1948—1972
Established in 1948
History
One man's idea became a Philadelphia institution—and a family story still being written.
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Where it began
A name written in the stars.
How do you begin to tell the story of Bill McIntyre’s Shooting Stars? A story that began with one man, one big idea and a devotion to the art of Mummery.
After marching with various comic clubs for 25 years, William McIntyre decided it was time for a change. In 1946 he joined the Fancy Division, then formed a group of his own to march under the mother clubs. Leading into the 1949 parade, Bill’s wife Elizabeth suggested the name “Shooting Stars,” matching their theme that year.
When the Fancy Groups became Fancy Brigades in 1950, the Shooting Stars Fancy Brigade was officially born. Bill dominated the decade, leading his boys to six first-prize performances in the 1950s and building the club from the ground up over an extraordinary 25 years as captain.
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It was never only about the prize. It was about the work, the family and the story we carried onto the floor.
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Generation to generation
Leadership built to last.
Francis “Franny” McIntyre carried his father’s work ethic forward. In 1978, the dedication paid off when Aqua Fantasy captured first prize brigade and first prize captain.
William “Zeke” Morrison followed with a memorable run that included the 1982 classic Masters of the Occult. Tom Cloney took the club onto the floor in 1983 and 1984 before Morrison returned for five more seasons.
Then Mickey Adams began an exceptional 21-year era. From 1990 through 2011, the Stars never finished outside the top five, placed second six times and took first prize nine times under his leadership. The winning run included Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun, Singapore Swing, Outta This World, Thunder Drums, Olympus, Scotland, Creature Double Feature, India and Mythic Knights.
Michael Adams continued the standard from 2012 through 2021, highlighted by the 2014 first-prize performance Atlantis: Guardians of the Deep. His decade also introduced the audience to Everest, superheroes, mysterious islands, twisted tales, masquerades and worlds beyond the stars.
Today, Captain Charlie Kapusniak IV leads the next generation. His first seasons carried the club from Spellbound and Marionettes of the Midway to Voyage Beyond the Horizon, followed by the 2025 first-prize performance Legend of the Secret Scrolls and 2026’s Monsters Unchained.
The story in pictures
Generations on the floor.
From the club’s earliest legacy to today’s full-scale productions, every image carries the color, craft and fellowship of the Shooting Stars.
Leadership through the years
Our captains
Seven eras. One unbroken standard.
1973—1980
Fran McIntyre
1978 first prize · Aqua Fantasy1981—1982 · 1985—1989
Bill Morrison
1982 first prize · Masters of the Occult1983—1984
Tom Cloney
A new era of theatrical performance1990—2011
Mickey Adams
Nine first prizes · Record-setting run2012—2021
Michael Adams
2014 first prize · Atlantis2022—Present
Charlie Kapusniak IV
2025 first prize · Legend of the Secret Scrolls03
Why we keep going
Our mission
To foster fellowship, grow public appreciation for the art of Mummery and keep Philadelphia’s New Year’s Day tradition thriving.
We encourage participation in brigade activities and community service, create memorable public performances and carry forward the bonds built between grandfathers, fathers, sons, cousins, brothers and best friends.
The prizes are part of the record. The relationships are the legacy.
Explore the performance archive