Misplaced Pages

#733266

42-724: The famous cabaret Moulin Rouge stands on the Place Blanche. On 23 May 1871, during the Bloody Week at the end of the Paris Commune , when Versailles troops entered Paris to retake it for the French Third Republic , the Place Blanche was defended by 120 communard women. Among them were Béatrix Excoffon , Elisabeth Dmitrieff , Nathalie Lemel , Blanche Lefebvre , and Malvina Poulain . They held back General Clinchant 's troops at

84-506: A 1927 performance, an incident occurred when female dancers emerged from multi-tiered artificial cakes covered in real frosting. The slippery cake cream on their high heels caused them to repeatedly slip and fall on stage, resulting in disruptions to the show. Mistinguett's tenure at the Moulin Rouge produced enduring songs such as "Valencia," "Ça c'est Paris" (both by Jose Padilla ), "Il m'a vue nue," "On m' suit," and "La Java de Doudoune,"

126-453: A 1974 satirical Western comedy film directed by Mel Brooks . Brooks appears in multiple supporting roles, including the dim-witted Governor William J. Le Petomane, whose name suggests he is full of hot air. 'Le Petoman' (without the e , because English-speaking audiences will pronounce –mane differently from –man ) was adapted for the theatre in 2001 by Tony Stowers, from the book 'Le Petomane 1857–1945' by J. Nohain & F. Caradec. It

168-544: A barricade before retreating, exhausted and out of ammunition, to Place Pigalle . Those who could not retreat were executed on the spot, among them Blanche Lefebvre . During the 1950s, the Place Blanche was a centre of Paris' transsexual community, a fact documented in Christer Strömholm 's book Les amies de Place Blanche . 48°53′2″N 2°19′57″E  /  48.88389°N 2.33250°E  / 48.88389; 2.33250 This Paris geographical article

210-473: A biscuit factory in Toulon . He died in 1945, aged 88, and was buried in the cemetery of La Valette-du-Var , where his grave can still be seen today. Le Pétomane left an enduring legacy and has inspired a number of artistic works. These include several musicals based on his life, such as The Fartiste (awarded Best Musical at the 2006 New York International Fringe Festival ) and Seth Rozin's A Passing Wind which

252-452: A candle from several yards away. His audience included Edward, Prince of Wales , King Leopold II of the Belgians , and Sigmund Freud . In 1894, the managers of the Moulin Rouge sued Pujol for an impromptu exhibition he gave to aid a friend struggling with economic difficulties. Pujol was fined 3,000 francs (equivalent to Ff96,000 in 2022), and the Moulin Rouge lost their star attraction as

294-441: A garden adorned with a large elephant, provided an environment where individuals from various social strata could interact. This included workers, local residents, artists, the middle class, businessmen, stylish women, and tourists passing through Paris. Nicknamed "The First Palace of Women" by Oller and Zidler, the cabaret swiftly garnered significant acclaim. Key factors contributing to its success included: During its early years,

336-481: A luxurious setting. Until the outbreak of the First World War , the Moulin Rouge became renowned for its operetta performances. Successful shows during this period included Voluptata, La Feuille de Vigne, Le Rêve d'Egypte, Tais-toi tu m'affoles, among others, each with evocative titles. On 3 January 1907, during the performance of Le Rêve d'Egypte, Colette exchanged scandalous kisses that revealed her connection to

378-495: A poetic rendition of the character, contrasting his deep longing for normality with the condition of 'freak' to which his act relegated him. The 1998 documentary Le Pétomane by Igor Vamos examines Joseph Pujol's place in history through archival films (none of which actually include him), historical documents, photographs, recreations and fake or tongue-in-cheek interviews. Le Pétomane is also referenced in Blazing Saddles ,

420-1048: A prominent architect of the Belle Époque era, amongst other works he designed the brasserie Mollard, the Casino de Paris , the Folies Bergère in Paris, the Palace Hôtel in Ostend in Belgium, the rebuilding of the Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz, and the creation of the Hotel Negresco on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. This included the addition of aperitif concerts, attracting the fashionable elite for dining and entertainment in

462-436: A seductive dance by the courtesans who operated from the site, the can-can dance revue evolved into a form of entertainment of its own and led to the introduction of cabarets across Europe. Today, the Moulin Rouge is a tourist attraction , offering predominantly musical dance entertainment for visitors from around the world. The club's decor still contains much of the romance of fin de siècle France. On 6 October 1889,

SECTION 10

#1733092772734

504-563: A special presentation of the show to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 23 November 1981. The venue hosted renowned performers such as Liza Minnelli in February 1982, followed by gala performances with Dean Martin in July 1984 and Frank Sinatra in September 1984. A milestone occurred on 1 December 1986, when world-renowned dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov premiered an original ballet by Maurice Béjart at

546-620: A strange experience while swimming in the sea. He put his head under the water and held his breath, whereupon he felt an icy cold penetrating his rear. He ran ashore in fright and was amazed to sense water pouring from his anus. While serving in the army, he told his fellow soldiers about his special ability, and repeated it for their amusement, sucking up water from a pan into his rectum and then projecting it up to several yards. He found that he could suck in air as well. A trained baker , Pujol would sometimes entertain his customers by imitating musical instruments and claiming to be playing them behind

588-537: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Moulin Rouge Moulin Rouge ( / ˌ m uː l æ̃ ˈ r uː ʒ / , French: [mulɛ̃ ʁuʒ] ; lit.   ' "Red Mill" ' ) is a cabaret in Paris , on Boulevard de Clichy, at Place Blanche, the intersection of, and terminus of Rue Blanche. In 1889, the Moulin Rouge was co-founded by Charles Zidler and Joseph Oller , who also owned

630-674: The 53rd Eurovision Song Contest . The venue's global reach extended further in February 2009 when it was showcased as part of the Year of France in Brazil and the Rio Carnival on Copacabana Beach . However, on 13 January 2013, Moulin Rouge owner Jacki Clérico passed away, followed by the death of Doris Haug, founder of the Doris's Girls, on 10 August 2014. Despite these losses, the Moulin Rouge celebrated its 125th anniversary on 6 October 2014. On 25 April 2024,

672-460: The Paris Olympia . The original venue was destroyed by fire in 1915. Moulin Rouge is southwest of Montmartre , in the Paris district of Pigalle on Boulevard de Clichy in the 18th arrondissement , and has a landmark red windmill on its roof. The closest métro station is Blanche . Moulin Rouge is best known as the birthplace of the modern form of the can-can dance. Originally introduced as

714-435: The " Bal des Quat'z'Arts " sparked scandal with its procession featuring a nude Cleopatra surrounded by young naked women. On 12 November 1897, the Moulin Rouge closed for the first time to mourn the passing of its manager and co-founder, Charles Zidler. Yvette Guilbert paid homage to him, saying, "You have the knack of creating popular pleasure, in the finest sense of the word, of entertaining crowds with subtlety, according to

756-592: The Duchess of Morny, leading to the show being banned. Mistinguett made her debut at the Moulin Rouge on 29 July 1907 in the Revue de la Femme, showcasing her undeniable talent. She quickly rose to fame, achieving immense success the following year with Max Dearly in La Valse chaloupée. Born into poverty, Mistinguett's sharp wit and determination propelled her to become a successful businesswoman, touring extensively across Europe and

798-410: The Moulin Rouge featured extravagant shows inspired by the circus, along with attractions that gained widespread fame, such as Pétomane . Concert-dances were organized daily at 10 pm. Between 1886 and 1910, the comic duo Footit and Chocolat, comprising a white authoritarian clown and a black long-suffering Auguste , gained popularity and were frequently featured on Moulin Rouge posters. On 19 April 1890,

840-539: The Moulin Rouge opened as the Jardin de Paris , an outdoor garden café-concert , at the foot of the Montmartre hill. Its creator Joseph Oller and his Manager Charles Zidler were formidable businessmen who understood the public's tastes. The aim was to attract wealthy individuals to experience the ambiance of the fashionable district of Montmartre , which was perceived as a form of slumming. The elaborate setting, featuring

882-452: The Moulin Rouge's kitchens, while the introduction of The Revue Japonaise in 1960 showcased Japanese artists and popularized Kabuki in Montmartre. In 1962, Jacki Clérico , son of Joseph Clérico, assumed leadership, ushering in an era of expansion with the enlargement of the auditorium, installation of a giant aquarium, and the introduction of the first aquatic ballet. The Revue Cancan , devised by Doris Haug and Ruggero Angeletti, premiered

SECTION 20

#1733092772734

924-452: The Moulin Rouge. In February 1988, despite the original building's destruction in 1915, the Moulin Rouge celebrated its centenary with the premiere of the revue "Formidable," a prestigious event attended by Prince Edward . Subsequent events included performances in London and gala celebrations featuring an array of luminaries, including Charles Aznavour, Ella Fitzgerald , and Jerry Lewis . Over

966-590: The United States. On 9 April 1910, a former lady-in-waiting to Empress Eugénie attended a showing of the Revue Amoureuse at the Moulin Rouge and was so captivated by the faithful recreation of a ceremony for the return of troops from Italy that she exclaimed, "Long Live the Empress!" Tragically, on 27 February 1915, the Moulin Rouge was destroyed by fire during building works, resulting in a nine-year closure. In 1925,

1008-407: The band's trombone and piccolo players. The character has been portrayed several times in film. In 1979 Ian MacNaughton made a short humorous film, written by Galton and Simpson called Le Pétomane , based on Joseph Pujol's story and starring veteran comic actor Leonard Rossiter . The 1983 Italian movie Il Petomane , directed by Pasquale Festa Campanile and starring Ugo Tognazzi , gives

1050-575: The cabaret's windmill blades collapsed onto the street, resulting in damage to the facade. No injuries were reported. The windmill was restored on 5 July that year, in time for the Olympic torch relay that passed through the area on 15 July. The Moulin Rouge in Paris was a source of inspiration for: Le P%C3%A9tomane Joseph Pujol (June 1, 1857 – August 8, 1945), better known by his stage name Le Pétomane ( / l ə ˈ p ɛ t ə m eɪ n / , French pronunciation: [ləpetɔman] ),

1092-522: The counter. Pujol decided to try the stage, and debuted in Marseilles in 1887. When his act was well received, he moved to Paris , where he appeared at the Moulin Rouge in 1892. Some of the highlights of his stage act involved sound effects of cannon fire and thunderstorms, as well as playing " 'O Sole Mio " and " La Marseillaise " on an ocarina through a rubber tube in his anus. He could also blow out

1134-509: The disagreement led him to set up his own travelling show called the Theatre Pompadour. In the following decade Pujol tried to 'refine' and make his acts 'gentler'; one of his favourite numbers became a rhyme about a farm which he himself composed, and which he punctuated with anal renditions of the animals' sounds. With the outbreak of World War I , Pujol retired from the stage and returned to his bakery in Marseilles. Later he opened

1176-465: The first revue, "Circassiens et Circassiennes," debuted. On 26 October 1890, during a private visit to Paris, the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII , reserved a table to witness a quadrille at the Moulin Rouge, where La Goulue famously greeted him with the exclamation, "Hey, Wales, the champagne's on you!" In 1891, Toulouse-Lautrec created his first poster for the Moulin Rouge, featuring La Goulue . In 1893,

1218-798: The hit of the season at the Moulin Rouge. In 1937, the Cotton Club , renowned in New York, was showcased at the Moulin Rouge, alongside performances by Ray Ventura and his Collegians. During the Second World War (1939–1945), the Moulin Rouge was highlighted in the German Occupation Guide as a must-visit attraction in Paris. Its stage shows continued for the occupation troops and were mentioned in autobiographies of German officers such as Ernst Jünger and Gerhard Heller. The Germans facilitated "recreational visits" in Paris for their troops, promoting

1260-606: The introduction of American revues featuring the Hoffmann Girls. In 1923, composer and conductor Raphaël Beretta proposed a reconstruction of the Moulin Rouge's music hall on a larger scale. The iconic mill structure, supported by a central facade adorned with oval dormers, was designed by Gesmar, a 20-year-old set designer whose work became synonymous with the venue. Jacques-Charles and Mistinguett collaborated on several acclaimed revues, including: 1925: Revue Mistinguett 1926: Ça c'est Paris 1928: Paris qui tourne During

1302-470: The latter performed with Jean Gabin . In 1929, Mistinguett retired from the stage, leading to the transformation of the Moulin Rouge's ballroom into an ultra-modern Night Club. From June to August 1929, the revue Lew Leslie's Blackbirds , featuring jazz singer and Broadway star Adelaide Hall , along with a troop of a hundred black artists accompanied by the Jazz Plantation Orchestra, became

Place Blanche - Misplaced Pages Continue

1344-519: The motto "Jeder einmal in Paris" (everyone once in Paris). The widespread prostitution during the occupation eventually led to the implementation of the Loi Marthe Richard in 1946, which closed bordellos and reduced stage shows to dancing events. In 1944, shortly after the liberation of Paris , Edith Piaf , who had performed frequently at social gatherings for German forces during the war, returned to

1386-487: The new auditorium. The envisioned décor by Jo France, largely executed by Henri Mahé, a prominent designer of the era, remains intact to this day. The return of evening dances, acts, and the iconic French cancan marked a revival at the Moulin Rouge. On 19 May 1953, the 25th "Bal des Petits Lits Blancs," organized by novelist Guy des Cars , attracted notable figures such as French President Vincent Auriol and featured Bing Crosby 's European stage debut. Between 1951 and 1960,

1428-414: The rebuilt Moulin Rouge reopened its doors to the public. Following World War I, Francis Salabert assumed management of the Moulin Rouge. As a businessman rather than a showman, he entrusted Jacques-Charles, a prominent impresario, with revitalizing the cabaret. The Moulin Rouge experienced a resurgence with the performances of stars such as Mistinguett, Jeanne Aubert , and Maurice Chevalier , as well as

1470-663: The same year. Since 1963, following the success of the Frou-Frou revue, Jacki Clérico adopted a tradition of naming revues with titles beginning with the letter F. Throughout these productions, the famed French cancan remained a staple feature: On 7 September 1979, the Moulin Rouge marked its 90th anniversary, reaffirming its status as a prominent fixture in Parisian nightlife. The celebration featured an array of stars, including Ginger Rogers , Thierry Le Luron , Dalida , and Charles Aznavour , among others. Notable events followed, including

1512-448: The stage at the Moulin Rouge. She was accompanied by Yves Montand , a newcomer chosen to perform with her. On 22 June 1951, Georges France, also known as Jo France, founder of the Balajo in Paris, acquired the Moulin Rouge and initiated extensive renovation efforts. Architects Pierre Devinoy, Bernard de La Tour d’Auvergne, and Marion Tournon-Branly were tasked with enhancing and outfitting

1554-570: The stage saw performances by renowned artists including Luis Mariano , Charles Trénet , and Josephine Baker . In 1955, Jo France transferred ownership to brothers Joseph and Louis Clérico, proprietors of Le Lido , with Jean Bauchet assuming the managerial role. The tradition of the French cancan continued, choreographed by Ruggero Angeletti. Doris Haug established the "Doris's Girls" troop in 1957, initially comprising four girls and later expanding to sixty. Transformations in 1959 included renovations to

1596-528: The status of those to be entertained." In 1900, the Universal Exhibition attracted visitors from around the world to the Moulin Rouge, solidifying Paris's reputation as a city of decadent pleasure. This led to the establishment of imitation "Moulin Rouges" and "Montmartres" in many other countries. In January 1903, the Moulin Rouge underwent renovation and improvement under the direction of Édouard Niermans ,

1638-652: The years, the Moulin Rouge continued to host charitable events, such as the Cartier gala in support of the Artists' Foundation against AIDS in 1994, and the Lancôme gala in 1995. The centenary revue "Formidable" concluded in November 1999, paving the way for the debut of the new revue "Féerie" in December 1999. In 2008, soloist dancer Aleksandar Josipović served as master of ceremonies at

1680-495: Was a French flatulist (professional fartist) and entertainer. He was famous for his remarkable control of the abdominal muscles, which enabled him to seemingly fart at will. His stage name combines the French verb péter , "to fart" with the - mane , "- maniac " suffix, which translates to "fartomaniac". The profession is referred to as "flatulist", "farteur", or "fartiste". It was a common misconception that Pujol passed intestinal gas as part of his stage performance. Rather, he

1722-511: Was allegedly able to "inhale" or move air into his rectum and then control the release of that air with his anal sphincter muscles. Evidence of his ability to control those muscles was seen in the early accounts of demonstrations of his abilities to fellow soldiers. Joseph Pujol was born in Marseille , one of five children of stonemason and sculptor François Pujol and his wife Rose, in a family of Catalan origin. Soon after he left school, he had

Place Blanche - Misplaced Pages Continue

1764-590: Was premiered at the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts in 2011. In addition, Le Pétomane was added to David Lee's 2007 reworked revival of the 1953 Broadway play Can-Can , which had originally been written by Abe Burroughs and Cole Porter . The updated play, staged at the Pasadena Playhouse , featured musical theatre actor Robert Yacko as the fartiste, with sound effects provided by

#733266