The history of Mardi Gras ball fashion

GALVESTON — Dress to the nines and step back in time at a Mardi Gras ball this year.

The lavish events feature elaborate stage sets, top-drawer entertainment, pageantry and dramatic fashion feats. It shouts of shades of the 1800s.

“These were elements of the historic Mardi Gras of the 1800s,” said Dancie Ware, who will don an Egyptian-inspired chiffon print in deep henna colors in keeping with the “Arabian Knights” theme of the Knights of Momus coronation ball Saturday.

“They had extravagant set designs, dramatic themes and costumed guests.”

Ware was part of the research team when Galveston philanthropist George P. Mitchell set in motion a Mardi Gras revival in 1985.

She dug through archives in New Orleans to ferret out forgotten traditions and traveled the world to research themes.

Mitchell and his wife, Cynthia, worked with Ware to mold the renaissance, recreating a vintage Tremont Mardi Gras ball and oversaw construction of elaborate parade floats for the theme “The Age of Mythology.”

“We wanted it to appeal to all ages and ethnicities, based on the historical precedent,” Mitchell told a Texas Highways reporter several years ago. “Our goal was to create interest in the arts and culture and to bring tourism to Galveston.”

This year’s event is expected to draw more than 200,000 visitors. Many will head for balls where they’ll experience the grandeur of revived traditions including:

"Trompe l’oeil, or faux painting, to create elaborate backdrops to pageants

"Dramatic costumes. “Rather than typical cocktail attire, we encouraged fanciful headdresses, masks, costumes and ball gowns,” said Ware, who once wore an Eiffel Tower headdress to celebrate the Bicentennial of the French Revolution.

"Royal pageantry, with the crowning of King Frivolous, usually a man of stature and civic service in the community, and Queen of Momus. For the Knights of Momus coronation balls in the late 1800s, duchesses were brought in from around the state, including the daughters of Texas governors. Coronations took place at The Grand 1894 Opera House, which is the current location for the event.

"Themes that laid a foundation for elaborate balls and parades. Ware often would visit a selected country a year before the event to plan, bringing back artwork, music and dances. Theme countries included Italy, Brazil, France, Mexico and Japan.

In recent years, each krewe names its own theme, adding new twists to traditions spanning more than a century. “It changes every year,” Ware said.

“It makes it lively and fresh and certainly leaves a lot to everyone’s own imagination and own creativity.”

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Mardi Gras Balls

"The 55th annual Treasure Ball Royal Pageant, 7:30 p.m. Friday at Moody Gardens Expo C, 1 Hope Blvd., in Galveston. “A Salute to the City of New Orleans.” More than 70 Mardi Gras capes and costumes will be unveiled at the event, which benefits O’Connell College Preparatory School. Spectator Night is Thursday; tickets are $10 per person. The pageant and ball is Friday, with dinner and dance included; tickets are $100 per couple or $50 per person. Tickets available at the door. For information, call O’Connell School at 409-765-5534 or Charlyn Vaiani at 409-762-4401.

"Krewe of Thalasar Nautical Ball, 8 p.m. to midnight Friday at the Garten Verein, 2704 Ave. O, in Galveston. Tickets $65 per guest and include open bar, food and live entertainment. For information, e-mail kreweofthalasar(at)gmail.com.

"Krewe d’Esprit Rosaire Mardi Gras Ball, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday at Moody Gardens Expo Hall C in Galveston. “Let the Good Times Roll.” The event includes food, cash bar, dancing and music by a local DJ. Tickets are $25 or $200 for table of 10. For information, contact Cheryl Randle at 409-392-4962 or csrandle(at)utmb.edu.

"Krewe of Who Mardi Gras Ball, 7 p.m. to midnight March 4, at the Galveston Hilton Island Resort, 5400 Seawall Blvd., in Galveston. “Gaudy Gras — 20 years of Mardi Gras.” Live music by the Grateful Geezers Band. There will be a charity costume contest. Bring Mardi Gras-decorated umbrellas for the Second Line processional led by the king and queen. Guests are welcome but space is limited. Nonmembers pay at the door, $100 per person, subject to availability. For information, visit www.kreweofwho.com, or call Susan Bradley at 281-530-4783 or e-mail party(at)kreweofwho.com.

"15th annual San Luis Salute, 7:30 p.m. March 4 at Galveston Island Convention Center, Seawall Boulevard and 56th Street, in Galveston. “Midnight in Marrakech.” Entertainment will include the Pink Flamingos and the royal procession of the Knights of Momus court. The event benefits the University of Texas Medical Branch Department of Anesthesiology and honors Dr. Donald S. Prough, professor and chair, Department of Anesthesiology. For ticket prices and information, call Michelle Beckwith or Kim Schultz at 409-744-1500 or e-mail mbeckwith(at)ldry.com.

"Tremont House 27th annual Mardi Gras Ball and Parade Viewing Party, 6 p.m. March 5., 2300 Ship’s Mechanic Row, in Galveston. “The Enchantment of India.” Tickets $200 per person and include an Indian cuisine buffet, Indian cultural dancers and drummers, Houston DJ Yogi-G and live music by Houston’s Eclipse and the Dr. Michael White Jazz Quartet of New Orleans. Prime viewing of the Knights of Momus Grand Night Parade will be provided in an exclusive gated area. A portion of the proceeds from the ball will benefit the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation, a nonprofit focused on furthering education and village development in rural India. For information, call 409-763-0300. Tickets are available online at galveston.com/mardigrasball.

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Mardi Gras Themes Through The Years

"“The Pleasures of the Imagination” was the theme in 1872 when the newly constructed Tremont Opera House was decorated with hundreds of caged canaries for the evening ball.

"“The Age of Mythology” in 1985 featured parade floats constructed in New Orleans and brought in by barge. A large crowd lined up for blocks to watch the arrival of gigantic heads of Zeus, Poseidon, Hermes, Aphrodite and Apollo at Pier 21.

"“Mexico Magnifico” featured construction of a giant piñata that was three stories high.

"“Viva Espana!” included the symbolic courtship and wedding of the Statue of Liberty and the Columbus Monument, with the bride wearing a 100-foot wedding gown from Paris and a magical Mummer’s cape from Philadelphia in the shape of the Liberty Bell. Replicas of the ships, the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa Maria visited Galveston harbor.

"“Carnevale di Venezia” featured a 40-member chorus of the Houston Grand Opera dressed in black capes, black Venetian masks and headdresses, parading The Strand singing Italian arias.

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Mardi Gras Live Entertainment

A series of bands will entertain on two stages within the entertainment district during Mardi Gras Galveston. Some of the live performances include:

Friday

"Live Prformance from The Line Up, 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (Budweiser Stage, 23rd Street and The Strand)

The Line Up has been the premier band on the Island for more than a decade and a real treasure for the local music scene.

"Live Performance from Fred Andrews & Honeybrowne, 11:30 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. (Budweiser Stage)

Fred Andrews & Honeybrowne has made its mark on the Texas music scene and beyond by going song by song, gig by gig, album by album and “Mile By Mile,” as the title of the band’s latest CD declares.

Saturday

"Live Performance from the Neon Trees, 10 p.m. (Budweiser Stage)

After kicking off 2011 with a European tour, Neon Trees will make a stop in Galveston for a headline performance at Mardi Gras Galveston.

The tunes of Neon Trees include a combination of slick pop hooks and sturdy organic rock, both melodic and hard-hitting.