This is 16mm film of the Marshall, Oklahoma Band Festival. The title reads "10th Anniversary Marshall Band Festival. April 5th, 1947. Marshall, Oklahoma. The Biggest Little Band Festival in the World." The superintendent of Marshall was CT Shades. Mr. Shades served as director of the Marshall Band during the years 1942-1946 during which time the organization placed first in the Tri-State parade each year. From Wikipedia: "Marshall was known as the school band "capital" of the world in the 1940s. Area schools would come to compete and march down main street. It was known as the "The Biggest Little Band Festival in the World" and was held from 1938 to 1951. It was founded by Tibby Shades (school superintendent) and Ashley Alexander Sr. (band director). It was cancelled in 1952 due to the state band contest being scheduled on the same date and was never revived. It grew to such magnitude that WKY radio out of Oklahoma City broadcast the marching band performances held on main street. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol increased participation on festival day to assist with the traffic situation. Fifty-Seven towns converged on Marshall in 1951 to participate in the festival with sixty-five performing groups. It is believed 5000 participated in the 1951 festival."
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