well.
Much of it is to be found in the suburbs just across from Philadelphia, but New Jersey it is nonetheless.The Durning String Band of Oaklyn is one of two Mummers group that hail from the Garden state (The other is the Broomall, a non-association band based in National Park – there's a story about the name of that community, but that's for another time).
Founded in 1935 by James A. Durning, the band first marched in the Philadelphia parade in 1936 with the theme of Musical Troubadours. In 1944, the Band was renamed as the James V. Durning Band, in honor of the founder's son, who was listed as Missing-In-Action during the war.
Like all Mummers bands, they started out in Philadelphia, but eventually migrated to New Jersey, which they have called home for 20 years. In 1988 the Durning merged with the Garden State String Band of Gloucester City.
This year the band is celebrating its 75th anniversary.
Over the years, the Durning band has played for a Pope (Pope John Paul during his 1979 Philadelphia visit, a President (Ford) and at a Governor's Christmas Party (Thornburgh in 1979). In addition, it has performed in the Miss America Pageant parade in Atlantic City, the Strawberry Festivals in West Virginia and various festivals, and at the Smithsonian as well as various festivals.
Mary Lynch is no newcomer to the Mummers. Like many in the band, her family has been associated with the band for multiple generations - in her family's case for over 75 years. Going back to the days of South Philly, there's been a brother, a sister, an uncle, nephews and cousins involved. For her the band has been an extended family that's included her family – a community, a way of life.
This community ranges from high school kids to folks in their 70's and 80's. In all, there are some 100 – about half and half from the Philly and Jersey sides of the Delaware. From that group, they have come to expect some 50-60 "regulars."
The Durning has a pretty large presence in the Garden State these days. It has been become a December tradition for the band to head to Cape May during the first weekend of the month to appear in the annual Christmas Parade there. They have marched there for some 10-12 years, and during that time have been adapted by a local Seniors Center there. So, every year after the parade is over, the band continues its march an extra few blocks to the Center, where perform and provide seasonal cheer for an annual Christmas party.
The Durning also performs at Atlantic City's annual "Show of Shoes." Then, on July Fourth, the ensemble will perform from morning until night – taking part in some seven parades around South Jersey, making it one of their busiest and financially their most productive day of the year.
The money helps. For, like many of us, these are tough times for Mummers bands. It seems that the economic decline has taken its toll on the Mummers. For example, the cost to put a band on the street is extremely high. Moreover, the city of Philadelphia has cut back on a lot of its funding. So has the local television station that has supported the parade in the past. Stressful times even in the happy world of the strutters.
There are those trying to make up the slack. For example, Kevin Bacon of the Bacon Brothers has helped launch a Mummers CD as fundraiser called "Save the Mummers." There's also a "Save the Mummers" website.
When they finally step out on New Year's Day, it will be the culmination of months of planning and preparation. A new cycle starts in the middle of the winter when ideas for next year are floating, submitted for approval to the parade committee (they do not want duplication of themes or music). Once approval is given, then it's time to get to work on sets and costumes. That part will last throughout the spring into the summer. And then there are the hours and hours of practice.
During the months of November and December, the group is practicing three times a week in preparation for New Years Day in their weather-protected quarters, an FTD Floral distribution Center in Barrington. The rest of the year they can be found practicing in Oaklyn at a VFW Hall. And it's serious stuff too. String bands are judged on their musical presentation as well as their costumes.
They are now at work practicing this year's routine, themed "Good Clean Fun." We are told it includes bathrooms, rubber duckys and "Mr. Plumber".
Mary Lynch tells us that the band is known for being offbeat.
"We're not a big powerhouse band. We're not theatrical. Instead folks think of us a bit quirky."
She describes some of those quirky past themes – "Custard's Last Stand" or the year they were part of a Monopoly theme.
"It's about getting back to basics and knowing who and what we are and what we're not," she said.
If you can't make to the parade on New Year's Day, you can catch the spirit of the day by visiting the Mummer's Museum in Philadelphia. There are exhibits featuring the intricate handwork that goes into the elaborate costumes. You can learn to do the renowned "Mummers Strut" to the tune of "O" Dem Golden Slippers", the unofficial theme song composed in 1879.
And then there's the Broad Street Room that puts visitors right into the Parade. There are string sound features and video performances of past parades too.
But if you don't want to leave the Garden State, Mary Lynch has offered a standing invitation to visit our Jersey Mummers as they perform around the state or as they practice in practice Oaklyn (or Barrington) right here in Jersey.
For information, Durning String Band, P.O. Box 190, Bellmawr, NJ 08099; 856-939-3500.
Also: Mummers Museum, 1100 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147; (215)336-3050; Mummers Parade.
Eric Model explores the "offbeat, off the beaten path overlooked and forgotten" on SIRIUS-XM Radio and at journeysinto.com.
Dan