Now that Mummers fans have been rewarded with the parade’s return to South Broad Street, they can return to pondering one of the city’s long-held mysteries: What is it, exactly, that the strutters do between now and next January?
Are all of the comics, fancies and string bands herded into the Mummers Museum and locked away for safekeeping?
Do the groups retire to their clubhouses and hibernate for a year?
The answer is as varied and colorful as all of the groups that make up the beloved New Year’s Day institution.
"Now is the time to kick back, relax and enjoy what was a great overall experience," says Matt Glovacz of Golden Sunrise, who won first place in the Fancy Division.
Marching down Broad Street once again was "tremendous," Glovacz says, adding that Sunrise members are now at work carefully disassembling props that are to be stored away until next year.
"We just try to get everything in order because before you know it, it’s time to start working again," the Mummer says with a laugh.
Other members make sure all their human resources are in one piece.
"The first thing I do every year after the parade is check in on everyone and make sure that they’re OK," explains Al Heller, a senior member of the Good Timers Comics Club.
Each year, the parade tends to yield a small number of injured participants, which is why Heller’s concern extends to his fellow Mummers, even those in other clubs.
"I’ve been involved with the parade since the ’40s," Heller says, "so I’ve seen all the various things that can happen to people during the course [of the parade route]. It’s a wonderful experience, and you just hope that everyone gets through it in good health."
Even with the parade in their rearview mirror, many Mummers groups can look forward to a busy offseason schedule of special gigs and performances.
"The Mummers are a unique part of this city’s culture," says Mummers Museum spokesperson Debbie Glovacz, "and as a result, are in demand for appearances throughout the year."
With close to 60 gigs already scheduled for the rest of the year, the Fralinger String Band — first-place winner in the String Band Division for the second year in a row — is a prime example of how popular Mummers performances remain even after the hype of the parade dies down.
"Sixty percent of our gigs are for return clients — say, local hotels, casinos or certain events at the Convention Center — but the rest come from new clients all over the country, all over the world," explains Steve Coper, chairman, business manager and saxophone player for Fralinger.
Coper says band members look forward to playing at certain events, like the Fourth of July, every year, but never know where their next request might lead them, especially since the proliferation of the Internet.
"Last June, we wound up going to Cooperstown, N.Y., to march in a parade before the induction ceremony at the Baseball Hall of Fame," Coper says. "It was a really cool experience."
With so much energy devoted to recovering from the recent parade, breaking down props and prepping for upcoming performances, one may begin to wonder when the Mummers find the time to plan for next year’s parade.
The answer is, sooner than you think.
"Oh, yeah, we already know what we’re going to do for next year," says Matt Glovacz of Golden Sunrise.
Any possibility, then, of divulging a glimpse of what paradegoers can expect?
"Nope, not a chance," Glovacz shoots back.
Heller says the Good Timers start kicking ideas around by February, with actual work beginning in March or April.
"We try to get some fresh ideas into the mix, usually with something on a futuristic slant," Heller says, because "so much of what you see [in other groups] each year is just recycled from parades past."
Concepts and ideas must be registered and approved by the city before any of the groups can start working on their new theme, so some try to get their submissions in as soon as the city begins accepting them on Feb. 1.
"There is always the allure of being the first ones to get [your idea] in, so generally speaking, you like to have a working idea of what you’ll be doing," Coper says, although Fralinger is still undecided for the moment.
"We put a lot of extensive research into our themes each year. We pore through different types of music, movies and costumes until April or May," he says. "We usually bring in a costume designer and choreographer by May or June and start putting it all together."
Heller says enthusiasm for the next parade usually runs very high all year.
"I like to tell all of the young guys who can’t wait until the next parade, ‘Please, let’s just enjoy this year while it lasts!’"
Because for now, mum’s the word.
