Boulevard du Crime

The Boulevard du Crime (French pronunciation: [bulvaʁ dy kʁim]) was the nickname given in the 19th century to the Boulevard du Temple in Paris because of the many crime melodramas that were shown every night in its many theaters.

It is notorious in French history for having lost so many theatres during the rebuilding of Paris by Baron Haussmann in 1862.

[1] Of the theatres on the boulevard, only the Folies-Mayer escaped demolition during the construction of Place de la République—solely because it was on the opposite side of the street.

[2] In spite of the name, the "Boulevard of Crime" was not dangerous or unpleasant.

Every night more than 20,000 people came to walk, sing, laugh and have fun.

1862 painting of the Boulevard du Temple with, from left to right, the Théâtre historique , the Cirque-Olympique , the Folies dramatiques , the Théâtre de la Gaîté , the Théâtre des Funambules , the Délassements Comiques (painting by Adolphe Martial Potémont , Carnavalet Museum )