Date: 1939
Origin: France
Brand: Le Bal Tabarin
In the spring of 1939, Paris cabaret Bal Tabarin premiered a revue called Un Vrai Paradis, presented by Pierre Sandrini and Pierre Dubout and directed by Sandrini. The production was divided into three acts: earthly paradise, paradise lost, and paradise regained. Renowned designer and illustrator Erté is credited in this 1939 programme for designing the costumes and sets. However, the outbreak of WWII caused Bal Tabarin to halt performances.
After serving as a soup kitchen for performers for twenty months, Bal Tabarin resumed its production of Un Vrai Paradis while Paris was still under German occupation. One 1941 review praised the venue’s owners, writing “Un Vrai Paradis reappears at its home port … Decorated with fresh colors, adorned with new and sparkling costumes.” However, it appears that Erté’s original designs from 1939 were reused, as indicated by the photographs in this 1940-1941 programme.
Between 1933 and 1949, Erté costumed a great variety of acts at Bal Tabarin. However, after the death of director Pierre Sandrini, a search for a new director was unsuccessful and the venue ultimately closed in 1953. To learn more about some of the costumes seen in this programme, visit our digital exhibition Erté: Feline Costumes for Bal Tabarin.
From the collection of Karolina Laskowska
