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.
