Maurice Chevalier once said about Mistinguett: “She had a magical way of moving and looking at you which was the pinnacle of style, grace and feminine beauty. Mistinguett was Paris, she symbolized the joy, the gaiety, the good humor, the exemplary determination, the good heart and tenacity. There have been greater performers, cabaret comediennes, singers and music hall dancers in her times and earlier, but all combined in a single package, there has been only one Mistinguett. The entire shows were built and choreographed around her. She was the whole show by herself.” Jean Gabin was the first actor and showbiz giant to use the word “divine” to describe a female star. And when he invented that word, he bestowed it upon Minstinguett. 

 Rodin said “She has the most beautiful pair of legs in the world.” Tino Rossi said among many other things: “She is the greatest cabaret artist of all time.” Years before Barbra Streisand, Cher, Liza Minelli, Madonna, Ute Lemper, Edith Piaf, Catherine Sauvage, Barbara Cook, Ella Fitzgerald,  Bette Midler, there was the first and truly incomparable queen of cabaret, music-halls and shows and her name was  Mistinguett, called by the French the "Queen of the Paris Music Hall." Tino Rossi called her “La Reine du Spectacle” meaning the queen of the show or music hall. Mistinguett reigned over the cabaret kingdom as the first, the authentic, the original and the world’s highest paid diva, entertainer, dancer, singer and queen of showmanship. In the 1920s and 1930s, Mistinguett earned as much as Madonna, Jennifer Lopez and Cher earn today combined!

Photo: Mistinguett in 1925.

Mistinguett was born as Jeanne Bourgeois in the district of Enghien-les-Bains, in France, on April 3, 1875. Many cabaret historians believe that she was born on December 17, 1872 or 1873. Since childhood, Mistinguett was fascinated by the extravagant life of the rich class, the glitzy streets and buildings of Paris, the fame of the Parisian stars, lights and action of Casino de Paris and other fancy Parisian cabarets and boites de nuits. She was dreaming of becoming a star. At 12, he got her first job as flowers basket vendor at the entrance of Casino de Paris. This was the beginning for the little Jeanne Bourgeois.  The beginning of getting as close as possible to a cabaret. It was her first step toward her future grand entrance and smashing appearance on the stage of the Parisian casino. Mistinguett, once told a confident: “Every time I sold one red rose, I felt one more light spot focusing on me on the stage of the casino. I had to do something to get in. Anything. Absolutely anything. Showbiz became my life. Well, I can use my legs and savoir-faire…and nobody is going to stop me…” Mistinguett said this at 16! But legs were not enough for Mistinguett. She had to show talent. Perrsistent and almost possessed by the idea of becoming an artist, she convinced her parents to pay for her music lessons, violin private tutoring and dancing lessons as well. Mistinguett excelled in dancing and showmanship training. Her voice was not so great but, her charisma and strong personality were noticed by her teachers who encouraged her to hang around artists, people of the media and other cabaret artists in Paris. And she did! She used to take the train every day from her home in the suburb to Paris to meet with the characters of the night, some writers and troubadours self proclaimed philosopher. Each time she took the train from her parents home in the suburb to Paris, Mistinguett would spend 3 agonizing hours each way. During one her trips to Paris, she met an obscure writer who gave the 16 year old girl, her future stage name “Mistinguette”. Later on, she will drop out the “e’ from her name to become “Mistinguett”. In 1893, she began to perform in small and obscure Parisian cabaret concerts, cafes and boites de nuits. She lacked good voice, dancing talent and stage theatrical talents but, she could move gracefully, tease the audience and act as a frivolous and daring comedienne. So, she started as a “B” comedienne in “B” places. But, she was on her way to stardom, to fame and power!