The Edmonton Schoolboys' Band started up in 1936-37 and consisted of students in grades 4-12. It took over the trusteeship of instruments and uniforms of the Edmonton Newsboys' Band that disbanded in 1928. The Edmonton Schoolboys' Band was active in the Edmonton area from 1936 to 1969.
Reminiscence of Frank Mathew:
Jack Michaels, of Mike's Newstand, started a band of his newsboys sometime before the Edmonton Schoolboys' Band. When Mr. Newlove started the Edmonton Schoolboys' Band in 1936 or 1937, he got some old instruments from the Newsboys Band and was given cap badges for his new band members. Frank Mathew was one of those original band memebrs who received an Edmonton Newsboys Band cap badge. Mr. Newlove fixed the instruments in his basement.
Mr. Mathew recalled that much of the music was arranged by Mr. Newlove either because he had to weight the parts of particular instruments to suit the capabilities of his memebrs or because scores were very expensive. Mr. Newlove and the senior band members transcribed by hand as many copies of the music for each instruments as was required.
Mr. Mathew remembers the first uniform as being white shirts with braid sewn down the sides of their pants. Later sashes were added. Their first proper uniforms were purchased from the fire department and his and other mothers sewed on ribbon and braid.