San Diego has one of the oldest histories in Baton Twirling, We’ve tried to encapsulate as much history as we can. If you have additional/more information please forward to our email at allwestregionals [(@)] gmail.com, We’d like to hear from former coaches, twirlers and san diego historians that can help us add context to this page.
Campus Drive-In Theater, closer view with neon, El Cajon Boulevard, San Diego, California from the library of congress.
We believe this was the only 46′ tall Neon sign in the United States that despicted a Baton Twirler. The Campus Drive-In was near San Diego State before it was demolished and moved. The twirling SDSU Aztecs majorette still twirls at a shopping mall where she was moved. The buildings in the mural are SDSU campus buildings that still stand.
Here is a Youtube Video by local Channel 8 that showed the Baton Twirler Neon signage
Here is a nice article about the iconic Baton Twirling Signage “Baton Passes To SOHO For Neon Majorette”
This sign at the College Grove Shopping Center was originally installed at the Campus Drive-in Theatre which opened in 1948. The baton-twirling San Diego State University drum majorette was part of an 80-foot-long neon mural on the backside of the screen tower. The mural also depicted the San Diego State University campus with mountains, a football goalpost, a building, and a bell tower. The sign was designed by Joseph Schmith who worked for the Perry-Christensen-Campbell Co.
The 42-foot-tall majorette sign was taken down and put in storage in 1983 when the drive-in was demolished. The sign was restored in 1985. In 1988, it was installed at the Marketplace at the Grove now known as the College Grove Shopping Center. The shopping center is located near the site of the former drive-in. The baton twirls at night. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. [map]
The Campus Plaza shopping center occupies the site of the former Campus Drive-in. There are several neon signs installed on the buildings that pay tribute to the former screen tower’s sign. I believe the shopping center was built and the signs were installed in 1984. [map]
Austin Linn Gray and Joe Schmidt, two San Diegans, are credited with the design of the Majorette. It is believed that Gray used as a model for the sign a photograph of Marion Caster Heatherly Baker, a top California drum majorette in the 1940’s and head drum majorette at San Diego High School, class of 1943, at San Diego State College, the Naval Training Center, and later the Los Angeles Rams.
