History of Montreal cabarets
Cabarets were unquestionably a social, economic and cultural phenomenon that radically transformed the entertainment scene in Montreal and Quebec.
and France, causing Montreal to quickly gain a reputation as a party town, attracting large numbers of tourists, especially Americans.
[1] In 1921, the Taschereau government, in contrast to the rest of the continent, opted for an avant-garde solution: the creation of the Société des alcools du Québec, which allowed legal (and controlled) access to all alcoholic beverages.
[3] Texas Guinan caused a sensation on the Main (Saint Laurent Boulevard) but, more importantly, accelerated the popularity of Montreal, and a host of American cabaret artists (MCs, singers, musicians, etc.)
[1] A veritable oasis for anyone seeking to escape prohibitionist policies, Montreal quickly established a reputation as a magnet for tourists, investors and gamblers.
Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis and Sammy Davis Jr performed at Cabaret Chez Paree.
Great shows by strippers such as Lili St-Cyr, Peaches and Gypsy Rose Lee could be seen at Gaiety Theatre and Cabaret Roxy.
[10] French stars included Line Renaud, Jacqueline François, Henri Salvador, Yves Montand, Guy Béart, Lucienne Boyer, Luis Mariano, Maurice Chevalier and Bourvil, all of whom made numerous appearances in Montreal.
[10] From chic cabarets such as El Morocco, Tic Toc and the Normandie Roff (located in the Hôtel Mont-Royal) to populist ones like the Casino Bellevue on the corner of Bleury and Ontario, not to mention the Rialto, Crystal Palace and Roxy, Montreal's nightlife scene was filled with unparalleled diversity and vitality.
During this period, which can be considered the golden age of Montreal nightlife, provincial and municipal authorities kept a complacent eye on the activities of bars and clubs.
[12] The Corner, at the intersection of Craig (now Saint Antoine) and de la Montagne streets, was the focal point of jazz in Montreal from 1945 to the mid-1950s.
In the 1950s, these included Monique Leyrac, Félix Leclerc, Raymond Lévesque, Dominique Michel, Clémence DesRochers, Denise Filiatrault, Pauline Julien, Oscar Peterson, Oliver Jones, Paul Berval[19] and Les Jérolas (a duo made up of Jérôme Lemay and Jean Lapointe).
However, a certain tabloid press violently attacked the administration and, in 1957, after an election marred by irregularities, Jean Drapeau was ousted from City Hall and replaced by Sarto Fournier.
New police measures, the popularity of television and the arrival of a new musical style (rock) all converged to silence the cabaret scene as it had existed in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.
Music-Hall and Au p'tit café, for example, were directly inspired by Montreal cabarets, giving stars such as Dominique Michel, Jacques Normand and Paul Berval the visibility they needed to propel their careers.
As a result, many Quebec films and TV productions are reminiscent of this world: Source for cabaret addresses and years of operation:
