Mardi Gras Carnival 1898

Director: unknown | Production Country: United States | Year: 1898 | Production Company: American Mutoscope Company (United States)

Footage of the famous New Orleans Carnival, the Mardi Gras. The film was shot in 1898.
The American Mutoscope & Biograph Picture Catalogue stated: "This picture shows the following floats in the parade of 1899: Corn, Cherries, Coffee, Tea, Boeuf gras, King of the Carnival, Rex."

The US Library of Congress added Mardi Gras Carnival (1898) to the National Film Registry in 2022. Following an enquiry from the Louisiana State Museum earlier that year, Eye Filmmuseum had discovered that it had this film, with the oldest surviving moving images of the Mardi Gras parade in its collection. Another 150 films from the Mutoscope and Biograph Collection are awaiting further restoration.

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[drpete]

That was at the corner of St Charles and Poydras. The building across the street was at one time the Choctaw Club and was demolished in 1973 when Poydras was widened.

[Carizmojones]

Said not only to be the first film of the Mardi Gras ever made, but also the very first film of New Orleans period.! A remarkable document of history.

[scottgarver]

Absolutely stupendous ! As a native New Orleanian I am so moved and grateful for this superb footage. The REX parade on Mardi Gras is one of our most dearly beloved traditions !

[KiloBarb]

What makes it even better is the quality! A little scratchy, but otherwise about the best I've seen in movies from the 19th century. Both detail and exposure are excellent.

[johnglass]

Mind-blowing! 1898! I grew up in Mobile with Mardi Gras, and this is real history! It looks somewhat like today's Mardi Gras, which is kind of nice.

[Chordphrute]

Thank you so much for digitizing this footage, Eye Filmmuseum!

[nemesisut]

Fascinating... studying every person in this short film... behavior from that time, etc... what a great find!!

[mikedc]

SUPER COOL!!! Past resident of New Orleans and this is off the charts wonderful.

[cliffordpenn]

Happy Carnival Everyone! We’ve got an early Mardi Gras this year so it could be a cold one. This is a wonderful film, it brings back so many memories. As a kid I can remember my Mom packing up a cold fried chicken lunch and my family would spend the whole day on a neutral ground watching the parades. I’d have doubloons to trade and I used to sell the beads I’d catch. Another memory of being on my Dad’s shoulders at the Rex parade on Canal St, the rider called my Dad up and he gave me a toy car, I felt like Rex himself! Haha. Thanks for this film.

[JorgeLSantos]

The owners of this channel should write the year beside the title of this incredible rarity, it would attract way more attention.

[lisatoronto]

Made it into America's film vault - congratulations!

[TTTHC]

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[PatraGR]

What a fantastic piece of history! You made my day!

[vogthorstar]

Phenomenal footage! Thank you so much for sharing it 🙏

[JohnHowell-xguk]

Great footage! I'll be neck deep in it once again on 2/13/2024.

[ChineseGoddess]

Tsar Nicholas II was coronated just two years before this. I think history is really neat.

[funkyfeet]

What wonderful vintage footage to enjoy today on Fat Tues 2023!

[nubiandoll]

I find it hard to believe that this was 126 years ago 😯

[Slughi]

I wonder if we could figure out the drum beat from the marching band @ 1:10. Would be interesting to hear what they are marching to.

[TheDarkDresser]

When I see these very old clips and notice that one person is having a conversation with another, I often wonder what they were talking about.