Cabaret du Néant ([ka.ba.ʁɛdyne.ɑ̃], "Cabaret of Nothingness"/"Cabaret of the Void") was a cabaret in Montmartre, Paris, founded in 1892.[1] The Cabaret du Néant was an early pioneer of the modern theme restaurant and dealt with various aspects of mortality and death. The dark theme of the cabaret included magic tricks and illusions focusing on morbid subjects.
The cabaret was first established in Brussels, subsequently moved to Paris, and promoted performances in New York City.[2] The Cabaret du Néant, along with the Cabaret de L'Enfer (Cabaret of Hell), and the Cabaret du Ciel (Cabaret of Heaven), was part of a trio of themed restaurants established at around the same time in Montmartre.[3][4][5]
The Cabaret du Néant was an early pioneer of the modern theme restaurant; its theme was death. The original theme restaurant, called at the time "Cabaret philosophique", was first established in Brussels in 1892, and soon after relocated to Boulevard Rochechouart in Paris under the name Cabaret de la Mort (The Cabaret of Death). In the 1890s,[6] following the death of an area resident, the cabaret was renamed "Cabaret du Néant" because it was thought that "Néant" (nothingness) was less frightening to local residents. The cabaret was eventually moved to number 34, Boulevard de Clichy.[1][7][6] At this address, the cabaret is listed under the category "Cabarets Artistiques" in the 1904 edition of Baedeker's Paris and Its Environs.[8] In 1896 the cabaret sponsored performances in New York City, at the Casino Chambers, Thirty-ninth Street and Broadway.[2][9][10][11]
Themeedit
Inside the cabaret, the patrons were led by a monk through a dark hall to the drinking area, where the waiters were dressed as undertakers.[12][8] Presenters would then show paintings of people who would transform into skeletons.[8] The monk also led the patrons into another room, where a member of the audience was invited to participate in a magic trick, by entering a coffin. The volunteer was subsequently wrapped in a white shroud, and apparently transformed into a skeleton, and then back into human form.[8]
Once inside the drinking area, the customers were told to take "bières", a word meaning both a beer and a coffin ("bier") in French.[13] In the "Salle d'Intoxication" (Intoxication Hall),[1] which featured chandeliers made of human bones,[1] customers drank alcoholic beverages served in cups shaped like human skulls,[9][14] while sitting at coffin-shaped tables.[1][13]
The decor of the cabaret was redolent with skeletons and corpses.[13]Magic tricks were performed in which patrons appeared to dissolve into skeletons and ghosts would enter the rooms of the cabaret.[13] It was a place that provided entertainment for the patrons, while at the same time, the mock-gothic theme could also cause worry and distress.[13] The Cabaret du Néant is credited with producing "one of the most original adaptations" of Pepper's ghost.[9]Scientific American called the New York performance of the Cabaret "[A] most interesting performance based upon the principles of the well known 'Pepper's ghost'".[10]
Illustrations by W. C. Morrowedit
The following are illustrations by W. C. Morrow in his 1899 book Bohemian Paris of To-day.[15]
Cabaret du Néant waiter illustration by W. C. Morrow
Cabaret du Néant death chamber illustration by W. C. Morrow
Cabaret du Néant interior of death chamber illustration by W. C. Morrow
Cultural Depictionsedit
An interpretation of the Cabaret du Néant appears in poet Mina Loy's Three Moments in Paris.[16] Although this sequence was published for the first time in three parts in the modernist journal Rogue in May 1915, the Café du Néant section appeared alone in International: A Review of Two Worlds in August 1914 - making it Loy's first published poem.[17][18][16] The later version, which is the version most commonly circulated today, refers to the distinctive atmosphere akin to that of the Cabaret du Néant which was a venue in Paris in the early twentieth century when Loy was living in the city. Relying upon macabre images in a gothic setting Loy describes two lovers, meeting in 'the fulsome ambiente' of the Café du Néant, amidst burning 'tapers' and 'coffin tables'.[19] In reference to the setting, which in turn is used to metaphorically reflect upon the relationship, Loy notes it is a 'factitious chamber of DEATH'.[19]
Referencesedit
^ abcdeJohn Baxter (1 November 2011). Chronicles of Old Paris: Exploring the Historic City of Light. Museyon. p. 212. ISBN978-1-938450-04-4.
^ abLibrary Of Congress. The Journal, March 21, 1896. New York N.Y, 1895, Newspaper. Retrieved from the Library of Congress (Accessed December 03, 2017)
^Laurence Senelick (8 October 2013). Stanislavsky: A Life in Letters. Taylor & Francis. p. 127. ISBN978-1-136-34340-7.
^"The awesomely insane Heaven and Hell nightclubs of 1890s Paris". io9.gizmodo.com.
^Dorothy Hoobler; Thomas Hoobler (27 April 2009). The Crimes of Paris: A True Story of Murder, Theft, and Detection. Little, Brown. p. 13. ISBN978-0-316-05253-5.
^ abHeather Williams (2004). Mallarmé's Ideas in Language. Peter Lang. p. 36. ISBN978-3-03910-162-7.
^Levic-Torca; Ligaran (22 February 2016). Paris-noceur. Ligaran. p. 128. ISBN978-2-335-15564-8.
^ abcdTara Prescott (19 December 2016). Poetic Salvage: Reading Mina Loy. Bucknell University Press. p. 9. ISBN978-1-61148-813-5.
^ abcSimon During (2002). Modern Enchantments. Harvard University Press. p. 147. ISBN978-0-674-01371-1.
^ abScientific American. Scientific American, Incorporated. 1896. pp. 152–153.
^Murray Leeder, The Modern Supernatural and the Beginnings of Cinema, Springer, 2017, ISBN1137583711
^Tijana Raki; Jo-Anne Lester (17 February 2016). Travel, Tourism and Art. Routledge. p. 223. ISBN978-1-317-00643-5.
^ abcdeAlberto Gabriele (15 November 2016). Sensationalism and the Genealogy of Modernity: A Global Nineteenth-Century Perspective. Palgrave Macmillan US. p. 154. ISBN978-1-137-56148-0.
^Piu Marie Eatwell (28 June 2016). F Is for France: A Curious Cabinet of French Wonders. St. Martin's Press. p. 23. ISBN978-1-250-08774-4.
^W. C. Morrow (1899). "Bohemian Paris of To-day". J.B. Lippincott.
^ abLoy, Mina (1997). Conover, Roger (ed.). The Lost Lunar Baedeker. Manchester: Carcanet. p. 178. ISBN1857543262.
^Loy, Mina (May 1915). "Three Moments in Paris". Rogue. 1 (4): 10–11.
^Loy, Mina (August 1914). "Café du Néant". International: A Review of Two Worlds. 8 (8): 255.
^ abLoy, Mina (2019-12-22). "Café du Néant". Poetry Foundation.
Further readingedit
Albert A. Hopkins, Magic, Stage Illusions and Scientific Diversions, Chapter II. Description of the optical tricks performed at the Cabaret du Néant, Paris and New York, text and illustrations, Project Gutenberg
"Bohemian Paris of To-day" by W. C. Morrow. Description of the three cabarets by W. C. Morrow
Madelon Hoedt, "Rest In Peace: The 'Cabarets illusionnistes' of Paris", The new magic lantern journal: volume 10 number 6 (Autumn 2010)
Nathaniel Greene, "Autour du Néant : Dorville et l'invention du cabaret macabre", 1895 revue d’histoire du cinéma n°96 (hiver 2022)
cabaret, néant, ʁɛ, cabaret, nothingness, cabaret, void, cabaret, montmartre, paris, founded, 1892, early, pioneer, modern, theme, restaurant, dealt, with, various, aspects, mortality, death, dark, theme, cabaret, included, magic, tricks, illusions, focusing, . Cabaret du Neant ka ba ʁɛ dy ne ɑ Cabaret of Nothingness Cabaret of the Void was a cabaret in Montmartre Paris founded in 1892 1 The Cabaret du Neant was an early pioneer of the modern theme restaurant and dealt with various aspects of mortality and death The dark theme of the cabaret included magic tricks and illusions focusing on morbid subjects Cabaret du Neant entrance at 34 Boulevard de ClichyThe cabaret was first established in Brussels subsequently moved to Paris and promoted performances in New York City 2 The Cabaret du Neant along with the Cabaret de L Enfer Cabaret of Hell and the Cabaret du Ciel Cabaret of Heaven was part of a trio of themed restaurants established at around the same time in Montmartre 3 4 5 Contents 1 History 2 Theme 3 Illustrations by W C Morrow 4 Cultural Depictions 5 References 6 Further readingHistory edit nbsp Cabaret du Neant vault of the sad ghosts The Cabaret du Neant was an early pioneer of the modern theme restaurant its theme was death The original theme restaurant called at the time Cabaret philosophique was first established in Brussels in 1892 and soon after relocated to Boulevard Rochechouart in Paris under the name Cabaret de la Mort The Cabaret of Death In the 1890s 6 following the death of an area resident the cabaret was renamed Cabaret du Neant because it was thought that Neant nothingness was less frightening to local residents The cabaret was eventually moved to number 34 Boulevard de Clichy 1 7 6 At this address the cabaret is listed under the category Cabarets Artistiques in the 1904 edition of Baedeker s Paris and Its Environs 8 In 1896 the cabaret sponsored performances in New York City at the Casino Chambers Thirty ninth Street and Broadway 2 9 10 11 Theme edit nbsp The Salle d Intoxication Intoxication Hall at the Cabaret du Neant featuring coffin shaped tables and chandeliers made of human bonesInside the cabaret the patrons were led by a monk through a dark hall to the drinking area where the waiters were dressed as undertakers 12 8 Presenters would then show paintings of people who would transform into skeletons 8 The monk also led the patrons into another room where a member of the audience was invited to participate in a magic trick by entering a coffin The volunteer was subsequently wrapped in a white shroud and apparently transformed into a skeleton and then back into human form 8 Once inside the drinking area the customers were told to take bieres a word meaning both a beer and a coffin bier in French 13 In the Salle d Intoxication Intoxication Hall 1 which featured chandeliers made of human bones 1 customers drank alcoholic beverages served in cups shaped like human skulls 9 14 while sitting at coffin shaped tables 1 13 The decor of the cabaret was redolent with skeletons and corpses 13 Magic tricks were performed in which patrons appeared to dissolve into skeletons and ghosts would enter the rooms of the cabaret 13 It was a place that provided entertainment for the patrons while at the same time the mock gothic theme could also cause worry and distress 13 The Cabaret du Neant is credited with producing one of the most original adaptations of Pepper s ghost 9 Scientific American called the New York performance of the Cabaret A most interesting performance based upon the principles of the well known Pepper s ghost 10 Illustrations by W C Morrow editThe following are illustrations by W C Morrow in his 1899 book Bohemian Paris of To day 15 nbsp Cabaret du Neant illustration by W C Morrow nbsp Cabaret du Neant waiter illustration by W C Morrow nbsp Cabaret du Neant death chamber illustration by W C Morrow nbsp Cabaret du Neant interior of death chamber illustration by W C MorrowCultural Depictions editAn interpretation of the Cabaret du Neant appears in poet Mina Loy s Three Moments in Paris 16 Although this sequence was published for the first time in three parts in the modernist journal Rogue in May 1915 the Cafe du Neant section appeared alone in International A Review of Two Worlds in August 1914 making it Loy s first published poem 17 18 16 The later version which is the version most commonly circulated today refers to the distinctive atmosphere akin to that of the Cabaret du Neant which was a venue in Paris in the early twentieth century when Loy was living in the city Relying upon macabre images in a gothic setting Loy describes two lovers meeting in the fulsome ambiente of the Cafe du Neant amidst burning tapers and coffin tables 19 In reference to the setting which in turn is used to metaphorically reflect upon the relationship Loy notes it is a factitious chamber of DEATH 19 References edit a b c d e John Baxter 1 November 2011 Chronicles of Old Paris Exploring the Historic City of Light Museyon p 212 ISBN 978 1 938450 04 4 a b Library Of Congress The Journal March 21 1896 New York N Y 1895 Newspaper Retrieved from the Library of Congress Accessed December 03 2017 Laurence Senelick 8 October 2013 Stanislavsky A Life in Letters Taylor amp Francis p 127 ISBN 978 1 136 34340 7 The awesomely insane Heaven and Hell nightclubs of 1890s Paris io9 gizmodo com Dorothy Hoobler Thomas Hoobler 27 April 2009 The Crimes of Paris A True Story of Murder Theft and Detection Little Brown p 13 ISBN 978 0 316 05253 5 a b Heather Williams 2004 Mallarme s Ideas in Language Peter Lang p 36 ISBN 978 3 03910 162 7 Levic Torca Ligaran 22 February 2016 Paris noceur Ligaran p 128 ISBN 978 2 335 15564 8 a b c d Tara Prescott 19 December 2016 Poetic Salvage Reading Mina Loy Bucknell University Press p 9 ISBN 978 1 61148 813 5 a b c Simon During 2002 Modern Enchantments Harvard University Press p 147 ISBN 978 0 674 01371 1 a b Scientific American Scientific American Incorporated 1896 pp 152 153 Murray Leeder The Modern Supernatural and the Beginnings of Cinema Springer 2017 ISBN 1137583711 Tijana Raki Jo Anne Lester 17 February 2016 Travel Tourism and Art Routledge p 223 ISBN 978 1 317 00643 5 a b c d e Alberto Gabriele 15 November 2016 Sensationalism and the Genealogy of Modernity A Global Nineteenth Century Perspective Palgrave Macmillan US p 154 ISBN 978 1 137 56148 0 Piu Marie Eatwell 28 June 2016 F Is for France A Curious Cabinet of French Wonders St Martin s Press p 23 ISBN 978 1 250 08774 4 W C Morrow 1899 Bohemian Paris of To day J B Lippincott a b Loy Mina 1997 Conover Roger ed The Lost Lunar Baedeker Manchester Carcanet p 178 ISBN 1857543262 Loy Mina May 1915 Three Moments in Paris Rogue 1 4 10 11 Loy Mina August 1914 Cafe du Neant International A Review of Two Worlds 8 8 255 a b Loy Mina 2019 12 22 Cafe du Neant Poetry Foundation Further reading editAlbert A Hopkins Magic Stage Illusions and Scientific Diversions Chapter II Description of the optical tricks performed at the Cabaret du Neant Paris and New York text and illustrations Project Gutenberg Bohemian Paris of To day by W C Morrow Description of the three cabarets by W C Morrow Madelon Hoedt Rest In Peace The Cabarets illusionnistes of Paris The new magic lantern journal volume 10 number 6 Autumn 2010 Nathaniel Greene Autour du Neant Dorville et l invention du cabaret macabre 1895 revue d histoire du cinema n 96 hiver 2022 48 52 58 N 2 20 12 E 48 88282 N 2 33662 E 48 88282 2 33662 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cabaret du Neant amp oldid 1159323905, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,