“I visited the county home, and felt so badly for the people there. I talked to a friend about taking other seniors along with me to provide some entertainment, and then let the people at the Harrison Twp. Senior Citizens’ Center know. Fourteen people showed up — one with a washtub, some with kazoos, one even with spoons.
“The idea of the band really caught on, and it kept growing. A lot of local businesses helped out, including Hauer’s Music Store, which gave us some instruments.”
More kazoos, a horn and tambourines were added.
The band began to perform at other senior centers, nursing homes, and even fairs.
Costumes were added to the show, and are now made by Thelma Searls, “but we all help out,” said Kuntz.
“Over the years, we’ve had 95 different members,” said Searls.
The approximately one-hour show starts out with a welcome, “and then we recognize birthdays,” says Kuntz. “We do a variety of songs and skits and always end with the folding of the flag.”
At 90, Kuntz is the oldest and only original member in the band.
“Two others are alive, but they no longer come,” she said. “I was director for a long time, but I just sing now. It’s a lot of fun.”
Jerry Perrine took over as director, but due to a health problem, Pat White is currently filling in for her.
The newest — and one of the youngest — band members is Kitty Schneider. “I saw them perform at the West Milton senior center last month and was really impressed,” said the 65-year-old.
The only requirement for band membership is that they must belong to the Harrison Twp. Senior Citizen Center, so Schneider joined, and attended her first rehearsal the following week.
Now, in addition to her strong voice, she’ll have to find a unique instrument or skit. Although many of the members just use hand clappers or kazoos, some are more exotic.
Rosella Fortener, 77, has a unique instrument called a stump fiddle — with pie plates and a stick to hit them, bells, kazoo, tambourine, and flowers for decoration.
For his act, Dale Shultz sometimes dresses as a woman.
The band practices twice a month — at the senior center on North Dixie or at members’ homes — and usually performs once or twice a month.
On Aug. 12, they’ll be performing at their own birthday party at O’Charlie’s.
Other current members are Doris Vandever, Theda Rice, Betty Moubray, Floyd and Hazel Weisenberger, Mary Shockley, Janice Hayden, Jena Janow, Joann Gaskill, Vera Miller, Joan Klopfenstein, Ralph Nelson, Nadeen Buck, Jim Gudorf, Andy Miller, and Homer Price.
Contact this reporter at (937) 276-4441 or vburroughs@woh.rr.com.
About the Author