Soulie and Crassons

In 1922, New Orleans carnival designers Soulie and Crassons built an enormous white knight for the April Knights Templar convention. The team used thirty-five tons of clay in molding the horse and knight figures, which were ultimately assembled on Canal Street near the Maison Blanche building. The horse and rider alone were created in thirty separate papier-mâché pieces weighing more than 1800 pounds. The arch consisted of a wood frame sheathed in tin. Prior to erecting the 55' foot arch spanning the neutral ground, Soulie and Crassons developed a model that was exhibited in a nearby window display.

The firm was the most prestigious Carnival builder during the 1920s and 1930s. Staffed by carpenters, papier-mâché craftsmen and painters, Henry A. Soulie and Harry W. Crassons' business operated out of 2419 Calliope Street.

Image above:  "Erect Huge Mounted Figure of Knight Templar." Popular Mechanics (August 1922): p. 229.

Soldier-Builder

Reported by The Daily Picayune 3 June 1913:

"Joseph Thompson Kendall, an old Confederate soldier and builder of Carnival floats, died peacefully at the Soldiers' Home last night at 9:20 o'clock, after an illness of several weeks. A native of Grand Well, Miss., the deceased lived in the city practically all his life, and was noted for his skill as a builder, his work in that line and in the construction of Carnival floats having attracted wide attention. His first attempt at float building was several years ago, when the Phunny Phorty Phellows turned out, when he was said to have constructed all the floats in that parade."

Mardi Gras Architect Charles Briton (1841-1884)

On 3 July 1884, The New York Times and The Daily Picayune both reported the death of a noted New Orleans architect, artist and civil engineer:

"The remains of Charles Briton, the artist, were laid away in Greenwood Cemetery on Wednesday morning. The deceased was forty-three years of age, a native of Gothenberg Sweden, and a resident of this city for twenty years. No person of his kindred was nigh, but neither in life nor death was he neglected."

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"There was a strange history connected with Briton's life, and as he was very reticent few fathomed his secret. Among his effects was a uniform which he wore in Mexico as one of Prince Salm-Salm's regiment, under the ill-fated Maximilian. After the death of his chief he came to New York and then to New Orleans. His genius was immediately recognized. Ever since the various mystic organizations have been in existence Mr. Briton has drawn the designs from which the wagons were decorated and the designs ordered. Not alone to New Orleans was his work confined, but Cincinnati, Baltimore and other cities owe the success of their Carnival representations to Briton. . . By his death a master pencil is lost."

The Daily Picayune 03.07.1884. Via America's Historical Newspapers, an electronic database available through Tulane University Libraries. Henri Schindler has surveyed Briton's pageant designs as the first chapter in his Mardi Gras Treasures: Costume Designs of the Golden Age. Gretna: Pelican Publishing Company, 2002 and his Mardi Gras Treasures: Float Designs of the Golden Age. Gretna: Pelican Publishing Company, 2001.