Félix Mayol
Encyclopedia
Félix Mayol was a French singer and entertainer.
, France. His parents were both amateur singers and actors, who arranged for Felix to make his debut stage at six years of age.
In 1895 he went to Paris and the Montparnasse
Quarter where he began a career in entertainment that spanned more than forty years. He adopted a camp and effeminate manner on stage as part of his theatrical persona.
He sang the famous song "Viens poupoule, viens poupoule, viens...", and performed many songs by Théodore Botrel
.
In the early years of the 20th century some of Mayol's performances were captured by an early form of talking picture. He would record his voice, then the motion picture camera would film him as he lip-synced to the record. Several of his "Phono-Cinema" films exist.
took a risk by impersonating Mayol in small-time cafe entertainments, Mayol recognised the young man's talent and gave him his blessing. It led Chevalier to the Casino de Paris and the Folies Bergère.
Shortly after World War I, he purchased a plot of land in Toulon and donated it to the local sports club, RC Toulonnais
, for the building of a stadium. The facility, named Stade Mayol
in his honor, remains in use today (after several renovations) as the home ground for the Toulon rugby
team.
Career
Mayol was born in ToulonToulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
, France. His parents were both amateur singers and actors, who arranged for Felix to make his debut stage at six years of age.
In 1895 he went to Paris and the Montparnasse
Montparnasse
Montparnasse is an area of Paris, France, on the left bank of the river Seine, centred at the crossroads of the Boulevard du Montparnasse and the Rue de Rennes, between the Rue de Rennes and boulevard Raspail...
Quarter where he began a career in entertainment that spanned more than forty years. He adopted a camp and effeminate manner on stage as part of his theatrical persona.
He sang the famous song "Viens poupoule, viens poupoule, viens...", and performed many songs by Théodore Botrel
Théodore Botrel
Jean-Baptiste-Théodore-Marie Botrel was a French singer-songwriter, poet and playwright. He is best known for his popular songs about his native Brittany, of which the most famous is La Paimpolaise. During World War I he became France's official "Bard of the Armies".-Life:Born in Dinan, Botrel was...
.
In the early years of the 20th century some of Mayol's performances were captured by an early form of talking picture. He would record his voice, then the motion picture camera would film him as he lip-synced to the record. Several of his "Phono-Cinema" films exist.
Other activities
The teenage Maurice ChevalierMaurice Chevalier
Maurice Auguste Chevalier was a French actor, singer, entertainer and a noted Sprechgesang performer. He is perhaps best known for his signature songs, including Louise, Mimi, Valentine, and Thank Heaven for Little Girls and for his films including The Love Parade and The Big Pond...
took a risk by impersonating Mayol in small-time cafe entertainments, Mayol recognised the young man's talent and gave him his blessing. It led Chevalier to the Casino de Paris and the Folies Bergère.
Shortly after World War I, he purchased a plot of land in Toulon and donated it to the local sports club, RC Toulonnais
RC Toulonnais
RC Toulonnais is a French professional rugby union club based in Toulon in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
, for the building of a stadium. The facility, named Stade Mayol
Stade Mayol
Stade Mayol is a multi-purpose stadium in Toulon, France. It is currently used mostly for rugby union matches and is the home stadium of RC Toulonnais. The stadium is able to hold 13,700 people....
in his honor, remains in use today (after several renovations) as the home ground for the Toulon rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team.