Local

Photos: Look back at Mardi Gras through the years

Posted: Feb 12, 2015 / 06:11 PM CST

Updated: Feb 12, 2015 / 06:56 PM CST

Posted: Feb 12, 2015 / 06:11 PM CST

Updated: Feb 12, 2015 / 06:56 PM CST

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

A woman creates bubbles while standing on a float February 2, 2002 during the annual Krewe of Centaur Mardi Gras parade in Shreveport, Louisiana. This years parade honored New York City firefighters. (Photo by Mario Villafuerte/Getty Images)

Gene Vellia, Battalion Chief with the Fire Department of New York, flings beads into the crowd February 2, 2002 during the” Krewe of Centura” Mardi Gras parade in Shreveport, Louisiana. Vellia is assigned to Battalion 6 in Lower Manhattan and was one of several firefighters and detectives from New York City who were special guests at the parade. The parade honored the New York public service personnel who lost their lives during the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. (Photo by Mario Villafuerte/Getty Images)

Britney Spears and Carson Daly co-host the MTV Mardi Gras 2002 celebration in New Orleans, La., 2/5/02. Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS – FEBRUARY 24: Robert Monsted, Jr. (C), a business executive, gestures as he portrays Rex King of Carnival while New Orleans Mayor, Ray Nagin (Rear), stands in the background February 24, 2004 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Fat Tuesday celebrations draws a large crowd annually to the area. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

NEW ORLEANS – FEBRUARY 24: Crowds at a Mardi Gras carnival reach for beads while a Zulu float passes by February 24, 2004 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Fat Tuesday celebrations draws a large crowd annually to the area. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

circa 1926: Lon Chaney (1883 – 1930) and Polly Moran, film stars in Hollywood, purchase tickets for the first annual Mardi Gras and Ball run by the Motion Picture Make Up Artists Association. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

circa 1948: Lou Stoner of the Radio Aces prepares for the Mardi Gras masquerade at the Latin Quarter, New Orleans. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)

circa 1948: Thana Barclay prepares for the Mardi Gras masquerade in the Latin Quarter, New Orleans, with Lou Stoner of the Radio Aces. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)

circa 1948: A dance ensemble entertain guests at a masquerade in the Latin Quarter of New Orleans. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)

circa 1956: A float celebrating the life of John James Audubon (1785 – 1851), an American naturalist, ornithologist and artist at the New Orleans Mardi Gras in Louisiana. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)

circa 1956: A family in fancy dress dressed identically as Chinese mandarins at the Mardi Gras, in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)

circa 1956: A family in fancy dress dressed identically as clowns at the Mardi Gras, in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)

circa 1955: A group dressed in Mexican or Spanish costumes at the New Orleans Mardi Gras parade. The festivities take place in the week before Lent. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)

circa 1955: A group arrives at the New Orleans Mardi Gras dressed as characters from ‘The Wizard of Oz’ – the Wizard, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow and a young Dorothy. The festivities continue throughout the week before Lent. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)

circa 1955: Among the less spectacular of the costumes at the New Orleans Mardi Gras are these home-made tin foil balaclavas. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)

circa 1955: A float at the New Orleans Mardi Gras represents the biblical theme of Moses parting the Red Sea, while a marching band leads the procession. The festivities take place in the week before Lent. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)

circa 1955: A group of girls in sunflower costumes at the New Orleans Mardi Gras parade. The festivities take place in the week before Lent. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)

circa 1955: A man dressed as a pelican in a top hat and spectacles, at the New Orleans Mardi Gras parade. The festivities take place in the week before Lent. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)

circa 1955: Revelry in the streets of New Orleans during the annual Mardi Gras festival. (Photo by Three Lions/Getty Images)

It wouldn’t be Carnival in New Orleans without beads. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

NEW ORLEANS – FEBRUARY 7: Revelers push a broken-down float during the historic Proteus parade, founded in 1882, during Mardi Gras festivites February 7, 2005 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Festivities will continue all weekend, culminating with “Fat Tuesday” February 8th. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

NEW ORLEANS – FEBRUARY 7: A police officer looks on as a float passes during the historic Proteus parade, founded in 1882, during Mardi Gras festivites February 7, 2005 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Festivities will continue all weekend, culminating with “Fat Tuesday” February 8th. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

New Orleans, UNITED STATES: Mardi Gras participants throw beads from a float during the first day of Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans 18 February 2006. Mardi Gras parades began 18 February, boosting the mood in the city which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina six months ago. AFP PHOTO/Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

NEW ORLEANS – FEBRUARY 18: People on a float throw beads during the Pontchartrain Mardi Gras parade February 18, 2006 in the Garden District of New Orleans, Louisiana. New Orleans kicked off the Mardi Gras week with parades by several krewes. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

New Orleans, UNITED STATES: People lining Canal Street try to catch Mardi Gras beads along the parade route during the first day of Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans 18 February 2006. Mardi Gras parades began 18 February, boosting the mood in the city which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina six months ago. AFP PHOTO/Robyn BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

NEW ORLEANS – JANUARY 28: Mardi Gras style floats with women waving roll by during the pregame show before the San Francisco 49ers take on the Denver Broncos prior to Super Bowl XXIV at Louisiana Superdome on January 28, 1990 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The 49ers won 55-10. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)

NEW ORLEANS – JANUARY 28: Woman in Mardi Gras style costume looks on during the pregame show before the San Francisco 49ers take on the Denver Broncos prior to Super Bowl XXIV at Louisiana Superdome on January 28, 1990 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The 49ers won 55-10. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)

NEW ORLEANS – JANUARY 28: Mardi Gras style Showboat float with people dancing rolls by during the pregame show before the San Francisco 49ers take on the Denver Broncos prior to Super Bowl XXIV at Louisiana Superdome on January 28, 1990 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The 49ers won 55-10. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)

Lord Balfour with High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobego wearing traditional head dresses at the Mardi Gras in Port of Spain, September 13th 1965. (Photo by J. Wilds/Keystone/Getty Images)

WGNO Video

5 years later, boy’s murder in Seventh Ward remains …

Man accused of fatal Jefferson Parish hit-and-run

New Louisiana license plates showcasing the arts …

Gilbert Montaño to leave position as New Orleans …

Slight decline in Fentanyl deaths in St. Tammany, …

New Orleans police investigating two fatal shootings …

Meet our WGNO Intern from LSU: Lexie Ware

Where Y’at this Weekend

July 31, 2025, Top Headlines for New Orleans

NOPD investigating two fatal shootings near St. Roch …

White House Chef Serves Presidential Salad Bar in …

Residents react to IV Waste injunction