WWLTV.com | Mardi Gras

CARNIVAL: 2009 - Important celebrations for Zulu, Rex
by Dominic Massa, WWL-TV News Producer

The early Mardi Gras of 2008 (the earliest we’ll see in our lifetimes) is history, and a glance at Carnival 2009 brings history of a different kind, with a number of important anniversaries.

The biggest and brassiest of them all will be the 100th anniversary of Zulu’s founding, which is being commemorated with several special events, including a major exhibit at the Louisiana State Museum’s Presbytere in Jackson Square. The exhibit, “From Tramps to Kings,” features more than 100 historical pieces on loan from Zulu members, as well as artifacts from the state museum, the Historic New Orleans Collection, Tulane University and other sources. Included are memories of New Orleans native Louis Armstrong’s 1949 reign as King Zulu. “We really did pitch a boogie woogie,” Armstrong writes in a letter included in the exhibit, which also includes sound recordings from that Carnival. Satchmo called his reign one of the highlights of his life. More recent history is also showcased in the exhibit, featuring more than a dozen former Zulu King and Queen costumes, along with costumes of Zulu’s unique cast of characters: the Big Shot, Witch Doctor, the Ambassador and more. And speaking of characters, this year’s Mr. Big Stuff, local attorney Stephen Rue, will celebrate his reign by hosting CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien as his guest at the Zulu ball and in the parade.

As always, Rex, the King of Carnival, follows Zulu down St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street on Mardi Gras. In 2009, Rex celebrates an important anniversary as well: the 50th anniversary of the doubloon, which Rex introduced to Carnival five decades ago. Talented artist and craftsman H. Alvin Sharpe sold the Rex captain, Darwin Fenner, on the idea of a simple and safe aluminum Mardi Gras momento. The story goes that Sharpe, during a meeting with the captain, flung a handful of doubloons in Fenner’s face, to show they would be safe. Rex ordered 80,000 of them for its 1960 parade, with no way of knowing just how much of a craze they would become. In the years that followed, the popularity of the coins spread to virtually every other Carnival krewe, and became hot items among collectors. In honor of the 50th anniversary, Rex has issued a commemorative doubloon and a booklet on the coin’s history, which can be purchased through the krewe’s web site, www.rexorganization.com. All of the proceeds will benefit Project Purple, a krewe campaign to support local charter schools, as part of the krewe’s Pro Bono Publico Foundation, which takes its name from the Rex organization’s motto, which translates to “For the Public Good.”

While Carnival history is celebrated this year, some krewes have had to curtail their activities because of the faltering economy. The Krewe of Aquila decided to postpone its 2009 parade in Metairie; Gladiators decided not to roll in St. Bernard Parish; and Pericles will not roll in Ponchatoula. Also the ladies’ Krewe of Shangri-La will not stage a float parade this year, planning to march instead as a walking club in the French Quarter.

The Knights of Babylon will celebrate their 70th anniversary this year, by staging one of the prettiest night parades in the days leading up to Fat Tuesday, on the Thursday before Mardi Gras. That night has become one of the hottest on the parade calendar, representing the best of the old and new: with Babylon, Chaos and Muses comprising a popular parade triple-header.

Finally, 2009 also marks the 50th anniversary of two Carnival music classics: Professor Longhair’s 1959 release “Go to the Mardi Gras” (which advises you’ll see the Zulu King “down on St. Claude and Dumaine”) and Al Johnson’s classic song “It’s Carnival Time,” which immortalizes joints like the Plaza and the Green Room where nothing else really matters, because “It’s Carnival Time.”

Johnson’s song will be showcased in a unique way – in commercials for the Louisiana Lottery’s Mardi Gras-themed scratch-off ticket.

So when you’re on the parade route this year and hear those tunes blaring out of a boom box or jamming on a jukebox, raise a glass and toast the New Orleans characters who contributed two of Carnival’s unmistakable anthems.