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hsifeng As you may recall from this post waaaay back in January of 2009, I have an interest in knowing just how this crazy German Landsknecht Thing got started out at events in the United States. The subject of a Family Tree Project came back around recently via some postings in the Old Guard hanging around on FB, and one of the most involved of these 'Old Guard' members was kind enough to have a chat with me about his recollections of the early days of Germans on the West Coast. This is a work in progress - if you have any information to help fill in the blanks (literally!) please let me know! Also, if you'd like to be 'interviewed' for this project, or have interviewees you think should be contacted, I would love to hear from you.
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anjabeth and Scotty Moore, please shoot me a message with anything you think needs to be added in postscript - or if you'd like to participate! ;)
****************
Via Conn MacLir: As with most of us, Conn started out as ‘something other than a German reenactor’. First a Celt, then bodyguard for the nobles, then a southern Queen's Guard, then a Seadog; he had put time in with a number of groups and characters.
Conn MacLir & Tim Finkas portray Sea Dogs at Agoura Faire, Southern California
After being influenced early in the development of the California Landsknecht phenomenon by Carl and Elizabeth Ontis of das Schwarz Faehnlein; Conn MacLir, Tim Finkas, and Erin Harvey first promoted the style as a guild at the Southern California Renaissance Faire at Agoura starting in 1985 under the name St. Barbara's Guild (Landsknecht Trabanten). For a time J.F.Schreoder was a booth owner who also dressed Landsknecht with this initial SoCal group.
The next year this core of individuals moved in their own directions with Conn starting his own group, the die Ritterlich Fechtschule\ Fahnlein and Tim starting St. Martin's (German Reiters). Die Ritterlich was focused on historical swordplay, portraying the "Marx Brudder" of Germany in the early 16th century. Having come from Queen’s Guard Conn crafted the Germans of his group to that end…to protect the Queen. This is a common theme for many German groups at Renaissance Faire to this day, as is the tradition of Germans being employed as part of the Security for events.
Conn MacLir as Hauptman Sigrfied Von Bodensee of Die Ritterlich Fechtschule, Agoura Faire, Southern California
For a period of three or more years, Conn campaigned all over the west coast; going to every faire he could “like Johnny Appleseed”. This constant interaction with new groups and new people helped to foster the growth of the West Coast Landsknecht phenomenon at faire events. This growth continued to spread outward. Don Smith and Blair Reese – both having had their start in Landsknecht reenactment under Conn’s tutelage in die Ritterlich Fechtschule\ Fahnlein - were sent to the Texas Ren Faire where they were contact by management of the Renaissance Entertainment Corporation (REC) which was running the event. They in turn put these promoters in contact with Conn, who was asked to go to the Bristol Faire in 92 or 93 in order to start a German group at that event. (Group name?) Paula and Larry Perterka - also Ritterlich alumni - ventured to Maryland the East coast to begin das TeufelsAlpdrücken Fähnlein.
Conn’s time with Carl and Elizabeth Ontis in the early years gave him access to some of the best equipment and training to be had (even today); Firearms by Dale Shin, Fight manuals by Nicholas Worthington, costuming by Elizabeth Ontis, Adrian Butterfield and Victoria Ridenour. This early immersion in a high-quality environment drove him to seek the very best in his own groups, and to inspire the best from others .
Conn drumming with das Schwarz Faehnlein at Blackpoint Faire, Navato, Northern California
Conn in formation with das Schwarz Faehnlein at Blackpoint Faire, Navato, Northern California
anjabeth and Scotty Moore, please shoot me a message with anything you think needs to be added in postscript - or if you'd like to participate! ;)****************
Via Conn MacLir: As with most of us, Conn started out as ‘something other than a German reenactor’. First a Celt, then bodyguard for the nobles, then a southern Queen's Guard, then a Seadog; he had put time in with a number of groups and characters.
Conn MacLir & Tim Finkas portray Sea Dogs at Agoura Faire, Southern California
After being influenced early in the development of the California Landsknecht phenomenon by Carl and Elizabeth Ontis of das Schwarz Faehnlein; Conn MacLir, Tim Finkas, and Erin Harvey first promoted the style as a guild at the Southern California Renaissance Faire at Agoura starting in 1985 under the name St. Barbara's Guild (Landsknecht Trabanten). For a time J.F.Schreoder was a booth owner who also dressed Landsknecht with this initial SoCal group.
The next year this core of individuals moved in their own directions with Conn starting his own group, the die Ritterlich Fechtschule\ Fahnlein and Tim starting St. Martin's (German Reiters). Die Ritterlich was focused on historical swordplay, portraying the "Marx Brudder" of Germany in the early 16th century. Having come from Queen’s Guard Conn crafted the Germans of his group to that end…to protect the Queen. This is a common theme for many German groups at Renaissance Faire to this day, as is the tradition of Germans being employed as part of the Security for events.
Conn MacLir as Hauptman Sigrfied Von Bodensee of Die Ritterlich Fechtschule, Agoura Faire, Southern California
For a period of three or more years, Conn campaigned all over the west coast; going to every faire he could “like Johnny Appleseed”. This constant interaction with new groups and new people helped to foster the growth of the West Coast Landsknecht phenomenon at faire events. This growth continued to spread outward. Don Smith and Blair Reese – both having had their start in Landsknecht reenactment under Conn’s tutelage in die Ritterlich Fechtschule\ Fahnlein - were sent to the Texas Ren Faire where they were contact by management of the Renaissance Entertainment Corporation (REC) which was running the event. They in turn put these promoters in contact with Conn, who was asked to go to the Bristol Faire in 92 or 93 in order to start a German group at that event. (Group name?) Paula and Larry Perterka - also Ritterlich alumni - ventured to Maryland the East coast to begin das TeufelsAlpdrücken Fähnlein.
Conn’s time with Carl and Elizabeth Ontis in the early years gave him access to some of the best equipment and training to be had (even today); Firearms by Dale Shin, Fight manuals by Nicholas Worthington, costuming by Elizabeth Ontis, Adrian Butterfield and Victoria Ridenour. This early immersion in a high-quality environment drove him to seek the very best in his own groups, and to inspire the best from others .
Conn drumming with das Schwarz Faehnlein at Blackpoint Faire, Navato, Northern California
Conn in formation with das Schwarz Faehnlein at Blackpoint Faire, Navato, Northern California
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missing last names
Date: 2011-08-17 03:15 am (UTC)Thank you for writing this history. I first really noticed the Landsknect style a few years later, and may finally get some garb done to wear at events.
Re: missing last names
Date: 2011-08-17 03:39 am (UTC):)
(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-17 03:46 pm (UTC)I started playing with the guild in 1991 (via Greig and Scott) and became a full-fledged member in 1993. But we were well underway by then.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-17 07:56 pm (UTC)And having just run into Cathie at CoCo this year, I may have to see about tapping Tonda for her contact information (I am sure she has it, right next to the multiple candles to Cathie she has burning on her Altar To The Costuming Godesses). Unless you might be able to hook me up with her current e-mail address?
I am also talking to Tim Finkas from down South (thank you Tim)!
(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-17 08:15 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-17 09:05 pm (UTC)*spins you*
(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-19 02:01 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-19 05:52 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-20 07:32 pm (UTC)Thanks for the story :)
(no subject)
Date: 2011-08-20 08:42 pm (UTC)