Tour Venue Fourteen

L'Olympia, 28 Boulevard des Capucines, 75009 Paris

aka: L'Olympia Bruno Coquatrix, Olympia Hall, Paris Olympia.

Located in the 9th arrondissement of Paris between the Place de l'Opera and Place de la Madeleine, the venue was founded in 1888 by Joseph Oller and Charles Zidler, the co-creators of the Moulin Rouge.

It opened in 1889 as the Montagnes Russes but was renamed L'Olympia in 1889. 

The first big star to appear was La Goulue, the famous can-can dancer of the late 19th century. 

La Goulue by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec

It has played host to a variety of entertainment from music, ballet, opera, circus, comedy and more.   

Due to declining audiences, from 1929 to 1944 it was a movie theatre.  In 1945, after the Liberation, it was free to Allied troops in uniform.  Attendees listened to the playing of four national anthems and programs always ended with a can-can performance by dancers of varying ages!

In February 1954, Bruno Coquatrix revived it as a music hall.  After his death it went into decline and was nearly demolished to be turned into a car park. However, in January 1993, France's Minister of Culture, issued a preservation order that resulted in two years of construction to rebuild it. 

One by one, the stage, décor, seats and façade were removed from the original and moved to a perfect replica a few metres away. Even the red interior is identical. 

It witnessed the age of rock 'n' roll and ye-ye, the Britpop-inspired French movement of the sixties and seventies that made Serge Gainsbourg a star and has continued to host both French and International stars on its famous stage. 

Artists of note:

Edith Piaf performed many times between 1955 to 1962.

The Beatles performed 18 days in early 1964, sometimes two or three shows a day, before going to America.  They stayed at the Hotel George V and after their first day they were told "I Want To Hold Your Hand' had reached number 1 in America.

Jeff Buckley gave what he considered to be the finest performance of his career in 1995. 

Jacques Brel's 1961 and 1964 concerts were legendary and Marlene Dietrich's 1962 concert was broadcast in May 1972.

The Grateful Dead played two concerts of their first major European tour and both shows were recorded and released on their 1972 live album 'Europe '72'.

Others include: Billie Holiday, Gilbert Becaud, Lana Del Rey, the Beach Boys, David Bowie, Judy Garland, Miles Davis, Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles, Celine Dion, Diana Ross & The Supremes, les BB Brunes, Midnight Oil, The Rolling Stones, Norah Jones, Blondie, Artic Monkeys, The Jackson 5, Bjork, Lady Gaga, Yvonne Printemps, Johnny Hallyday, Bruno Mars , Leo Ferre, and the list goes on and now includes Harry Styles!