Tucks began in 1969 as a group of Loyola University students applied for a parade permit. The club takes its name from Friar Tuck's, an Uptown New Orleans local gathering hole and pub, where two college students decided to create their own Carnival krewe after unsuccessfully trying to become white flambeaux carriers. The parade has grown from a small nighttime parade of pick-up trucks and boats pulled on trailers, into a procession of major proportions. In 1983 the parade became a daytime event and in 1986 the parade route finally stretched to downtown. Past Grand Marshals include a person sporting a Bart Simpson costume,[1] film-maker Spike Lee[2] and members of the New Orleans Saints.[3] Past Kings include John Candy and Eugene Levy. Notable riders have included The Blues Brothers, WWF Wrestlers, MTV's: The Real World New Orleans Cast and Rob Dyrdek, from MTV's fantasy factory.
Membership
Krewe of Tucks admits both men and women stating the only requirement for membership is a desire to put on a magnificent show for the crowds. Even though the club has grown in size and stature with 1800+ riders, Tucks has not lost its sense of humor and maintains an "Animal House" reputation.
Parade
The Krewe of Tucks parades during New Orleans Mardi Gras, on the Saturday before Mardi Gras. The parade begins on Napoleon Avenue parading down St. Charles Avenue and ends on Canal Street where the post-parade blowout, the Tucks Extravaganza, kicks into high gear.
Parade themes
Krewe of Tucks parade themes are known for irreverence and satire. Floats, including the King's Throne, a giant toilet, as well as the Queen of Tucks, surrounded by her maids dressed in "French Maid" fashion.
2024 Tucks Faces the Music
2023 Tucks Can’t Drive 55
2022 Tucks Razes the Bar
2020 Tucks Hits the Sweet Spot
2019 Tucks Gets Sick
2018 50 Shades of Gold (50th Anniversary)
2017 Tucks Happens
2016 Tucks in the Hood
2015 Krewe of Tucks Saves the Day
2014 Livin’ the Sportin' Life
2013 Tucks Uncovers History
2012 Tucks Gets Culture
2011 iTucks: What's APPening
2010 Tucks Faces Reality
2009 Cone of Horrors - Tucks, The Mother of all Parades
2008 Tucks Tops Faughty and Still Naughty
2007 Tucks Knows What It Means To Miss New Orleans
2006 Tucks Characters, No Rhyme or Reason
2005 Tucks Premieres THE BIG EASY SINerama
2004 New Orleans Politics, A Mardi Gras Fairy Tale
2003 Tucks Smells Something Fishy In New Orleans
2002 Tucks Does The Wild Thing
2001 Toys For Tucks
2000 Tucks Official Book of Mardi Gras
1999 Tuck's New Orleans Style
1998 Tuck’s 30 ‘Note’torious Off-Key Years
1997 Tucks Rolls the House
1996 Lose-iana Down the Tube
1995 Little City Hall of Horrors
1994 It's A Tucks World After All (A Dizzy Animation)
1993 Tucks on a Silver Platter
1992 The World Is Our Playground
1991 Only in New Orleans
1990 No Pun Intended
1989 Ghost of a Chance
1988 Tucks Time Machine (Boats to Floats)
1987 Tucks On Vacation
1986 Mardi Gras' Biggest Party
1985 Louisiana Lifestyles and Legends
1984 Cajun Creatures With All That Jazz
1983 The Greatest Show on Earth
1982 Tucks in Reverse
1979 Tucks Goes to the Movies
1978 Tucks Discovers Winter Wonderland
1977 Tucks in Outer Space
1976 A Salute to the Zoo (The Zoo Revue)
1975 Bayou Boogie
1974 American Graffiti
1973 My Ding-A-Ling
1972 Phi Kappa Theta Presents the Krewe of Tucks
1971 Acid Rock!
1970 Rock Bottom (Top of Nothing, Bottom of Everything)
1969
Iconic floats
Ye Royal Out House
Ye Royal Bath is the only float in Mardi Gras with a giant functioning slide into a giant hot-tub
The Funky Tucks is a 3-Float tandem which boasts cages flocking each corner of the float with Cage Dancers inside.
The Tucksedeauxs is an art deco float designed as a giant champagne bottle pouring bubbles into a Krewe of Tucks goblet with dancing ladies.
Trinkets, collectables, masks, and beads tossed by hand from riders of the floats are called throws. Collectible throws include the Tucks emblem beads, stuffed animals, signature beads, light-up medallion beads, custom print go-cups, three different types of doubloons, stuffed toilet paper doll, toilet sunglasses, and hand decorated toilet bowl brushes.
Leading up to parade day Krewe of Tucks hosts several events, fundraisers, and community service projects throughout the city for members to attend. Most notably, the Tucks has partnered with Magnolia Community Services, an organization and school dedicated to helping special needs students work with Tucks in designing Signature Throw Items.[4] In 2017, the students from Magnolia created over 10,000 hand decorated Plungers which went into the hands of all Mardi Gras Revilers on parade day.
Tucks Extravaganza
Tucks Extravaganza is a post-parade party inside the Marriott Grand Ball Room on Canal street that includes live music, food, drink, and dancing. It is open to the public by paid admission and attire is costumed (preferred) or casual.
Tucks Coronation
Tucks Coronation Ball is a Carnival ball to crown the new king and queen for the upcoming parade. The court is composed of maids from each float, who costume as French Maids. This ball has taken place at several downtown hotels over the years, such as the Marriott, Sheraton and Hyatt Regency, and includes live music, food, drink, and dancing. Some unique features of the Coronation Ball include Al ‘Carnival Time’ Johnson singing several of his hits with the live band and having a high school marching band leading the Coronation parade, which includes hand-pulled floats, around the ballroom.
In 2018 the Krewe of Tucks celebrated its 50th anniversary. Included in the celebration was the creation of 4 new floats as well as an animated TUCKS 50th anniversary signature float.[7]
References
^"For Silver Celebration, Tucks 'Lov-A-Da Music". The Times-Picayune. 1993-02-21. p. D7.