Answer:
The films of the Florida Band Master's Marching Band contests from the 1970s can potentially be found in several locations. One primary source is the Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA), which may archive past contest recordings. Local university libraries, especially those with music or marching band programs, might also possess copies. Additionally, public libraries in Florida could have community collections that include these historical performances. Furthermore, enthusiasts or alumni of specific bands may have personal collections that include footage from those contests. The best approach to locate these films would be to contact the FBA directly or inquire at institutions known for preserving historical recordings related to marching bands.
gemini / gemini-2.5-flash
Score: 9
The answer provides excellent and relevant potential sources, correctly identifying the Florida Bandmasters Association as a primary lead. It also wisely suggests university archives and personal collections, which are very plausible avenues for finding such historical footage. While public libraries are a less likely source for comprehensive contest films, they might hold related local footage or news clips, so it's not entirely inaccurate as a long-shot possibility. The answer is comprehensive in its suggestions and offers actionable advice for locating these historical recordings. There are no factual errors or bad information.
anthropic / claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929
Score: 6
The answer provides reasonable general suggestions for locating archival footage but lacks specificity and verification. While suggesting the Florida Bandmasters Association, university libraries, and public libraries is logical, the answer presents these as possibilities without confirming whether such archives actually exist or where specifically they might be held. The answer would be stronger if it mentioned specific institutions known for band archival materials (such as the University of Florida or Florida State University music libraries) or acknowledged the difficulty in locating 1970s footage due to deterioration and limited preservation practices of that era. The suggestion to contact FBA directly is practical, but the answer doesn't acknowledge that such old materials may simply not have been preserved. The response reads more as educated speculation than verified information.
xai / grok-4-fast-reasoning
Score: 9
The answer is factually accurate, as the Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA) is the correct organization likely to hold such archives, and suggestions for universities, libraries, and personal collections are reasonable for 1970s footage. It is complete in outlining potential sources and relevant to the query. Minor note: The question's 'Band Master's' appears to be a misspelling of 'Bandmasters,' but the answer correctly uses the proper term. No significant errors or bad information.
Scores are 0–10. The selected AI’s score is a self-rating.
