The Krewe of Bacchus continues it's tradition of having celebrity royalty by selecting WWE Superstar as Bacchus 2008. Hulk Hogan (real name Terry Bolea) has been a professional wrestler for over 30 years wrestling his first professional match against Brian Blair in Fort Meyers, Florida. Winning his first Championship in June of 1979, Hulk Hogan was introduced to Vince McMahon Sr. of the World Wrestling Federation (later WWE) by wrestling legend Terry Funk. Hogan wrestled for the WWF including matches against legends Bob Backlund and Andre the Giant. Against the wishes of Vince McMahon Sr., Hulk Hogan filmed his scenes for the Rocky III, as Thunderlips, in a exhibition fight against Sylvester Stallone's.
Hogan soon wrestled in the AWA (American Wrestling Association) a wrestling territory owned by Verne Gagne in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Starting as a heel (bad guy) his popularity grew so the organization made him a babyface (good guy) using as his theme music "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor.
Rejoining the WWF in 1983, Hulk Hogan won the WWF Championship by pinning the Iron Sheik at Madison Square Garden. After winning the title commentator Gorilla Monsoon proclaimed "Hulkamania is Here!" Hulkamania was born with his supporters being called Hulkamaniacs. Hulk Hogan teamed with Rocky III co-star Mr. T. to take on "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff, during the Rock 'n' Wrestling Connection with MTV in a feud that included Cyndi Lauper. At Wrestlemania III, the superbowl of wrestling, Hulk Hogan body slammed Andre the Giant in front of over 93,000 fans, the largest recorded attendance for a live indoor sporting event in North America and the largest paying crowd in the history of professional wrestling. He went on the hold the WWF Championship several times including a four year reign.
Hogan went on to star in several movies and TV shows including No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando, Mr Nanny, and Thunder in Paradise. While filming for Thunder in Paradise, he signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) which also was filmed at the Disney/MGM Studios in Orlando, FL. Hogan won the WCW Championship in his first match with the promotion in a dream match against The Legendary Ric Flair. He would go on to hold the WCW Championship several times.
In 2002 Hogan returned to the WWF/WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) where he has appeared on and off since then.
Hogan has most recently appeared on his own VH-1 reality TV show called Hoagan Knows Best and is host for the comeback series of American Gladiators on NBC. Ironically, NBC's revival of American Gladiators is scheduled to premiere on Sunday January 6, 2008 (night of the Phunny Phorty Phellows), the first day of Mardi Gras, before moving to Mondays at 8:00 ET/PT.
So train hard, say your prayers, and eat your vitamins because Hulkamania gonna run all over you on Super Sunday.
Greek mythology,
was the god of wine and vegetation. He showed
mortals how to cultivate grapevines and make
wine.
As the son of Zeus, Bacchus
is usually characterized in one of two
ways:
First, as the god of vegetation specifically
of the fruit of the trees. Eventually, he
became the popular Greek god of wine and
cheer, and wine miracles were reputedly
performed at certain of his festivals. According
to tradition, Bacchus died each winter and
was reborn in the spring. To his followers,
this cyclical revival, accompanied by the
seasonal renewal of the fruits of the earth,
embodied the promise of the resurrection
of the dead.
The yearly rites in honor of the resurrection
of Bacchus gradually evolved into the structured
form of the Greek drama, and important festivals
were held in honor of the god, during which
great dramatic competitions were conducted.
The Krewe of Bacchus parade was founded
in 1968 by a handful of New Orleans business
leaders whose dream was to revitalize Carnival.
However, the seeds of the Krewe of Bacchus
were actually sown two decades before the
present carnival organization was founded.
The original Krewe of Bacchus was the brainchild
of Owen Edward Brennan, Sr., a true visionary.
Brennan, owner of the Absinthe House, a
famous bar on Bourbon Street, and later
founder of the word famous Brennan’s
Restaurant on Royal Street, was also the
father of the first Captain of Bacchus,
Owen "Pip" Brennan, Jr., and his
brothers, Jimmy and Ted.
In the late 1940’s, Brennan realized
that a large segment of his clientele was
seasonally unhappy – namely tourists
to the Mardi Gras. At that time, Carnival
balls at Mardi Gras were predominately closed
to anyone outside of New Orleans’
society circles.
So, In 1949, Brennan decided to spend an
enormous amount of money, buck the entrenched
New Orleans Society, and revolutionize the
Mardi Gras. He did so by creating a brand
new Krewe, called the Krewe of Bacchus,
wide open to tourists.
Brennan staged two Bacchus Carnival balls,
one in 1949 and the other in 1950 before
his death in 1955. Regrettably, he did not
live to see his idea develop into a new
and lasting form.
Fast forward to 1968. For years, Carnival
in New Orleans had been losing its luster
slowly but surely. There was a lot of talk
around town about what should be done to
give a spark to the celebration.
Early in 1968, Owen "Pip" Brennan,
Jr., son of the late Brennan, held a meeting
at Brennan’s Restaurant to address
this problem. What emerged was a rebirth
of the vision his father conceived almost
20 years earlier: The Krewe of Bacchus.
It was decided that the Krewe of Bacchus
would break with Carnival tradition by staging
a Sunday night parade that would be the
highlight of the Carnival season. Its floats
would be bigger and more spectacular than
anything previously seen in Carnival. Furthermore,
Bacchus decided to have a national celebrity
king lead its parade, breaking ranks with
113 years of Carnival tradition.
On Sunday, February 16, 1969, the Krewe
of Bacchus staged its first Mardi Gras parade.
The theme was "The Best Things In Life",
and the procession was led by celebrity
king Danny Kaye. The 250 member, 15 float
entourage took to the streets of New Orleans
showering thousands of spectators with over
a million strings of beads and 300,000 doubloons.
The new parade was a smashing success.
The Krewe of Bacchus had left a lasting
mark on the City of New Orleans and had
proven to be the boost that the Carnival
season so desperately needed.
Now, with more than 1,000 members and 31
animated super-floats, the Krewe of Bacchus
is revered as one of the most spectacular
Krewes in Carnival history.
Pip Brennan still serves as Captain of
The Krewe of Bacchus; overseeing each
detail with great pride and meticulous
perfection. He is now joined by his
three sons, Owen, III, Clark, and Blake,
all of whom serve on the Krewe's Board
of Directors. Owen, III also serves
as the Krewe's Executive Director. Like
their grandfather, father and uncles,
this third generation of the Brennan
family shares the same love of Mardi
Gras and New Orleans.
