According to the World Baton Twirling Federation, baton twirling is a sport involving the manipulation of a metal rod with the hands and body to a co-coordinated routine. Many moons ago, soldiers would twirl rifles as they marched in parades. As the activity progressed, a rifle twirler moved to the front to get the party started. To keep from accidentally shooting onlookers, rifles made way for batons, rods made from hollow light metal with light rubber ends, balanced to give accuracy to the twirler.
Once the batons were lightened and balanced, the weaker sex could finally lift them into the air with her small muscles. Short skirts and high-stepping routines assured that males would watch as they pranced. These guys don’t seem to mind the view.
By 1940, men were resigned to the back row. But why are their hats so tall? Did they store their lunches in them? A Frenchman could hide both a baguette and a bottle of merlot in there. I find them oddly reminiscent of the minions of the Wicked Witch of the West.
I Don't Get It 
Can you imagine cocktail hour at the annual convention of the World Baton Twirling Federation? “Here, have a nice glass of….watch out….duck….call Housekeeping.”
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Yes, a few cocktails and they’d all want to compare and contrast their different skill levels. It could turn into dueling within the hour.
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nicely researched, Kerbey. Had no idea batons replaced guns. Good point about the hats. Tall and furry–who came up with that one? Looks like fun to me, but thinking my twirling skills are underdeveloped and it’s probably too late. Were you ever a baton (or flag) twirler?
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No, I was never anything. 😦
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Doubting that. You were for sure.Something!
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Perfect attendance? You don’t get a shirt for that. I tied for the Spanish spelling bee in 5th grade. TIED.
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As if being “Kerbey” with the rockin’ ’80s hair and fashions wasn’t enough. Who needs award when you got it goin’ on 😉
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I understand the short skirts and high stepping, but I found the twirling, the tossing, and the catching (or not) too much of a distraction.
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That makes sense.
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Always wanted to be a majorette! I am only 63. Where do I sign up?
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If you can kick and twirl, you’re in! Do you have Marlene Dietrich gams?
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Oh! I’d need to be able to kick and twirl? Rats!, Thanks for following my blog.
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I thought baton twirling was kind of cool. I don’t get the tall fuzzy hats either. Could it possibly have something to do with an Army’s uniform. Didn’t British Cavalry wear tall beaver hats in the 18th C? But they didn’t prance, their horsies did. Oh well.
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I don’t know. It seems like if you’re marching, you’d want a hat with a low center of gravity, so it wouldn’t fly off.
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You’re right. A ball cap would be perfect. With the bill turned backwards it would increase your field of vision and your gangsta cred.
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And if you feel like rioting or looting post-game, you can use the baton to break storefront windows. Even mo gangsta.
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brilliant
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I always pictured that it took them forever to find guys with heads shaped like that to join the brigade Kerbey.
Now, this twirling endeavor really is a athletic. Do you see how high the great ones throw the baton up and spin and tumble and then catch the freakin’ thing? Wows me every time.
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I couldn’t do it, especially if it was on fire.
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