Mardi Gras 1956: Through My Father's Lens (Boing Boing Video)

[nickash5]

This is so cool! Gems from the past!

[jayjay2678]

Lol where the blacks! Oh it must have be segregated forgot

[MaidenRockable]

Thanks for sharing....i found a Mardi Gras bracelet in my mothers jewelry box dated 1956. it says KREWE OF NEMESIS 1956 New Orleans Mardi Gras.....my mother was born & raised in New Orleans..

[PrimephotoStudio]

Great video, thank for sharing this, it good to see how people took photos and videos, before the digital age.

Thank you

[aajmw]

Absolutely wonderful! My mother was in Adonis in 1961.

[bigtruckguy3500]

Does anyone happen to know anything about the drill team at about 3:33? Are those females?

[chewbacca0901]

Very nice... It's great that the Krewe's are integrated now, but it should not be forced. These are private clubs, and the government should stay out of it. We have United and AME Methodists, but it's not because we don't like each other. It's just that we naturally gravitate towards people with similar backgrounds.

[BattlingTube]

This video has been entered into the 'Top 10 Travel Videos of the Week' battle at BattlingTube website.

[JayJonson1]

The most telling difference between Mardi Gras 1956 and current Mardi Gras parades is that the parades then were segregated. There were no black members of the Krewe of Mid-City in 1956 (and no white members of the Krewe of Zulu). Today the Krewes that parade are integrated.

[JayJonson1]

To comedytragedy below: Mardi Gras parades vary greatly by the krewes that present them. Some are risque and satirical, but others are "family oriented." Mid-City has always been a "family oriented" parade and continues to be so. I am sure that there were some satirical and risque parades in 1956 as well. Mardi Gras celebrations are very diverse. In addition to dozens of parades, there are dozens of balls and other celebrations, each reflecting different communities.

[infrogmation]

Yes, I enjoyed the Krewe of Mid-City this year; it was a giant friendly party of people of all ages and races along the route. Some of the things this video talks about in the past tense would better be worded to show it continues to this day. Yes, the Krewe of Mid-City parade is still known for its use of foil in float designs.

[LordZontar]

@infrogmation — yes but the Mid-City float decorations have become a lot more elaborate over the years since Ricardo Pustiano became their chief designer. The florals which he festoons over every available square inch of float makes that krewe one of the most spectacular to view every year.

[JayJonson1]

Thanks for posting this charming reminder of past Mardi Gras celebrations.

[comedytragedy2010]

Thank you for this interesting look at the past. I have never been to a Mardi Gras celebration, but I know how risqué they can be these days, so it was interesting to see how fun and wholesome, not to mention simplistic, they were in the past. Thank you.

[infrogmation]

Actually, contrary to the view of people from out of town, about 95% of New Orleans Carnival celebrations are still family friendly.

[jodysoldman]

does F6 stand for fuck yu ??

[progirl40]

I'm sorry I dont know why I posted that lol... I was just REALLY bored

[texabamabrackish]

Great video and pictures. Reminds me more of the present-day Mobile Mardi Gras. More family-oriented or at least family -friendly. Tradition-soaked and spirit-filled. Great job!

[jpwin6114]

just so all of you know, the mardi gras that you see in new orleans isnt the real deal im from the acadiana area of louisiana where the cajuns live and we still have the traditional mardi gras there. beer is still a staple of it but thers none of the filth you get in new orleans

[LordZontar]

@jpwin6114 — each area has its Mardi Gras tradition and one is not any more valid than the other or less so. The Cajun Mardi Gras is distinctive and the maskers show a lot of creativity in their costumes made from scrap fabrics and the wire screen masks. I made one of those for myself a few years ago. As for the "filth" of New Orleans Mardi Gras, that only occurs in about three blocks or so of the Vieux Carre and mostly by idiot tourists and college students. It's mostly a family event.

[lordstepalize]

Don't do Mardy Gras anymore...or worser things to New Orleans will happen, just like Katrina did...

[hatemorethanyou999]

uhuhuhuhh die

[hatemorethanyou999]

die people die

[hrb266]

Reminds me of the Mummers of Philadelphia.

[CSXer]

Great quality pics and videos for the era!

Your father did good work.

Thanks for sharing this piece of Americana!

[Burnsjw1]

I too was born in 1956. Interesting indeed ..., thanks for sharing.

[nebulae87]

So this is what mardi gras used to be? Boy scouts at 0:05 into the video. NOW, its nothing but a bunch of whores and drunks. Its about getting drunk and showing your tits. No wonder everbody hates us. (usa) we're nothing but a bunch of fucktards

[awayinfrontofyou]

What? When's the last time you went to a Mardi Gras parade not in the French Quarter with all the tourists?

[nebulae87]

i'm simply saying that comparing mardi gras in 1956 as opposed to today would be like comparing night and day. Theres nothing wrong with having a great time with friends, and whatnot...but seeing this and seeing how mardi gras is today, is depressing. I cant even imagine what life will be like for my kids in their teens, when i have kids. Its quite unbelievable

[msemione]

even if your statement is mostly true, most other western countries, especially european, are a lot more liberal in drinking and sex than we are, so this stuff is pretty tame to them

[nebulae87]

Oh, i know they are...but People here in the US as opposed to people in europe, abuse everything. Money, drugs, alcohol, sex, women, religion, the list goes on. You used a good term...TAME. To them it IS tame...to us its not cause everybody in this country, young people mainly. I'm just saying that To see what mardi gras was back then as opposed to today is depressing. Ask everybody in america what mardi gras is, and i'm sure 80% of them will TITS AND BOOZE.

[infrogmation]

WTF? Mardi Gras NOW is about 10 city miles of families, Boy Scouts, the old and young having a friendly good time, and about 8 blocks of drunk tourists showing their tits to other drunk tourists.

[ealixl]

I lived in new Orleans. now I live in RI

[Corrinrr]

@ealixl I'm from RI but now live in Lake Charles!

[ealixl]

corrinrr thats so cool!

[h1t100]

my chanel is god, more is you chanel don't is goood you son of a bitch

[genarofan]

dear mardore thankyou so much for sharin this lovely video . i moved to new orleans in time to experienced my first mardi gras feb 1968 . i love this city very much .and now with the saints as winners it is marvelous..lets remenicen and enjoy .the tradition .life in the fifties and sixties .was great. gerardo

[jeffisstoned]

wow that sucks wheres all the titties and drunk bitchs everywhere

[telemacherT2]

Boy Scouts!

[ndcent4u]

Thanks for the great video. I was born in 1956.

[ThePleasanthill]

wonderful thank you very much for posting this a true treasure.

[ggcab5]

i live in baton rouge louisiana mardi gras rules GO SAINTS WHO DAT WHO DAT

[jenni328scraps]

i love it cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guitarmajster]

BOING BOING <--- LOL

[CatMingDu]

@ 3:23 the way he says "from men!" makes me lol!

[h1t100]

fuckyou you son of a bitch becau

se i need this bitch this you mather for yeat is ass this you mother these bitch this you mather , asshole....

[4josh10]

@h1t100 Rofl what?

[h1t100]

nothing

[kissmydubs]

HEhe MARDI GRAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­!

Gonzales Louisiana BORN AND RAISED.

I love Mardi Gras its my favorite time and its sososomuch fun. Im so happy New Orleans was always just a short drive away its Awesome.

[fishfuxors]

That Boing Boing shit is annoying. Why is it even there?

[gsolayman]

this vid made me feel good ty for posting

[semiLivedj]

truly amazing,thanks for posting,and sorry for your loss.

[rainieda]

this is a very, moving video. thank you so much for sharing it with us.

[enyze001]

Most people would say the good old days....But for who?

[cienanosdesoledad]

WHen did the flashing start?

[sarahderan]

seems so obsolete, but yes, spectacular

[jmover52]

great film and spectacular still photos!

[TheFluxen]

so thats where jigsaw came from 1:05

[gallion21]

notice anything different about the crowd? i sure do

[manulasat]

May nik name best friends smale heppy free party pies love heart tu you smale beautiful (sexy wome)baby.

daty mogen altijd komy om in Belgie isy ale yaer karnafal.

[mo0o0omo]

thanks

[1998disco72]

This was then there had class!

[Reverendjim1]

The footage was fantastic, well shot and with nice color, especially for its day! Looking at the people and the clean streets depicts a stark contrast that illustrates keenly just how far into the bowels of depravity society has fallen.

[artistjane1]

Thank you for sharing this bit of New Orleans history, love it!

[MacMurLady]

awesome video..soo glad you found it!¡!

and yes..thank you for sharing!

[alic123ia]

Nice video,Thanks for sharing.

[mrstevehartman]

Im sure this is precious to you. I can see why. Just another rememberance of dad!! My father died of cancer likewise and, any picture or rememberance is wonderful. Thanks !!

[26banker]

Thank you so much for sharing. My husband and I were in New Orleans in May 2008 to celebrate our mutual birthday. The people were fantastic and resilient. We had some of the best food. I travelled there in memor y of my late father who loved Dixie land music and Zadeco music. My grandmother was Acadian or what is now there as Cajun. It was thousands of miles but it was important to support these courageous people. Long life New Orleans and God Bless America.

signed a Canadian

[Neco246]

when did it get boobified?

[cellardoor199991]

people were smarter and had more class back then.

[bobbobato]

People were less educated, more bigoted, more ignorant, and had different standards of class than today.

[cellardoor199991]

very true

[justgetsome]

@bobbobato ...yep life was easier and people were happier.

[bobbobato]

Life was easier if you never needed to contact far-away people on the spot, access information, do tedious and complex tasks, and weren't sick. And people were happier if they weren't in loveless marriages, weren't faced by discrimination every day.

People's lives were also more difficult. If you were an adult in the 1950s, you had seen war, suffered the Depression and been abused as a child. Most Americans today in their 40s and younger have never faced such problems, and have had easier lives.

[justgetsome]

Huge mortgages, 2nd mortgages, 3rd mortgages, lines of credit, students loans, person loans, credit cards maxed, car loans, pre-authorized payment plans for cable, high land taxes, people can't even pay for their car insurance yearly but can only also have to put it over monthly. A consumer nation 2.5trillion in personal debt and 12trillion nationally and rising.

But yeah we have easier lives now like you said. I'm a veteran as well.

[ATXChillin]

Having the ability to go wildly into debt is a sign of the wealth and privilege in our society. Really, when the worst you have to worry about is getting an extra bedroom in that house and over-extending yourself fiscally, that's an easy life.

[justgetsome]

Actually the worst you have to worry about is paying back this stuff plus interest over years or decades.

Also...no, it makes you a credit rich slave and payments until rapture doesn't make you rich. I've seen guys with new BMWs drive into the service station and can't put more than a 20spot in the tank.; pathetic.

If that's wealthy; eeking out payments then I'm happy to NOT be rich but own m,y house,car and other rental property.

[damrak1969]

Many of the things you site, especially mortgages and credit cards, are the results of poor personal choices and trying to live beyond our means. People back then lived good lives but lived within their incomes, - granted money bought more back then. Most of all our current troubles are the result of us trying to live beyong our means, keep up with the Jones' and from our personal and corporate greed. Americans = more, more more stuff and damn the consequenses till it's too late!

[justgetsome]

These things weren't even an option of years past. A family gets drunk off of a spiked bowl of punch unbenkownst to them; who supplied the alcohol?. horrific monitary policy excercised by the central bank of printing money and far too low interest rates.

Yes, alot of it is bad personal choice but mankind is smart, people are stupid.

People did live within their incomes and it was an easier happier time.

[jclemens1970]

Ya, and its so much better nowadays that we are not all biggots anymore. LOL

Id take the 50s over what we have today and so would well over half the country.

Unfortunately its now too late.

Peace MLK

[bobbobato]

It IS better now that there are less bigots. Like it or not, the modern Western world is the best society that has EVER existed. Our problems don't compare to the problems of previous times. Some of us are poor and have trouble paying the rent? Well, 100 years ago, if you were poor you had trouble buying food. If you're discriminated against today, you're made to feel bad. In the 1950s, you were attacked. Minorities were worse off then, and people had experienced more hardships in their life.

[ZR6ALH]

@bobbobato

hey everyone has got a gify, if your gift is not money making share holder shit or stock brokers u are shit , stock brokers cannot even put a kettle plug in a wall socket yet they make 10000 times more money than people who are real

[Mygoodmusicchoices]

@ZR6ALH What?

[bobbobato]

...When you say you'd take the 50s over what we have today, I think you mean the pop culture of the fifties, right? Well that could be appreciated in any era. If anything, you could better appreciate 1950s culture today, than in the actual 1950s, because we now have the internet and could access it much more easily.

[CantStopWontStop818]

so mardi gras hasnt always been a trashy ass thing? i'm seriously asking btw... :P

[missippidave]

Very nice film, I remember Mid -city in the 60,s. Would spend the weekend uptown at auntie Helen's house. My, how the the years pass!!

[witchman1]

Very nice video.

[MrTratten]

another world

[joobilie]

Mizenko...Ukrainian?

[c2flight04]

Great video. It is hard to think things have changed so much. It seems like another lifetime ago.

[MacraStraba]

It's in color too. Must be pretty expensive to shoot considering color reels are still a new thing back then. Good watch.

[wgunn]

MidCity still rocks the foil, too. They're the most brilliant floats out there, even if the Thoth throws are superior.

[connickjoseph]

I was born and raised in New Orleans and owned property in Covington along the Bogafulia, Flowers Estates to be exact. I loved the Mardi Gras back then. Thank You so much for the videos...Joe Connick

[armandolarch]

great photos, thanks' for posting.

[bennard0]

As a current member of the Krewe of Mid-City, it is really great to see some of the Krewe's heritage. Thank you.

[DawnVita]

This is so cool - thanks for sharing!!!