re: Anyone remember parades going into the French quarter?

Maybe my memory is defective from old age and/or alcohol consumption, but in my recollection, there weren't any flambeaux carriers for about 20 or 25 years. The propane tank guys only started about 10 or 12 years ago.

I think the old school flambeaux were stopped because of liability reasons, because the floats had generators for their lighting. Maybe it was stopped as a big "frick you" to Dorothy Mae Taylor. I don't know...

But I do remember the molten material (phosphorus?) dripping off of the flares on to the street. When the parade was over, you could pick them up like white dog shite.