Creation and early success On 6 October 1889, the Moulin Rouge opened as the
Jardin de Paris, an outdoor garden
café-concert, at the foot of the Montmartre hill. Its creator
Joseph Oller and his Manager
Charles Zidler were formidable businessmen who understood the public's tastes. The aim was to attract wealthy individuals to experience the ambiance of the fashionable district of
Montmartre, which was perceived as a form of slumming. The elaborate setting, featuring a garden adorned with a large elephant, provided an environment where individuals from various social strata could interact. This included workers, local residents, artists, the middle class, businessmen, stylish women, and tourists passing through Paris. Nicknamed "The First Palace of Women" by Oller and Zidler, the cabaret swiftly garnered significant acclaim. Key factors contributing to its success included: File:Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Moulin Rouge - La Goulue, 1891 - The Metropolitan Museum of Art.jpg|
Moulin Rouge: La Goulue by
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, 1891 File:Au joyeux moulin rouge Choubrac-1896.jpg|Advertising poster of the Moulin Rouge by
Alfred Choubrac, 1896 File:At the Moulin Rouge- La Goulue and Her Sister MET DP835768.jpg|
At the Moulin Rouge, La Goulue and her Sister (
Au Moulin Rouge, La Goulue et sa sœur) by
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, 1892 File:Cheret MoulinRouge ParisCancan.jpg|Poster by
Jules Chéret, 1890
Greatest moments During its early years, the Moulin Rouge featured extravagant shows inspired by the circus, along with attractions that gained widespread fame, such as
Pétomane. Concert-dances were organized daily at 10 pm. Between 1886 and 1910, the comic duo Footit and Chocolat, comprising a white authoritarian clown and a black long-suffering
Auguste, gained popularity and were frequently featured on Moulin Rouge posters. On 19 April 1890, the first revue, "Circassiens et Circassiennes," debuted. On 26 October 1890, during a private visit to Paris, the Prince of Wales, later
Edward VII, reserved a table to witness a
quadrille at the Moulin Rouge, where La Goulue famously greeted him with the exclamation, "Hey, Wales, the champagne's on you!" In 1891, Toulouse-Lautrec created his first poster for the Moulin Rouge, featuring
La Goulue. In 1893, the "
Bal des Quat'z'Arts" sparked scandal with its procession featuring a nude
Cleopatra surrounded by young naked women. On 12 November 1897, the Moulin Rouge closed for the first time to mourn the passing of its manager and co-founder, Charles Zidler. Yvette Guilbert paid homage to him, saying, "You have the knack of creating popular pleasure, in the finest sense of the word, of entertaining crowds with subtlety, according to the status of those to be entertained." In 1900, the Universal Exhibition attracted visitors from around the world to the Moulin Rouge, solidifying Paris's reputation as a city of decadent pleasure. This led to the establishment of imitation "Moulin Rouges" and "Montmartres" in many other countries.
Operetta and grand shows In January 1903, the Moulin Rouge underwent renovation and improvement under the direction of
Édouard Niermans, a prominent architect of the
Belle Époque era, amongst other works he designed the brasserie Mollard, the
Casino de Paris, the
Folies Bergère in Paris, the Palace Hôtel in Ostend in Belgium, the rebuilding of the
Hôtel du Palais in Biarritz, and the creation of the
Hotel Negresco on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. This included the addition of aperitif concerts, attracting the fashionable elite for dining and entertainment in a luxurious setting. Until the outbreak of the
First World War, the Moulin Rouge became renowned for its operetta performances. Successful shows during this period included Voluptata, La Feuille de Vigne, Le Rêve d'Egypte, Tais-toi tu m'affoles, among others, each with evocative titles. On 3 January 1907, during the performance of Le Rêve d'Egypte,
Colette exchanged scandalous kisses that revealed her connection to the Duchess of Morny, leading to the show being banned.
Mistinguett made her debut at the Moulin Rouge on 29 July 1907 in the Revue de la Femme, showcasing her undeniable talent. She quickly rose to fame, achieving immense success the following year with
Max Dearly in La Valse chaloupée. Born into poverty, Mistinguett had a sharp wit and determination that propelled her to become a successful businesswoman, touring extensively across Europe and the United States. On 9 April 1910, a former lady-in-waiting to
Empress Eugénie attended a showing of the Revue Amoureuse at the Moulin Rouge and was so captivated by the faithful recreation of a ceremony for the return of troops from Italy that she exclaimed, "Long Live the Empress!" Tragically, on 27 February 1915, the Moulin Rouge was destroyed by fire during building works, resulting in a nine-year closure.
Mistinguett years , at the Moulin Rouge (1907–1929)Following World War I,
Francis Salabert assumed management of the Moulin Rouge. As a businessman rather than a showman, he entrusted Jacques-Charles, a prominent impresario, with revitalizing the cabaret. The Moulin Rouge experienced a resurgence with the performances of stars such as Mistinguett,
Jeanne Aubert, and
Maurice Chevalier, as well as the introduction of American revues featuring the Hoffmann Girls. In 1923, composer and conductor Raphaël Beretta proposed a reconstruction of the Moulin Rouge's music hall on a larger scale. The iconic mill structure, supported by a central facade adorned with oval dormers, was designed by Gesmar, a 20-year-old set designer whose work became synonymous with the venue. Jacques-Charles and Mistinguett collaborated on several acclaimed revues, including: 1925:
Revue Mistinguett 1926: ''Ça c'est Paris'' 1928:
Paris qui tourne During a 1927 performance, an incident occurred when female dancers emerged from multi-tiered artificial cakes covered in real frosting. The slippery cake cream on their high heels caused them to repeatedly slip and fall on stage, resulting in disruptions to the show. Mistinguett's tenure at the Moulin Rouge produced enduring songs such as "Valencia," "Ça c'est Paris" (both by
Jose Padilla), "Il m'a vue nue," "On m' suit," and "La Java de Doudoune," the latter performed with
Jean Gabin.
After Mistinguett In 1929, Mistinguett retired from the stage, leading to the transformation of the Moulin Rouge's ballroom into an ultra-modern Night Club. From June to August 1929, the revue ''Lew Leslie's Blackbirds'', featuring jazz singer and Broadway star
Adelaide Hall, along with a troop of a hundred black artists accompanied by the Jazz Plantation Orchestra, became the hit of the season at the Moulin Rouge. In 1937, the
Cotton Club, renowned in New York, was showcased at the Moulin Rouge, alongside performances by Ray Ventura and his Collegians. During the Second World War (1939–1945), the Moulin Rouge was highlighted in the German Occupation Guide as a must-visit attraction in Paris. Its stage shows continued for the occupation troops and were mentioned in autobiographies of German officers such as
Ernst Jünger and Gerhard Heller. The Germans facilitated "recreational visits" in Paris for their troops, promoting the motto "Jeder einmal in Paris" (everyone once in Paris). The widespread prostitution during the occupation eventually led to the implementation of the
Loi Marthe Richard in 1946, which closed bordellos and reduced stage shows to dancing events. In 1944, shortly after the
liberation of Paris,
Edith Piaf, who had performed frequently at social gatherings for German forces during the war, returned to the stage at the Moulin Rouge. She was accompanied by
Yves Montand, a newcomer chosen to perform with her. File:Vu (magazine) N°77.JPG|
Vu, issue N°77, Wednesday, 4 September 1929, front cover, with
Adelaide Hall star of
Blackbirds at the Moulin Rouge, titled "Au revoir Black Birds !", saying farewell after a production run of four months File:De Moulin Rouge in Parijs bij avond, Bestanddeelnr 254-5695.jpg|Moulin Rouge Cinema at night, 1936. File:Bundesarchiv Bild 101I-129-0480-25, Paris, deutsche Soldaten vor dem Moulin Rouge.jpg|Two German soldiers, with two women, in front of the Moulin Rouge, during the
Nazi occupation, June 1940.
Renewal On 22 June 1951, Georges France, also known as Jo France, founder of the in Paris, acquired the Moulin Rouge and initiated extensive renovation efforts. Architects Pierre Devinoy, Bernard de La Tour d’Auvergne, and
Marion Tournon-Branly were tasked with enhancing and outfitting the new auditorium. The envisioned décor by Jo France, largely executed by Henri Mahé, a prominent designer of the era, remains intact to this day. The return of evening dances, acts, and the iconic French cancan marked a revival at the Moulin Rouge. On 19 May 1953, the 25th "Bal des Petits Lits Blancs," organized by novelist
Guy des Cars, attracted notable figures such as French President
Vincent Auriol and featured
Bing Crosby's European stage debut. Between 1951 and 1960, the stage saw performances by renowned artists including
Luis Mariano,
Charles Trénet, and
Josephine Baker. In 1955, Jo France transferred ownership to brothers Joseph and Louis Clérico, proprietors of
Le Lido, ushering in an era of expansion with the enlargement of the auditorium, installation of a giant aquarium, and the introduction of the first aquatic ballet.
The Revue Cancan, devised by Doris Haug and Ruggero Angeletti, premiered the same year. Since 1963, following the success of the Frou-Frou revue, Jacki Clérico adopted a tradition of naming revues with titles beginning with the letter F. Throughout these productions, the famed French cancan remained a staple feature: :* 1963–1965:
Frou-Frou :* 1965–1967:
Frisson :* 1967–1970:
Fascination :* 1970–1973:
Fantastic :* 1973–1976:
Festival :* 1976–1978:
Follement :* 1978–1983:
Frénésie :* 1983–1988:
Femmes, femmes, femmes :* 1988–1999:
Formidable :* Since 1999:
Féerie On 7 September 1979, the Moulin Rouge marked its 90th anniversary, reaffirming its status as a prominent fixture in Parisian nightlife. The celebration featured an array of stars, including
Ginger Rogers,
Thierry Le Luron,
Dalida, and
Charles Aznavour, among others. Notable events followed, including a special presentation of the show to Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II on 23 November 1981. The venue hosted renowned performers such as
Liza Minnelli in February 1982, followed by gala performances with
Dean Martin in July 1984 and
Frank Sinatra in September 1984. A milestone occurred on 1 December 1986, when world-renowned dancer
Mikhail Baryshnikov premiered an original ballet by
Maurice Béjart at the Moulin Rouge. In February 1988, despite the original building's destruction in 1915, the Moulin Rouge celebrated its centenary with the premiere of the revue "Formidable," a prestigious event attended by
Prince Edward. Subsequent events included performances in London and gala celebrations featuring an array of luminaries, including Charles Aznavour,
Ella Fitzgerald, and
Jerry Lewis. Over the years, the Moulin Rouge continued to host charitable events, such as the
Cartier gala in support of the Artists' Foundation against
AIDS in 1994, and the
Lancôme gala in 1995. The centenary revue "Formidable" concluded in November 1999, paving the way for the debut of the new revue "Féerie" in December 1999. In 2008, soloist dancer
Aleksandar Josipović served as master of ceremonies at the
53rd Eurovision Song Contest. The venue's global reach extended further in February 2009 when it was showcased as part of the Year of France in Brazil and the
Rio Carnival on
Copacabana Beach. However, on 13 January 2013, Moulin Rouge owner Jacki Clérico died, Despite these losses, the Moulin Rouge celebrated its 125th anniversary on 6 October 2014. On 25 April 2024, the cabaret's windmill blades collapsed onto the street, resulting in damage to the facade. No injuries were reported. The windmill was restored on 5 July that year, in time for the
Olympic torch relay that passed through the area on 15 July. ==Documentaries==