Blaine Kern
Louisiana Legends
Details
Collection:LPB
Genre: Interview
Place Covered: New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority
Date Issued: 1996-04-25
Duration: 00:25:20
Subjects: KERN, BLAINE | MARDI GRAS | PARADES | Parade floats | Carnival floats | Gaming | Gambling | Business | Hope, Bob, 1903-2003
Contributors:
- Weill, Gus Host
- Fowler, Ken Producer
- Kern, Blaine Interviewee
Description
This episode of the series “Louisiana Legends” from April 25, 1996, features an interview with Blaine Kern conducted by Gus Weill. Kern, a native of Algiers, designs and builds Mardi Gras floats. He discusses: how he got into the float making business; his travels to Europe; Kern Companies, which consists of Mardi Gras Productions, Kern Sculpture Company, and Mardi Gras World; the planning involved in creating floats, including the tractors and tractor drivers; the democratization, potential commercialization, and future of Mardi Gras; past potential scares involving the floats; the potential effect of gaming on Mardi Gras; and Bob Hope’s stint as the king of the Bacchus parade.