A Century of History at the World's Iconic Cabaret, the Moulin Rouge, in Photos (24 Photos)

On October 6, 1889, the Moulin Rouge cabaret opened its doors at the foot of Montmartre in Paris. Earlier that year, entrepreneurs Joseph Oller and Charles Zidler bought the run-down dance hall La Reine Blanche in the gritty district of Pigalle. After a complete renovation, they crowned the building with a bright red windmill. That marked the birth of the iconic cabaret, which has been entertaining locals and tourists alike for over a century, world-renowned for its provocative can-can and electric atmosphere.

The cabaret drew a diverse crowd, including legendary figures like post-impressionist painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who visited daily and often sketched inside the venue. The Moulin Rouge dancers became stars in their own right—most notably Mistinguett, who was at one time the highest-paid female entertainer in the world, with her legs insured for 500,000 francs.







In 1900, the owners of the Moulin Rouge installed a giant wooden elephant in the cabaret's garden. A spiral staircase led up into the belly of the elephant, where private dances took place.





1890.



Circa 1895.



Circa 1915: American sailors visit the Moulin Rouge during World War I. A fire destroyed the cabaret in 1915, but it was rebuilt and reopened to the public in 1921.



1924: The Hoffman Girls backstage before a performance.



1930: Dancers in their dressing room.



1926: Edmonde Guydens performing at the Moulin Rouge.



1929.



1927.



1928.



Circa 1930: Moulin Rouge dancers rehearsing in the Bois de Boulogne.



1929: Moulin Rouge dancers visiting the Eiffel Tower.



1932.



1932.



1932.



1932.



August 8, 1940: German soldiers occupying Paris ride past the Moulin Rouge. During the occupation, the cabaret was considered a must-visit destination for German troops.



1940: German soldiers chatting with French women.



1980.



1985.



1998.



November 7, 2014: Moulin Rouge dancers attempt a Guinness World Record for the most simultaneous high kicks in 30 seconds.



July 9, 2015.