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The Rex Organization (founded 1872),<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> commonly referred to simply as Rex, is a New Orleans Carnival krewe which stages one of the city's most celebrated parades on Mardi Gras Day. Rex is Latin for 'king', and Rex reigns as "The King of Carnival".
History and formationEdit
Rex was organized by New Orleans businessmen in part to put on a spectacle in honour of the New Orleans visit of Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia (remembered locally as "Grand Duke Alexis") during the 1872 Carnival season. Also in the minds of the founders of Rex was the desire to lure tourism and business to New Orleans in the years after the American Civil War.
Rex has held more parades in New Orleans than any other parading organization. Its official song is "If Ever I Cease to Love", a quirky tune from the 1870s musical Bluebeard.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> This was adopted because the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia had a fondness for Lydia Thompson, the actress who sang the song in the musical, which was playing in New Orleans at the time of the first Rex parade in 1872.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It has stuck around since then and is played often during Carnival.
MembershipEdit
Traditionally, the secretive membership was restricted to New Orleans residents of European ancestry for most of its history, typically being elected from the membership rolls of The Boston Club including the first Rex, Louis Solomon, a Jewish businessman. However, in 1991 the New Orleans city council passed an ordinance that required social organizations, including Mardi Gras krewes, to certify publicly that they did not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, in order to obtain parade permits and other public licensure. In effect, the ordinance required these, and other, private social groups to abandon their traditional code of secrecy and identify their members for the city's Human Relations Commission. The Mistick Krewe of Comus (along with Momus and Proteus, other 19th century Krewes) withdrew from parading rather than identify its membership. Rex decided to comply with the new ordinance, rather than disappear from the main event of Mardi Gras Day. Two federal courts later declared that the ordinance was an unconstitutional infringement on First Amendment rights of free association and an unwarranted intrusion on the privacy of the groups subject to the ordinance.<ref>The decision of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals appears at volume 42, page 1483 of the Federal Reporter (3rd Series), or 42 F.3d 1483 (5th Cir. 1995).</ref> The Supreme Court refused to hear the city's appeal from this decision. While the Krewe of Proteus returned to parading in 2000, the Mistick Krewe of Comus and the Knights of Momus have not since been seen.
The Rex organization and the Mistick Krewe of Comus still hold their annual balls together on Mardi Gras night.
ParadeEdit
Rex assembles floats using techniques that have spanned generations, entirely by hand. Contrary to popular belief, Rex floats are not built over Civil War-era cotton wagons; they are instead built on wagons formerly employed by the City of New Orleans to collect refuse in the late 19th century.
The Rex parade is put on by The School of Design.
Since 1971, the parade has started at the corner of Napoleon Avenue and South Claiborne Avenue, proceeding south (river bound) on Napoleon to St. Charles Avenue, then east (downtown bound) on St. Charles to Canal Street. Unlike some other old-line krewes, Rex's route never went through the French Quarter prior to the city's ban on parades in the Vieux Carre which took effect in 1973.
Parade themesEdit
The theme for each year's parade is decided more than a year in advance, and as soon as the parade is over on Mardi Gras Day, float artists begin work on the next year's parade. It takes thousands of man hours to create an entirely new parade, and it is for this reason, as well as the organization's commitment to its history and traditions, that many consider the Rex parade to be the highlight and most beautiful sight of New Orleans carnival.
Parade themes tend to cover themes related to mythology, ancient kingdoms, and Louisiana.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
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Royal courtEdit
One member of the Rex Organization is each year chosen to be the monarch of the organization; he is often incorrectly referred to by the (technically redundant) phrase "King Rex". The correct title is simply "Rex". The identity of Rex is made public on Lundi Gras, the day before Mardi Gras. Rex is always a prominent person in the city, one who is usually involved in several philanthropic and civic causes. Being chosen Rex is one of the highest civic honors a person can receive in New Orleans.Template:Citation needed The Mayor of New Orleans traditionally hands over the key to the city of New Orleans to Rex for Mardi Gras Day.
A consort is also chosen each year for Rex and she is titled the "Queen of Carnival". The queen is always a debutante of the current season. Like Rex, the queen is chosen in the spring of the previous year, and must keep her identity secret until Lundi Gras.
Ball & Meeting of the CourtsEdit
In addition to its famous parade, the Rex Organization also holds a private ball for its membership and invited guests on Mardi Gras night. In the 1950s, this ball made headlines when the Duke and Duchess of Windsor bowed down to Rex and the Queen of Carnival.
Pre Hurricane Katrina, the Rex ball was held on one side of the Municipal Auditorium, while on the other half of the building at the same time, the Mistick Krewe (the oldest krewe), holds its ball and was a more veiled affair.
Since Hurricane Katrina, the organizations have held their balls in the Sheraton and Marriott Hotels downtown. The rich tradition that Comus, ruler of the Mistick Krewe, extends an invitation to Rex and his queen to join him and his consort at the ball of the Mistick Krewe has been on public display on Canal Street, where a red carpet is rolled out. The court of The Rex Parade joins by invitation that of the senior krewe and the event is called The Meeting of the Courts, then when the monarchs have all made their exits, the Captain of the Mistick Krewe closes the curtain on the Carnival season. This event is televised live locally (and to selected areas outside of the city) – and many New Orleanians stay up to watch despite their weariness – until the very end.
Le Boeuf GrasEdit
In early Mardi Gras celebrations parades would include a live ox or {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} ('fattened ox'). The ox represented the last meat to be eaten before the beginning of Lent.
The first appearance of {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} in a modern parading krewe was the Mistick Krewe 1867 parade entitled "Triumphs of Epicurus" including masked and costumed krewemen representing food and beverages with {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} included.
A {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} was included in the first Rex parade decorated with garland and ribbons directly behind Rex. Legend has it that Old Jeff, a stockyard bull from Arabi, was used in later years.
In 1900 {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} was taken out of the Rex parade as it was thought outsiders to traditional Mardi Gras would not understand. By proclamation from Rex usage of a live ox "was not in harmony with the beautiful displays which are produced in this era and (it) must be relegated to the past."
In 1959 Rex issued another proclamation announcing the return of {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}, spelled 'boeuf gras', as a papier-mâché float design.
Today, {{#invoke:Lang|lang}} is the fourth float in the Rex parade and is surrounded by masked krewemen costumed as butchers and bakers, many of whom are past kings of Carnival.
Pro Bono PublicoEdit
Since its founding in 1872, a few years after the civil war, Rex has constantly held itself to a tradition of public service. The Rex motto, "Pro Bono Publico" (for the public good)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> was adopted during this time, and continues to define the organization's commitment to service.
Following Hurricane Katrina, Rex organized a series of community service initiatives in 2006 under the banner "Operation Pro Bono Publico." The efforts of Rex targeted specific community needs such as support for police and other first responders, an organized clean-up effort of the Uptown parade route after Mardi Gras, as well as continued efforts to support New Orleans' Charter Schools.<ref>"A Tradition of Service (Pro Bono Publico)" Template:Webarchive</ref>
Mardi Gras ColorsEdit
Rex established purple, green, and gold as the official colors of Mardi Gras in 1892. The three colors symbolize justice, faith, and power.
GalleryEdit
BulletinEdit
- Rex parade 1890 - The Picayune.jpg
1890 Rulers of Ancient Times
- Rex Parade 1895 Picayune Bulletin New Orleans Mardi Gras.jpg
1895 Chronicles of Faery Land/Fantastic Tales for Young & Old
- New Orleans Mardi Gras - 1899 Rex Parade Picayune Bulletin.jpg
1899 Revelries of Rex
- 1903-Mardi-Gras-Carnival-Bulletin-New-Orleans-Parade2.jpg
1903 Fetes and Feasts
Floats and CostumesEdit
- Rex parade New Orleans Mardi Gras 1875 01.jpg
1875
- Rex parade New Orleans Mardi Gras 1875 03.jpg
1875
- Rex parade New Orleans Mardi Gras 1875 02.jpg
1875
- Rex parade New Orleans Mardi Gras 1875 04.jpg
1875
- Rex parade New Orleans Mardi Gras 1875 05.jpg
1875
- Rex parade New Orleans Mardi Gras 1875 06.jpg
1875
- Rex parade New Orleans Mardi Gras 1875 07.jpg
1875
- Rex parade New Orleans Mardi Gras 1875 08.jpg
1875
- Rex parade New Orleans Mardi Gras 1875 09.jpg
1875
- Rex parade New Orleans Mardi Gras 1875 10.jpg
1875
- Rex parade New Orleans Mardi Gras 1875 11.jpg
1875
- Rex parade New Orleans Mardi Gras 1875 12.jpg
1875
- Rex parade New Orleans Mardi Gras 1875 13.jpg
1875
InvitationEdit
- Rex Ball, Mardi Gras 1877.jpg
1877
- Rex Ball Invitation New Orleans Mardi Gras 1879.jpg
1879 Admittance Card
- Rex Ball Invitation 1880 A.jpg
1880
- Rex Ball Invitation 1880 B.jpg
1880
- Rex Mardi Gras 1881 Invitation Art.jpg
1881
- Mardigras 1882 Rex card.jpg
1882
- Rex Ball Invitation - New Orleans Mardi Gras 1889.jpg
1889
- Rex Ball Invitiation 1894.jpg
1894
- Rex Ball Invitation - New Orleans Mardi Gras 1895 01.png
1895
- Rex Ball Invitation - New Orleans Mardi Gras 1895 02.png
1895
- Rex Ball Admit Mardi Gras 1923.jpg
1923 Admittance Card
- REX Mardi Gras Ball Admit 1924 (1).jpg
1924 Admittance Card
- Rex Ball Invitation Mardi Gras 1932.jpg
1932 Admittance Card
- Rex Admit Card New Orleans Mardi Gras 1920.jpg
1920 Admittance Card
- Rex admit card New Orleans Mardi Gras 1949 (male).jpg
1949 Admittance Card
- New Orleans Mardi Gras 1950 Rex admit card - 01.jpg
1950 Admittance Card
- New Orleans Mardi Gras 1950 Rex admit card - 02.jpg
1950 Admittance Card
- Rex Ball Admit New Orleans Mardi Gras 1956.jpg
1956 Admittance Card
- New Orleans Mardi Gras 1971 - Rex ball invite - female.jpg
1971 Admittance (F)
- New Orleans Mardi Gras 1971 - Rex ball invite - male.jpg
1971 Admittance (M)
- Rex Mardi Gras 1976 - Invitation.jpg
1976
ParadeEdit
- Rex Arrives on Horseback 1873 Scribners.jpg
1873
- New Orleans 1879 Rex FrankLeslie'sIllustrated.jpg
1879
- The "Rex" pageant, Mardi Gras Day, New Orleans, La. LCCN93508483.jpg
1907
- Rex Parade Brass Band 1908 Mays Drugs Godchauxs.jpg
1908
- Rex 1959 Jambalaya Mardi Gras New Orleans.jpg
1959
- New Orleans - Tulane Jambalaya 1969 - King Rex and Dukes.jpg
1969 King & Dukes
ProclamationEdit
- Rex Parade 1872.jpg
1872
- New Orleans Mardi Gras 1912 - Rex Duke Proclamation.jpg
1912
- Rex Proclamation New Orleans Mardi Gras 1924.jpg
1924
- Rex Queen Proclamation - New Orleans Mardi Gras 1947.jpg
1947
- Rex Proclamation, New Orleans Mardi Gras 1977.jpg
1977
TableauEdit
- Rex 1912 on throne with son.jpg
George W. Clay was Rex, king of Carnival, in 1912, and his son, George W. Clay Jr., was a page.
- Rex Monarchs New Orleans Mardi Gras 1915.jpg
New Orleans Mardi Gras, 1915. King and Queen of Rex, enthroned flanked by pages. "Rex, King of Carnival" was Ernest L. Jahncke. His Queen was Miss Sadie Downman. The pages were Masters Paul Jahncke Jr. and Rueben Bush.
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- Rex Organization Official Site