Which krewe introduced the tradition of having a celebrity king?

The Krewe of Bacchus introduced the tradition of having a celebrity king.

Founded in 1968 by Owen Brennan Jr., Bacchus became one of New Orleans’ first modern “superkrewes,” distinguished by large membership, elaborate floats, and prominent celebrity participation. Its first parade took place in 1969, when actor and entertainer Danny Kaye served as its inaugural celebrity monarch.

Bacchus changed the public profile of Carnival royalty. Instead of choosing only from traditional local krewe circles, it invited nationally known performers and entertainers to reign over the parade. Later kings included Bob Hope, William Shatner, Charlton Heston, Jackie Gleason, and many other film, television, music, and sports figures.

The other choices are historic New Orleans krewes, but they are not credited with establishing this modern celebrity-monarch format. Bacchus is named for Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, and its spectacular parade helped popularize the “superkrewe” model.