Twelfth Night Revelers
The Lord of Misrule first appeared on January 6, 1870 in a pageant depicting a Twelfth Night Revel. Eighteen floats and cavalcades paraded. At the tableau ball, a great Twelfth-Cake was cut and sliced. Some passed the cake on spears. Others threw slices to ladies in the boxes. The Gold Bean, a King Cake tradition, was lost and the Lord of Misrule was without a queen.
In 1871, a masker representing Santa Claus appeared in the street pageant. He distributed favors to the crowd, thereby inaugurating the practice of throwing trinkets from parades. Theme: Mother Goose's Tea Party
At the ball, Revelers ate from a Twelfth-Cake cut by the Lord of Misrule. The Golden Bean was drawn by Emma Butler, who became the Queen of a Carnival Ball.
In 1872, both a gold bean and silver one were drawn. The Gold and Silver Beans feature was a new thing. Theme: English Humor
The parade of 1873 featured gorgeous costumes portraying Audubon's feathered world. Theme: The World of Audubon
After the 1874 parade and ball, the Twelfth Nighters disappeared for a year. Theme: Dolliana and Her Kingdom
In 1876, the parade was reported to be spectacular. It was the last parade of the original club. Theme: The March of Ages
In 1878, no parade was conducted. A ball was held, with Catherine Buckner as queen. This custom of putting on a ball only has been followed by several carnival organizations since. Theme: A Twelfth Night Revel
1879 through 1883 - no balls
The organization was reorganized and the ball of 1884 featured Queen Alice Herndon and seven maids. Theme: The Kingdom of Flowers
In 1885, the court included Blanche Moulton as Queen and three maids. Theme: Domino
In 1886, Fannie Milliken was the queen. No records exist of the maids.
In 1887, Queen Lelia Bohn reigned with eight maids. Theme: Domino
1888 - Nothing
1889 & 1890 - Reorganized as the King's Own Royal Guard, members appeared as an escort to the King of the Carnival on Mardi Gras day. Theme: King's Own Royal Guard
In 1891, apparently a Royal Tournament was held at the Fair Grounds the Friday before Mardi Gras. Stephen of the Iron Hand won, thereby naming his sponsor, Nina Bisland, queen. The ball held the Monday before Mardi Gras, saw Rex crown the victorious knight. Also participating was the King's Own Royal Guard. Theme: Scenes From the Crusades
The successors to the King's Own Royal Guard, the Argonauts, held the tournament in 1892. Five events were conducted. The knight Thesus, won. He chose his sponsor, Josephine Maginnis as queen. Theme: Argonauts Tableau Ball Theme: Theseus the Victor
In 1893, the Argonauts celebrated at a tableau ball and chose Louise Minor as queen. Theme: Argonauts Tableau Ball Theme: The Arrival of the Argo
The Twelfth Night Revelers became the central group of the club, and put a ball on Twelfth Night. The gold and silver bean tradition was resumed in 1894. Maskers led their partners to the King's cake prepared by the Royal Bakers. The Gold Bean was drawn by Fanny Eshleman, who got the queen's crown. Married ladies and widows were precluded from participating. This tradion continued. Themes: (1894) A Twelfth Night Revel, (1895) Les Incroyables (1896) That Orbed Maiden with White Fire Laden
1897 - Theme: The Chrysanthemum
1898 - Theme: Minstrels of the Olden Time
1899 - Theme: The Realm of the Butterflies
1900 - Theme: The Four Seasons
1901 - Theme: The Palace of the Water Nymphs
1902 - Theme: The Birthnight of the Hummingbird
1903 - Theme: Pierrot Domino
1904 - Theme: Harlequin
1905 - Theme: A Night in Japan
1906 - Theme: The Cave of Magic
1907 - Theme: The Realm of Peace
1908 - Theme: The Court of Misrule
1909 - Theme: The Revels of the Gems
1910 - Theme: The Garden of the Gods
1911 - Theme: The Battle of the Flowers
1912 - Theme: The Butterfly
1913 - Theme: The Origins and Quaint Customs of Twelfth Night
1914 - Theme: Peer Gynt
1915 - Theme: The Great Chan and the Fairy Se Wang Moo
In 1916, a policy existed to select younger members. The organization became the first club to hold the ball at the Athenaeum. Theme: The Myth of the Gilded Man
1917 - Theme: Sheik-Al-Jabal
1920 - Three Gold Beans were drawn and the crowning of three Queens was conducted. The first time a carnival organization has done this. Theme: Scraps
1921 - Theme: The Rock-A-Bye Lady
1922 - Theme: Snow Queen
1923 - Theme: Ayesha
1924 - Theme: Masques-Music
1925 - Theme: Mah Jongg
1926 - Theme: A Christmas Frolic
1927 -Theme: The Queen of Sheba Visits the Court of King Solomon
1928 - Theme: The Queen of Apia
1929 - Theme: The Spirit of Carnival
1930 - Theme: Princess White Rose and the Aurora Borealis
1931 - Theme: A Fantastic Dream
1932 - Theme: The Coronation of the Peacock
1933 - Theme: Pierrots
1934 - Theme: The Emperor's New Clothes
1935 - Theme: The Court of Henry VII
1936 - Theme: The Peace of the Roses
1937 - The Queen of Twelfth Night and the Court of Misrule of 1936 were presented at the Ball of the Mystic Club. The splendor of Guatemala was the theme. They represented the Emperor and Empress of India and their cortege at the Sapphire Durban Hall in Delhi. Theme: Twelfth Night in India
1938 - Theme: A Reminiscence of Lafcadio Hearn
1939 - Theme: Night Dance in the Valley
1940 - Theme: Rho-dope
1941 - Theme: The Realm of Neptunes Rex
1946 - The 75th anniversary saw the Lord of Misrule presented as honored guests the holders of Gold and Silver Beans for the war years: 1942, 1943, 1944 and 1945. Each queen had three maids. Theme: Bride of the Rain God
1947 - Theme: The Lord of Misrule Honors the Victors of his Royal Tournament
1948 - Theme: In a Persian Vineyard
1949 - Theme: Bells in Comedy
1950 - The eightieth anniversary of the first appearance of the Twelfth Nighters saw the queens of former celebrations who were escorted to the Royal Box by members of the King's Own Royal Guard. Theme: A Northland Saga
1951 - No presentation
1952 - Theme: A Phantasy of Precious Stones
1953 - Theme: The Garden of Hesperides
1954 - Theme: In a Coral Wonderland
1955 - Britain's Queen Visits Bonnie Scotland
1956 - Theme: In the Realm of Cloudland