COLOR WAR AT TARIGO


Each year, after several fake "breaks", Color War would finally begin. The camp was divided in half (not blue and gray which were the camp's colors, but gold against red, etc.)and you would play like your life depended on it. My team lost 6 years in a row. The one year that I won, I was trying to lose because my brother was the captain of the opposing team. Go figure...After a week of sports, the war would end with human anagrams and then the sing. It was like a Broadway production for me. I still can remember all those trees that we cut down for the waterfalls, castles, etc.



Color War Teams and Generals

(we still need the women's generals) *=winners

1947 - Texas University won with Rusty Fireman as general.
1956-Army (Jake?) vs.Navy (Harvey Schneider)
1957-Cowboys vs.Indians
1958-Policeman vs.Fireman(Charlie Rubin was the general for the Fireman)
1959-Spacemen (Mike (Zoink) Altman) vs. Aquamen
1960-Vikings(Perry Kozlow) vs.Romans(Ira Povill)
1960-?-General
1961-Scottish Highlander (Steve Rubin)* vs. English Caviliers (Mike Dean)
1962-Turks vs. Tartars*
1963-Cossacks vs. Samurai (Stan Wilk)
1964-Gold Pharoahs* Vs. Red Buccaneers
1965-Gold Angels vs. Red Devils*
1966- Gold Mexican Bandits (Nardi Levine) vs. Red Texas Rangers (Irwin Halperin)
1967- Gold Keystone Kops* (Ken Epstein)(Susan Wenger) vs. Red Robber Barons (Bobby Landman)
1968- Gold City Slickers (Richard Sarkin) vs. Red Hillbillies (Neil Karman)
1969- Gold Swashbucklers vs. Re Aztec Sun Kings The generals (2 on each team) were Rich Sarkin, Neil Karman, Brenda Liebowitz vs. Jeff "Cocoa" Baker and Larry Kleger and Robin Miller.
1970- Gold Sea Titans--
Generals:Scott Abramson, Jane King, Lt. Generals:Ron Hirsch, Lisa Kramer
Cosmic Reds--*
Generals:Larry Friedman, Liz Elman Lt. Generals:Alan Aronson, Roberta Zitman
1971- Atomic Golds--*
Generals: Steve Gruber,Felice Friedman Lt. Generals:Rich Montanaro, Linda Finkel
Red Flying Tigers--
Generals:Scott Abramson, Marla Jonas, Lt. Generals:Jan Greensberg,Patti Josephs
1972- Gold Roman Gladiators-generals: Phil Schwartz, Debbie Percher, Lts: Bobby Bernstein, Barry Frey, Faith Goldshore.
Red Tar Vikings: generals: Richie Montanero, Jackie Schenkman; Lts: Carl Kaplan, Rich Goldsmith, Margie Welch.Rich Montenaro was one of the generals
1973- Crusadin' Gold Koppers--
(Steve Walerstein) vs. Red Southside Racketeers (Carl Kaplan)
1974- Golden Outlaws--
Generals:Stu Allen, Jane Halper, Richie Stern, Lori Ivers
1975-
1976-: Ronnie Pomerantz, Steve Eisenstadt, Lloyd Ambinder


Color War Songs


From Mike Dean

ENGLISH CAVALIERS

To the tune of Tennessee Ernie Ford's "16 Tons"
He weighs 16 tons, and what have you got?
A Scottish General who is going to pot,
He says he's a golfer of great renown,
But when he tees up the ball, he's too fat to get down.

Rubin's got a team that's going pell-mell,
All of his troops are shot to - well...
He thinks he's gonna win, but he's all wrong,
'Cause the Cavaliers are much too strong.
I don't know the name of the tune of this next song.It's from the parody in the song fest in one of the color wars. "Uncle Bubby,we know you know you're really a hunk, Oh yeah, Old apachee bunk loves Uncle Bubby, The cuddlesome,loveable lug. Since you've been at Tarigo, You've seen many people kind of come and go. We know why,why you are sore, Come back next year and be a soph-o-more. Uncle Bubby,you're looks and person-al-ity should be, Quite enough we'll agree, But gee, What we like is your mo-des-ty, You cuddlesome, love-a-ble lug.

I just rememberd a couple of parody songs from back when. 1957 color war general of the Cowboys was Don Corson and his lieutenant , Don Clarick(?) To the tune of an irish jig: "Corson is dying and Clarick doesn't know it and Clarick is dying and Corson doesn't know it, Both of them dead in the very same bed, And neither one knows that the other one's dead." This one is to the tune of "La Plume de ma Tante": "The hair on Weinstein's head,is on the bristles of his hair brush. The bristles of his hair brush,is in his cubby by his bed. Which means that Al you are bald , and getting balder every moment, Two minutes from now Al, You'll look like good old Uncle Mike( good old Uncle Mike)."
It's amazing how many memories come rushing back when I contemplate Ta-Ri-Go color war songs. My memory isn't great with names, but songs I remember forever. I notice some problems with the Red Racketeer's song. Try this version, it scans better, and it fits my memory.
On Chicago's south side there is no place to hide from the Red Racketeers and their force. We own half of the town, there are no cops around. A showdowns their only cause.
(chorus) Racketeers have the power and this is the hour the Coppers will bite the dust With our guns sounding loudly, our hearts beating proudly here's one more the Coppers can't bust. There's a hush on the city both gangs are in place and the town folk are running to hide. They have seen this before and they are almost sure that Racketeer power will rise.
(chorus) -- Paul Fischer
(from Gary Povill)
FIREMEN...to the tune of Anchors Away
(from Gary Povill)
Fight Firemen down the field To vic-to-ry We'll push those flat feet back And in this col-or war you'll see those Red engines crashing through Till Blue's no more Then shout tri-um-phant-ly We'll smoke 'em out And Red roll up the score! Fight!
TURKS
(from Rick Landman)
"We're the Turks from Constantinople and we've come to tell you things that we hope will make you realize that we have to win because our spirit will not give in... We are civilized, not like your Mongolian Tribe... We will stop you through and through..." We'll make Tarter Sauce out of you!
TARTARS
(from Gary Kreisberg)
"Tartars go forth with pride forever unified highly as one rise to the sun out of the darkness we come to thee tartar men we pledge ourselves to you rising to the highest ideals to conquer the turkish blue one team united are we pledging ourselves to vic-tor-y
"
ENGLISH LORDS
(from Michael Yoss)
"Down from the hills of glory ????? onto the English forry???? Scotsmen now defeat the English Lords. deh deh dehdehdeh deh our land will now be free."
That's all I can remember from the song.
RED RACKETEERS (from Glenn Pomerantz)
On Chicago's south side there is no place to hide from the Red Racketeers and their force. We own half of the town, there are no cops around A showdowns their only cause. Racketeers have the power and this is the hour the Coppers will bite the dust With our guns sounding loudly, our hearts beating proudly there's nowhere the Coppers can hide.
Here are some Color War Song tidbits (remembered by Harry Raker:

To Taps: dave stone, where will you be camping tonight, after taps, in the woods, your future doesn't look bright, dave stone, lonely man, dave stone.

To a military march, maybe the marines: Tarreeee-go, we are the mighty spacemen flying high, into the sky. With our heads, held high, we’ll fight, to win, nothing can stop the mighty space-men.

To a song that isn’t even close to being PC: Mama done told me. When I was in knee pants. Mama done told me, hon, Tarigo is the best place, for my little pie face, and when the sweet talk, was done, I packed my undies in a duffle bag and waved good bye. Kissed Uncle Moisha, Tanta Saidi too, Ma began to cry, boo hoo hoo. Darling take your vitamins, like you’ve been told. Write me a letter every single day…


Comments by Harry Raker:
After making those fancy color war scoreboards for all those years, the least the new condo owners could have done was to mount them in their living rooms along with all of our pictures. They tore down the Rec Hall? Are they crazy? I guess there’s no Historical Landmark Society in Fleischmanns.


From Steve Budabin:
Hiking on the highway. Hail TA-RI-GO Hail! You can't get the best of us, even if you try for 20 million years, So, give a rousing cheer BOYS! As we go marching on. Three cheers for TA-RI-GO, the pride of all! And then there was this one... We are the boys of TA-RI-GO you hear so much about. The people stop and stare at us whenever we g out. We're noted for our victory in everything we do, most everybody likes us, we hope you like us too. We'll sing you in, we'll sing you out. For you we'll raise a mighty shout. As we go marching, and the band begins to P-L-A-Y. You can hear us shouting, The boys of TA-RI-GO are on their way. Alternate version... We are the boys... Then, We'll sing you in and sing you out. We'll stuff your mouth with sauerkraut. As we go marching and the band begins to P-L-A-Y. You can hear us shouting, TOILET PAPER. TOILET PAPER. 5 cents a roll! There was also another one that went something like this: The blue and the Grey march onto the fray. Forging ahead TA-RI-GO is the way. Da-da-da-something. Shake down the thunder from the sky. Da-da-da. We're marching to victory. Fight! Fight!
By Brenda Liebowitz

Skies over Scotland now Proclaim our unity /as clans from the Highlands will unite for war. Down from the hills of --ory On to the English --ory Bagpipes tell the story of victory. Fight on for Liberty Our land will ere be free Scotsmen now defeat the English Lords. Now we return to Scotland with our victory We have shown the English WE'LL 'ERE BE FREE. Also, I was the girls general in 1969, Neil Karmen and Jeff Cocoa Baker were co-generals, and Lisa Kramer was lieutenant on the Aztec Sun Kings. In 1968, I was lieutenant along with, I think, LIz Elman, our team was the City Slickers (?) Here's a part of the Aztec march,sung to the tune of Who will Buy? from Oliver! Red team now will sing you a story/Listen closely and you will hear/Tales of strength and Mexican glory/ The Aztec victory is near Swashbucklers are retreating/Their hearts are filled with fear/ The Sun Kings are defeating With rafters ringing clear.* Sparkling temples shine in the sunlight/Lift your eyes and you will see Aztec men bring war to and ending The Aztec victory is here! *["rafters ringing clear" or some similar reference to rafters was apparently an essential part of every color war march] 
Submitted by Steven Budadin



We are the Boys of Ta-Ri-Go

We are the boys of Tarigo you hear so much about
The people stop and stare at us, 
Whenever we go out
We are noted for our victories
In everything we do
Most everybody likes us
We hope you like us too
As we go marching
AND THE BAND BEGINS TO PLAY
You can hear us shouting
The boys of Tarigo are on their way
It sounds to me, it sounds to me
It sounds to me like VICTORY.




Alma Mater (Tune of_Oni)

1. Summers at Camp Tarigo
A place where clouds drift and friendships remain.
We know where are our hearts go 
They wander to you
And keep us strong

2. The memories linger of our pleasure
And thoughts we'll treasure forever more
Summers at Camp Tarigo
It's here where we belong

3. After it all has ended
The magic spell is now broken
and gone
We'll still be true and loyal 
We'll dream about you all winter long
(Repeat second paragraph)




TaRiGo Welcome Song
We Welcome you to TaRiGo
We're mighty glad you're here
We'll set the air reverberating
with a mighty cheer
We'll sing you in, we'll sing you out 
For you we'll raise a mighty shout
Hail Hail the gang's all here
And you're welcome to TaRiGo




Hiking on the Highway

Hiking on the highway
Hail TaRiGo Hail
You can't get the best of us
even if you try for twenty million years
So give three rousing cheers boys
As we march down the field
Three cheers for TaRiGo
The pride of all



TaRiGo

Some talk of Camp Oquago
and some of Cherokee
of Tunis and Wamego
and such great names as these
But of all the many camps we know 
There's none that can compare
With Tar-ar-ar-ar-I-go
With Tar-ar-ar-ar-i-go
Hail TaRiGo, the camp of happy days.




Alma Mater (to the tune of "Beautiful Dreamer")

Night is falling, shadows descend, 
Beautiful thoughts in our hearts do blend.
Sounds of the rude world, heard through the day
Lulled by the moonlight have all passed away.
Dear Camp TaRiGo to thee we sing,
List while we woo thee with soft melody.
Here Are the joys of life's busy throng,
Days filled with friendship so strong and so true,
Dear Camp TaRiGo, Dear gray and blue




Blue and The Grey
(Tune of Notre Dame Marching Song)

The blue and the grey lead on to the fray
Forging ahead we lead all the way 
While our sons go marching by
Shake down the thunder from the sky
Whether the odds be great or be small
TaRiGo's men will win over all
Heads held high for all to see
We're marching to victory.



VICTORY SONG
Tarigo's out to win Rah, Rah, Rah
Our boys won't give in
Out to do or die; with no alibi 
Always fighting for the blue and grey
Backs go crashing, through, Rah, Rah,Rah
Break that line in two
Tarigo that spells VICTORY
We will win the fray
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