The gaps make the parade almost "unattendable" for non-diehard fans like me and my family. We love the entertainment, but there isn't enough of it - when weighed against the boredom of the gaps - to make us come out every year.

Why not allow parade officials to penalize the bands for delays along the route?

- Bob Peel, Glassboro, N.J.

As a former Froggy Carr wench, watching this year's parade on TV was torture. The gaps were just inexcusable.

Here's my plan: Keep the Fancy Brigades off Broad Street. Fancy clubs should fold into Comics or Fancy Brigades. The monotonous parade of Fancy king clowns, jockeys, etc., with their piped-in music is like watching paint dry.

To keep Broad Street jumping and lively, intersperse Comic wench brigades, with their brass bands, between String Bands.

- Edward M. Smith, Philadelphia

It's torture to watch the parade - way, way, way too long and too much time in between groups. If you watch the Macy's parade and the Rose parade, the groups are lined up right behind each other.

- Ilene Karp, Bensalem

I've sat at City Hall for over 40 years (except for four years I marched with a String Band). The main problem - YOU CAN' T HEAR! The poor excuse from officials: Music played will not be able to be judged fairly if poor band sound is amplified. That is a bunch of BS, and I am sure the judges can separate and rate the performances.

- F. Mitchell, Holland, Pa.

We sat in the Captains bleachers from 1-6:15 p.m. and did not get to see the String Bands - the main attraction. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT! We left - too cold too long - and many others did too!

We long in the tooth or very young have very difficult time sitting or standing for that many hours! Mummers should intersperse the String Bands among other divisions. They should all not come at the end.

- Al Schiavoni, Mohnton, Pa.

It's time for a change for all the String Bands, but especially the top two Bands, Fralinger and Quaker City. They have all the money and the people. How can other String Bands compete?

There should be a REASONABLE CAP on the amount of money each band should spend.

- Daniel Grzybowski, Cherry Hill

I have stood at the corner of Broad and Washington streets for many years. As usual, I waited many hours for the String Bands to come. Much to my and thousands of others' surprise, their performance was moved a half block away. This made no sense at all! Both sides of the street were furious and let it be known by booing the bands as they performed.

- Dan Ecke, Sr., Madison, N.J.

I am new to the Philadelphia area (last year, I lost my Mummers virginity). This year, I was quite baffled as to why I was disappointed. Your column helped provide some insight as to what needs to happen to improve the parade.

- John Secor, South Philadelphia

I'd start by eliminating the enormous props that the String Bands are using these days along with the 90 or so marshals that are required to move them up Broad Street. Eliminating these gigantic theater-like monuments will speed up the parade and eliminate large gaps while allowing for better viewing.

Second, keep the parade moving by limiting the number of marchers in an individual club.

Third, I disagree with your idea to add more playing performance points. Each 4 1/2-minute routine plus the setup time just wastes valuable marching time.

Lastly, and this has been proposed many times in the past: Mix the divisions - one Comic, one Fancy, one String Band, one Brigade.

- Mike Weick, Holland, Pa.

E-mail stubyko@phillynews.com or call 215-854-5977. For recent columns:

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