Les café-concerts Help is gratefully acknowledged to Madeleine La Cotera & Hoa Tran - Professeur Monique Saigal Pomona College, Claremont, California, USA - Printemps Patricia Barry 2005.

New Ideas. Until the « Belle Époque » the different social classes did not mix. Until the « Belle Époque » the different social classes did not mix. It was always the rich with the rich, and the working class with the working class. It was always the rich with the rich, and the working class with the working class.

LExposition Universelle 1889 The Exposition attracted millions of visitors. The Exposition attracted millions of visitors. They were all looking for new ways of enjoying themselves. They were all looking for new ways of enjoying themselves.

The creation of the café concert. The creation of the Café concert lifted the barriers between the social classes. The creation of the Café concert lifted the barriers between the social classes. Because their entry prices were low, it was possible for an aristocrat to find himself at the same table as a working class person. Because their entry prices were low, it was possible for an aristocrat to find himself at the same table as a working class person. People from all classes suddenly discovered that they all shared the same tastes in entertainment. People from all classes suddenly discovered that they all shared the same tastes in entertainment.

Le Chat Noir Le Chat Noir was one of the first « artistic cabarets ». Le Chat Noir was one of the first « artistic cabarets ». Its owner, Rodolphe Salis had noticed that the suburb of Montmartre was very popular among artists, intellectuals, pleasure seekers and tourists. Its owner, Rodolphe Salis had noticed that the suburb of Montmartre was very popular among artists, intellectuals, pleasure seekers and tourists.

Heres the petit chat. Rodolphe Salis found a little black cat, on the footpath in front of his cabaret. Rodolphe Salis found a little black cat, on the footpath in front of his cabaret. He adopted the cat, and named the club after it: « Le Chat Noir ». He adopted the cat, and named the club after it: « Le Chat Noir ». This poster shows the original « chat noir »! This poster shows the original « chat noir »!

What was Le Chat Noir like? Le Chat Noir was totally different from other cafés and bars. Le Chat Noir was totally different from other cafés and bars. The waiters wore the uniform of the Academie Française. The waiters wore the uniform of the Academie Française. This meant that this cabaret had a bit of « class ». This meant that this cabaret had a bit of « class ».

The clientèle Salis welcomed and interacted with quite a diverse clientele. Salis welcomed and interacted with quite a diverse clientele. Society women Society women Tourists Tourists Bankers Bankers Doctors Doctors Artists Artists Journalists Journalists

The inside of the Chat Noir. Salis offered all sorts of entertainments: Salis offered all sorts of entertainments: Singers Singers Sentimental, patriotic and romantic plays Sentimental, patriotic and romantic plays Theatre shows Theatre shows Religious shows. Religious shows. Unfortunately, le Chat Noir went bankrupt. Unfortunately, le Chat Noir went bankrupt.

Les Folies Berger This café-concert had a great success. This café-concert had a great success. This is a Renoir painting of one of the waitresses. This is a Renoir painting of one of the waitresses. The cost of entry, at 2 francs, was a bit dearer than the other cabarets. The cost of entry, at 2 francs, was a bit dearer than the other cabarets.

Entertainment. The cabaret was dominated by women singers. The cabaret was dominated by women singers. Their songs ranged across a great number of different themes: the struggle against poverty, sexuality, etc. Their songs ranged across a great number of different themes: the struggle against poverty, sexuality, etc. Some were even considered a menace to public safety! Some were even considered a menace to public safety!

The dancers. The dancers were entertaining because of their costumes. The dancers were entertaining because of their costumes. They were considered very shocking exposing their legs…and their knees! They were considered very shocking exposing their legs…and their knees!

Aristide Bruant He composed and sang his own songs. He composed and sang his own songs. His themes were prostitution, the homeless, the jobless, the marginalised and poverty. His themes were prostitution, the homeless, the jobless, the marginalised and poverty. For his era, his themes were a little different. For his era, his themes were a little different.

Even more entertainment. There were all sorts of entertainments to attract people. There were all sorts of entertainments to attract people. People liked the unusual like the boxing kangaroo illustrated here. People liked the unusual like the boxing kangaroo illustrated here. They even presented bearded ladies! They even presented bearded ladies!

The circus The spectators really enjoyed the trapeze artistes. The spectators really enjoyed the trapeze artistes. The entertainment was always very varied in order to attract a wide range of people. The entertainment was always very varied in order to attract a wide range of people.

The Lion Tamer But the best act was the lion tamer and the lions! But the best act was the lion tamer and the lions! The spectators loved the spine tingles they got watching the dangerous act, often ending up with the lions killing the tamer! The spectators loved the spine tingles they got watching the dangerous act, often ending up with the lions killing the tamer!

The clientèle People could dance or join in singing with the singer. People could dance or join in singing with the singer. But there was just as much entertainment going on among the spectators was there was on the stage! But there was just as much entertainment going on among the spectators was there was on the stage!

The hall The audience used to walk around during the acts. The audience used to walk around during the acts. The café concert was used as a meeting place for friends, or a place to find a prostitute. The café concert was used as a meeting place for friends, or a place to find a prostitute.

A relaxed atmosphere. You could talk, smoke and eat whenever and where ever in the cabaret. You could talk, smoke and eat whenever and where ever in the cabaret. You could arrive and leave when you wanted. You could arrive and leave when you wanted. Consequently, the room was very noisy. Consequently, the room was very noisy.

A difficult atmosphere for the performers. The audience often paid little attention to the performers. The audience often paid little attention to the performers. But, to a certain extent, the performers tended to expect this type of behaviour. But, to a certain extent, the performers tended to expect this type of behaviour.

The shows Men wore their hats during the show. Men wore their hats during the show. The man here with the dancer was known as « la squelette » - a skeleton – he was a contortionist. The man here with the dancer was known as « la squelette » - a skeleton – he was a contortionist.

Even more shocking! The dancers of the Moulin Rouge had an even more shocking reputation! The dancers of the Moulin Rouge had an even more shocking reputation!

Le Moulin Rouge This café concert was opened specially in 1889 to attract the tourists who had come to Paris for the Exposition. This café concert was opened specially in 1889 to attract the tourists who had come to Paris for the Exposition. It soon became known for its scandalous dance, the cancan. It soon became known for its scandalous dance, the cancan.

The French cancan This dance originated among the laundry girls. This dance originated among the laundry girls. During this dance, the girls not only exposed all of their legs but also all of their lingerie! During this dance, the girls not only exposed all of their legs but also all of their lingerie!

How dreadful! The Church took the decision to excommunicate those who went to this disgraceful show. The Church took the decision to excommunicate those who went to this disgraceful show. It certainly wasnt a show that « real » ladies would go and see! It certainly wasnt a show that « real » ladies would go and see!

La Goulue La Goulue was one of the most famous dancers at the Moulin Rouge. La Goulue was one of the most famous dancers at the Moulin Rouge. This poster provoked a lot of negative criticism when it was first produced. This poster provoked a lot of negative criticism when it was first produced.

The man. The man in front in silhouette was the owner of the Moulin Rouge The man in front in silhouette was the owner of the Moulin Rouge La Goulue and her show made him a very rich man. La Goulue and her show made him a very rich man.

The troupe of dancers. The French can-can was performed by a troupe of dancers, too. The French can-can was performed by a troupe of dancers, too. The Moulin Rouge attracted very many tourists because of this risqué show. The Moulin Rouge attracted very many tourists because of this risqué show.

Jane Avril Jane was another famous star of the Moulin Rouge during this era. Jane was another famous star of the Moulin Rouge during this era. She both danced and sang. She both danced and sang.

The can-can nowadays. The Moulin Rouge continues its tradition today. The Moulin Rouge continues its tradition today. Nevertheless, the costumes are a bit different! Nevertheless, the costumes are a bit different!

The Moulin Rouge today. On the outside, little has really changed, except may be for the shop windows and the posters! On the outside, little has really changed, except may be for the shop windows and the posters!