The Nostalgia Page

Port Arthur's marching corps a first in Texas
Uniforms were modeled on those of Russian light cavalry

By ANDREA WRIGHT
THE ENTERPRISE

   PORT ARTHUR -- The shufflin' Red Hussars shuffled their way to fame, if not fortune, in the 1930's, and continued to be a main attraction at Port Arthur High School's football games more than 60 years before disbanding.

    A creation of Elizabeth Smith "Smitty" Brown, the head of the girl's physical education department of the school that is now Thomas Jefferson High, the Hussars were the first all-girl drum and bugle corps in Texas.

    Their unique entrance - shuffling double-time march -- became their trademark.

    Smitty's inspiration for the corps came from a trip in 1929 to California, where she was so impressed with a male corps dressed like Russian Cossacks that she came home and presented the idea for a girls corps to the school.  Uniforms and instruments were ordered immediately.

    "They (crowds) loved us!" recalled 86 year old Janie Beckham of Port Arthur.  "We marched over at Franklin School.  That's where the football games were."

    Prancing before a large crowd, rushing after class every day to practice and being at every game are golden memories for Beckham, who is married to a former football player of those times, Odis R. Beckham.  

    "My husband is past captain of the football team, but I didn't know him then," she said.  "I knew he played football, but he married somebody else and I married somebody else.  But we both lost our spouses to death.  We've been married 10 years.

    Today, Odis "Beau" Beckham IV, her husband's great-great-grandson, is carrying on the family tradition, playing football for Nederland High.

    The Red Hussars were a group of 24 girls, with two drum majors, eight snare drums, two bass drums and 12 bugles.  They were taught to march and play the instruments by O.L. "Pop" Lantz, the school's band director.

    Red and white uniforms were designated to resemble those of Russian hussars, or light cavalry, decked with gold buttons and braid, and the girls wore white slippers.  All was topped off with a tall plumed hussar hat and a long white cape.  

    Beckham, who marched in the Red Hussars' first performance September 30, 1930, played the bugle.  Of all her recollections, she said the most exciting happened at Franklin.

    "One time the bleachers fell down.  It had rained a lot over at Franklin.  We all had to jump down to keep from getting crushed," she said.  "Everybody saw or felt it coming, so no one got hurt real bad."

    Christel Chamberlain, president of the Red Hussars Alumni, said the uniforms changed over the years, as did enthusiasm for belonging to the group.

    "The Hussars disbanded in 1993;  I guess girls don't want to do it anymore," said Chamberlain, a 1978 graduate, now 41.  "The ones who graduated, we got together in '96 for a reunion and marched in Mardi Gras, with over 250 ladies who participated.

    "We had so much fun we chartered (alumni association) that year and established bylaw, and now we have monthly meetings.

    Chamberlain said the corps was noted most of all for its fancy entrance.  "They were well-know for double-timing onto the field." she said.  "When you march, you shuffle your feet."

Readers may submit suggestions for Southeast Texas Tales to reporter Andrea Wright at awright@beaumontenterprise.com or call at (409) 833-3311, ext. 427    

TOP          HOME

This page last updated:  Wednesday, October 31, 2001