Spectacles: So Forget the Beatles

The sun may have already set on the British Empire; the spotlights may stay on forever. Last week under a galaxy of glare in Manhattan's Madison Square Garden, there was a fanfare of trumpets, a thunder of drums, a skirl of bagpipes. And out trooped two bands of white-helmeted Royal Marines followed by the kilted pipers and bearskin-topped drummers of the Scots Guards and the Royal Scots Greys. Later in the evening, in sandals, scarlet tunics and saw-toothed white skirts (called sulus) came the 57-man band of Her Majesty's Fiji Military Forces. The occasion, and a glittering one indeed, was...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!