"Dirty Ralph" Zaiser and "Bloody Ralph" Venghaus
with Cap'n Maurice Wright, "Scourge O' the Seven Seas"
Photo courtesy of Paul Zaiser
"Dirty Ralph" Zaiser on the left and "Bloody Ralph" Venghaus on the right are pictured being honored on the occasion of their retirement from the crew by Cap'n Maurice Wright in this photo from the early 1970's. It is not known exactly when "Bloody Ralph" Venghaus (who played the French horn) began playing with the band, but "Dirty Ralph" Zaiser is pictured elsewhere on this page with the Orchard City Buccaneers as early as 1914. Visible, seated at the right is clarinetist Don "Peg-Leg" Davis. It is believed that this photo may be reversed, since the clarinets would likely have been sitting to the left.
Of interest is the "transitional" band stand, which still had wooden planking (in rather deplorable condition) with the present day fiberglass shell attached. The present concrete base for the shell was constructed soon after this photo was taken.
Note: A larger version of this image can be viewed by clicking on the photo.
