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Origin and history

The Casino of Paris finds its roots in a venue built around 1730 by the Duke of Richelieu, transformed into a Tivoli amusement park in 1811 before being demolished in 1851 for the church of the Holy Trinity. Under Haussmann, the site became a recreation hall including a roller rink, and in 1880, the Palace-Théâtre, restored in 1891 by Édouard Niermans. The Casino de Paris officially opened in October 1891, with a rococo hall decorated with windows, columns and statues, marking the beginning of its golden age.

In 1892, the Casino inaugurated Le Pôle Nord, an ice rink, but a fire partially destroyed the establishment in 1895. Repurchased in 1914 by Raphaël Beretta, he became a cinema-music-hall, welcoming in 1917 the first French magazine with jazz orchestra, directed by Léon Volterra and star Gaby Deslys. After World War I, Mistinguett and Maurice Chevalier triumphed, despite a new fire in 1922. Reconstructed with a glass swimming pool on stage, the Casino sees Josephine Baker (Paris, 1931), Tino Rossi and Zizi Jeanmaire parade.

Under the occupation, the Germans reopened the hall for Chevalier and Mistinguett. After the war, Line Renaud, Mick Micheyl and Zizi Jeanmaire (with decors signed by Yves Saint Laurent) continued the tradition of lavish magazines until the 1970s. The closure in 1980, due to financial difficulties, preceded a conversion into a multi-purpose hall: concerts (Gainsbourg, Dutronc, Muse), musicals (Starmania, Chicago), and one-man shows (Debbouze, Dubosc). Renovated in 2008, it remains a temple of the Parisian show.

The Casino de Paris is also known for cultural innovations: the launch of paper confetti in 1891, the first jazz review in 1917, and the reception of the first modern comedians (Coluche, Élie Semoun). Its architecture, combining rococo and modernity, and its history linked to icons such as Mistinguett or Josephine Baker make it a symbol of Parisian nightlife. Today, he alternates concerts, musicals and tributes to his legacy, such as the reopening of the Mistinguett restaurant in 2023.

Highlights include Tino Rossi's farewells in 1982, the residences of Serge Gainsbourg (1985) or Jamel Debbouze (multiple shows), and recent productions such as Priscilla Folle du Désert (2017-2018) or I'm going to love (2024). The venue also welcomed international bands (Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys) and rock operas like Starmania (1998-2000), confirming its status as a mythical scene, between tradition and modernity.

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