Folies Bergère

music hall and theatre in Paris, France

The Folies Bergère [1] is a nightclub in Paris which opened in 1869 as a music hall.[2] It was at the height of its fame and popularity from the 1890s until the Second World War. It is still in business.

Daytime view of the theatre, showing art deco sculptured plaque. Legend reads 'The most celebrated music hall in the world'.
Inside, it looks like this
Manet's Bar at the Folies-Bergère, 1882
Loïe Fuller at the Follies. Jules Cheret, 1893
Jules Cheret, Folies Bergère, Fleur de Lotus, 1893 Art Nouveau poster for the Ballet Pantomime
Josephine Baker in a banana skirt from the Folies Bergère production Un Vent de Folie

History change

It opened on 2 May 1869 as the Folies Trévise, offering operettas, comic opera, popular songs, and gymnastics. It became the Folies Bergère on 13 September 1872, named after a nearby street, the rue Bergère. [3]

In 1882, Édouard Manet painted the famous A Bar at the Folies-Bergère.

In 1886, Édouard Marchand thought up a new type of entertainment for the Folies Bergère: the music-hall review. Women would be the heart of Marchand's concept for the Folies. In the early 1890s, the American dancer Loïe Fuller starred at the Folies Bergère. In 1902, illness forced Marchand to leave after 16 years.[4]

In 1918, Paul Derval (1880–1966) made his mark on the review. His reviews were to feature extravagant costumes, sets and effects, and his "small nude women". Derval's small nude women would become the hallmark of the Folies. During his 48 years at the Folies, he launched the careers of many French stars including Maurice Chevalier, Mistinguett, Josephine Baker, Fernandel and many others.[4]

Performers change

Many famous entertainers have performed at the Folies Bergère:

Filmography change

References change

  1. French pronunciation: ​[fɔ.li bɛʁ.ʒɛʁ]
  2. Music hall: might be described as vaudeville or burlesque in U.S. English; and as caberet music-hall or music-hall parisienne in French.
  3. Bergère means "shepherdess". Folies meant 'leaves' in Latin, but turned into 'field', then to a place for entertainment. A brief history of the Folies-Bergère Archived 2016-11-08 at the Wayback Machine Art & Architecture
  4. 4.0 4.1 Édouard Marchand et les Folies bergère In French with many details and graphics.