THE WORLD OF CABARET FROM A TO Z. HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE. THEMATIC AND BIOGRAPHICAL WHO’S WHO. WHO ARE THE BEST CABARET-JAZZ SINGERS IN AMERICA?
Reprinted in part from "SHOWBIZ, PIONEERS, BEST SINGERS, ENTERTAINERS AND MUSICIANS FROM 1606 TO THE PRESENT", Volume IV of the WORLD WHO'S WHO IN JAZZ, CABARET, MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT", published by TimesSquarePress and the Federation of American Musicians, Singers and Performing Artists (FAMSPA). Pages 1920-1940. Author of the book: Maximillien de Lafayette
HOW CABARET CAME TO LIFE!
This is the true story of cabaret and how it came to exist. Some names and places are familiar, while others are obscure and unknown for obvious reasons. More precisely, because many of those places disappeared long time ago from the old Parisian landscape; some were ravished by the hardship of time, others demolished to give place and definition to modern edifices, office buildings, parking lots, and in some instances to be replaced by more modern cabarets, facilities and locals. As to people’s names, some were forgotten because they shined for a while and vanished for reasons we know and reasons we don’t. Once upon a time, their music and words entertained many sad souls and adventurers who found comfort and consolation in their warmth and imaginative style. But, unfortunately, they lost appeal because they became “Demodés”, meaning out of fashion and out of style.
Photo: Rare photo of Cabaret du Neant in Montmartre, Paris. The decor was macabre. Women were elegant. Lots of skulls on the walls. And Parisians swallowed booze like a fish. This is a view of what the French called « Salle D’Intoxication », meaning “Room of Intoxication or Drinking Area.” The joint was founded in 1892 by Dorville, located at 34, Boulevard de Clichy, Paris. Old folks having time. I don’t think so. Boy! This is a scary place! Is this what you call “cabaret”? I rather stay home with my German shepherd.
The Very Beginning: Les Hydropathes
The world’s first and oldest café-cabaret was “Les Hydropathes”. It opened on October 11, 1878 on Rue des Boulangers, in Le Quartier Latin (The French Quarter) in Paris, France. Very few people noticed its grand opening, because in May 1878 “L’Exposition Universelle de Paris” (Paris World Exhibition or Paris World Fair) opened its doors and attracted the public attention. In a way, the Paris fair was the only show and major attraction in town. So, the opening of a new small café-cabaret like “Les Hydropathes” in a Parisian neighbourhood during the grand event of the Paris World Fair, did not mean much for the French, and consequently did not attract much attention, nor generated enough interest or created Parisian curiosity. Besides, the proprietor of the cabaret, Mr. Emile Goudeau was looked upon as “not much of a Parisian” because he came from the “province.” This establishment began to operate like an intellectual café-cabaret in the tradition of old Parisian salons of literature, poetry and arts. It had a piano, a bar, a small dancing floor and a few female dancers and singers. The very first artists and intellectuals who offered their talents to Mr. Goudeau were Georges Lorin, Maurice Rollinat, Rives and Abram. In the very first days of the business, the café-cabaret did not do well. Customers complained a lot, because the ladies of the establishment did not show enough “skin”. The music was good and the menu was very a propos but, not enough “skin” as they said. Besides, the place has become a literary center for intellectuals and artists. To many clients, the café-cabaret’s intellectual ambiance began to bore the hell out of them. Grosso modo, Goudeau began to lose customers. He needed money to cover the daily expenses and to pay the accumulating debts. So he decided to run an “avourit circle”, a sort of a small-time gambling joint in the back of his café. This was a fatal mistake. The French gendarmerie (Police) knew about it, and shut down his business. But this guy was a trooper. A few weeks later, he reopened another joint on Rue Jussieu. Poets, artists, hustlers, self-proclaimed philosophers and adventurers followed him and kept him in business for a while. This time, Goudeau thought about something else. This character had passion for risky enterprises and quite often, his approach to business was not “Tellement Catholique”, meaning “not totally honest and correct” as his compatriots used to say. Goudeau’s café-cabaret became France’s first “after hour” drinking joint. This was reported by Jules Jouy in the newspaper “Edition du Tintamarre”, on February 2, 1879. Two years later, Goudeau and his “boite” disappeared from circulation, but not for long time, for he co-established and recreated a new cabaret which took Paris by storm. A new kind of cabaret which defined the new concept of “Cabaret without rules.” And that notorious cabaret was Le Chat Noir!! Continues Next