Madame Arthur: Transvestite Cabaret and Legendary Club in Pigalle

The first transvestite cabaret in Paris, Madame Arthur was created in 1946. It is the homonymous song written by Paul de Kock in 1850 and performed by Yvette Guibert that gave it its name.

The history of the cabaret

Located at the foot of the Sacré Coeur, 75 rue des Martyrs (75018), the cabaret was born at the end of the 19th century with “Le Divan Japonais”. Every week, from Thursday to Saturday, the cabaret offers a new show, inspired by Drag. After the show, you can discover the dance floors in the 2 rooms and 4 bars, between 11:30 p.m. and until 6 a.m. Since 2015, Madame Arthur and the Divan du Monde have merged to offer a unique show and DJ sets every evening.

Before 1868 and the annexation of the commune of Montmartre to Paris, the place where Madame Arthur is located today was called “la Musette St- Flour”. This popular establishment offered cheap alcohol. It became “Le Café de la Chanson” when it was annexed to Paris after having been a coal miner’s ball earlier in the 19th century.

In 1946, Marcel Wutsman, known as Monsieur Marcel, decided to open the adjoining wall of the Divan du Monde and chose the song “Madame Arthur” as the name of the sign for this transvestite cabaret. In 1961, he opened another cabaret in Amsterdam, “Madme Arthur” with 2 artists Rita Del Ora and Capucine. Today it is the “Heineken Music – Hall Madame Arthur ‘s Amsterdam. In 1973, a club “Madame Arthur” where drag queens perform, opens in Copenhagen, it closes in 1989.

Description of the cabaret

The Madame Arthur cabaret is recognizable by its red facade. After crossing a narrow entrance where the cloakroom is located below, you access an airlock that opens onto the room, you can see the stage. Not far from there, is the bar, separated by 3 vertical rows of tables next to each other, which can accommodate 4 people, sometimes 5, 6 or 7, thanks to stools. Beyond the room, the offices and part of the dressing rooms. We also find some on the upper floors, as well as the sewing workshops.

Famous people of Madame Arthur

The cabaret scene has seen many personalities including well-known transgender artists such as Coccinelle, Baddabou, Cricri, Chantaline Erika Keller, Estelle Roederer, Angélique Lagerfeld, Chablie and Bambi. Since the opening, Joseph Ginsburg, nicknamed Father Jo, has been the pianist. In 1954, his son Lucien, known as Serge Gainsbourg, took over. He wrote some titles such as “Antoine le casseur” for a transvestite dancer and for Mistinguett, the song entitled “Zita la panthère” as well as other titles.

“Floridor”, in memory of the actor of Molière, is the main host of the evening. He is replaced a few months later by “Bigoudi” who will remain until his death, 2 or 3 years later. In 1950, “Bambi” arrives, succeeded by Maslowa, considered the best leader of Madame Arthur’s revue. Dressed in pink satin pajamas, with little makeup and a little beard, without a wig so as not to hide his blond hair, he welcomed the customers by acclimatizing them. His main subject was himself, practicing self-mockery, puns and repeating the same gags, while discovering new ones. For 20 years, they recreated life every day.

Madame Arthur today

Neighbor of the performance hall “Le Divan du Monde”, Madame Arthur reopened its doors in 2015, after being closed for many years, a renovation and the reunion of the 2 establishments to form one. From now on, they form the cabaret club known under the unique name “Madame Arthur”, reconnecting with its past as a drag cabaret. It becomes an institution of Parisian life again with, every week, a new original show by transvestite artists. After the show, the cabaret transforms into a club in 3 DJ set rooms dedicated to French music.

Cabaret Madame Arthur
75 rue des Martyrs
75018 Paris
Tel: 07 68 78 68 01
From Thursday to Saturday at 10 p.m.
10:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m.: Original show
11:30 p.m.-6 a.m.: Club in French
Buy tickets online or on site

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VERONIQUE YANG

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