Dranem
Encyclopedia
Dranem was a French singer and music hall
comique troupier and a stage and film actor.
and Max Dearly
in the "Concert Parisien" from where he went on to become a leading music hall entertainer in the comique troupier genre. In 1899, he was signed to perform at the famous Eldorado Club where he appeared regularly for the next twenty years.
Dranem's comedic singing routine brought a loyal following and his work made him a very wealthy man. In 1910 he purchased the Château de Ris in the town of Ris-Orangis
south of Paris and established a charitable foundation to operate the large building as a senior citizens home for retired performers. On the grounds, a bandstand and an open-air theatre provided entertainment. His "Dranem Foundation" continued to operate until the year 2000 and the property remains a government operated retirement home open to all members of the public. During World War I, Dranem continued his benevolence by performing for the troops
at music halls and for wounded soldiers at military hospitals.
Active in variety shows, café-concerts, and as a performer in operetta
s, Dranem also acted and sang in live theatre and in film. He made his screen debut in the 1902 Gaumont
silent film
"Bonsoir m'sieurs dames" directed by Alice Guy. Although he appeared in two more silent films, as well as two 1905 "Phonoscene" films (an early sound system) the advent of synchronized sound film in the late 1920's made him much in demand for screen roles featuring his singing routines. In 1932 alone, he appeared in six films and another six over the next three years.
He appeared at the Paris Opéra-Comique
as Buteux in La fille de Madame Angot
in 1918 and as the caissier in Les brigands
in 1931.
Dranem died in Paris in 1935 at the age of sixty-six and was buried at the Château de Ris.
Music hall
Music Hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment which was popular between 1850 and 1960. The term can refer to:# A particular form of variety entertainment involving a mixture of popular song, comedy and speciality acts...
comique troupier and a stage and film actor.
History
Born Armand Ménard, in Paris, he began working as an apprentice jeweler in a local shop before embarking on a career in entertainment. Adopting the singular stage name of Dranem, an anagram of Menard, he made his debut performance in 1894. In 1895, he performed with fellow newcomers Félix MayolFélix Mayol
Félix Mayol was a French singer and entertainer.-Career:Mayol was born in Toulon, France. His parents were both amateur singers and actors, who arranged for Felix to make his debut stage at six years of age....
and Max Dearly
Max Dearly
-Selected filmography:* Madame Bovary * The Last Billionaire * Les Misérables * A Rare Bird * Parisian Life * The Train for Venice * Nine Bachelors * Bécassine...
in the "Concert Parisien" from where he went on to become a leading music hall entertainer in the comique troupier genre. In 1899, he was signed to perform at the famous Eldorado Club where he appeared regularly for the next twenty years.
Dranem's comedic singing routine brought a loyal following and his work made him a very wealthy man. In 1910 he purchased the Château de Ris in the town of Ris-Orangis
Ris-Orangis
Ris-Orangis is a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.Inhabitants of Ris-Orangis are known as Rissois.-History:...
south of Paris and established a charitable foundation to operate the large building as a senior citizens home for retired performers. On the grounds, a bandstand and an open-air theatre provided entertainment. His "Dranem Foundation" continued to operate until the year 2000 and the property remains a government operated retirement home open to all members of the public. During World War I, Dranem continued his benevolence by performing for the troops
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
at music halls and for wounded soldiers at military hospitals.
Active in variety shows, café-concerts, and as a performer in operetta
Operetta
Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.-Origins:...
s, Dranem also acted and sang in live theatre and in film. He made his screen debut in the 1902 Gaumont
Gaumont Film Company
Gaumont Film Company is a French film production company founded in 1895 by the engineer-turned-inventor, Léon Gaumont . Gaumont is the oldest continously operating film company in the world....
silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
"Bonsoir m'sieurs dames" directed by Alice Guy. Although he appeared in two more silent films, as well as two 1905 "Phonoscene" films (an early sound system) the advent of synchronized sound film in the late 1920's made him much in demand for screen roles featuring his singing routines. In 1932 alone, he appeared in six films and another six over the next three years.
He appeared at the Paris Opéra-Comique
Opéra-Comique
The Opéra-Comique is a Parisian opera company, which was founded around 1714 by some of the popular theatres of the Parisian fairs. In 1762 the company was merged with, and for a time took the name of its chief rival the Comédie-Italienne at the Hôtel de Bourgogne, and was also called the...
as Buteux in La fille de Madame Angot
La fille de Madame Angot
La fille de Madame Angot is an opéra comique in three acts by Charles Lecocq. The French text was by Clairville, Paul Siraudin and Victor Koning.-Performance history:...
in 1918 and as the caissier in Les brigands
Les brigands
Les brigands is an opéra bouffe, or operetta, by Jacques Offenbach to a French libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy....
in 1931.
Dranem died in Paris in 1935 at the age of sixty-six and was buried at the Château de Ris.