Le Lido
The Lido (also the Paris Lido, French: Lido Le Lido, Lido de Paris or Plage de Paris ) is a revue theater in Paris. It was established in 1946, founded by the brothers Clerico in a former swimming pool that already bore the name Lido on the Avenue des Champs- Élysées in the 8th arrondissement. The theater is known for its elaborate stage shows and performances by international artists from the show business. An essential part of the stage program, the Bluebell Girls, the in-house Damenbalett with its elaborate costumes. The successful concept of the house was in 1958 exported to Las Vegas, where it was performed more than 30 years. The still family-owned Lido moved in 1977 to a bigger, also located on the Avenue des Champs- Élysées is one building and especially in tourists to the popular music halls of Paris.
History
The name Lido
The Lido was originally located in the Avenue des Champs- Elysées 76-78. Here first was erected according to designs by Gustave Rives 1905 Hôtel Dufayel. The plot, which extends from the Avenue des Champs- Élysées to the Rue de Ponthieu, acquired in the 1920s, the diamond merchants and property owners Léonard Rosenthal, who erected here as a connection between the two roads from 1925, the Arcades des Champs- Élysées. As architects of this as a shopping mall planned for luxury shops building Charles Lefebvre acted with his colleagues Marcel Julien and Louis Duhayon. You voted for the interiors of the Passage opened on October 1, 1926 a mix of styles from Belle Epoque and Art Deco. Thus, in addition old marble columns from the Hôtel Dufayel contemporary decorative elements such as ironwork of René Gobert and designed by the renowned engineer Fernando Jacopozzi lighting. In addition, a glass fountain of René Lalique was part of the equipment which is no longer preserved. In the basement of the Arcades des Champs- Élysées in 1928 opened a designed by René Hirtes bathhouse. This swanky pool had attached spa facilities such as sauna and beauty salon and operated under the name Lido, in reference to the Lido di Venezia, the beach of Venice. The Venice motif was also reflected in the interior of the bath. Due to the popularity of this Établissements the Arcades des Champs- Élysées received the nickname Arcades of the Lido, which is also still in use today, although the Lido theater now located elsewhere.
The old Lido
After the end of the Second World War, Jean and Joseph Clerico brothers recognized the need for entertainment, both staying in Paris U.S. soldiers as well as civilians. They took over the Lido and had it converted into a revue theater. The original interior of the swimming pool completely disappeared, only the name Lido remained as the theater on 20 June 1946 with the Revue Sans rimes ni raison (Without rhyme or reason ) opened. The Lido soon became one of the leading music halls of Paris, what the theater director Pierre -Louis Guérin and 1947, the artistic director René Fraday significant proportion had. To this end, the concept was developed by them of Dinner and performance, a combination of luxurious dinner followed Revue, and also in how the now legendary Bluebell Girls. This team of long-legged dancers goes back to the operating theater since 1948 in Margaret Kelly Leibovici, called Miss Bluebell. A native of Ireland dancer collaborated with the choreographer Donn Aden to the stage show with the elaborate costumes, which are provided with a lot of rhinestones and ostrich feathers, occasionally let the dancers also appear topless. A hallmark of the early years of the Lido were also designed by René Gruau and the Pierre -Laurent Brenot posters.
Besides its own ensemble since the beginning were guest appearances by French and international artists to the highlights of the Lido shows. Early 1950s were, for example, the comedian Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy on the Lido. From Germany came in 1955, the Kessler Twins in the Lido that belonged here until 1960 for the fixed program. 1958 exported the Lido operators their concept to Las Vegas. Pierre -Louis Guerin, Rene Fraday and Donn Arden traveled for this purpose to Nevada and developed for the Stardust Casino Hotel, the program Lido de Paris, which was shown there with its own company until 1992. Elvis Presley traveled in 1959 as a tourist with friends to Paris and visited repeatedly ideas of the Lido. During one of these visits he gave a spontaneous concert on the stage of the theater. Additional show sizes that occurred to guest appearances in the old Lido, belonged Noël Coward, Marlene Dietrich, Josephine Baker, Maurice Chevalier and Edith Piaf. For fixed ensemble belonged 1968-1970 Marlène Charell that her future husband Roger Pappini met here, who was then working as technical director at the Lido.
Siegfried and Roy were engaged from 1967 to 1969 at the Lido.
The Lido today
In the 1970s, Christian Clerico took over from his father, Joseph, the management of the company. The idea arose to accommodate the continued high demand with an increase in seating capacity. For this was a move to the Avenue des Champs- Élysées No. 116 to the former large cinema Normandy. The building, nicknamed the accordion because of its striking façade, was built in the years 1928-32 by the architect Jean Desbouis originally for the radio station Poste Parisien. Before the advent of the Lido in March 1977, a modification was made by the Italian architect Giorgio Vecchia and Franco Bartoccinder.
The new Lido covers an area of more than 7,500 square meters. The auditorium has 1,150 seats. While the vast majority of these courses is on two spectator stands, is in floor space for 300 guests can take their meals at tables before the first show here. In order to ensure an optimal view for all visitors, the floor in front of the ideas is hydraulically lowered by 80 cm. For advanced technical equipment of the Lido since the move is the possibility onstage waterfalls or an area for figure skating performances to show.
The new Lido has always been and again venue for international stars. This includes, for example, were Shirley MacLaine, Tom Jones, Charles Aznavour, Sacha Distel, Ingrid Caven, Ute Lemper and Elton John. Since December 2003, the Lido shows throughout, which consists of 23 different stage design program entitled Bonheur. The show, whose production costs amounted to 9 million euros, will be performed with two evening performances daily. The house is up to now (2009 ) in the family. Current directors are Carl and Frank Clerico.