Vintage Mardi Gras Madness and The French Market

Yesterday was the culmination of the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans. Running from Twelfth Night (the last night of Christmas which begins Epiphany) to Ash Wednesday, Mardi Gras translates to Fat Tuesday in English. I’m waiting for someone to petition a name change to Voluptuous Tuesday, which would be Mardi Voluptueux.

To celebrate the historic Carnival celebration, here are a selection of my favorite vintage shots from celebrations gone by.



Do you see YOUR kid up here?



Although these images are over sixty years old, the costumes are still typical of what you’d see today.



So are the revelers.



A few vintage shots of the actual parade itself, which runs down Canal Street:





This one is from 1952:



In Disneyland news, it was announced last month that the French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square will be undergoing a transformation. Open from July 24, 1966 to the present, this New Orleans Square eatery featured cafeteria-style service with an outdoor seating area. Live music was often enjoyed here by the Delta Ramblers and other jazz groups. The Disney Blog announced the upcoming change on January 12:

Tiana’s Palace Coming to Disneyland Park Later this Year. Just as Tiana transformed an old sugar mill into her dream restaurant in the Walt Disney Animation Studios film, “The Princess and the Frog,” soon the French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square at Disneyland park will be reimagined into Tiana’s Palace! Tiana’s Palace will be the newest restaurant on Orleans Street. Within its peach-colored walls and fancy green wrought-iron balconies, you’ll find elegant fixtures and appointments reminiscent of Tiana’s life and friendships. The new Tiana’s Palace will have much of the same pinch of pizzazz and flair as the restaurant from the film, offering authentic New Orleans flavors inspired by Tiana’s friends and adventures in this quick-service style restaurant. While Tiana’s Palace is not a character dining location, guests may find Tiana in New Orleans Square. The menu at Tiana’s Palace will expand on many of the current favorites served in the location, explore seasonal flavors and, of course, offer some New Orleans classics. Tiana’s Palace is sure to be a gathering place for friends and family to enjoy great food and celebrate together, just like Tiana and her father James dreamed of. Disney Imagineers are partnering with Disney Animation artists from the original film to bring this story to life at Disneyland park. In fact, the film designers took inspiration from the exterior of the original French Market Restaurant in New Orleans Square when designing Tiana’s Palace for the movie, so this is a long-dreamt homecoming. To begin this work, French Market Restaurant (and Mint Julep Bar) will be closed beginning February 17, 2023, and will reopen as Tiana’s Palace (alongside Mint Julep Bar with its famous mint juleps and Mickey beignets) later in the year.

This will coincide with the Tiana overlay of Splash Mountain. Now Critter Country and New Orleans Square will overlap. Can Pooh be far behind on the chopping block? Here are some of my favorite vintage images of the French Market:



What a beautiful view!



That’s a lot of food…and a lot of hairspray for mom on the right! Note the sign in the background for the Delta Ramblers:



Here they are! They sure look pooped. But the show must go on.



A contemporary shot of the location at night:



Here is the concept art that has been released for the restaurant:



See more Disneyland French Market restaurant photos at my main website.

Vintage Canal Street

Two vintage views of Canal Street in New Orleans for today. The first one is from July 5, 1957. Looks like the photographer was standing at the corner of Canal and Bourbon. Note to self: next time in New Orleans, take the same picture!



Moving ahead to April 1964, it’s obvious that time has passed with the typical 60’s remodels of some of the storefronts. How about that honeycomb panel overhaul for the building at right? That’s modernization for you!



Of course I had to zoom into the streetcar:



See more New Orleans photos at my main website.

The Roosevelt New Orleans, Pt. 2

Back to the Roosevelt…no hotel post by Daveland would be complete without a hall shot. My room was gorgeous; spotless and perfectly appointed.



The perfect place to write a postcard home.



The furniture chosen was the perfect choice for this hotel.



A spacious bathroom, which is where I answered the call when the front desk called my room to make sure everything was ok. How's that for service?



Can't complain about the Salvatore Ferragamo products. Wow! I was living in luxury.



How about that rooftop pool? This area had some great views.



The Roosevelt also boasts a number of clubs and restaurants. Here's a shot of The Sazerac Bar, named after the infamous local cocktail.



Loved the murals by Paul Ninas; I don't know their origin but if they are new, somebody did a great job with the Depression-era styling and the smokey patina.



For the one night I had dinner while staying here I chose Domenica. It was an amazing meal.



The place was (not surprisingly) packed.



The Roosevelt is impressive from afar:



as well as up-close:



If you haven't booked your room yet, what are you waiting for?

More Roosevelt Hotel photos at my main website.

The Roosevelt New Orleans

On my visit to New Orleans last Spring, I had the pleasure of staying at The Roosevelt Hotel. This Waldorf Astoria property began life in 1893 as The Grunewald, as seen in this vintage postcard. The next two images show The Cave that is featured in the inset.



Apparently this subterranean supper club came complete with waterfalls, stalagmites, stalactites, glass topped tables and statues of gnomes and nymphs. Revues similar to the Ziegfeld Follies were presented on a nightly basis with chorus girls dancing to a Dixieland Jazz band. Unfortunately it closed in 1930. Sounds like a hoot to me.



The name of the hotel changed in 1923 to honor former President Theodore Roosevelt (sorry Franklin D., not for you). According to the hotel's website, a total of nine US Presidents have stayed here as well as the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley. During the filming of "King Creole" in 1957, Elvis and his entourage occupied the entire top floor of the hotel. To escape the fanatical crowd below, Elvis would climb through the window of an adjoining building, cross the roof, and enter the hotel via a fire escape.



The vintage car out front seemed very appropriate:



The lobby is spectacular. You can tell some money had been spent in the restoration of this place, as everything was immaculate.



Of course every Waldorf property has an interesting clock. The Roosevelt has this one, known as the Paris Exhibition Clock from 1867.



Just to the side of the entrance is the famous Blue Room, once a supper club that featured Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra. Today it is used as an event space.



Stay tuned for more of The Roosevelt New Orleans in tomorrow's post.

Get a more in-depth view of the Roosevelt New Orleans at my main website.

Vintage Mardi Gras, Pt. 2

More vintage New Orleans Mardi Gras photos (on the actual day that Mardi Gras is celebrated), beginning with three 1946 shots.

I'm not quite sure what this "hobo" has on his "Chicken Inspector" sign, but it might be part of a fraternity gag.



This sheik gives Rudolph Valentino a run for his money; his harem girls are very lovely!



This is why I have no desire to go to Mardi Gras. Wall-to-wall people. Get me a balcony, please!



How about these creative signs? "Alcoholics Unanimous," "Don't Laugh - Your Kid May Be Up Here!" and "Danger! Hangovers Under Construction."



In the float seen in this shot, The Prisoners of Love are wearing prison garb. Rubenstein's Department Store, visible in the background, is still in business and has been since 1924.



How are you celebrating Mardi Gras today?

See more vintage & current New Orleans photos from my collection on my New Orleans web pages.