Today in 1974 - Key To the Sea Championship

August 3, 1974 - On this day, ten corps competed for the Key To the Sea Championship in Toledo, Ohio. Each link is either to the corps' website or their DCX page.

Here are the results:

1. Anaheim Kingsmen - 85.55
2. Madison Scouts - 84.70
3. Blue Devils - 81.05
4. De La Salle Oaklands - 79.55
5. Phantom Regiment - 76.50
6. The Cavaliers - 75.35
7. Black Knights - 74.35
8. Royal Crusaders - 72.50
9. Beverly Cardinals - 69.80
10. Regiment Militaire - 68.30

Notables

• Of the ten corps competing, only four are still in existence: Madison Scouts, Blue Devils, Phantom Regiment, and The Cavaliers.
• Of the four remaining corps, they are all still Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championship Finalists. The Cavaliers last missed making Finals in 1978. The Madison Scouts missed Finals several times, including 2007, 2009, and 2016.
• Every corps competing in this contest made the DCI Top 25 that season.
• The top six competitors made DCI Finals that year.
• The Madison Scouts went on to win DCI Prelims, but finished 2nd in Finals.
• This year would mark the Blue Devils' and Phantom Regiment's first appearance at DCI Finals.
• The Anaheim Kingsmen placed 2nd in Prelims and 3rd in Finals that year. They last competed in 1986.
• This De La Salle Oaklands placed 6th in Prelims and 7th in Finals. They were the first Canadian corps to make DCI Finals. 
• After the 1974 season, they merged with the Etobicoke Crusaders to become the Oakland Crusaders. The Oakland Crusaders made DCI Finals in 1975 (6th) and 1976 (8th). They missed making Finals in 1977 (15th) but had the top percussion score at DCI Prelims.
• The De La Salle Oaklands were the oldest corps there, forming in 1910. They (Oakland Crusaders) last competed in 1995.
• The Black Knights last competed in 1989. Their only DCI Finals appearance was in 1973 (10th).
• The Royal Crusaders last competed in 1980. They're listed in 1998, but there are no scores. Their only DCI Finals appearance was in 1975 (9th).
• The Beverly Cardinals competed for only two season in the DCI era, 1974 and 1975. They placed 23 and 29th respectively at the DCI World Championships.
• Regiment Militaire was the first merger of the Bleu Raeders and Stardusters. They went on to tie the Royal Crusaders for 17th place at DCI Prelims. After the season, the merger failed and the Bleu Raeders and Stardusters went on to compete as individual corps until 1981, when they merged for the second and last time, to form the Louisiana Southernaires. The Louisiana Southernaires went on to win the 1981 DCI Class A Championship, but would be inactive by 1983.

To see the results of this and more about each corps from the 1974 season, go to the Drum Corps Xperience website. To learn more about the drum and bugle corps activity, go to Drum Corps International for junior corps and Drum Corps Associates for all-age corps.