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The Balajo, a legendary place

OUR HISTORY
Chapeau Balajo

From generation to generation: our vision of Balajo

Since 1936, Balajo has embodied the festive and friendly spirit of Parisian nightlife. From generation to generation, our iconic nightclub continues to rock the capital with its wild salsa nights, memorable clubbing evenings and lively tea dances.

At Balajo, we celebrate the legacy of our history while remaining resolutely focused on the future, ready to offer our loyal clientele unique and unforgettable nighttime experiences.

The history of Balajo from 1936 to today

Chapeau logo du Balajo

Lappe Street owes its name to a market gardener, Gérard de Lappe, who cultivated land on this site. When it was built, Lappe Street became “Rue des Auvergnats”.

 

At the beginning of the 1900s, people flocked to rue de Lappe to have fun and dance. In 1930, seventeen balls were born in the street, including at number 9 Le Bal Vernet. This was the smallest and least prestigious of all; it could not compete with Le Petit Balcon and especially Bousca with two dance floors and multi-coloured lights.

 

At 32 rue de Lappe, a certain Jo France, Jo to his friends, created a small cabaret “Le Bastoche” in 1931. He was the youngest owner on the street and the only one not from Auvergne.

Photo Historique du Balajo 4
Photo Historique du Balajo 3

One day, a woman is found murdered at the Hôtel Vernet above the Bal, so the elderly owners close the place, a godsend for Jo France who obtains a lease for the premises.

 

Jo France, who had become friends with a Breton from rue Mouffetard, a talented painter, Henri Mahé, who had already decorated several brothels as well as the Rex and who would later decorate the Moulin Rouge, Jo called on him to decorate the former Bal Vernet which became the Bal à Jo.

 

In 1935, the Bal opened its doors. Jo bought a furniture factory next to the Bal in order to expand it and still entrusted the decoration of this new part to Henri Mahé.

 

In 1936, the Bal à Jo with its current volume was inaugurated by Mistinguett. The success was dazzling. The accordion, a popular and revolutionary instrument of the youth of the time, would achieve its letters of nobility thanks to the Balajo.

 

The Ball is attended by many celebrities including: Arletty, Marlene Dietrich, Francis Carco, Pierre Lazareff, Abel Gance, Joseph Kessel, Marcel Ayme, Georges Raft, Louis Ferdinand Céline, etc.

At the declaration of war in 1939

 

The Balajo will be closed and will remain so for the duration of this one. It reopens five years later on December 24, 1944.

 

Success was once again immediate and celebrities flocked there: Mistinguett, Maurice Chevalier, Auguste Le Breton, Arletty, Jean Gabin, Marcel Cerdan, Django Reinhart, Gregory Peck, Robert Mitchum, Sophia Loren, Philippe Clay, Rita Hayworth for whom Jo Privat composed a dance in her honour, Edith Piaf celebrated her marriage to Jacques Pils there, Francis Lemarque, a native of the street, wrote the song "Rue de Lappe" covered by Mouloudji, Brigitte Bardot is said to have come there one evening incognito.

 

In 1982, Robert Lageat and his son Jacques, aka Jacky Corn, a great wrestling champion, took over the reins of the Balajo and preserved its authentic original decor, making it one of the most fashionable places in Paris by installing turntables, a sound system and lights. The Balajo became a nightclub.

 

In 1994, Jacques Lageat, assisted by former wrestlers Rémy Bayle and Daniel Schmid, took over and confirmed the success of Balajo.

 

It was in the same 1990s that Albert Grintuch di Albert de Paname organized an evening there every Monday that became the flagship evening for trendy Parisians and celebrities. It was so successful that Albert took over the Balajo on Thursdays as well. Albert's Mondays and Thursdays at the Balajo were unmissable.

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Photo Historique du Balajo 2

In 2007, Fabien and Nicolas Chartol, grandsons of Jacques Lageat, took over the running of the venue, modernising the sound and lights while retaining Henri Mahé's original decor, and the success is still there.

 

In 2011, the National Final of DEEJAY LIVE will take place at Balajo with a prestigious jury of the most renowned DJs. Also in 2011, the Balajo won the ‘Trophées de la Nuit’ in the Institutional category.

 

In 2012 and 2013 Paul Wermus and France 3 chose the Balajo as the location for their monthly ‘Wermus takes the Bastille’ programmes.

 

In 2015 Régine chose the Balajo to make a fabulous return to the night with her ‘La Guinguette de Régine’ evenings.

 

Every year, the Balajo takes on the mantle of Fashion Week, with renowned designer Christophe Guillarmé presenting his catwalk shows. And every year Armande Altaï organises her cabaret evenings ‘Les Classes d'Armande Altaï’ with the students from her singing classes.

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