Harrisburg Moose Band

The Harrisburg Moose Band was a concert band that played in Central Pennsylvania from the late 1910s to the 1980s. The band played in Hersheypark for the first time in 1919, and then most years after World War II until 1971. The band frequently performed at the park’s Bandshell, which was part of the free entertainment in the park. Harrisburg Moose Band played two shows per contract – a show at 2pm and a show at 7pm.

The band did not have a traditional weekend to play in Hersheypark. From one year to the next, they played in either June, July, or August.

History

The Harrisburg Moose Band was founded by members of the Harrisburg Lodge, No. 107, Loyal Order of Moose. In 1917, the order played their first band concert. The following year, on May 10, 1918, the Moose organized a band and held their first practice. The goal was to have 100 members in the band, and the campaign to gain players was to run from then until July 1. Within two weeks of forming, the band was up to sixty players. However, 10 people backed out, consequently leaving them stuck at 50 members. Furthermore, due to unforeseen circumstances, the Moose members on the recruitment team were subsequently not able to campaign throughout much of June. Therefore, their campaign was extended to August. However, even by then, they had only gotten a few more players to sign up. In August, the band did announce that they would be under the direction of John L. Splenger, a graduate of the Broad Street Conservatory of Music, Philadelphia. Once Labor Day hit, the Moose postponed any further practices to the spring of 1919.

In April 1919, however, the band got back together, abandoning the 100-piece band and going with a 40-piece band. First, their first event they played was a Victory Loan parade and rally in Harrisburg, on April 28, 1919. By June, meanwhile, they were playing regular shows in the rear of the Moose Club.

Playing in Hersheypark

On August 14, 1919, the Moose Band played in Hersheypark for the first time. The group played two concerts at the Park Bandshell for the Retail Grocers’ annual picnic—one in the morning and then a second in the afternoon. The music played were:

Morning program:

Afternoon program:

The band returned to Hersheypark in 1920 to play once again at the annual Grocer’s picnic. However, the next time the Moose Band returned to Hersheypark was in 1939, and they again played for the Grocers picnic. Consequently, it was a gap of 19 years.

On August 17, 1941, the Harrisburg Moose Band played in Hershey Park Ballroom for the first time. In 1943, the band played two shows at the Park Bandshell despite a Pleasure Driving ban being in place due to World War II. From then until 1971, the band played most years at the Park Bandshell.

---