Bacchus IV, Phil Harris
For its fourth parade on February 13, 1972, Bacchus began at 7:15 P.M., 15 minutes late, and followed the route it had laid out since its first parade. The theme for 1972 was Bacchus’s Book of Horrors. The States-Item wrote of the parade, “Bacchus, the god of wine and merriment, thundered into the French Quarter late last night and trundled out of the record crowds there well after midnight. Maskers on the mammoth, kinetic electric floats associated with Bacchus, shoveled seeming tons of doubloons, beads and giddiness to the throng.”
The Times-Picayune wrote, “The book (of horrors) unfolded float by float, with each page more fancifully horrible than the one before. The whole show was dedicated to the enjoyment of the people, and it was proclaimed so with float number one, ‘People, You’re No. 1 and We’re Glad You’re Here.’ What followed put a dark pall on even the ghostliness of imaginations. A gorilla led the procession. And he was followed by yet another such hairy beast, King Kong, who held a winsome lass in his clutches, just out of reach of rescuers.” King Kong was the largest in Carnival history standing two-and-a-half stories tall. An 18-year-old woman, the first to ride on a Bacchus float, Sandi Daigle, was dressed as Fay Wray in his hand.
What followed were a host of horror-themed floats. Following the parade, the floats, designed by Joe Barth, were on public display in the Rivergate on Lundi and Mardi Gras for a small fee, benefiting the New Orleans Policemen’s Fund. Children could have their photograph taken in King Kong’s hand.
Bacchus IV would be Phil Harris. Harris was a drummer, orchestra leader, vocalist, actor, comedian, radio personality, and the voice of animated characters. Born in Indiana but raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Phil Harris considered New Orleans his second home. His daughter Alice was married to Doug Regan, one of the original Bacchus 13 members, and Harris was good friends with the clarinetist Pete Fountain, (Bacchus XII) and local boxer Peter Herman. For nearly 20 years Harris helped to organize a golf tournament in New Orleans to benefit Christian Brothers Foundation. Harris enjoyed his reign as Bacchus so much he, like Nabors, would return to ride with the krewe.
Harris’s early music was recorded on the Victor, Columbia and Decca record labels. Harris would star in several movies during the 1940s and 1950s including the drama The High and the Mighty with John Wayne in 1954. Harris became the musical director for the radio program The Jell-O Show starring Jack Benny in 1936. Harris and his wife Alice Faye, co-hosted The Fitch Band Wagon radio show in 1946, which was later renamed the Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show. During the 1960s and 1970s, Harris made numerous guest appearances on television and was a voice for many characters in Walt Disney’s animated films. He was Baloo in The Jungle Book in 1967 singing the hit “The Bare Necessities,” Thomas O’Malley in The ArtistoCats in 1970, and Little John in Robin Hood in 1973.
What followed were a host of horror-themed floats. Following the parade, the floats, designed by Joe Barth, were on public display in the Rivergate on Lundi and Mardi Gras for a small fee, benefiting the New Orleans Policemen’s Fund. Children could have their photograph taken in King Kong’s hand.
Bacchus IV would be Phil Harris. Harris was a drummer, orchestra leader, vocalist, actor, comedian, radio personality, and the voice of animated characters. Born in Indiana but raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Phil Harris considered New Orleans his second home. His daughter Alice was married to Doug Regan, one of the original Bacchus 13 members, and Harris was good friends with the clarinetist Pete Fountain, (Bacchus XII) and local boxer Peter Herman. For nearly 20 years Harris helped to organize a golf tournament in New Orleans to benefit Christian Brothers Foundation. Harris enjoyed his reign as Bacchus so much he, like Nabors, would return to ride with the krewe.
Harris’s early music was recorded on the Victor, Columbia and Decca record labels. Harris would star in several movies during the 1940s and 1950s including the drama The High and the Mighty with John Wayne in 1954. Harris became the musical director for the radio program The Jell-O Show starring Jack Benny in 1936. Harris and his wife Alice Faye, co-hosted The Fitch Band Wagon radio show in 1946, which was later renamed the Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show. During the 1960s and 1970s, Harris made numerous guest appearances on television and was a voice for many characters in Walt Disney’s animated films. He was Baloo in The Jungle Book in 1967 singing the hit “The Bare Necessities,” Thomas O’Malley in The ArtistoCats in 1970, and Little John in Robin Hood in 1973.
Kong is Born
Phil Harris Presides Over A Horror Show
In a local interview about his reign as Bacchus, Harris said, “You know, I used to walk in Mardi Gras parades years ago, but I never thought I’d be up here on top. Imagine that—me as King of a Mardi Gras parade. Now that’s going, ain’t it.” Harris went on to say, “This Mardi Gras thing is something else. I came down to march with Pete Fountain, with his outfit – What do they call it—The Half-Fast Marching Club…But to sit up here on top and be King, well who’d ever thought of that.”
Pip and Dick were good friends with Phil: “Phil was full of life and fun. I mean he would come to town, and they would go out and have fun.”
While being fitted for his costume, designed by Youngblood, Harris quipped, “Man, look at this costume.” The costume was according to the designer was “a tunic top and cape in elaborately embroidered fabric. He wore gold gloves, tights and boots.” Youngblood recalled that Harris, a favorite Bacchus of his, was genuine, wonderful to work with, and joked with everyone.
At the Rendezvous, Harry James and his orchestra played for the krewe and their guests. Among James’s hits were “One O’clock Jump” (1938) and “Up a Lazy River” (1948). Phil Harris sang with James and his orchestra at the Rendezvous. James called out to Harris, “You never looked lovelier.” Harris replied, “Well, king or queen, I’m glad to be here.” After his reign, Harris proclaimed it was one of the best times of his life, and he returned to ride twice more, like Nabors. Harris’s wife Alice Faye was in attendance during his reign. Phil Harris died in 1995 in Rancho Mirage, California.
In a local interview about his reign as Bacchus, Harris said, “You know, I used to walk in Mardi Gras parades years ago, but I never thought I’d be up here on top. Imagine that—me as King of a Mardi Gras parade. Now that’s going, ain’t it.” Harris went on to say, “This Mardi Gras thing is something else. I came down to march with Pete Fountain, with his outfit – What do they call it—The Half-Fast Marching Club…But to sit up here on top and be King, well who’d ever thought of that.”
Pip and Dick were good friends with Phil: “Phil was full of life and fun. I mean he would come to town, and they would go out and have fun.”
While being fitted for his costume, designed by Youngblood, Harris quipped, “Man, look at this costume.” The costume was according to the designer was “a tunic top and cape in elaborately embroidered fabric. He wore gold gloves, tights and boots.” Youngblood recalled that Harris, a favorite Bacchus of his, was genuine, wonderful to work with, and joked with everyone.
At the Rendezvous, Harry James and his orchestra played for the krewe and their guests. Among James’s hits were “One O’clock Jump” (1938) and “Up a Lazy River” (1948). Phil Harris sang with James and his orchestra at the Rendezvous. James called out to Harris, “You never looked lovelier.” Harris replied, “Well, king or queen, I’m glad to be here.” After his reign, Harris proclaimed it was one of the best times of his life, and he returned to ride twice more, like Nabors. Harris’s wife Alice Faye was in attendance during his reign. Phil Harris died in 1995 in Rancho Mirage, California.