Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

Le Palais des Glaces is a theatre built in 1876 at 37 rue du Faubourg-du-Temple, in the 10th arrondissement of Paris. Originally named Boléro Star, she was quickly renamed Bijou Concert and first devoted herself to the song. Under the direction of figures such as Albert Schrameck (specialist of the café-concert) or Paul Ruez (also director of the Folies Bergère or the Olympia), the place oscillated between music-hall and theatre, before being completely rebuilt in 1924. His new facade covered with mirrors earned him the name of Grand Cinéma du Palais des Glaces.

In the 1970s, the Palais des Glaces left the cinema to return to music, welcoming major artists like Nina Simone, Touré Kunda or The Clash. An important event was the Nuit punk of March 28, 1977, organized by Marc Zermati, which brings together mythical groups such as The Police, The Jam or Generation X. This concert symbolized the cultural effervescence of the place, then in the midst of a transition towards more eclectic programming.

Starting in 1988, under the impetus of producer Jimmy Lévy, the Ice Palace turned to humour and one-man-shows. Comedians such as Gad Elmaleh, Elijah and Dieudonné, or Jean-Marie Bigard produced regularly. Repurchased in 2002 by Jean-Pierre Bigard (brother of the humorist), the place became a temple of comedy until 2022. In that year, Mickael Chétrit and David Boukhobza took over the leadership, undertaking major renovations and redesigning the visual identity.

The Palais des Glaces is also part of the history of Parisian private theatre: in 2010, it joined the Théâtres Parisiens Associés, a sign created by 50 theatres to promote the historical model of independent theatre. Today, after more than a century of existence, it remains a must-see place on the Parisian cultural scene, combining architectural heritage and contemporary dynamism.

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