History of our Ball
The first Krewe of Iris Ball Masque took place on February 8th, 1922. Many of the traditions practiced in the early years of this incredible event are still in play today. The Ball Masque presentation includes an on-foot preview of several unique, costumed krewe members and the unveiling of the Royal Court. The theme of the parade remains a secret until this night. Following the Ball Masque the court, krewe, and guests have the option to attend the Supper Dance: a separate celebration that includes dinner and dancing into the evening.
Iris Through The Years
2022
Iris is on a Roll
Mary Alford
2020
Iris Sees 20/20
Rebecca Russo
2019
Through a Child’s Eyes
Kristin Webb Roch
2018
Iris Begins a New Era
Cynthia Peake Borrello
2017
Iris Celebrates 100 Years
Janet Davis DellaCroce
2016
Iris Just Wants to Have Fun
Bonnie Anne Norton Suthon
2015
Iris Loves to Party
Rhonda Eckholdt
2014
Iris Rocks
Pamela Clark Pickett
2013
Louisiana Festivals Reign Supreme
Renee Kutcher
2012
Iris ... Messenger to the Gods
Cheryl Cottingham Short
2011
In Our Wildest Dreams
Dianne Drouant
2010
Children's Classics
Jacklyn Gondrella
2009
On the Road Again
Mrs. Alice Dours Dolese
2008
Give My Regards to Broadway
Jayne Finkowski-Rivera
2007
Under the Big Top
Dr. Janet Deare Williams
2006
Fantastic New Orleans
Darlene Walker Adams
2005
A Whirl of Celebration
Leanna Beatrice Cottingham
2004
A Touch of Class
Starr Renee Chapman
| 1922 | The Goddess of the Rainbow | Elsie E. Eichinger |
| 1923 | The May Queen | Unknown |
| 1924 | Rameses, the Pyramid Builder | Unknown |
| 1925 | The Realm of Ceramics | Unknown |
| 1926 | The Festival of St. George's Day | Unknown |
| 1927 | The Storm King | Gladys Fisher |
| 1928 | The Crystal Gardens Beneath the Sea | Francois Azelie Pat Brown |
| 1929 | Summer Garden | Unknown |
| 1938 | Pages from Our Story Book | Germaine Cazenave Wells |
| 1939 | A Gypsy Paradise | Unknown |
| 1940 | The Gay Spirit of Mardi Gras | Unknown |
| 1941 | Queen Elizabeth and the Earl of Essex | Irma Lamothe Cazenave |
| 1946 | Tales of Vienna Woods | Unknown |
| 1947 | Easter | Dorothy Smith Daigle |
| 1948 | Cleopatra, Last of the Ptolemie | Evelyn Mary Smith Barba |
| 1949 | Lillian Russell | Unknown |
| 1950 | A Royal Hawaiian Festival | Clare Palmisano |
| 1951 | Ante-Bellum Life in Dixie | Unknown |
| 1952 | Nursery Rhymes | Unknown |
| 1953 | Latin American Holiday | Unknown |
| 1954 | The Spirit of the Crescent City | Ressie Christopher |
| 1955 | Earl Carroll's Vanities | Unknown |
| 1956 | I Love a Parade | Unknown |
| 1957 | The Birth of the Blues | Anne Hughes |
| 1958 | Echoes de Paree | Lorraine K. Livado Gaudet |
| 1959 | Say It With Music | Lillian Fonseca |
| 1960 | Louisiana the Enchanted | Dorothy Klein Beall |
| 1961 | Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland | Lettie Keen |
| 1962 | New Orleans Gateway to the Americas | Lillian Fonseca |
| 1963 | See America First | Frederick C. Sullivan |
| 1964 | Champagne Flight to Europe | Mrs. Ramona Ford |
| 1965 | There's No Business Like Show Business | Lillian Fonseca |
| 1966 | Mardi Gras in New Orleans | Gail Jones |
| 1967 | Wonderful World of Entertainment | Doris H. Mauric |
| 1968 | That's What I Like About the South | Ruby Wilkinson |
| 1969 | Las Vegas, U.S.A. | Mary Samson |
| 1970 | Music Maestro Please | Judy Scariano |
| 1971 | The World Is Yours-Happy Landing | Vivian Lide |
| 1972 | Lovely Louisiana Legends | Betty Ellis |
| 1973 | Your Hometown Newspaper | Bette Mopsik |
| 1974 | Rediscover America | Christopher G. Darrell |
| 1975 | Era of the Grand St. Charles Hotel | Ramona Ford |
| 1976 | LeVieuxCarre New Orleans, Louisiana | Diane Mannina |
| 1977 | Reminiscences of the Captain's 25 Years | Virginia Riedl |
| 1978 | Come to the Mardi Gras En Masque | Ruth Hingle |
| 1979 | The Wonderful World of Travel | Jacqueline G. Delcuze |
| 1980 | Strike Up the Band | Marilyn Beaupre |
| 1981 | Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler | Fay Dudenhefer |
| 1982 | Thirty Years of Happiness | Marie Siguera |
| 1983 | Welcome to Our Whirl | Cindy Beaupre |
| 1984 | When You Wish Upon a Star | Sheila Dupepe |
| 1985 | A Toast to the Joys of Living | Ruth Keeney |
| 1986 | America the Beautiful | Frances DeBroy |
| 1987 | Music, the Universal Language | Emily Ann Heine |
| 1988 | Wonderful World of Make Believe | Fay S. Dudenhefer |
| 1989 | Way Down Yonder in New Orleans | Helen C. Sorrells |
| 1990 | Sitting on Top of the World | Dian Coleman Winingder |
| 1991 | Getting to Know You | Fran DeBroy Markland |
| 1992 | Iris Celebrates 75 Years of Memories | Leanna Beatrice Abene |
| 1993 | Fine Tuned for Fun | Deborah A. Bell |
| 1994 | A Mardi Gras Fantasy | Rose Ann Citron |
| 1995 | Making Dreams Come True | Dr. Barbara Terry Thompson |
| 1996 | For the Young at Heart | Suzanne Reynolds-Brady |
| 1997 | A Sentimental Journey of 80 Years | Leonna Beatrice Abene |
| 1998 | Love Makes the World Go Round | Charleen Pierucci Benjamin |
| 1999 | Hollywood Dreamin' | Gloria W. Fabacher |
| 2000 | Echoes of the 20th Century | Betty Brooks Rombach Trosclair |
| 2001 | Life Is a Celebration | Fran DeBroy Markland |
| 2002 | If I Ruled the World | Melinda Kuebler Richard |
| 2003 | Music Transcends Life | Sarah Stephens |