Folies Bergère

The Folies Bergère  is a nightclub in Paris which opened in 1869 as a music hall.Music hall: might be described as vaudeville or burlesque in U.S. English; and as caberet music-hall or music-hall parisienne in French. It was at the height of its fame and popularity from the 1890s until the Second World War. It is still in business.

History
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. 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  Art & Architecture

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.Édouard Marchand et les Folies bergère In French with many details and graphics.

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.

Performers
Many famous entertainers have performed at the Folies Bergère:
Louisa Baïleche dancer. singer
Claudine Longet dancer, singer 
Cantinflas
Charlie Chaplin
Maurice Chevalier
Dalida
Fernandel
W.C. Fields comic actor
Ella FitzgeraldJean Gabin
 Grock, clown
Benny Hill
Zizi Jeanmaire
Elton John
Miss Bluebell 
Valérie Lemercier
Marcel Marceau
Ginger RogersMistinguett
Yves Montand
La Belle Otero
Édith Piaf
Liane de Pougy
Yvonne Printemps
Raimu
Frank Sinatra
Charles Trenet

 Filmography 
 1936: Folies Bergère de Paris with Maurice Chevalier
 1956: Folies-Bergère with Zizi Jeanmaire
 1956: Énigme aux Folies Bergère 
 1991: La Totale! 

 References 

Category:1869 establishments in Europe
Category:1860s establishments in France
Category:Buildings and structures in Paris
Category:Entertainment venues