[An illustration of a ship, symbolizing the symbol of Paris]

Histoire de Paris

Théâtre du Châtelet
Construit en deux ans par Davioud et inauguré le 19 août 1862, le Théâtre-Impérial, ou Cirque-Impérial, était, avec sa salle de 1800 places, le plus beau des grands théâtres du Second Empire. Sa façade Renaissance italienne est ornée de statues figurant le Drame, la Musique, la Danse et la Comédie. Conçu pour des opérettes à grand spectacle, le théâtre du Châtelet a disposé dès l’origine d’une vaste scène et d’équipements spéciaux. Ici triomphèrent Hortense Schneider, Féodor Chaliapine, Enrico Caruso, Georges Guétary, André Dassary, Luis Mariano, et furent montes «Salomés» de Richard Strauss, les Ballets russes de Serge Diaghilev, les œuvres de Franz Lehar et Francis Lopez, dont «le chanteur de Mexico» et «Méditerranée» tinrent l’affiche durant des années.

[Illustration of the theater]

One of the series of signs describing historical places in Paris. The signs were placed starting in 1992 and are also called sucettes Starck (Starck’s Lollipops) after Philippe Starck who designed them.

The sign depicts the Châtelet Theater, a theater that opened in 1862 and was designed by Gabriel Davioud

The theater was photographed on the same day . Click for a larger image Click for a larger image

The illustration in the center of the sign is shown here at magnification Click for a larger image

The theater building is designated as a French historical heritage site

Translation of the text on the sign:
[An illustration of a ship, symbolizing the symbol of Paris]

History of Paris

Théâtre du Châtelet
Built in two years by Davioud and inaugurated on August 19, 1862, the Théâtre-Impérial, or Cirque-Impérial, was, with its 1,800-seat hall, the most beautiful of the great theaters of the Second Empire. Its Italian Renaissance facade is decorated with statues depicting Drama, Music, Dance and Comedy. Designed for large-scale operettas, the Théâtre du Châtelet has had a vast stage and special equipment from the outset. Here triumphed Hortense Schneider, Féodor Chaliapin, Enrico Caruso, Georges Guétary, André Dassary, Luis Mariano, and were performed “Salomés” by Richard Strauss, the Ballets Russes by Serge Diaghilev, the works of Franz Lehar and Francis Lopez, including “the singer de Mexico” and “Mediterranean” were on the bill for years.

[Illustration of the theater]