Ohio State Marching Band COVID-19 Tribute & Put-in-Bay

Join us to “Shelter in Place” with some of our band members and enjoy this cute video…

We are proud to share this lovely video of the Ohio State Marching Band making their way to Put-in-Bay…

And if you REALLY want to get your TBDBITL fix, here is a great 20-minute video of the band. They marched through the streets and then played a concert at the Perry’s Monument. Visitors lined the streets and packed the Put-in-Bay lodging and restaurants for a chance to see this event…

Annual Put in Bay events include the Whiskey Light at the Round House Bar, Oktoberfest and Pyrate Fest in Derivera Park, Boaters New Years downtown, Mardi Gras, Put-in-Bay Days in Key West, and much much more. Bachelorette Weekends and Bachelorette Party day trips occur all season. Some people come just for one or two events such as the Put-in-Bay Spring Fling or Fall Ball parties.

Some events occur when the season has not yet begun such as St. Patrick’s Day. April Weekends always get the energy going. Many folks stay at the Island Club Home Rentals and go down to Mr. Ed’s Pajama Party and win some cash and prizes! April can be fun! Watch Perry’s Victory open, or even host the Boy Scout Jamboree each summer.

You can always check out our massive Put-in-Bay Calendar of Events to find an upcoming event for you and your family. Our Events Calendar is constantly changing, so check it out often!

Script Ohio was first performed by the band on Oct. 10, 1936, and has become the quintessential formation of The Ohio State University Marching Band. Many people point out that a similar formation of “Ohio” was performed by the University of Michigan Marching Band in 1932, it was not performed the same way as the classic, constantly flowing script. The script has become the literal signature of The Ohio State University Marching Band.

Band Director Eugene J. Weigel based the looped “Ohio” script design on the marquee sign of the Loew’s Ohio Theatre in downtown Columbus back in the day. He created the most identifiable trademark associated with Ohio State football and the Marching Band and it loves on to this day.

The script is an integrated series of evolutions and formations. The band first forms a triple-Block O formation, then slowly unwinds to form the famous letters while playing Robert Planquette’s “Le Régiment de Sambre et Meuse.” The drum major leads the outside O into a peel-off movement around the curves of the script, with every musician in continual motion. Slowly the three blocks unfold into a long singular line which loops around, creating the OSUMB’s trademark.

Each time the band performs Script Ohio, a different fourth- or fifth-year sousaphone player is chosen to stand as the dot in the “i” of “Ohio.” Because the Script Ohio formation was one of many new formations included by director Weigel, no extra emphasis was placed on the dotting. Originally, an E-flat cornet player, John Brungart, was the first “i”-dotter, but in the fall of 1937, Weigel turned to Glen Johnson, a sousaphone player, and had him take his place in the dot.

A year later, when the drum major arrived at the top of the “i” three or four measures too early, Johnson turned and bowed to the crowd to use up the rest of the music. The crowd roared, and the bow has been part of the show since then. A fixture for all Buckeyes across the United States.

The Band Today

The Ohio State University Marching and Athletic Bands places the highest priority on the safety of its community, so they have postponed all their practice and events for the rest of the semester. However, that doesn’t stop the band’s creativity. The Ohio State University Marching Band, aka the Best Damn Band In The Land (TBDBITL), is ready to get out of quarantine and visitputinbay, just like you!

And many of you will recall when the band visited our little village of Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island a couple summers ago. It was one of the biggest Put-in-Bay events of the summer and for all the Lake Erie Islands! Enjoy with us a trip back down memory lane and watch the band come to Put-in-Bay. They marched on the mainland onto the ferry, rode across Lake Erie on the Miller Ferry, reformed as the ferry neared our island, and then marched in formation off the boat and throughout our lovely island paradise.

People drove their golf carts down from their Put in Bay hotels, Put-in-Bay condos, home rentals, and vacation rental homes to catch a peek. Some came from as far away as Cleveland just for a day’s getaway. This is the OSU Marching Band Parade and Concert for the Battle of Lake Erie Bicentennial in Put-In-Bay, Ohio.

The OSU Band visit was just one of many exciting events that have occurred in Put-in-Bay. We have had Kid Rock play a concert here at the Put-in-Bay airport. Toby Keith raised a red solo cup here for Bash at the Bay. Our bicentennial was celebrated with tall ships and reenactments. Labor Day sees musical entertainers for days and days. The Put-in-Bay Music Festival has new performers year after year.