Mardi Gras and Carnival Images
The Historic New Orleans Collection (THNOC)
2012.0172.26_o3
Three costumed revelers on Mardi Gras outside Dixie’s Bar of Music, early 1950s. Stephen Scalia, photographer. THNOC 2012.0172.26_o3
Krewe of Yuga
Handmade invitation to the 1961 Krewe of Yuga ball. THNOC 1980.178.59_o3-1
Krewe of Yuga invitation
Invitation to the ill-fated 1962 Krewe of Yuga ball hand-designed by artist Stewart K. Gahn, Jr. THNOC 1980.178.71_o3
Mystic Krewe of Apollo Carnival ball invitation
Poster for the 1970 Krewe of Apollo ball. J. Talluta, artist. THNOC 1980.178.197_o3-1
1982.147.2_o3
Elmo Avet (standing, right) dressed as the Marquis de Vaudreuil with friends on Mardi Gras in front of his antique store on Royal Street. From left to right: Larry Thompson, Bob Roberts, Billie Livingston, Larry Chamberlin, Henry Ginsberg, Bill Hunter, Elaine Boylan, Elmo D. Avet, and Jo Jo Landry. Photographer unknown. THNOC 1982.147.2_o3
1984.170.17_o3
Ball Program for the 1984 Krewe of Ishtar Ball. Ishtar was the only lesbian krewe. Artist, unknown. THNOC 1984.170.17_o3
Louisiana State Museum Collection
Flyer for a Krewe of Ishtar fundraiser. Designer unknown. 1980.177.1
Poster for the Krewe of Petronius, 1971. George Dureau, artist. 1995.010.123
Poster from the 2001 Petronius ball. The image was based on a 1926 photograph of Elmo Avet in costume. Henri Schindler, designer. Howard Smith. Courtesy of Louisiana State Museum. Accession number 2001.105.3
Invitation to the 2013 Fat Monday Luncheon. Founded in 1949, the Fat Monday Luncheon is the oldest gay Carnival institution in New Orleans. Artist unknown. 2013.014.8
Invitation to the 1985 Krewe of Amon Ra ball. Earl Woodard, designer. 2014.017.05
Contestants in the Bourbon Street Awards, date and photographer unknown. 2015.043.01
Invitation to the 1968 Krewe of Ganymede Ball. Artist unknown. 2015.046.04.1
Costume sketch design by Chet Bush for the 1983 Amon Ra ball. The costume was worn by Don Toler and called The Ringmaster. 2015.047
Contestant in the Bourbon Street Awards, date and photographer unknown. 2015.052.3
Krewe of Ganymede Captain Nick Donovan dressed as The Cobra, 1970. Photographer unknown. 2016.005.1.1
Olympus founder Lou Bernard as Morgan le Fay’s fairy attendant, 1971. Peggy Stewart Studios, photographer. 2016.005.2
Captain Jamie Greenleaf as Merlin for the Krewe of Olympus’ legendary Camelot Ball, 1971. Peggy Stewart Studios, photographer. 2016.017
2016.025.07
Bill McKenzie (seated) as returning Queen Petronius at the 1965 ball. On stage is Captain Brad Lysholm. Photographer unknown. 2016.026.02.5
Elmo Avet as Scarlett O’ Hara at the 1968 Petronius Ball. Photographer unknown. 2016.026.04.3
Joe Crews Collection at Louisiana State Museum.
In 2022, the Archives Project awarded a grant to the Louisiana State Museum to help acquire the Joe Crews collection, which consists of over 800 photographs of gay Mardi Gras from the 1950s to the 1970s. Learn more here.
Mardi Gras, 1965. Joe Crews, photographer.
Mardi Gras, 1966. Joe Crews, photographer.
Mardi Gras, 1973. Joe Crews, photographer.
1971. Nick Donovan as king and Gene Cheatham as queen from Olympus’ Camelot Ball at the Bourbon Street Awards. Joe Crews, photographer.
1971. Lee Brewster from New York City, who brought tour groups of transgender visitors to Mardi Gras for several years. Joe Crews, photographer.
Mardi Gras, 1963. Joe Crews, photographer.
Mardi Gras, 1965, outside Dixie’s. Joe Crews, photographer.
1965, outside Dixie’s, not Mardi Gras. Joe Crews, photographer.
Mardi Gras, 1968. Revelers watching the Bourbon Street Awards from Café Lafitte in Exile. Joe Crews, photographer.
Mardi Gras, 1968. Spectators watching the Bourbon Street Awards from the overhang at Café Lafitte. in Exile. Joe Crews, photographer.
1968, outside Lafitte’s, not Mardi Gras. Joe Crews, photographer.
