[1938 MOBILE ALABAMA HOME MOVIE AZALEA TRAIL, MARDI GRAS PARADE KNIGHTS OF REVELRY]

Genre: home movie

Year Published: 1938

Description: Shot in 1938, this amateur shot home movie shows a glimpse of life and culture in Mobile, Alabama, including the city’s "Azalea Trail", an expansive network of azalea lined streets and public gardens spanning the city, and the annual Mardi Gras parade. While Mardi Gras is commonly attributed to New Orleans, Frenchman Nicholas Langlois began the tradition in Mobile in 1703 -- making this the city's 107th Mardi Gras parade. The parades feature elaborate floats, costumed guests, marching bands and traditions of throwing beads, moon pies and doubloons into the crowd. It grew into a significant cultural event and source of community identity for Mobile. The filmmaker captures the beauty of Mobile’s landscape and architecture comprised of colonial revival style. It portrays the style of the 1930’s as locals dress up in hand made costumes for the event. (0:00) Azalea pink and red blossoms dot leaves of Mobile’s famed Azalea Trail. Mobile’s Junior Chamber of Commerce began the project in 1929. Azaleas litter the ground (:16), accent a bridge (:20) and spot rocky terrain (:28). A young boy smiles next to flowers (1:06). Profile shots capture an older woman’s short smile amidst a wall of azaleas (1:44). Large red clusters contrast white art deco buildings in the rear (2:20). Footage sweeps colonial revival style residences (2:35) accented by azaleas. A pair of women (2:44) and a child in white pose (5:21). Murphy’s High School off S. Carlen St. built in 1926 follows (5:51). Title cards indicate the start of the 107th Mardi Gras celebration and the floral parade (6:23). The floral parade is a kid friendly portion comprised of heavily decorated vehicles. The marching band marches (6:27). A large white and pink float (6:41) precedes members of the Buccaneer Yacht Club (7:06). Footage of covered floats and vehicles (7:21) continues interjected by shots of the marching band (7:17). It transitions to the Knights of Revelry Parade on Mardi Gras Day in Bienville Square (8:16). The Knights of Revelry are a historic Mardi Gras parading society founded in 1874. The square is a favored park of Mobile’s historic downtown. Floats arrive (8:24) as Mardi Gras celebrators fill the grounds (8:31). Youth in costumes and face masks hold balloons (8:43). A toddler stands in a yellow and green leotard (8:54). A triage poses (9:02). A man appears in ‘black face’ highlighting the city’s seedy history of racism (9:22). A float topped with a silver moon (9:46) passes a McCroy’s five and dime store. Five and dimes were prominent chain stores especially following the Great Depression. A grim skeleton head stands atop another float (9:58). A section features a local family including siblings Betty Jo and Annie Ruth Wilson; members of the Leinkauf Elementary School Court (10:17). The girls pose in handmade costumes in the living room (11:08). Their parents join the shot (11:23). Dark footage lit by torch and lantern features the Infant Mystics Parade (11:36). The Infant Mystics brought the electric float to Mobile in 1929. The first doubloons were cast by the Mystics. It is relevant to note, the New Orleans’ Krewe is molded after Mobile’s Mystics. A renaissance knight (11:39) passes shop signs. A mystic under a macabre mask dances atop a float (11:47). Crowds thump over dark streets (11:52). A sign (12:00) announces the arrival of ‘the dragon of the moon’ (12:01). Mystics in ghastly makeup (12:06) toss throws into the crowd. The festival of lanterns (12:16), the magic turtle (12:27), the silk industry float (12:55) and the temple of gates float (13:06) follow.

Complete Record: Shot in 1938, this amateur shot home movie shows a glimpse of life and culture in Mobile, Alabama, including the city’s "Azalea Trail", an expansive network of azalea lined streets and public gardens spanning the city, and the annual Mardi Gras parade. While Mardi Gras is commonly attributed to New Orleans, Frenchman Nicholas Langlois began the tradition in Mobile in 1703 -- making this the city's 107th Mardi Gras parade. The parades feature elaborate floats, costumed guests, marching bands and traditions of throwing beads, moon pies and doubloons into the crowd. It grew into a significant cultural event and source of community identity for Mobile. The filmmaker captures the beauty of Mobile’s landscape and architecture comprised of colonial revival style. It portrays the style of the 1930’s as locals dress up in hand made costumes for the event. (0:00) Azalea pink and red blossoms dot leaves of Mobile’s famed Azalea Trail. Mobile’s Junior Chamber of Commerce began the project in 1929. Azaleas litter the ground (:16), accent a bridge (:20) and spot rocky terrain (:28). A young boy smiles next to flowers (1:06). Profile shots capture an older woman’s short smile amidst a wall of azaleas (1:44). Large red clusters contrast white art deco buildings in the rear (2:20). Footage sweeps colonial revival style residences (2:35) accented by azaleas. A pair of women (2:44) and a child in white pose (5:21). Murphy’s High School off S. Carlen St. built in 1926 follows (5:51). Title cards indicate the start of the 107th Mardi Gras celebration and the floral parade (6:23). The floral parade is a kid friendly portion comprised of heavily decorated vehicles. The marching band marches (6:27). A large white and pink float (6:41) precedes members of the Buccaneer Yacht Club (7:06). Footage of covered floats and vehicles (7:21) continues interjected by shots of the marching band (7:17). It transitions to the Knights of Revelry Parade on Mardi Gras Day in Bienville Square (8:16). The Knights of Revelry are a historic Mardi Gras parading society founded in 1874. The square is a favored park of Mobile’s historic downtown. Floats arrive (8:24) as Mardi Gras celebrators fill the grounds (8:31). Youth in costumes and face masks hold balloons (8:43). A toddler stands in a yellow and green leotard (8:54). A triage poses (9:02). A man appears in ‘black face’ highlighting the city’s seedy history of racism (9:22). A float topped with a silver moon (9:46) passes a McCroy’s five and dime store. Five and dimes were prominent chain stores especially following the Great Depression. A grim skeleton head stands atop another float (9:58). A section features a local family including siblings Betty Jo and Annie Ruth Wilson; members of the Leinkauf Elementary School Court (10:17). The girls pose in handmade costumes in the living room (11:08). Their parents join the shot (11:23). Dark footage lit by torch and lantern features the Infant Mystics Parade (11:36). The Infant Mystics brought the electric float to Mobile in 1929. The first doubloons were cast by the Mystics. It is relevant to note, the New Orleans’ Krewe is molded after Mobile’s Mystics. A renaissance knight (11:39) passes shop signs. A mystic under a macabre mask dances atop a float (11:47). Crowds thump over dark streets (11:52). A sign (12:00) announces the arrival of ‘the dragon of the moon’ (12:01). Mystics in ghastly makeup (12:06) toss throws into the crowd. The festival of lanterns (12:16), the magic turtle (12:27), the silk industry float (12:55) and the temple of gates float (13:06) follow.