6th Wing Players Fall 1984

baldachino

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Can anyone recount the story of the "Sixth Wing Players" who last performed their satirical skits in 1984 on the first evening back from summer leave? Anyone from the Classes of 1985, 1986, 1987 who was in Companies 31 through 36 would surely remember this tradition and final event that resulted in the CC of 32nd Company being permanently relieved of command, along with several 2/C being staunchly disciplined, which was a rather serious outcome, needless to say. I was a Plebe at the time, Class of 1988, but it was all new to us, and quickly forgotten.
 
It's past the edit time period, so here is an additional post to correct the original.
"Sixth Wing Players" should be listed as "Eighth Wing Players".
Still hoping that someone will post a detailed description of the history.
 
As a proud former resident of 8th wing (last to class, first to liberty!) I'm afraid can't offer you any actual history beyond what you posted, only that their legacy lives on and has been told to the future generations of 8th wingers.

According to lore they used the loading dock in the horseshoe, if that even existed back then.
 
Lived on the other side of the world. Have a vague recollection of the term (8th Wing Players) but can't recall ANY specifics regarding what they were about, let alone what happened in the incident you mentioned.
 
During my stay at the academy ('75-'79) there existed the "8th Wing Players". I think it started my 2/C year. Their performances took place in the 8th Wing parking lot and the midshipmen would use the surrounding windows to watch. They performed once a week, immediately after study hour. They were usually irreverent skits. The administration seemed to tolerate it and never banned it. It was very good for morale.

I don't know if that tradition continued after I graduated. Maybe it moved to the 6th wing. But where would they perform? The 8th wing parking lot was very conducive to viewing ... I don't see how that works with the 6th wing.
 
Ah, hm, yeah

Oh, 8th Wing Players was a highlight during my time at the Academy. If I'm correct, it was just at the end of mandatory study on Thursday evenings in the fall and mids flocked to viewing points either from rooms in 6th and 8th wing or from standing anywhere between Dahlgren and the U shaped parking of the 8th wing.
Each week began with lights being shut off and then the Pink Panther theme began. A spotlight picked out the "Panther" who was typically leaning against something with one foot up behind him/her resting and a hat tilted down over the face...then the irreverant began. Usually very funny, inside the Brigade to understand, skits.
Years later while stationed at the Pentagon, one of my coworkers said he was in 6th Batt/8th Wing. I asked about the players and he told me of its demise...and I think he sugar coated it a bit in that he was directly involved. Though I remember the story, lets cut it to saying that a skit/comment was a bit over the top directed at a specific member of the Brigade, rather than the usual generic. It concerned a bit of a sensitive issue and that was the end of that...too bad because the skits I remember were awesome! Think it concluded in the 85/86 timeframe based on each of our classes.
 
It may have ended back when you went but it was active again when I went with a similar demise. Plebe in ‘99 and was forced to be part of these skits. C/O Captain someone or other was asked to early retire due to the inappropriate nature of the skits.
 
Ah, hm, yeah

Oh, 8th Wing Players was a highlight during my time at the Academy. If I'm correct, it was just at the end of mandatory study on Thursday evenings in the fall and mids flocked to viewing points either from rooms in 6th and 8th wing or from standing anywhere between Dahlgren and the U shaped parking of the 8th wing.
Each week began with lights being shut off and then the Pink Panther theme began. A spotlight picked out the "Panther" who was typically leaning against something with one foot up behind him/her resting and a hat tilted down over the face...then the irreverant began. Usually very funny, inside the Brigade to understand, skits.
Years later while stationed at the Pentagon, one of my coworkers said he was in 6th Batt/8th Wing. I asked about the players and he told me of its demise...and I think he sugar coated it a bit in that he was directly involved. Though I remember the story, lets cut it to saying that a skit/comment was a bit over the top directed at a specific member of the Brigade, rather than the usual generic. It concerned a bit of a sensitive issue and that was the end of that...too bad because the skits I remember were awesome! Think it concluded in the 85/86 timeframe based on each of our classes.

I remember it well! Ah yes - the 8th Wing Players. I really looked forward to it each week. There wasn't much music, as I recall. It was mostly skits that usually made fun of the administration. It was comedy! Saturday Night Live was in its heyday and it had a little of that vibe. I can't remember when it started, I'm pretty sure it was sometime after my Plebe year (1975).

At the time, I recall it being very entertaining. But, maybe the bar was really low for what qualified as entertainment for me at the time.

Another thing I recall that I thought was pretty funny - the movie Network came out in 1976. There was a part of the movie where people were encouraged to open their windows and scream, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!" During finals week, after study hour, mids would stick their heads out the windows and scream this. It would echo throughout the yard. You can imagine what it must have sounded like. Hilarious!
 
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I remember it well! Ah yes - the 8th Wing Players. I really looked forward to it each week. There wasn't much music, as I recall. It was mostly skits that usually made fun of the administration. It was comedy! Saturday Night Live was in its heyday and it had a little of that vibe. I can't remember when it started, I'm pretty sure it was sometime after my Plebe year (1975).

At the time, I recall it being very entertaining. But, maybe the bar was really low for what qualified as entertainment for me at the time.

Another thing I recall that I thought was pretty funny - the movie Network came out in 1976. There was a part of the movie where people were encouraged to open their windows and scream, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!" During finals week, after study hour, mids would stick their heads out the windows and scream this. It would echo throughout the yard. You can imagine what it must have sounded like. Hilarious!
There is a lot to take in here that is not seen at USNA any longer. The Beavis and Butthead skit was poking fun at what was called a
"Come Around" which was a big part of plebe year back in the day. Plebes could and generally did (at least in my company) have come arounds
before morning quarters - about 20 mins or so, before noon meal formation - about 10 mins and Evening Meal formation - 30 mins. This was usually with first or second class mids and could be very difficult for the plebe. There was no organized company-wide Pro-Know as this was where you were tested on those things as well as your other rates.
The late rising mid was dressing in Whiteworks which was a real uniform for all four years on Phys Ed days as well as of you were sick, lame or otherwise burdened. We did not have the tracksuits that are issued now.
 
Wow...Zombie thread, not sure how I missed it way back when...

I remember 8th Wing players well...those were different times, before everyone got offended by everything. I was not involved (I was on the other side of the world (5-0), but attended every event. It was pretty clear the objective was to push the boundaries between what was acceptable and what was not, poking fun at USNA and the Administration. Sure, sometimes they crossed the line, but the line was ill defined-- it often depended upon who and what the target was . (Certain people had thicker skins than others --not going to comment on Warfare community trends :) ).

The Midshipman magazine , The Log, was very similar -- particularly the Salty Sam column). The Log has a pretty rocky history, but I think its back in a kinder and gentler way. I think you can find The Log archives on line now, but you are unlikely to have any archives of 8th Wing Players from the 70-80's; we didn't have ready access to video recorders.

For a follow on story -- Google "Owen Honors" and "Focs'le Follies"- a Carrier skipper was relieved of Command for his participation in a production very similar to 8th Wing Players about 10+ years ago (He wasn't the Skipper then, but got relieved because videos surfaced several years after the fact). A really bad example of Big Navy caving to public pressure.
 
Wow...Zombie thread, not sure how I missed it way back when...

I remember 8th Wing players well...those were different times, before everyone got offended by everything. I was not involved (I was on the other side of the world (5-0), but attended every event. It was pretty clear the objective was to push the boundaries between what was acceptable and what was not, poking fun at USNA and the Administration. Sure, sometimes they crossed the line, but the line was ill defined-- it often depended upon who and what the target was . (Certain people had thicker skins than others --not going to comment on Warfare community trends :) ).

The Midshipman magazine , The Log, was very similar -- particularly the Salty Sam column). The Log has a pretty rocky history, but I think its back in a kinder and gentler way. I think you can find The Log archives on line now, but you are unlikely to have any archives of 8th Wing Players from the 70-80's; we didn't have ready access to video recorders.

For a follow on story -- Google "Owen Honors" and "Focs'le Follies"- a Carrier skipper was relieved of Command for his participation in a production very similar to 8th Wing Players about 10+ years ago (He wasn't the Skipper then, but got relieved because videos surfaced several years after the fact). A really bad example of Big Navy caving to public pressure.
I'm going to have to reach out to the 32nd Co. network to get the gouge on what happened in the fall of 1984.

My favorite players memory was from the fall of 1982. The Panther always had to make a grand entrance to his theme music at the start of the show. At that time, the Brigade Food Services officer was LCDR Neeb. A really interesting guy. He and his father (a submariner) had made a fortune in California real estate in the 60s. The Navy was his hobby and he was only hanging around so he could make full Commander and run the Army/Navy Club in London as his last posting before retirement. LCDR Neeb and his wife (a very elegant lady and a Cordon Bleu chef) drove his & hers Silver Cloud Rolls Royces. No joke. He drove his onto the Yard every day and parked it by King Hall. Apparently that drove the Dant (Bud Edney) crazy. So for the grand entrance that year, we convinced LCDR Neeb to drive the Roller up to the 8th wing loading dock to deliver Mr. Pink. That was a sight.
1679621264473.jpeg
 
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