Régine
Encyclopedia
Régine Zylberberg, better known as Régine, is a French singer. The American press dubbed her the "Queen of the Night".
Started life hiding from the Nazis in occupied wartime France
and later invented the format for the modern-day "discothèque" (French for Nightclubs).
Setting place in 1953 the elements of modern day nightclubs, mainly by replacing the use of jukebox
by coupled turntables
as done for the first time in Paris' Whisky a GoGo dance club that she managed at age 24 in 1953; the club had been originally started in 1947. This specific setting appeared later in any of 'Chez Régine's ultra selective venues and later in many variations at most Nightclubs around the world. The Paris Whisky a GoGo was the inspiration for the later establishment of the Whisky a Go Go
nightclub in Los Angeles.
Aside of inventing and managing "discothèques", she taught a former king of England
to do the twist
, presided over a multi-million dollar international nightclub empire and had a hit single with the French version of Gloria Gaynor
's "I will survive." She also played in a few movies.
In 1957 she opened Chez Régine in the Latin Quarter
, which quickly became the place to be seen for playboys and princes. It was here that she introduced France to the 'Twist', having seen the Paris cast of West Side Story warming up to Chubby Checker
records.
In the 1970s Régine moved to New York and lived in a suite of the Delmonico Hotel. She opened clubs in London and New York.
At her height there were 25 clubs bearing the name across three continents and it was said you could party at a Régine's somewhere in the world 17 hours out of every 24, if you could get in.
The exclusiveness of her ventures eventually reflected on her, and she at times appeared excessively entitled, for example in 1996 she and her son were arrested after smoking on an American Airlines flight and not complying with crew instructions. It is also said they had exiged to travel in business class although they were ticketed in economy, an upgrade the airline denied to them.
In June 2011, she appeared as Solange in Follies
at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C..
Biography
She was born in Belgium to Polish-Jewish parents.Started life hiding from the Nazis in occupied wartime France
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
and later invented the format for the modern-day "discothèque" (French for Nightclubs).
Setting place in 1953 the elements of modern day nightclubs, mainly by replacing the use of jukebox
Jukebox
A jukebox is a partially automated music-playing device, usually a coin-operated machine, that will play a patron's selection from self-contained media...
by coupled turntables
Phonograph
The phonograph record player, or gramophone is a device introduced in 1877 that has had continued common use for reproducing sound recordings, although when first developed, the phonograph was used to both record and reproduce sounds...
as done for the first time in Paris' Whisky a GoGo dance club that she managed at age 24 in 1953; the club had been originally started in 1947. This specific setting appeared later in any of 'Chez Régine's ultra selective venues and later in many variations at most Nightclubs around the world. The Paris Whisky a GoGo was the inspiration for the later establishment of the Whisky a Go Go
Whisky a Go Go
The Whisky a Go Go is a nightclub in West Hollywood, California, United States. It is located at 8901 Sunset Boulevard, on the Sunset Strip.-History:...
nightclub in Los Angeles.
Aside of inventing and managing "discothèques", she taught a former king of England
Duke of Windsor
The title Duke of Windsor was created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1937 for Prince Edward, the former King Edward VIII, following his abdication in December 1936. The dukedom takes its name from the town where Windsor Castle, a residence of English monarchs since the Norman Conquest, is...
to do the twist
Twist (dance)
The Twist was a dance inspired by rock and roll music. It became the first worldwide dance craze in the early 1960s, enjoying immense popularity among young people and drawing fire from critics who felt it was too provocative. It inspired dances such as the Jerk, the Pony, the Watusi, the Mashed...
, presided over a multi-million dollar international nightclub empire and had a hit single with the French version of Gloria Gaynor
Gloria Gaynor
Gloria Gaynor is an American singer, best known for the disco era hits; "I Will Survive" , "Never Can Say Goodbye" , "Let Me Know " and "I Am What I Am" .-Early career:Gaynor was a singer with the Soul...
's "I will survive." She also played in a few movies.
In 1957 she opened Chez Régine in the Latin Quarter
Latin Quarter
Latin Quarter is a part of the 5th arrondissement in Paris.Latin Quarter may also refer to:* Latin Quarter , a British pop/rock band* Latin Quarter , a 1945 British film*Latin Quarter, Aarhus, part of Midtbyen, Aarhus C, Denmark...
, which quickly became the place to be seen for playboys and princes. It was here that she introduced France to the 'Twist', having seen the Paris cast of West Side Story warming up to Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker is an American singer-songwriter. He is widely known for popularizing the twist dance style, with his 1960 hit cover of Hank Ballard's R&B hit "The Twist"...
records.
In the 1970s Régine moved to New York and lived in a suite of the Delmonico Hotel. She opened clubs in London and New York.
At her height there were 25 clubs bearing the name across three continents and it was said you could party at a Régine's somewhere in the world 17 hours out of every 24, if you could get in.
The exclusiveness of her ventures eventually reflected on her, and she at times appeared excessively entitled, for example in 1996 she and her son were arrested after smoking on an American Airlines flight and not complying with crew instructions. It is also said they had exiged to travel in business class although they were ticketed in economy, an upgrade the airline denied to them.
In June 2011, she appeared as Solange in Follies
Follies
Follies is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman. The story concerns a reunion in a crumbling Broadway theatre, scheduled for demolition, of the past performers of the "Weismann's Follies," a musical revue , that played in that theatre between the World Wars...
at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C..