The Sun. — 1861-10-28 (London, England)

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 particulars: 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 perform 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 questionable 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 equestrian performances ; it was taken in 1794 by Franconi, 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 g du Temple, nan 8 heedto Lyrique ; and the concern will be transferredtotihtee Boulevard n pneleweebthe Theatreig west L of the buildings under theatre opposite, as our readers know, is destined to rename yri que , which Port a u t. wh Change buihel t a s Historique, and opened with the first representation of present i t as name 4o f 6, Theatre under t he of the drama called "La Reine Margot," which had considerable success. lnn