Chat Noir
Encyclopedia
Chat Noir is a cabaret
and revue
theatre in Oslo
, Norway
. It was established in 1912 by Bokken Lasson
. The current director is Tom Sterri.
and her later husband, writer Vilhelm Dybwad
, modelled after the Paris cabaret Le Chat Noir
from the 19th century.
During a visit to Paris in the early 1890s Bokken Lasson had found the inspiration of her life. She experienced the literary cabarets of the time, and performers such as Yvette Guilbert
. The next years she toured European cities, wearing a self-composed costume, singing gypsy songs and playing lute, performing on the street, at restaurants, cabarets and occasionally in musical comedies.
Chat Noir opened 1 March 1912 in the Tivoli building. Bokken Lasson managed the cabaret from 1912 to 1917.
Chat Noir became a cultural meeting place, with the artists Christian
and Oda Krohg
(Bokken's sister) as leading figures. Their son Per Krohg
painted the first decorations. To begin with Chat Noir was a literary cabaret. Herman Wildenvey
and Arnulf Øverland
contributed with poetry, Vilhelm Dybwad composed melodies, and Bokken Lasson was singing. In 1913 the first revue
, called 1913, was played at Chat Noir. In 1916 Lalla Christensen
was introduced, singing children's songs. Lalla – later married Carlsen – was engaged at Chat Noir until 1947, and came to be one of the most popular revue artists in Norway.
led the theatre from 1920 to 1928, and during this period Chat Noir won its reputation as a modern revue theatre. Johan Henrik Wiers-Jenssen
took over as manager from 1926, with Bernau as artistical director the first years.
during World War II
, private theatres, including Chat Noir, continued playing, but the material was subject to censorship.
At the outset of the theatre strike 21 May 1941, when six actors at Nationaltheatret
had been fired by the Nazi authorities, director Wiers-Jenssen promptly cancelled a premiere shortly before the public was to enter.
was manager from 1947 to 1950. Ernst Diesen
was manager from 1950 to 1953. In 1954 Chat Noir went bankrupt, after allegations of tax evasion. From 1954 to 1959 Book-Jenssen was manager. From 1959 to 1963 Chat Noir was hired by Egil Monn-Iversen
. The theatre was severely damaged by a fire in 1963, but after rehabilitation it reopened in 1964, when Einar Schanke
was the new manager. From 1971 Chat Noir was hired by the municipality of Oslo, and the scene was used for revues, musicals and other theatrical performances. The 1980s saw revues by Dag Frøland
and Dizzie Tunes
at Chat Noir. From 1996 Chat Noir was again a private theatre, and the new manager was Tom Sterri.
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
and revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
theatre in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It was established in 1912 by Bokken Lasson
Bokken Lasson
Caroline "Bokken" Lasson was a Norwegian concert and cabaret singer. She is known for starting the Oslo cabaret Chat Noir in 1912, and also for introducing the children's song "Tuppen og Lillemor" to the Norwegian public....
. The current director is Tom Sterri.
Establishment
Chat Noir was established as a cabaret in 1912 by singer Bokken LassonBokken Lasson
Caroline "Bokken" Lasson was a Norwegian concert and cabaret singer. She is known for starting the Oslo cabaret Chat Noir in 1912, and also for introducing the children's song "Tuppen og Lillemor" to the Norwegian public....
and her later husband, writer Vilhelm Dybwad
Vilhelm Dybwad
Vilhelm Dybwad was a Norwegian barrister and writer. He wrote comedies, revues and songs. In his later years he wrote several memoir books from his life as a lawyer. Dybwad was born in Christiania as the son of bookseller Jacob Dybwad and Anne Margrethe Grøntvedt Aabel. He was married to actress...
, modelled after the Paris cabaret Le Chat Noir
Le Chat Noir
Le Chat Noir was a 19th-century cabaret, meaning entertainment house, in the bohemian Montmartre district of Paris...
from the 19th century.
During a visit to Paris in the early 1890s Bokken Lasson had found the inspiration of her life. She experienced the literary cabarets of the time, and performers such as Yvette Guilbert
Yvette Guilbert
Yvette Guilbert was a French cabaret singer and actress of the Belle Époque.-Biography:...
. The next years she toured European cities, wearing a self-composed costume, singing gypsy songs and playing lute, performing on the street, at restaurants, cabarets and occasionally in musical comedies.
Chat Noir opened 1 March 1912 in the Tivoli building. Bokken Lasson managed the cabaret from 1912 to 1917.
Chat Noir became a cultural meeting place, with the artists Christian
Christian Krohg
Christian Krohg , was a Norwegian naturalist painter, illustrator, author and journalist.-Life and career:...
and Oda Krohg
Oda Krohg
Oda Krohg, born Othilia Pauline Christine Lasson , was a Norwegian painter, and the wife of her teacher and colleague Christian Krohg....
(Bokken's sister) as leading figures. Their son Per Krohg
Per Krohg
Per Lasson Krohg was a Norwegian artist. Per Krohg is most frequently associated with the mural he created for the United Nations Security Council Chamber, located in the United Nations building in New York City.-Biography:...
painted the first decorations. To begin with Chat Noir was a literary cabaret. Herman Wildenvey
Herman Wildenvey
Herman Wildenvey , born Herman Theodor Portaas, was one of the most prominent Norwegian poets of the twentieth century. During his lifetime he published 44 books of his own poetry, in addition to translations of William Shakespeare, Ernest Hemingway, and Heinrich Heine.- Biography :Wildenvey was...
and Arnulf Øverland
Arnulf Øverland
Ole Peter Arnulf Øverland was a Norwegian author born in Kristiansund and raised in Bergen. His works include Berget det blå and Hustavler .-Life:...
contributed with poetry, Vilhelm Dybwad composed melodies, and Bokken Lasson was singing. In 1913 the first revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
, called 1913, was played at Chat Noir. In 1916 Lalla Christensen
Lalla Carlsen
Lalla Carlsen was a Norwegian singer and actress, and is regarded as one of the most legendary female revue artists in Norway.-Personal life:...
was introduced, singing children's songs. Lalla – later married Carlsen – was engaged at Chat Noir until 1947, and came to be one of the most popular revue artists in Norway.
Post World War I
Victor BernauVictor Bernau
Victor Bernau was a Norwegian singer, actor and theatre director. He was artistical director at Chat Noir, Scala Teater and Det Nye Teater. He is often regarded as the founder of Norwegian revue.-References:...
led the theatre from 1920 to 1928, and during this period Chat Noir won its reputation as a modern revue theatre. Johan Henrik Wiers-Jenssen
Johan Henrik Wiers-Jenssen
Johan Henrik "Johe" Wiers-Jenssen was a Norwegian newspaper columnist and theatre director.He was born in Kristiania as the son of Hans Wiers-Jenssen. Wiers-Jenssen was columnist for Aftenposten from 1917 to 1925, signing with the pseudonymes Johe and Gamin...
took over as manager from 1926, with Bernau as artistical director the first years.
World War II
During the occupation of Norway by Nazi GermanyOccupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, private theatres, including Chat Noir, continued playing, but the material was subject to censorship.
At the outset of the theatre strike 21 May 1941, when six actors at Nationaltheatret
Nationaltheatret
The National Theatre in Oslo is one of Norway's largest and most prominent venues for performance of dramatic arts.The theatre had its first performance on 1 September 1899 but can trace its origins to Christiania Theatre, which was founded in 1829...
had been fired by the Nazi authorities, director Wiers-Jenssen promptly cancelled a premiere shortly before the public was to enter.
Post war
Jens Book-JenssenJens Book-Jenssen
Jens Peter Book-Jenssen was a Norwegian singer of popular music, songwriter, revue artist and theatre director. From his stage debut in the early 1930s, his career included radio and television work, recordings, and extensive touring...
was manager from 1947 to 1950. Ernst Diesen
Ernst Diesen
Ernst Diesen was a Norwegian revue and film actor and theatre director. He was born in Kristiania, and was married to Kari Diesen. He worked for the revue theatre Chat Noir from 1934 to 1942, and then for the Edderkoppen Theatre. He acted in several films, including the comedy films Bør Børson Jr...
was manager from 1950 to 1953. In 1954 Chat Noir went bankrupt, after allegations of tax evasion. From 1954 to 1959 Book-Jenssen was manager. From 1959 to 1963 Chat Noir was hired by Egil Monn-Iversen
Egil Monn-Iversen
Egil Monn-Iversen is one of the most influential modern composers in Norway. He has had many important roles in Norwegian music, film, opera, television, comedy and theater...
. The theatre was severely damaged by a fire in 1963, but after rehabilitation it reopened in 1964, when Einar Schanke
Einar Schanke
Einar Leonard Schanke was a Norwegian composer, pianist, revue writer, theatre director and theatrical producer. He wrote revues for the Edderkoppen Theatre, and later for Chat Noir, where he was also director from 1962 to 1975.-Personal life:Schanke was born in Oslo as the son of baker Einar...
was the new manager. From 1971 Chat Noir was hired by the municipality of Oslo, and the scene was used for revues, musicals and other theatrical performances. The 1980s saw revues by Dag Frøland
Dag Frøland
Dag Frøland was a Norwegian comedian, revue artist and singer, who was best known for his countless impersonations and variety shows in Oslo during the 1970s and 1980s.- Early life :...
and Dizzie Tunes
Dizzie Tunes
Dizzie Tunes is a former Norwegian musical show group, one of the most successful in Norwegian show business. The group was founded as the dance band Rex Band in 1959, was named Dizzie Tunes in 1962, and disbanded in 2002. The regular group members were Yngvar Numme, Svein-Helge Høgberg, Øyvind...
at Chat Noir. From 1996 Chat Noir was again a private theatre, and the new manager was Tom Sterri.