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Olympia concert hall of Bruno Coquatrix, a 60 years success

Olympia concert hall, a legendary venue, was invented in 1888 by Joseph Oller, founder of the Pari Mutuel and…

• 28 Boulevard Des Capucines
• The Olympia opened on April 12, 1893, with La Goulue (cancan dancer), Loïe Fuller (American dancer) and Fregoli (transformist) as its very first stars. Fairground attractions (acrobats, contortionists, etc.) took center stage. During the First World War, the theater closed its doors until 1928. In 1929, however, it became a cinema under the name Théâtre Jacques-Haïck. In 1954 it was rebuilt as a musi-hall with a modern sound system, and Bruno Coquatrix was hired as director. The new Olympia opened on February 5 1954. It was a great success. Lucienne Delyle and Aimé Barelli took to the stage in succession. Gilbert Bécaud made his debut, followed by Barbara, Georges Brassens, Brel, Ferré, Piaf... and foreign artists such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Dalida made her debut here in 1956. Gilbert Bécaud created Et Maintenant in 1961. But that same year, Olympia was on the verge of bankruptcy, saved by the performance of Édith Piaf, who was still very ill (Non, je ne regrette rien, Mon Dieu, les Flonflons du bal) and stayed for 3 months. After Jacques Tati's Jour de fête (a reworking of scenes from his first film, with real acrobatics and sketches), Johnny Holiday takes over. The enthusiasm is such that new seats have to be ordered, broken by spectators during the show. Then Jacques Brel sings Les Bourgeois, Madeleine, Les Paumés du petit matin and Ne me quitte. At the end of 1961, the venue hosted the first shows of Sylvie Vartan, who went on to perform in larger venues, returning in 1996, 1999, 2009 and 2010..... Numerous rock and twist shows were organized between 1961 and 1963. In 1979, on the death of Bruno Coquatrix, management passed to his nephew Jean-Michel Boris (who remained until 2001). In 1989, Sheila made her "adieux à la chanson" and nine years later, in 1998, she returned to the stage. In 1998, Annie Cordy celebrated 50 years in the business and 70 years on stage. The record for the longest run was set by Michel Sardou in 1995, who remained on the bill for six months, giving 113 performances from January 10 to March 26 and, after an extension from April 11 to 30, finally completed his tour on June 10. In 1992, the Société Générale bank, owner of the block, announced a vast real-estate project, with a planned restructuring of the rear of the building to create a square. Public and professional mobilization led to the former billiard room being listed as a historic monument by decree on May 23, 1991. This led the bank to adopt a more moderate approach: the hall was rebuilt identically (with a few meters offset), and equipped with improved technical features. The old Olympia's last performance took place on April 14, 1997. The new hall opened in November 1997 with Gilbert Bécaud.