Formed in the Spring of 1961, the Main Street Four competed in the Fall District Contest
and placed 32nd out of 53 contestants. The next year MAD began Division qualifying
competitions, limiting the number of District competitors to 25. So after "retiring
the 32nd Place trophy," the Main Street Four won the 1962 District Champions at
Constitutional Hall in Washington DC the following year. Quartet members were:
Tenor Fred Kirberger, Lead Wes Clemens, Baritone Bob Royce and Bass Dick Floersheimer.
A business transfer took Wes to Nebraska in late 1963, and Dave Mittelstadt,
former lead of the Playtonics (1953 M-AD Champions and 1956 2nd Place International
Medallists) joined the Main Street Four. The quartet qualified for Internationals
four times, placing 12th as their highest finish. Their four International contests
involved three lead singers: Wes in 1963, Dave in 1964 and 1965, and Mint Terhune
(ex-lead of the 1959 Champion Checkmates) in 1966. The quartet disbanded in 1967
when baritone Bob transferred to Chicago. Twenty-four years later, in 1991, Bob
returned to New Jersey and the Main Street Four re-registered with Fred, Bob and
Dick, the original and only men to sing the harmony parts, and Dave Mittelstadt
again singing lead. Over the decade of the '90's, now competing as Seniors, the
quartet took Second Place twice and captured the M-AD Seniors Quartet Championship
six consecutive years, placing 5th as their highest finish in the International Seniors competition.
But those who remember the Main Street Four best, will recall the quartet for
its unique approach to show appearances. They created a series of scripted
scenes from the 1890's, each of which required special scenery and props, and
used dialogue to tie their musical selections together. In these scenes, each
quartet member played a specific character in the fictional town of Hartsburg.
Dick was the local constable, Dave was a travelling salesman, Bob was the town's
Mayor and owner/bartender of the Metropole Café, and Fred was the town's "ne'er-do-well."
Their "street scene," "bar-room scene" and "barber- shop scene" were performed for many
Barbershop show audiences throughout the Eastern United States …. from 1963 to 1967, and
again from 1992 to 2000.
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