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The 1940s The Phoenix Saguaro Chapter was organized and temporary officers elected February 14, 1943. The original charter membership was twenty-four; the charter from SPEBSQSA is dated March 15, 1943. Phoenix was the twenty-fifth chapter chartered by SPEBSQSA, proceeded in the west by Long Beach and San Francisco. San Francisco lost its charter shortly before Phoenix was chartered, but they were re-chartered later. There were only three states in what was then known as the Western District: Arizona, Nevada, and California. Phoenix held the Western District's first "Parade of Quartets" on May 12, 1943. Everett Manning was the first full-term president. He was co-founder and charter member of the chapter, serving as president during 1943-44 and 1944-45. His vast files and scrapbooks are the source for much of this compilation of the history of the Phoenix Saguaro Chapter. He sang in the first chapter quartet, the Desert City Four, who won the first statewide barbershop quartet contest held at the Phoenix National Guard Armory, May 21, 1943. In 1946, the current Far Western District was established. It's first "Parade of Quartets" was held at the historic San Gabriel Mission Playhouse in San Gabriel, California on October 5, 1946 with two Phoenix quartets taking part. Society founder O. C. Cash visited Phoenix on October 1, 1947. He was on his way to the annual "Parade of Quartets" in San Gabriel when a posse met his private plane in Phoenix and issued a warrant for his arrest. As a prisoner of the chapter, he enjoyed a giant banquet and afterglow before being "released" the next day to continue on his way. The Phoenix Chapter Chorus (later called the "Phoenicians") was organized in June, 1948 under the direction of George "Tiny" Pranspill. Tiny was famous for his use of a tuning fork (A 440) rather than the customary pitchpipe. Years later, he became and International Vice President of SPEBSQSA and now, once again a member of the chapter, resides in Cottonwood, Arizona in the mountains to the north of Phoenix. The Westernaires was the first quartet from Phoenix to win the Far Western District Quartet Championship. They were the third District Quartet Champion, following the Bonanza Four who won in 1947 and the Four Staters who won in 1948. The date was October 22, 1949. The Westernaires also appeared in international competition on Omaha, Nebraska in 1950. By the close of the Forties, the Phoenix Saguaro Chapter had sponsored four other chapters in Arizona: Tucson in 1947, and Globe, Flagstaff and Chandler in 1948. |