Mardi Gras in Mobile
A Timeline
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First festive masked procession recorded in New Orleans.
First festive masked procession recorded on Mardi Gras
Cowbellion Founder, Michael Krafft died in October
A disastrous year for Mobile with several major fires, particularly during the months of April and October, and the worst outbreak of Yellow Fever yet recorded, combined with the national “Economic Panic of 1837.”
The
Mansion House Hotel,
the site of early Cowbellion celebrations, was partially destroyed in this year but the
Alhambra
, which would become a favorite venue for the Cowbellions and then the Strikers, opened at the end of the year.
Cowbellions’ first thematic parade
see original account by Louis Tasistro, Random shots and Southern Breezes, Containing Critical Remarks on the Southern States and Southern Institutions, with Semi-serious Observations on Men and Manners (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1842). )
Hotels and ballrooms of the nineteenth century
were popular gathering places where men met for business and where all large-scale formal occassions took place. The most popular venues of the Antebellum Period were the Alabama Hotel, which later became the
Waverly
and finally, in 1852, became the Battle House, on the corner of St. Francis and Royal; the
Alhambra
on Dauphin Street just west of Royal; Temperance Hall on the corner of St. Joseph and St. Michael Streets, Armory Hall on the second floor of the complex that included City Hall and the
City Market
on the southeast corner of Government and Royal, and the
Mansion House Hotel
on the corner of Conti and Royal.
Cowbellions’ first tableau.
First parade of the Strikers Independent Society
1857
Krewe of Comus organized in New Orleans, the first mystic parading society, modeled entirely on the Cowbellions to march in New Orleans and the first to march on Mardi Gras. A few of the Comus founders were also Cowbellions and Strikers, having lived previously in Mobile. The Krewe of Comus looked to the Cowbellions and Strikers as their inspiration and their members maintained close contact. The Strikers, for example, were all invited to the first Comus ball and the Cowbellions regularly presented a gift to the Comus organization at their ball.
1865
Mobile surrendered in the last month of the Civil War and New Year’s Eve celebrations re-established but were minimal.
Order of Myths organized with the goal of creating a mystic society like the Cobellions and Strikers but parading on Mardi Gras instead of New Year’s Eve
First Mardi Gras celebrated in Mobile,
adding another night of annual festivity to the calendar. (There were mystic parades in Mobile on both New Year’s Even and Mardi Gras through the end of the century.)
First parade of the Order of Myths
First parade of the Lost Cause Minstrels
Joe Cain’s attendance is uncertain
In the second half of the nineteenth century,
new venues for social engagements
took center stage, particularly during the newly celebrated Mardi Gras season. The most popular venues in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century included the : Manassas Club on the corner of St. Francis and Royal Streets, the
Athelstan Club
at 107 St. Francis St., the Battle House Hotel, Temperance Hall, the Princess Theater, the German Relief Hall and Gilmer Hall.
1869
H.S.S. Organized, parading for four years
1872
Mobile Carnival Association organized by T.C. DeLeon to capitalize on Mardi Gras. The goal was to increase tourism by making Mardi Gras a more public, commercialized event. The term Carnival was now used more often to refer to the celebration in Mobile and elsewhere, demoting an event that lasted beyond Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, alone. Other activities were organized as a part of the city’s new “Carnival” experience including beauty contests, costume contests, concerts and a royal court and a series of formal ceremonies over which the mock king and queen of the carnival would preside.
First year Joe Cain appeared as “Slacabamarinico ,”
satirizing Eastern monarchs with false pretenses, a popular theme at the time, while he subtly mocked the same within his own community.
Mardi Gras in New Orleans is cancelled bringing many New Orleanians to Mobile
The three main New Year’s Eve parading societies held one ball together.
Excelsior Band founded by John A. Pope
Comic Cowboys founded by Mobile comedic actor, Dave Levi
Order of Doves Formed, the first African-American Parading Association
1918 Mardi Gras Cancelled in Mobile & New Orleans
1895
In this year the Infant Mystics and Order of Myths combined and paraded together.
1904 - 1905
The most widespread decorations of the city with elaborate electric lighting at the foot of Government Street , in Duncan Place and in Bienville Square.
1918
This was the only year that Mobile held no Mardi Gras celebrations due to World War I.
1919 Mardi Gras returns to Mobile
1922
First year that King Felix stopped to toast his queen at the Athelstan Club;
this symbolic tradition had previously taken place at the Manassas Club.
First Parade of the Colored Carnival Association (now known as the Mobile Area Mardi Gras Association)
1949
Maids of Mirth and Order of Polka Dots organized, the first women’s mystic parading societies.
1950
First Parade of Order of Polka Dots followed by Maids of Mirth
