The introduction of the knights, pictured in 2008.Medieval Times in Schaumburg, Illinois, displaying the coat of arms of Peralada, Catalonia, and the Viscounts Rocabertí, lords of Peralada Castle.[4] Medieval Times founder Jose Montaner was uncle to the Count of Perelada, with the Count holding stock in the company until 2016.[5]Medieval Times at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
The first jousting tournament recorded in the 19th century, listed as the "oldest continuously-held sporting event in North America", was first held at the Natural Chimneys in Mount Solon, Virginia, in 1821. The tournament proved to be popular, becoming an annual event, and the joust is still held each year the third Saturday in August on the same grounds.[8]
William Gilmor, a wealthy descendant of Scottish-born immigrant Robert Gilmor (1748-1822) of Baltimore, Maryland, organized the second official jousting tournament event on American soil at White Sulphur Springs, now part of West Virginia, on 28 August 1841. Gilmor had come up with the idea after witnessing the popular, but ill-fated Eglinton Tournament in Scotland on 29 August 1839.[8]
After 1840, jousting tournaments became popular entertainment in every Southern state south of the Mason-Dixon Line. During the American Civil War (12 April 1861 – 26 May 1865), tournaments were held less often, but still occasionally occurred, including one account of an Alabama Confederate cavalry regiment holding one such event at their winter quarters along the Potomac River. According to one description of the event, "They rode in rags and barefoot, but with great enthusiasm." There was another famous jousting tournament held during the Civil War on the lawn at Monticello near Charlottesville, Virginia in the fall of 1863, where "Confederate soldiers and their ladies hosted a splendid tournament when the Yankees were bragging that even a crow couldn't fly across the valley without their consent".[8]
After the end of the Civil War in 1865, and into the early 20th century, jousting tournaments remained a popular pastime among Southerners and ex-Confederates, with some even referring to the joust as the "National Sport of the South".[8] In 1962, jousting was designated as the official state sport of Maryland, a Southern-adjacent state, by the Maryland General Assembly.[9]
The first two Medieval Times-styled shows were developed in the late 1960s by Jose Montaner in Spain at Majorca and Benidorm. Montaner converted the barbecue restaurant on the family farm to entertainment and food venue. Actors portrayed 11th-century jousting of knights of the northern Spanish and southern French kingdoms of Aragon, Navarre, and the village of Perelada, using stories derived from Montaner's family history. Montaner claims to be a descendant of Charlemagne.[10][11] Accounts indicated that Tino Brana, who was involved in the jousting scenes from the 1961 film El Cid, was involved in staging the jousts.[11]
In April 1997, the franchises in Florida and California sought bankruptcy protection after losing a court battle with the IRS that required the Buena Park location to pay US$7.5 million and the Orlando location to pay $2.5 million in back taxes (equivalent to about $13.7 and $4.6M in 2022). According to the IRS, Medieval Times improperly deducted royalties, loan interest, and management fees in the 1987 and 1989 tax years. When asked why the company was filing for bankruptcy the company's bankruptcy lawyer, Alan Friedman, said, "One of the primary reasons for filing was to prevent the IRS from beginning to seize any assets."[13]
The shows change about every six years.[14] A new show premiered in late 2017; and, for the first time in the 34-year history of the franchise, the lead role was filled by a Queen, rather than a King. This change was due to feedback from guests who wanted to see women in more significant acting roles. The company also stated that it took two months to teach a Queen how to ride an Andalusian horse.[15]
On 31 May 2022, employees at Medieval Times in New Jersey filed for a union election with the NLRB, working with the American Guild of Variety Artists.[16] In October 2022, the company sued the union over name and logo trademark violations; the suit was subsequently dismissed; MT was, however, able to pressure TikTok to shut the union's social media account on intellectual property grounds.[17] In November 2022, employees at the Buena Park location also won a union election 27-18 to join the American Guild of Variety Artists,[18] and initiated a strike soon after, in February 2023, over pay and safety concerns.[19] After nine months on strike, in November, the union said it would end the strike and return to work while the negotiating team continues to fight for a "safe and equitable" work environment for cast, crew and animals.[20]
Jose's son, Perico Montaner, is now the President and CEO of the private company, which is headquartered in Irving, Texas.[21][5]
As of 19 October 2017, Medieval Times had served over 65 million guests across its entire history as a franchise.[15]
Martin, David G. (1993). The Philadelphia Campaign: June 1777 – July 1778. Conshohocken, PA: Combined Books. ISBN0-938289-19-5. 2003 Da Capo reprint, ISBN0-306-81258-4.
