Nov 30, 2019: The Folies-Bergere Revue Turns 133 Years Old!

A Bar at the Folies-Bergere, Edouard Manet; oil on canvas 1881-1882 {public domain}

In Paris, France 133 Years ago on November 30, 1886 the Folies-Bergere opened its first revue with beautiful dancers in gorgeous costumes! It seems the costumed ladies made the theater's pantomime shows old hat and pretty much every other act they'd previously featured. Stars were born!

Then one fabled night in 1925, a certain lady was lowered from the ceiling and she turned out to be the fabulous Josephine Baker who treated the audience to her famous (or infamous!) banana dance. Follow the link to a previous post concerning Miss Baker's natal planets and view a gif that captures her sparkling Gemini personality, plus, a photo of her sporting her scanty banana get-up!

Ooh-La-La at the Folies Bergere!

Yes, It's a Case of 19th Century Ooh-La-La!

Recently I received an email alert that History Today has published an article on the famous music hall the Folies Bergere which opened in Paris, France way back in 1869. Staging light opera and pantomimes in the early days led to wider success in the 1870s as vaudeville and scantily clad ladies became the nightly fare.

Later in its history, one of Neptune's Silver Screen's favorite actresses and dancers found major success there when she debuted in 1926--lowered down from the ceiling wearing a g-string decorated with what became her legendary bananas...the one of a kind Miss Josephine Baker! Follow the link for a brief Astro-Portrait of the lady, plus, a GIF that captures her Geminian gaiety and charm, and a photo of Josephine wearing her famous Banana Dance costume...if you dare!