The end of an era
Everyone who travels to Paris is bound to go to the Lido to see a cabaret show.
It is on a par with the Moulin Rouge and the Mad Horse Show, and is known as the three shows of Parisian nightclubs. The French have this saying: "Paris during the day is in the Eiffel Tower, and Paris at night is in the Lido." "Arguably, the Lido is synonymous with the glitz and dreams of Parisian nightlife.
On the night of the spring breeze, dressed in costumes, he entered the dance hall, and under the stage was a champagne dinner party with staggered chips, and on the stage was a beautiful long-legged girl singing all night.
Flickering candlelight, swaying skirts, exaggerated pink ostrich feathers... The fragrant and luxurious atmosphere makes people forget reality for a short time and return to the drunken gold fans of the Gatsby era.
The Lido nightclub is located on the bustling Champs Elysées and has a history of more than 70 years. Dignitaries such as Margaret Thatcher, Princess Diana, Audrey Hepburn, etc., were its guests.
At its peak, the Lido received 500,000 spectators a year, and the consumption of champagne alone exceeded 300,000 bottles.
Unfortunately, such a legendary landmark has not been able to withstand the impact of the epidemic.
Last week, its new owner, Accor Group, abruptly announced that it would fire most of Lido's employees and end the cabaret show once and for all.
We have witnessed the end of an era.
01
The dance troupe was cut off
There will be no more cabaret shows in the future
Last December, Liddung was acquired by French hotel giant Accor. Today, the first step after the acquisition is completed is a massive layoff.
Of the original 184 posts, 157 were retrenched, leaving only technical and administrative staff. Lido's permanent performance team, the world-famous "Bluebell Girls", was also disbanded.
The Bluebell Girls are the "Most Beautiful Girls in Paris" and were founded in 1947 by legendary dancer Margaret Kelly.
Becoming a bluebell girl has strict standards, not only to be more than 175cm tall, long legs, well-proportioned, but also to have a solid dance foundation, which can challenge various difficult moves. The latest generation of Bluebell Girls was selected after more than 500 interviews in Europe and the Americas.
Since the establishment of the dance company, they have pushed the standard of the Lido Show to the peak, and also represent the most eye-catching business card of the Lido. Forbes once described them as "the most beautiful and talented dancers in the world."
Now, these first-class dancers who once had unlimited scenery have actually come to the situation of collective unemployment, which is lamentable.
However, the board has pledged to continue to pay employees until the spring of 2023 to minimize their losses.
Although the Venue of the Lido was not demolished, the management decided to take a "New Art Route" and transform it into a musical theater and transform it into a musical. As for the cabaret show, it will never exist again.
This news stung the hearts of many people.
Jean-Jacques Clérico, director of the Moulin Rouge and grandson of the founder of The Lido, said: "A pearl of Parisian nightlife is disappearing. ”
Famous choreographer and dancer Bruno Vandelli posted on social platforms lamenting, "The Lido is over!" It's a shame, a shame to say goodbye to this Parisian landmark. All the dancers and staff here illuminate the night in Paris... This is sad news. ”
Many French even despair because Lido has withdrawn from the stage of history.
"The Lido represents the image of France in the world. Its disappearance may also mean the decline of Parisian culture. ”
02
The pinnacle of Paris
Tried to save himself
The reason why people have a lot of affection for the Lido is because it has witnessed one of the most prosperous times.
In 1946, Lido was officially opened at 78 Champs Elysées, where the world's first "Dinner Show" was staged.
The so-called "dinner show" is a combination of dining and performance. Spectators can enjoy the multi-sensory stimulation while tasting delicious food and wine while enjoying colorful and dazzling songs and dances.
Celebrities from all over the city flocked to experience this new mode of entertainment. The romantic extravagance of Paris was condensed in this dinner, and the debut was a great success.
Since then, Lido has created a series of bold and innovative stage forms, standing out from other nightclubs and sitting firmly in the position of "top class".
How much did Lido play at that time? Waterfalls, ice skating rinks, pools, fountains can all be moved. Dancers danced ballet in the rain, frolicked in the fountain, and even rode horses on the stage, flying across the ballroom on the "Big Bird" installation...
These innovations have transformed the Lido into a dream paradise, where all whimsy seems possible.
In 1977, the Lido moved to its current address, 116 Champs Elysées, closer to the Arc de Triomphe. It was also the peak of the Lido, with long queues at the gate every night.
Because it has always been ahead of its time, Lido has attracted top artists from all over the world to perform here, including France's deceased national treasure female singer Edith Piaf, rock star Johnnny Hallyday, British heavyweight singer Elton John and so on.
The most luxurious environment is naturally sought after by celebrities. Stars such as Elizabeth Taylor, Brigitte Bardot, Alain Delong and others have visited the Lido. Macau's "gambling king" Stanley Ho also dined here with his family.
After entering the new century, Lido still does not hesitate to spend a lot of money, continues to maintain a high-end operating model, and creates a more shocking audio-visual feast.
The most recent sensation is the new 2018 cabaret "Fantastic Paris", with a total investment of 25 million euros.
The original stage was renovated into a 2,000-square-meter large panoramic hall that could accommodate more than 1,000 spectators to watch the show at the same time. A real ice rink, a water fountain, and a swimming pool that can store 80 tons of water have also been built.
Costumers designed 600 costumes, 250 pairs of shoes, 200 hats and headdresses, embellished with 200 kilograms of feathers and more than 2 million Swarovski crystals.
For this new work, Lido is full of confidence. At the time, its goal was to increase its annual turnover from €38 million to €50 million within 3 years and double the number of spectators to 1 million.
However, no one expected that this would become the last glory of the Lido.
03
Is the cabaret show obsolete?
In 2020, due to the impact of the epidemic, the turnover of all dance halls and concert halls in Paris plummeted by 80%.
For The Lido, the problem is not only the loss of international tourists, but also the extremely high cost of maintaining its operations. In the Champs Elysées, the annual rent is at least €5 million.
Recently released data shows that in the past 10 years, Lido has accumulated losses of up to 80 million euros.
Thinking that there was no hope of resurrection, Lido made the decision to cancel the cabaret show completely.
Meanwhile, the other two of the "Big Three Shows," the Moulin Rouge and the Mad Horse Show, while lucky to survive, are also struggling to survive.
The Moulin Rouge is famous for its Kang kang dance, where the dancers have their upper bodies bare and wear only gorgeous feathers or metal pieces, reflecting the richness and exuberance of the French girl.
Because of the shrinking income from traditional performances, the Moulin Rouge had to develop some new formats, such as adding bars and concert halls. Two days ago, it also partnered with Airbnb to open for occupancy for the first time in 130 years.
Compared to the Lido and the Moulin Rouge, the Mad Horse Show is hotter and is known for its nude dance. In the past two years, in order to attract a younger audience, it has revamped the classic program and begun to experiment with different styles.
The once-beautiful Paris Cabaret Show is no longer synonymous with trends that lead the world, but has fallen into the controversy of "obsolescence" and "decline".
Many people believe that the bluebell girls and crazy horse girls, who are known for their sweet and sexy, are no longer in line with the current trend of aesthetic diversification.
Feathers, sequins, and singing and dancing are also seen as symbols of pomp and pageantry.
But in any case, we still hope that these cabaret shows will survive forever, preserving the beautiful, romantic and sparkling years of Paris in the Golden Age.
Text, Editor/Strawberry
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