Look Who it Was Random video

Joe Cain Procession Might Having You Seeing Double

66 views · Published 12 February 2015 · 2:46 · Indexed 9 October 2026

Channel: NBC 15 · 2015 · News & Politics

Watch on YouTube

MOBILE, Ala. (WPMI) It's a staple in Mobile's Mardi Gras Association: every Sunday before Fat Tuesday is Joe Cain Day. The People's Parade rolls through downtown Mobile in honor of the man who brought Mardi Gras back to Mobile. This year's Joe Cain Procession might have you seeing double.

If you've been around Mobile's Mardi Gras you know the history of Joe Cain, a Mobile City Clerk, who helped revive Mardi Gras after the Civil War by parading and encouraging parades in downtown Mobile. Joe Cain loved to parade as an Indian chief called Chief Slacobamarinico.

Every Joe Cain Sunday, a man dressed as Chief Slac leads the parade. For the past several decades, that Mobilian Wayne Dean has been that person. Until this year.

In December, a split occurred among those who walk in the parade. Some splintered away from the Joe Cain Parading Society to form their own Joe Cain Marching Society, which will not be allowed to lead the procession, but will bring up the rear of the procession. Dean says that is where you will find him, as Chief Slac. 

The fact that for the first time Joe Cain would not be leading the Joe Cain Procession, had the leaders of the original Joe Cain Parading Society scratching their heads. A Joe Cain Procession without Joe Cain leading it? And then they came up with this solution: Have the person leading our parade that our society is named after Joe Cain, dressed as Joe Cain.

Not the Joe Cain who dressed as Chief Slacabamarinico. The unadorned Joe Cain, the city clerk in a city clerk's clothes, says society chairman of the board Greg Watts.

"He will be wearing a black frock coat, a vest, a cravat, or string tie, a black wig and a black moustache on," Watts said.

That also means Joe's Merry Widows just doubled their chance for a date on Fat Tuesday!

More from this channel