Krewe of Arabi

Mardi Gras Day

February 26, 1963


I came across these photos while scanning my mom's photo collection which she brilliantly evacuated with her during hurricane Katrina (my childhood home in Gentilly had water 4 inches above the ceiling!).   They are fascinating in that so much detail can be extracted from them even though the only writing on them was a printed month and year.   A picture truly is worth a thousand words!  Also included below are newspaper articles (from the N.O. Public Library) on the parade that confirm that this was indeed the Krewe of Arabi.

I can identify 2 businesses, Bill's Food Store and Greiner Auto Parts.   From the 1963 phone book (also from the N.O. Public Library), that puts the location at the corner of St Claude Av and St Ferdinand St.   My grandparents lived up the street on St Ferdinand, so I'm sure we set foot from their house.   I was barely 2 years old at the time.   The last 2 photos are of me and my family.   My grandmother made us all clown costumes that year.