Although recently formed in 2019, the history that surrounds the Krewe of Kings includes a three-generation family of captains, artists, and float builders dating all the way back to the Great Depression.
Mckinley Cantrell, Sr., Jr., and the III have made an historical impact on Mardi Gras in and around the City of New Orleans dating back to the 1940s. McKinley (Big Mac) Cantrell, Sr. worked as a waiter at Arnaud’s, Antoine’s, and Kolb’s restaurants for nine years before his wife suggested that he join her relatives in the float building business. He began learning the new trade with Dutchman Bros, and after 12 years with them, he went to work with George Blatney who was currently handling the contracts for Momus, Comus, and Proteus. In just 15 years, he became the owner of the firm in 1948. He owned six dens and began building floats for the old-line Mardi Gras Krewes including Momus, Comus, and Proteus. He also leased tractors to other clubs such as Hermes and Babylon.
By the mid-1970s, he started his own company called Mckinley J. Cantrell and Son. Not only was he involved in the aforementioned krewes, but he also built floats for Amor, Jupiter, Juno, Mokana, Gladiators, Thor, Rhea, Druids, Krewe D’etat, Excalibur, Hestia, Centurions, Babylon, Corps de Napoleon, Aquarius, Ambrosia, Sparta, Hesper and Little Rascals.
In 1975 he finally decided to put his own krewe together, and that is when the Super Krewe of Mardi Gras was formed in Jefferson Parish. Cantrell Sr. was Captain of the Krewe of Mardi Gras for 25 years and the float builder of one the first co-ed krewes in Mardi Gras. Big Mac was known as the first to incorporate the “Las Vegas Style Lighting” to Mardi Gras Floats and was the first to throw a “Mardi Gras Cup.”
Mckinley (Mac) Cantrell, Jr. joined forces with his father’s business in 1967 after he graduated from high school. Mac was remarkably successful and a phenomenal artist/painter who rose quickly and progressed in the float-building business. He founded the Krewe of Thor in 1974 and reigned as captain for four decades while the krewe grew to over six hundred members in Jefferson Parish. When his father passed away in June of 2003, Mac took over the business and continued the legacy. After Southeast Louisiana was severely affected by Hurricane Katrina, Thor stopped parading in 2013, and Mac focused on running and maintaining the family business. Along with his son Mckinley (Mackie) Cantrell III, the Krewe of Kings was formed in 2019. The focus of this parade was to bring a true sense of Mardi Gras back to Jefferson Parish. This parade displayed large, colorful flowers and well-lit floats. Unfortunately, the Covid pandemic disbanded all parades for the next year.
Born in 1974, McKinley (Mackie) Cantrell III was always a part of Mardi Gras since his birth. Mackie had an instinct for Mardi Gras and was part of his grandfather’s and father’s Mardi Gras business his entire life. Growing up around Big Mac and Mac, he obviously had the upper hand in the business. Mackie had a niche for it all. He was an amazing artist with a remarkable talent. Mackie could build, cotton, and paint a float like no other and was on track to bring his grandfather’s lighting expertise back to the floats. He was incredibly talented with Styrofoam. Not only was he heavily involved in the float building aspect, but he also had his own successful events business Art Demanded, which specialized in Carnival Balls. He helped establish and brought the Krewe of Kings to Jefferson Parish. The Krewe of Kings returned for one more ride in 2021, and then tragedy hit. Mackie passed away at the early age of 47 in December 2021.
Now the “Kings of Metry” are back and are looking for those ready to ride! The Krewe of Kings will return to the streets of Metairie on Lundi Gras in 2025 with a co-ed, family-friendly, social club experience on beautiful, well-lit, colorful floats that any rider would be thrilled to join.
See you in 2025!!