The Sun.
London, England, 1861-10-28 00:00:00

TEE THEATRES OF PARIS.

Of the seven theatres which are to be swept away
by the Boulevard du Prince Eugene, the Revue
' Municipals gives the following historical particu-
lars: 1. The Petit Lazzari was in 1789-92 the Theatre
des Varietes Amusantes. This soon fell into the
hands of an Italian, named Lazzari, who' played the
part of harlequin with such grace and suppleness
that he became quite a favourite, and the public,
consigning the real name of the theatre to oblivion,
thenceforward baptised it Lazzari. This theatre
was burnt down in 1798, and poor Lazzari, in a fit
of despair at this accident, committed suicide.
Under the Restoration a theatre for puppets only
was erected on the Boulevard du Temple, and called
the Petit Lazzari, to commemorate the harlequin of
former days. This theatre in 1830 exchanged its
wooden actors for others of flesh and bone. 2. The
Delassemens Comiques stands on the site of the
Theatre des Associes, which flourished in 1768
under a manager of the name of Beauvisage, who
was succeeded by the clever harlequin Salle, when
the theatre assumed the name of Theatre Patriotique
du Sieur Salle. In 1795 it was called Theatre Sans
Pretention ; it was closed in 1807 by an Imperial
decree, and transformed into the Cafe d'Apollon ;
but in 1815 Madame Saqui obtained leave to per-
form rope dancing and pantomimes there, which in
1830 were exchanged for vaudevilles. The old house
was pulled down in 1841, and rebuilt in three
months, when it assumed its present name. 3. The
Funambules was formerly exclusively devoted to
rope dancing, as its name implies; but since 1830
vaudevilles and pantomimes have been performed
there. The concern was sold for 400,000 f. a short
time ago. 4. The Gaite was also in 1759 a theatre
for rope dancing, under the celebrated Nicolet, who
attracted all Paris to his show by the drollery of
his performances, enhanced by farces of question-
able morality. The directors of the Opera became
so jealous of his success that they obtained an order
in 1769 restricting Nicolet's performances to mere
pantomimes But this restriction did not last long.
In 1772 Nicolet performed before the Court at
Choisy, on which occasion the Countess Dubarry
was so well amused that she caused the title of
by M .
Alexandre Dames and others, on
Imperial.
TheatrestTi
Theatre des Grands Danseurs de Roi to be conferred
upon this establishment. Nicolet set his brother
managers the first example of generosity by giving
the profits of a night's performance to the sufferers
from the fire which in 1777 destroyed all the booths
of the Foire St. Laurent. His theatre assumed its
present title in 1792 ; three years later it was called
Theatre d'Emulation, but Nicolet's widow restored
the name of La Gaite in 1798. The celebrated fairy
piece called the " Pied de Mouton " was performed
here in 1806. The theatre was rebuilt in 1808,
burnt down in 1835, and rebuilt in the same year
at a cost of 443,0001. b. The Theatre des Folies
Dramatiques has no history of interest to boast of ;
it was built in 1831 by M. Allanx, the inventor of
the Neorama. 6: The Theatre Imperial (ancien
Cique) was founded in 1780, by Astley, for eques-
trian performances ; it was taken in 1794 by Fran-
coni, who in 1802 transferred it to the old convent
of Capucines. But five years later the Rue de la
?aix was run through the grounds, and Franconi
had to migrate, first to the Rue onthabor, and
then once more to the Boulevard du Temple, where
he erected the Cirque Olympique. This was burnt
down in 1826, and rebuilt in the following year.
Before 1848 it changed its name to that of Theatre
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