Class of '78 2018 P-rade

"Top 40th"

The P-rade of 2018, held on June 2, was exceptional in two respects. First, thanks to the initiative of the leaders of the Class of '93, the order of march was modified such that the Old Guard marched first (the tradition of the 25th Reunion Class marching first began in XXXX). Second, about XX minutes into the march, after nearby lightning strikes, the P-rade was stopped, and Marshals did their best to shepherd 23,000 marchers and guests to safety indoors. At the time the P-rade was stopped, the Old Guard had passed the reviewing stand, but the 25th Reunion class had only begun to enter Poe Field. By the time the all-clear was sounded at 3:56 pm, a restart was impossible, and the P-rade was cancelled, an outcome not seen in 125 years (verify).

This is the one of the stories of that day, that of the Class of '78: What was planned, and what actually happened.

The class decided on a musical theme for their 40th, "78's top 40th."

1978 40th

In keeping with the "top forty" theme, the 40th Reunion button is an unusual design: a standard audio CD, imprinted with class graphics, with a pin fastened to the back.

The traditional start to the main event

'78 made extensive preparations for their 40th Reunion P-rade march. Leading the class into the P-rade would be the traditional class banner.

Bushwackers

The Buckwackers Drum and Bugle Corps would file in after the banner and lead the class down Elm Drive

Theme banner and escorts

The class' 40th Reunion theme would be introduced by a second banner, escorted by a streak of tigers.

The musical tribute

A third banner and tiger deejays introduce the top musical hits from '78's time at Princeton.

The countdown begins...

Classmates would carry signs highlighting their most popular songs, with appropriate edits to the lyrics.

..and continues...

...and ends with the class' most popular song

Frisbees

During the march, 1000 record-frisbees would be tossed to spectators...

Popcorn

...along with 3000 bags of personalized popcorn.

Support

'78 assembled an ensemble of orange megaphones for cheers and locomotives, as well as 100 tiger backbacks.

Dance Number

The Stayin' Alive Hustle dance number, as adapted for performance in front of the reviewing stand in Poe Field.

Practice

Class members working hard at learning disco dance moves.

Final preparations

The class and equipment are assembled on Cannon Green and prepared to march.

Stayin' Alive in the Chapel

After seeking shelter from the storm in the Chapel, former University Trustee Nancy Newman '78 performs the Class of 1978’s “Stayin’ Alive, 78” dance.

The Great Class of 1978 largely assembled in the University Chapel. Nancy Newman '78 was one of a handful of class members given the awesome responsibility of playing the Bee Gee's "Stayin' Alive" (our theme being Princeton's Top 40th) via a mini boom box while we all performed a carefully choreographed and laboriously practiced "Stayin' Alive, '78" dance before the reviewing stand. As you'll see from the attached email, she chose to substitute the Chapel's center aisle for the reviewing stand, put the song on full blast, and danced herself down to the alter to tremendous applause.

Liz Maass '78, 40th Reunion Chair

More hustle

Credit: The Class of 1978. Princetoniana Museum use only.

The class celebrates its 40th at dinner at the boathouse. They set a 40th Reunion record for attendance: 419 registered classmates, 690 total registered.