Mardi Gras is a time for grandeur and excess. Inspired by Jacques Cousteau, the Krewe of Bacchus showed who ruled Mardi Gras by creating giant life-like displays for an aquatic theme in 1980.

More than 50 previous Bacchus monarchs have used the same throne to ride down St. Charles Avenue, but when this year's Bacchus is 7-foot-1, 325 pounds, the krewe is making some adjustments.

The King Kong float joined the Bacchus lineup in 1972, when the theme was "The Bacchus Book of Horrors." Queen Kong (who like her mate, has no float riders) was introduced in 1973.

This year's Bacchus parade will have basketball star Shaquille O'Neal reigning as its Celebrity Monarch, but with O'Neal being over 7-feet tall, Bacchus needed a bigger throne.

Mardi Gras is a time for grandeur and excess. Inspired by Jacques Cousteau, the Krewe of Bacchus showed who ruled Mardi Gras by creating giant life-like displays for an aquatic theme in 1980.