Among the habitués were Albert, Prince of Wales (later Edward VII of the United Kingdom); Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec; Cary Grant; Humphrey Bogart, Mae West and diplomatic guests of the French government.

The brothel, famous enough to warrant mentioning in the 7-volume Nouveau Larousse illustré encyclopaedia of 1904,[1] was founded by the Irish-born Madame Kelly (real name Alexandrine Joannet, or possibly Jouannet),[2] who was closely associated with several members at the prestigious Jockey-Club de Paris.

[citation needed] A 2002 survey showed that, despite the fact that 64% of French people thought that prostitution was "a degrading practice for the image and the dignity of the woman (or the man)", nearly two-thirds believed that reopening the brothels would be a good idea.

[4][8] On 8 May 1951, the contents of La Chabanais were sold at auction by Maurice Rheims, publicly revealing the furnishings, furniture and equipment including Edward VII's chaise de volupté and his copper champagne bath decorated with a sphinx.

[1][11] Prominent visitors included King Carlos I of Portugal; Jagatjit Singh, Maharaja of Kapurthala; writer Pierre Louÿs; Cary Grant; Humphrey Bogart; Mae West; Roscoe Arbuckle, and Marlène Dietrich on the arm of Erich Maria Remarque.

[1][5] Edward, who was heavily overweight, also had a "Love chair" (siège d'amour) manufactured by Louis Soubrier, a cabinetmaker of the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine, allowing easy access for oral and other forms of sex with several participants.