January 6, 2025: Performers — with facial makeup already applied — arrive at the Convention Center on New Year’s Day morning to get into costume for the Fancy Brigade finale.Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Even a semi-occasional reader of this column knows I’ve been at The Inquirer over four decades now. I’ve mentioned how newspaper assignments tend to be cyclical.
I mostly photograph the same things over and over again, every year. Call it the circle of covering life: the comings and goings of seasonal milestones - and changing seasons, public meetings, and grip-and-grin photo ops. And like now, the end/beginning of each year, with the Mummers (and fireworks).
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The goal while re-photographing everything is to not do it the same way every time. So I try to look for those moments and interesting details often overlooked by a casual observer.
Two years ago I sat in one place, on the floor right in front of the “stage” for the Fancy Brigades finale inside the Convention Center, with my laptop beside me and posted photos throughout all the performances.
This year I again photographed each 4-1/2 minute performance of all 10 brigades, but I moved all over - and made most of my favorite photos backstage and on the periphery.
Marshals James Hall and Sydney Cox (right) wait for last minute preparations to begin before the Fancy Brigade Finale at the Convention Center. This is Cox’s first Mummer’s participation The couple is with the Clevemore brigade, with a theme this year of “Extraordinary.”Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Steven Williams finds a quiet spot to sit with his children, Noah, 4, and Briella,7, waiting backstage before the Fancy Brigade Final. He is a marshal and his wife, Nicole Walsh, is a performer with Clevemore. The family lives in Deptford, N.J.Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Performers with the South Philly Vikings Fancy Brigade put on their costumes to perform with the theme “The Forgotten Forest and the Staff of Enchantment.”Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Tex Barney, project manager for the lighting and sound at the Convention Center, carries out flags for the national anthem and the opening ceremony later in the morning for the Fancy Brigade Finale.Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
The Jokers Fancy Brigade perform their theme “Mt. Everest: Quest for the Yeti.”Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Marshals with Satin Slipper move a backdrop full of young clowns, during their performance of "Clowntown Carnival.”Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
A marshal with the Clevemore Fancy Brigade moves a set piece during their performance of "Extraordinary.” Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Children appear with Downtowners Fancy Brigade captain Austin Sanborn Jr. at the conclusion of their performance of “A Shattered Symphony.”Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
A Froggy Carr Wench Brigade umbrella is left in the stands during the Fancy Brigade Finale.Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
A performer with Saturalian waits for their turn to begin their theme “Magic in Motion.”Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Nick Innaurato, co-director of the Fancy Brigade Finale, keeps time between performances. Each of the ten brigades has five minutes to get set up after the floor is cleared, and each performance is limited to 4-1/2 minutes.Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
A spectator records Bill McIntyre’s Shooting Stars as they perform “Legends of the Secret Scrolls.”Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Kasey McCullough kisses her son Finn, 5, after his appearance with Shooting Stars. Finn’s dad Jim also performed, his 40th year with the Mummers. They are from Washington Township, N.J.Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Workers clean the "stage" between each of the ten performances.Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Performers with Saturnalian Fancy Brigade and their theme “Magic In Motion” wait backstage for their turn to perform during the division’s Finale at the Convention Center Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, part of the Philadelphia Mummers New Year’s Day parade.Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
A marshal with Bill McIntyre’s Shooting Stars Fancy Brigade moves an illuminated prop backstage before they perform “Legends of the Secret Scrolls.”Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Madalyn Kelly (center), 15, with Satin Slipper poses with her parents, Ed and Kerry Kelly after the Finale. This was Madalyn’s first brigade participation. Her father is in the Wench Brigade Froggy Carr. Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Rick Kajkowski with Shooting Stars rests between the two performances of the division’s Finale at the Convention Center Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. He is with his stepdaughter Samantha Kane, and his grandsons Ryan (standing), 8, and Brodie, 5, all from South Philadelphia. Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer
Since 1998 a black-and-white photo has appeared every Monday in staff photographer Tom Gralish’s “Scene Through the Lens” photo column in the print editions of The Inquirer’s local news section. Here are the most recent, in color:
