History Daily Podcast: "Opening Night at the Moulin Rouge"

Host: Lindsey Graham
Episode Date: October 6, 2025
Event Covered: The opening and tumultuous early years of Paris’s legendary Moulin Rouge cabaret (Opened October 6, 1889)

Episode Overview

This captivating episode of History Daily, hosted by Lindsey Graham, transports listeners to late 19th and early 20th-century Paris to relive the vibrant, scandalous, and culturally transformative story of the Moulin Rouge. Through evocative storytelling, Graham highlights the iconic cabaret’s birth, its rise to notoriety, key personalities who shaped its legend, and the larger cultural shifts it ignited in Paris and beyond.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Opening Night at the Moulin Rouge

[00:25 - 03:47]

• Listeners are swept into the bustling energy of Montmartre on October 6, 1889. The narrative follows a young, unnamed artist eager to witness history at the grand opening of the Moulin Rouge.
• The venue, not yet fully completed, features showy elements like the iconic red windmill and an enormous stucco elephant (rumored to contain an opium den).
• Illustration of the Moulin Rouge’s immediate draw: people from all walks of Parisian life—aristocrats, artists, laborers—mix together for the promise of spectacle.
• Despite unfinished construction and the absence of its planned extravagant ballroom, the night is a resounding triumph; applause fills the air as the first performances commence.

“All around him he hears wealthier gentlemen calling for bottles of champagne. But the young man isn’t too embarrassed. He’s just glad to be here at all and grateful he has a decent view for the show that’s about to start.” — Lindsey Graham [02:18]

2. The Birth of the Can-Can and Louise Weber (La Goulue)

[06:04 - 11:20]

• Fast-forward to October 26, 1890: Louise Weber, known as La Goulue, prepares to perform before Edward, Prince of Wales, cementing her superstar status at the Moulin Rouge.
• The venue’s high-spirited, boundary-pushing can-can dancers, especially Louise and her troupe, become symbols of both liberation and controversy.
• Vivid description of the can-can: high kicks, splits, cartwheels, and suggestive choreography shock some and delight the rest.
• Louise’s audacious personality shines; she drinks a patron’s wine in a single gulp, earning roars of laughter, then boldly toasts the Prince.

“Hey Wales! The champagne’s on you!” — Louise Weber (as recounted by Lindsey Graham) [10:40]

• The visit by the Prince of Wales (future King Edward VII) grants the cabaret royal approbation and huge publicity, even as Parisian conservatives frown on its risqué reputation.

3. Pushback and Scandal: Art, Protest, and Riot

[13:16 - 17:56]

• By 1903, the Moulin Rouge’s cabaret shows become even more provocative. Notorious acts like Joseph Pujol (“Le Petomane”) push the envelope of decency and burlesque.
• On January 3, 1907, the episode channels the mindset of a disapproving Parisian witnessing a watershed scandal: a play written by Mathilde de Morny features women kissing and cross-dressing—starring Mathilde herself and Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette (the future renowned author).
• The audience splits, with protesters heckling and pelting the performers with produce, while loyal patrons defend the act, escalating into an all-out riot as police intervene.

“But as time goes on, the venue’s increasingly risqué offerings will draw even more attention until one particular performance is so provocative that it ends in a riot.” — Lindsey Graham [11:00]

• Despite controversy, the riot cements the Moulin Rouge’s reputation as a crucible of modernity and boundary-pushing art.

4. Tragedy and Rebirth: The 1915 Fire and Moulin Rouge’s Enduring Legacy

[19:08 - 21:29]

• In the early hours of February 27, 1915, a fire ravages the Moulin Rouge. The story is retold through the perspective of Marcel Somba, France’s Minister of Public Works.
• The fire decimates the cabaret, but the iconic windmill survives—charred yet standing as a symbol of resilience.
• Seven years later, in 1921, the Moulin Rouge is rebuilt, launching a new era of showmanship and international fame.
• Its legacy endures in art and pop culture, influencing figures from Toulouse-Lautrec to modern-day Broadway.

“The nightclub was a place that pushed boundaries, welcomed controversy, and always put on a good show. Beginning when the Moulin Rouge opened its doors for the first time on October 6, 1889.” — Lindsey Graham [21:24]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Opening Night:
  “The young artist doesn’t know what to expect from this evening’s festivities. All he knows is that he feels like he’s part of something special and that after tonight, the city of Paris will never be the same.” — Lindsey Graham [02:45]

• On the Can-Can’s Subversive Power:
  “Still, Louise knows that for many conservative Parisians, the can can is all too shocking. It’s not as risqué as what goes on inside Paris’s many brothels. But the sight of garters and ruffled undergarments is highly controversial.” — Lindsey Graham [07:58]

• On Royal Endorsement:
  “In the stuffy courts of Britain, it would be a stunning breach of etiquette to speak to the heir to the throne in such a disrespectful way. But in the Moulin Rouge, where the upper classes rub shoulders with commoners, those rules don’t apply.” — Lindsey Graham [10:48]

• On Riot and Artistic Protest:
  “Some are furious that the show is being interrupted…One of these patrons, a well-dressed gentleman in a private box, stands and shakes his fist, cursing at the hecklers for ruining the beautiful piece of art.” — Lindsey Graham [16:10]

• On Enduring Spirit:
  “The racy can can and risqué cabaret of the notorious night spot is not forgotten. In 1921… the legendary decadence and excess of the Moulin Rouge inspires its own stories and works of art…” — Lindsey Graham [20:47]

Timeline of Major Segments

• 00:25 – 03:47: Opening night, 1889—young artist’s perspective, immediate impact
• 06:04 – 11:20: One year on—Louise Weber’s can-can, Prince of Wales' visit, cultural divide
• 13:16 – 17:56: 1907 Scandal—Colette and de Morny’s play, riot erupts over gender and sexuality norms
• 19:08 – 21:29: 1915 fire, near end of an era, Moulin Rouge’s eventual resurrection and legacy

Episode Tone and Style

• Evocative and Atmospheric: Listeners are immersed in the sights, sounds, and social tensions of fin-de-siècle Paris.
• Balanced, Immersive Storytelling: Graham conveys both the exhilaration and controversy of the Moulin Rouge with vivid characterization and period detail.
• Insightful and Accessible: Deep historical context and cultural repercussions are explained clearly, making the episode engaging for both history aficionados and newcomers.

Conclusion

"Opening Night at the Moulin Rouge" delivers a richly detailed, dramatic chronicle of the birth and evolution of Paris’s most notorious cabaret. Through lively anecdotes, key personalities, and watershed moments of scandal and resilience, the episode reveals why the Moulin Rouge remains a global symbol of artistic rebellion, pleasure, and Parisian panache.