Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse

The Theatre de la Gaite-Montparnasse was born from the salvage of a temporary exhibition hall built for Napoleon the Third’s Universal Exhibition of 1867. A soft drinks manufacturer named Francois Jamin purchased the materials from the demolished exhibition building and recycled them to construct this venue, which opened in 1868. At its inception, it functioned as a cafe-concert, a lively space where the audience could enjoy drinks while watching variety acts and musical performances.