Sunday
SOME MORE GAY MARDI GRAS HISTORY
Gay Mardi Gras traditions began with the Krewe of Yuga, circa 1958, presenting invitation-only costume parties at which a Queen and a "tableau" were presented.
The gathering was held at a private school in 1962, and it was raided by the New Orleans police. The names of those in attendance were publicized in the local daily newspaper. This was quite the scandal at that time. Notwithstanding, the gay Mardi Gras balls endured...continuing their mocking of the "straight" Carnival traditions.
In the begininning of the 1980's there were upwards of fifteen gay Mardi Gras krewes. This was before the AIDS panademic. Now, there are only a handfull of organizations, as discussed in a previous posting.
During 1964, Arthur Jacobs ("Mister Jake") wanted to create some more business for his French Quarter landmark, The Clover Grill restaurant at the corner of Bourbon and Dumaine Streets. In that year he created an costume and award competition on Mardi Gras Day, known as The Bourbon Street Awards. Over the years, it became quite the showcase for drag queens and anyone with fabulous costumes, or the lack thereof. It attracted unprecedented numbers of spectators and film crews from the world-wide news media.
The contest remained on the corner of Bourbon and Dumaine Streets for years. It was subsequently moved to various other locations, including Bourbon and St. Ann Streets and St. Ann and Burgundy. Now it has returned to the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann, and you can get a bird's-eye view from The Bourbon Pub balcony on Mardi Gras Day.
The gathering was held at a private school in 1962, and it was raided by the New Orleans police. The names of those in attendance were publicized in the local daily newspaper. This was quite the scandal at that time. Notwithstanding, the gay Mardi Gras balls endured...continuing their mocking of the "straight" Carnival traditions.
In the begininning of the 1980's there were upwards of fifteen gay Mardi Gras krewes. This was before the AIDS panademic. Now, there are only a handfull of organizations, as discussed in a previous posting.
During 1964, Arthur Jacobs ("Mister Jake") wanted to create some more business for his French Quarter landmark, The Clover Grill restaurant at the corner of Bourbon and Dumaine Streets. In that year he created an costume and award competition on Mardi Gras Day, known as The Bourbon Street Awards. Over the years, it became quite the showcase for drag queens and anyone with fabulous costumes, or the lack thereof. It attracted unprecedented numbers of spectators and film crews from the world-wide news media.
The contest remained on the corner of Bourbon and Dumaine Streets for years. It was subsequently moved to various other locations, including Bourbon and St. Ann Streets and St. Ann and Burgundy. Now it has returned to the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann, and you can get a bird's-eye view from The Bourbon Pub balcony on Mardi Gras Day.
