The History of Mona Lisa & Moon Pie
The raucous Krewe of Mona Lisa and MoonPie was founded in 1984 by two artists and their husbands, while bemoaning the fact that they had to drive to The Big Easy in order to participate in a marching arts parade. They decided to start their own krewe, and hoped to keep the organization relatively small. Slidell natives, Charlotte Lowry Collins and Pat Hart, along with their then husbands, helped create, organize, and implement the event. Initially, the parade was sponsored by the Slidell Regional Arts Council, with the intent of honoring the arts and good humor. In recent years, they are supported by Olde Towne Slidell Association and Olde Towne Merchants Association.
The mission evolved when Charlotte's current husband, Tom Collins, and then local media artist, Sharon Sharpe Edwards, began helping the organization in 2008. That mission is still used today: "to promote the arts, Olde Towne Slidell, and good humor". The signature ingredients for this parade are still creative hand-made costumes, unique hand decorated push or pull carts full of MoonPies, flaming flambeaux, and traditional marching brass bands. Each sub-krewe within the krewe picks their own fanciful theme or title to correspond with the main theme of the parade, which changes every year. This original marching parade focuses on artists, art supporters, Olde Towne supporters, and their friends and families marching through the street of Olde Town Slidell at dark. Their signature throws are MoonPies bought by the Krewes from Chattanooga Bakery; over fifty thousand moon pies fly into the crowds of loyal fans lining the street.
Their Red Beans and Rice Ball is a tomfoolery party with bands, the installation of royals, and traditional southern food and drink. Throughout most of the decades, local chef, Kevin Young and his wife Linda, have donated the main course from KY's Bicycle and Sandwich Shop.
Each year, the Krewe of Mona Lisa and Moon Pie chooses a different theme and royals, particularly Kings and Queens.
The following is a list of those lucky people (please help us identify missing information):
1985
Royalty: John Perkins and Lydia BuschTheme: "Signs of Progress"
1986
Royalty: Phil Galatas and Susan McKeonTheme: "Extinction-A Way of Life"
1987
Royalty: George Dunbar and Cassandra SeefieldTheme: "Along the isms Trail"
1988
Royalty: Ronnie Kole and Connie Davis
Theme: "Another Road-Side Attraction - 100 years in the Making"
1989
Royalty: (Missing Names)Theme: "Slidell, the Chameleon City"
1990
Royalty: Kevin Curley and Joli Bonch CurleyTheme: "Voyage Beyond the Twin Span"
1991
Royalty: Miss Guided Mary Jo Magnusen and Mr. Rejected Kirk Magnusen(the year the role of king and queen were reversed)
Theme: "Louisiana - A State of Confusion"
1992
Royalty: Naif Shahady and Sandy ShahadyTheme: "Between a Rock and a Hard Place"
1993
Royalty: (Missing Names)Theme: "In Your Dreams"
1994
Royalty: John Dranchak and Terry DranchakTheme: "A Decade of Decadence" (10 Year Anniversary of this parade)
1995
Royalty: Joel Ball and Becky BallTheme: "Outta Control"
1996
Royalty: Mary DuBussion and Eric DuBussionTheme: "Been There, Done That"
1997
Cancelled - However a theme and royalty were chosen...Royalty: Tim Matey and daughter Melissa Matey
Theme: "Dontcha Hate It When That Happens"
1998
Royalty: Kevin Curley and Patricia Hart
Theme: "Hearts For Art Sake-Hoodoo You Love"
1999
Royalty: Sam Caruso and Maria MuthTheme: "French Twisted"
2000
Royalty: Two Kings where chosen this year no Queen Tommy Boehm and Tim Matey as (Y2K)Theme: "The New MONA-illennium"
2001
Cancelled2002
Royalty: Frank Davis and Gilda PerkinsTheme: "DeJaVu All Over Again"
2003
Royalty: Ronnie Kole and Gardner S. KoleTheme: "Mona Lisa Goes to Carnival Around the World"
2004
Royalty: Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Rebirth Brass Band and Gennifer Flowers Nine Kings where chosenTheme: (Rebirth Bass Band was the first band to play for MLMP) 20th Anniversary of this parade
2005
Cancelled-KATRINA!2006
Royalty: Traves Mackel and (Missing name)Theme: "Moon Pie Goes to the Movies"
1st poster introduced!
2007
Royalty: Eric Paulsen and Sally Ann RobertsTheme: "Mona Lisa Goes to Hollywood"
2008
Royalty: Jester "Bernie" Cyrus and Lucy BustamanteTheme: "To Dream the Impossible Dream"
2009
Royalty: Ben Morris and Suzanne Parsons StymiestTheme: "Mona's Train of Thought"
2010
Royalty: Greg Barnhill and Debbie LefortTheme: "Mona Makes Music"
2011
Royalty: Terry Maddox and Charlotte CollinsTheme: "Mona's Book Club"
2012
Royalty: Pat and Steve Bacharach, Christopher Case, Kirk Dunbar, Linda Franzo, Allen and Kathy Little, Fayez Mustafa, Deanna Reine, Kay Sabadie, Natasha WoodsTheme: "Mona's Food for Thought"
Baker's dozen royals invited
2013
Royalty: Larry Montelongo and Rosemary Clements and Lee DucoteTheme: "Dance, Mona, Dance"
2014
Royalty: Kevin Folse and Kim BergeronTheme: ?
2015
Royalty: Joshua Brewer and Melanie St. CyrTheme: "Mona Does Hollywood South"
2016
Royalty: Andy Breaux and Missy SpinosaTheme: "Battle of the Bands"
2017
Royalty: Frank Jackson and Beth DiMarco PichonTheme: "Mona Plays Games"
2018
Royalty: Danny Blackburn and Suzie HuntTheme: "Mona Fests up"
(Parade moved to night before St. Patrick's Day)
2019
Royalty: Kevin Young and Kendra ManessTheme: "MoonPie Renaissance"
(Parade rebirthed as Saturday before Halloween)
2020 - BOO COVID!
Royalty: Matt Litchliter and Sarah BonnetteTheme: "Mona Envisions the 2020's"
2021 - COVID STRIKES BACK!
Royalty: Matt Litchliter and Sarah Bonnette
Theme: "Mona Breaks FREE!"
2022 - THE RETURN OF THE MONA!
Royalty: Matt Litchliter and Katie Case/Michelle Cramer
Theme: "Mona Breaks FREE!"
Cap'n Tom requests any information to help complete this MoonPie history...
404-401-9966 or monalisamoonpie@gmail.com