Ball
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.
In recent decades, the Rex ball is held on one side of the Municipal Auditorium, while on the other half of the building at the same time, the Mistick Krewe of Comus (the oldest krewe), holds its ball. A rich tradition is that Comus (the monarch), extends an invitation to Rex and his queen to join him and his consort at the Comus ball. This is called the "Meeting of the Courts", and when the monarchs have all made their exits, the Captain of Comus literally 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 - the very end. The Municipal Auditorium was damaged during Hurricane Katrina, so for the past two years, the organizations have held their balls in the Sheraton and Marriott Hotels on Canal Street, rolling out a red carpet for the Rex court to cross Canal Street to attend the Meeting of the Courts.
Rex, 1904, on Canal Street, New Orleans
Rex, 1907 (?)
Read more about this topic: Rex Parade
Famous quotes containing the word ball:
“A ball players got to be kept hungry to become a big leaguer. Thats why no boy from a rich family ever made the big leagues.”
—Joe Dimaggio (b. 1914)
“Life ... is not simply a series of exciting new ventures. The future is not always a whole new ball game. There tends to be unfinished business. One trails all sorts of things around with one, things that simply wont be got rid of.”
—Anita Brookner (b. 1928)
“Eatings going to be a whole new ball game. I may even have to buy a new pair of trousers.”
—Lester Piggott (b. 1935)