[ Back ] [ Home ] [ Next ] COVER I TABLE OF CONTENTS I CONTINUES NEXT I

 CABARET VILLE MAGAZINE. P126. Cont'd from P125

CASINO DE PARIS

 

ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST MUSIC HALLS AND CABARETS.

THE MECCA OF 

TRADITIONAL AND AUTHENTIC FRENCH CABARET SONG AND VARIETES

 

 

 

There is no establishment in France or in the world like “Le Casino de Paris”. This magnificent cabaret, casino, musical hall, concert hall, entertainment and “revues” “boite” was and still is unique at many levels, unique in its décor, in its captivating artistic “affiches” (posters and ads) which became art treasures and rivaled only by “Le Moulin Rouge”’s Toulouse-Lautrec illustrations and drawings. Unique in the diversity and quality of the artists, singers, dancers and “vedettes” who performed on its stage; a caravan of major stars of the era and French legends like: Maurice Chevalier, Zizi Jeanmaire, Mistinguett, Josephine Baker, Juliette Greco, Line Renaud, the immortal Tino Rossi looked upon by the French as “God” or at least “Demi-Dieu” (Half God), Nicole Croisille  and most recently Maurane and Blondie.

Photo: Affiche (Poster) of “Le Casino de Paris” Superstar Maurice Chevalier.

 

Intentionally or unintentionally, voluntarily or involuntarily, “Le Casino de Paris” put many and very unique cabarets, “boites de nuits”, café-cabarets, café-concerts and music-striptease joints out of business. They could not compete with Le Casino. Even, the legendary Aristide Bruant who is considered as the godfather of French Cabaret, the first daring Parisian entrepreneur-artist to create a modern and authentic Parisian cabaret-café-concert  could not compete with “Le Casino de Paris”.  Bruant who has been immortalized by Toulouse-Lautrec  brought to Paris and to the world of Cabaret-Song its first intimate, intellectual and café-concert nightclub-cabaret:” Le Chat Noir”. When “La Chat Noir” opened its door, the first chapter of the history of Cabaret was written. Yet, it could not last and endure the hardship of Le Casino’s  overwhelming competition.  In short, “Le Casino de Paris” remained the most prestigious and most mesperizing spot in France, occasionally and seriously challenged by three other legendary and powerful  establishments “Le Moulin Rouge”, “Le Lido” and “Les Folies Bergere”. "Le Casino de Paris” imposing and astonishing artistic productions extended and expanded to incorporate and offer shows who in nature were not typically Cabaret. The Casino did it on purpose, so it would appeal to a wider audience. In some instances, shows and “revues” were of a literary genre, an intellectual cache, even of an educational-cultural aspect. Recently, “Le Casino de Paris” offered the most unusual production of “Le Petit Prince”, an innovation never heard before on any Cabaret in France or the world. For, “Le Petit Prince” was always looked upon as a scholastic material. In other words, “Le Casino de Paris” had it all. Rich and multi varied in its productions, stars, interior design, artistic concept, gaming operations, gastronomic delight, food and beverage, traditionalism and modernism, “Le Casino de Paris” took the lead. It has become a Parisian international institution.

 

 

 

   CABARET VILLE MAGAZINE. P127
 

 

SOME OF THE MAJOR STARS WHO PERFORMED AT « LE CASINO DE PARIS »

     

                      Blondie                                       Maurane                                  Line Renaud                 Line Renaud

 

ZIZI JEANMAIRE

    

                                                        Juliette Greco                                        Tino Rossi                               Nicole Croisille

 

 

   CABARET VILLE MAGAZINE. P128

 

 LEGENDARY ARTISTS WHO PERFORMED AT " LE CASINO DE PARIS"

 

ZIZI JEANMAIRE

History of “Le Casino de Paris”:

The historical background of « Le Casino de Paris » is as intriguing and evolving as the casino itself. French have a natural weakness for the follies and gaiety of life. And this is exactly how “Le Casino de Paris” was born. Around 1730, Armand de Vignerot, a French nobleman with many titles such as Duke and Maréchal (Higher than General) of the powerful Cardinal Richelieu (Prime Minister) erected a “follie” to entertain friends, people in high places and to romance his mistresses.

The prime minister Cardinal Richelieu liked what he saw at this “follie”.  And naturally, Vignerot’s “follie” became “Folie-Richelieu” in 1779.  Later on, it was bought by Baron d’Ogny who transformed it into a sort of a social club for the high society, the titled and entitled. Madame Fortunée Hamelin became its general manager.

Photo, right: Mistinguett, the superstar of “Le Casino de Paris”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  CABARET VILLE MAGAZINE. P129

Photo:” Maurice Chevalier” the godfather of the Parisian Music-Hall and Caret and superstar of “Le Casino de Paris”

 

 In 1881, the elite social club became an immense amusement and attractions park under the name of "Deuxième Tivoli". Monsieur Desrivières became the proprietor and manager, and Ruggiéri was appointed as director of festivities. In 1851, the establishment was demolished to erect a church “ Eglise de La Trinity” (Church of the Holy Trinity). Once again, the church was demolished to be replaced by an immense entertainment hall housing ice skating arena and public dancing rooms. This was the idea and new acquisition of Baron Haussmann. The edifices of the new establishment occupied almost all the lots, blocks and corners starting from rue (street) de Clichy  and ending at  rue (street) Blanche! It was a financial jackpot, an instant success.

The legendary Mistinget at “Le Casino de Paris”

 

 

 

   CABARET VILLE MAGAZINE. P130
 

CASINO DE PARIS

 

 

MAURICE CHEVALIER. MISTINGUETT. TINO ROSSI: BIG NAMES IN LIGHT!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos, left: The Entrance, the Concert Hall, the Theater of “Le Casino de Paris”. Pure splendors. Photo, right: Paris around 1929

In 1880, « Le Casino de Paris » went through  a series of important renovations. The ice-skating ring became the "Palace Théâtre".  The milestone of the future “Le Casino de Paris”.  French Cabaret historians consider the "Palace Théâtre” as the origin of the Casino. The new lobby was majestic and sublime in its interior architecture and lay-out.  The ceiling sat on 20 columns dressed with sculptures, statues, figurines and illustrations of winged women, naked beauties, each one holding a luster, a shining chandelier. It was breathtaking. A visual masterpiece. The center of the hall had an enormous stage, a sort of unconventional podium where the shows were offered and the multi dimensional attractions and “revues” took place.

Enriched with frescoes, vitalized with exotic plants from around the world, and embellished with Rococo motifs, the “Casino de Paris” became the jewels in the crown of Parisian Cabarets. Unfortunately, every wonder in life meets an end and dissipates in the memory of its admirers and public. So did the Casino. For a while, at least. In 1914, Raphael Beretta purchased the place and transformed it into a “Cinéma Music-Hall”; a movies theater and a music-hall, thus putting end to the traditional Parisian Cabaret aspect of the Casino. But, fortunately, it did not take Beretta long to realize that the old formula was a gold mine. In 1916, Beretta, with the help of Léon Volterra, the star Gaby Desly and Harry Pilcer, the Casino was retransformed into what it used to be.

Photo: The Casino in 1880.

Their very first Cabaret-Concert-Music-Revue show in the new old fashioned and majestic tradition came to life in March 1917. Extravaganzas followed. Follies avalanched on stage. Gaby Desly, the queen of the “Iconic Eroticism”, the very first superstar of the “Art of the Nude”  was dressed up in fancy feathers and precious stones outfits, long dresses and magnificent gowns designed by the greatest couturiers of the era.  In addition to purely Parisian shows, the Casino integrated international shows and appearances from various parts of the world. A great emphasis was placed on American music and particularly Jazz. In 1917, thanks to “Le Casino de Paris”, Paris and France are introduced to authentic American Jazz. It was the very first Jazz show to be ever produced on the French land.

 

   CABARET VILLE MAGAZINE. P131

THE SUPER STARS OF THE FRENCH CABARET AT "LE CASINO DE PARIS"

 

 

Two great stars of “Le Casino de Paris), left, Tino Rossi and right, Nini (Patte en L’Air)

Photo, left : Mistinguett, the superstar of « Le Casino de Paris »

 

In 1918, the first world war constant bombardments forced « Le Casino de Paris » to close its doors. Around the end of the war, the Casino resumed its operations and offered a sensational show to inaugurate and celebrate its comeback. The two headliners were Maurice Chevalier and Mistinguett. It was an obvious choice. Every six months, their show was renewed and enlarged to include various acts by other Parisians singers and dancers. Volterra, the mastermind of the Casino’s attractions and shows kept the show and other artistic presentations going for 12 consecutive years. Quite a record. He produced 24 productions of superb beauty. Maurice Chevalier and Mistinguett wrote four of those memorable shows.

Photo, left: Mistinguet, great performer and a tough cookie

Mistinguett became a big star. She was a character, an extremely ambitious artist and very demanding one. One day, she went to Volterra and asked him to place her name before the name of Maurice Chevalier. She told him that she was better than Chevalier and her name was the reason why people came to see the show. Volterra refused. Mistinguett left “Le Casino de Paris” for a while. Chevalier got upset, for he felt that Volterra might agree with Mistinguett. He left the Casino and went to London. Same thing will happen one day between Mistinguett and Josephine Baker.

 

Photo, right: Mistinguetts poster of her very successful show « Bonjour Paris” (Good Morning Paris) at “Le Casino de Paris”. Mistinguet did not want the very famous Maurice Chevalier to take part in her show!

 

 

 CONTINUES NEXT