Know your krewes

By MICHAEL CANNING and OLIVIA GIFFORD
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 1, 2002

SIRENS OF THE GOLDEN SABRE

New krewes, old questions In the 10 years since public pressure forced Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla to integrate, new, more diverse krewes have joined its parade. But how much really has changed?

Founded 2001; 49 women. Gimmick: Based on the mythical sea beauties that hlured wayward sailors to their doom. Getup: These nautical femme fatales disguise themselves with the outfits of their pirate victims. Their float is a gold, red and black barge.

SOCIAL ORDER OF THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN

Founded 2001; 28 men and women. Gimmick: Krewe's namesake was a wealthy Titanic survivor who became a celebrity after the sinking. Getup: early 1900s evening, sports and day wear of the wealthy. An iceberg tows the float, which features a replica of the Titanic's grand staircase.

THEE ROYAL KREWE OF LADY KILLIGREW

Founded 2001; 60 women. Gimmick: Inspired by 16th century royal pirate Killigrew, who was eventually jailed by Queen Elizabeth I. Getup: Velvet bodices and organza gowns. Float depicts tall ship of the era.

KREWE OF YBOR

Founded 2000; 70-80 men and women. Gimmick: Dedicated to the preservation of Ybor's cultural diversity. Getup: Black vests embroidered with the seal of Ybor City. Float features Ybor's familiar brick facades and lampposts.

KREWE OF ST. FLORIAN

Founded 2000; 120 men and women. Gimmick: Bay area firefighters and paramedics commemorate the patron saint of firefighters. Getup: Early 20th century firefighter: blue pants and suspenders, red shirt, black helmet. The float has a burning brick house.

YE LOYAL KREWE OF SAMUEL BELLAMY

Founded 2000; 51 men and women. Gimmick: Named after an early 1800s English pirate who was kinder and more progressive than most. Getup: Men dress like pirates of that era, women wear wench costumes. The float is a black and gold pirate ship with Bellamy mannequin.

YE ROYAL KREWE OF CHARLOTTE DE BERRY

Founded 2000; 50 women. Gimmick: The krewe commemorates de Berry, a 17th century female pirate. Getup: The look is elegant feminine pirate, the float a purple pirate ship.

CREWE OF BOBBIE C. DAVIS

Founded 1999; 100 men and women. Gimmick: commemorates the first commodore of the Davis Island Yacht Club. Getup: Men: khakis, white pirate shirt, vests or a navy peacoat. Women: blue and red corset vest over blouses and skirts, boots. Float depicts an island with two docked sloops.

KREWE OF CHASCO

Founded 1999; 155 men. Gimmick: Promotes New Port Richey's historic Chasco Fiesta and honors Native American culture. Getup: A melange of traditional Native American outfits. The float has a white settler's fort, teepee, totem poles and a Native American ceremonial drum.

KREWE OF PANDORA

Founded 1999; 90 women. Gimmick: Greek mythology holds that Pandora was the first woman created by the gods and loosed evil upon the world by opening that darned box. Getup: Draping pastel gowns with himations. The float has Greek columns and facades.

KREWE OF SHAMROCK

Founded 1999; 97 men and women. Gimmick: Celebrating the predominantly Celtic heritage of the members. Getup: Long-sleeved shirts, tartan kilts with colors based on actual clans, sashes, knee socks and berets. The float sports a 16th century castle with ivy.

KREWE OF CARIBBEAN COWBOYS

Founded 1998; 45 men and women. Gimmick: A laid-back krewe in search of Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville. Getup: Island casual: Hawaiian shirts, denim or khaki shorts or slacks. Island float with fishing hut, thatched roof tiki bar, floating dock and lighthouse.

KREWE OF HILLSBOROUGH

Founded 1998; 135 men and women. Gimmick: The river, bay, county and this krewe are named for Lord Hill, British colonial secretary (1763-83). Getup: Basic musketeer look. The float carries an 18th century castle with turrets, gargoyles, ivy and a simulated waterfall.

MAMBI SOCIETY

Founded 1998; 90-100 men and women. Gimmick: Historic Cuban Club's krewe commemorates 19th century Cuban rebel fighters. Getup: Canvas jackets and pants with leggings, boots and straw or felt hats. Some machete scabbards. Their float looks like a floating rebel camp.

THIEVES OF SAN LORENZO

Founded 1998; 45 women. Gimmick: Thieves who derive their krewe name from St. Larry's restaurant in Palm Harbor, a partial sponsor. Getup: black skirts, gold vests, peasant blouses. A 10-foot wizard dominates their float.

KREWE OF AGUSTINA DE ARAGON

Founded 1997; 250 women and men. Gimmick: A tribute to a young woman who defended the Spanish town of Saragossa from the Napoleonic army. Getup: Early 1800s peasant garb: gauzy blouses and overbodices, homespun skirts, rose garland headpieces. Saragossa war ruins cover the float.

KREWE OF ZINGARO

Founded 1997; 115 men and women. Gimmick: Zingaro is Italian for "gypsy," and this gypsy band claims to know where Jose Gaspar's gold is buried. Getup: Colorful vests, blousons, head scarves. They travel in a gypsy caravan with a big purple gypsy wagon.

BUFFALO SOLDIERS

Founded 1996; 25 men and women. Gimmick: The krewe commemorates the Army's black regiments formed after the Civil War. Getup: Men: gray pants, blue shirt, cavalry hat, boots, Colt revolver replicas. Women: blue trousers with gray shirt and regiment cap. Float has a life-sized buffalo.

BONNEY-READ KREWE

Founded 1995; 47 women. Gimmick: Named for Anne Bonney and Mary Read, two early 1700s female pirates who dressed like men. Getup: Black knickers, capes, frilly shirts and plumed buccaneer hats. The float is a depiction of Bonney and Read's Vanity pirate ship.

KREWE OF PAIR O'DICE

Founded 1995; 100 men and women. Gimmick: 1880s American riverboat culture. Getup: Guys do the longcoat-over-tuxedo thing, with black cowboy hat. Women wear saloon gal dresses. The float looks like a two-story riverboat.

YE MYSTIC AIRKREWE

Founded 1993; 50 men and women. Gimmick: Group of friends who like to fly from Peter O. Knight Airport. Getup: Black flight suit. Don't look for a float, just look up. They fly air-cover for the invasion, parading the skies in Cessnas, Mooneys, Pipers and Beeches.

GRAND KREWE DE LIBERTALIA

Founded 1992; 160 men and women. Gimmick: Based on an egalitarian group of 17th century buccaneers. Getup: Red, white and blue buccaneer outfits. The float is a double-decker that features a French Bastille reproduction and a live band.

KREWE OF FORT BROOKE

Founded 1992; 125 men and women. Gimmick: Modeled on the history of Fort Brooke, the Army outpost that eventually became Tampa. Getup: Mid-1800s U.S. Army. One float looks like a frontier fort, the other mimics the William and Henry sailing ship, a key transport of the era.

YE LOYAL KREWE OF GRACE O'MALLEY

Founded 1992; 234 women. Gimmick: The first all-female krewe commemorates 16th century clan chieftain O'Malley, who protected the west Irish coast. Getup: Luxurious Elizabethan gowns. The float features the throne of the krewe's elected leader, the O'Malley.

LADIES OF THE CROWN

Founded 1986; 100 women. Gimmick: The ladies broke off from Krewe of Venus and impersonate a royal court with historical queens such as Isabella and Elizabeth. Getup: Middle Ages European royal court. White and gold float features a giant crown.

KREWE OF CAVALIERS

Founded 1984; 48 men and women. Gimmick: Krewe took shape when a group of friends held a masquerade ball at the old Ritz theater in Ybor City. Getup: Think D'Artagnan. Puffy shirts, purple sashes and chapeaux with big feathers. Float depicts a two-story castle.

YE MYSTIC KREWE OF NEPTUNE

Founded 1980; 100 men. Gimmick: Formed to give Pinellas-based organizations representation. Getup: Based on British naval uniforms of the 1800s. The float resembles a British warship.

THE ROUGH RIDERS

Founded 1978; 525 men and women. Gimmick: Modeled after the First Cavalry Regiment that served in the Spanish-American War under Theodore Roosevelt. Getup: 1890s U.S. Cavalry uniform. Their floats approximate a train, a coal car and a World War II jeep.

KREWE OF THE KNIGHTS OF SANT'YAGO

Founded 1972; 300 men. Gimmick: Based on a Spanish fraternity that commemorates the apostle who spread Christianity on the Iberian peninsula. Getup: Silver tunics, white tights, gold-trimmed boots, feathered caps. Three floats: royal court, trolley car and castle.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND PRIVATEERS

Founded 1971; 40 men. Gimmick: Patterned after old-time pirates. Getup: Eye patches, bandannas, swords, knickers and plenty of sneers. The float is based on a 16th century Spanish galleon and sports a black powder cannon.

KREWE OF VENUS

Founded 1965; 250 men and women. Gimmick: Patterned after the all-female Krewe of Venus in New Orleans. Getup: The royal court's theme is a french Mardi Gras design. There are four floats: purple and gold with arches, columns and a gazebo.

COLUMBUS CELEBRATION OF TAMPA

Founded 1959; 120 men and women. Gimmick: Founded by Italian-American businessmen who wanted to honor the explorer. Getup: Spanish nobility circa 1492. The float is purple and gold, with a throne for royalty.

GAUCHO ASSOCIATION OF TAMPA

Founded 1950; 150 men. Gimmick: The gauchos or cowboys of Argentina. Getup: Black velvet pants, silk or satin poet shirts and boots. The float has a giant gaucho head with a smoking cigar and a Spanish-style adobe house and garden.

CREWE OF HERNANDO DE SOTO

Founded 1944; 40 men and women. Gimmick: This is the core of the Hernando Historical Society, named after Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto. Getup: 16th century conquistador uniforms. The float is a half-scale replica of the San Cristobal.

LATIN AMERICAN FIESTA ASSOCIATION

Founded 1927; 100 men and women. Gimmick: To promote better understanding between the Latin and Anglo communities. Getup: Authentic Latino folk costumes. The float has senoritas in traditional dress, a giant Spanish guitar and a Spanish comb.

YE MYSTIC KREWE OF GASPARILLA

Founded 1904; about 700 men. Gimmick: The exclusive social club that started the whole Gasparilla shebang and created the legend of Spanish pirate Jose Gaspar, who allegedly marauded the west coast of Florida in the late 18th century. Getup: Dirty, scarred swashbucklers. They swagger along in blank-firing hordes or ride one of the krewe's 10 pirate-themed floats.

- Compiled by MICHAEL CANNING, OLIVIA GIFFORD

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