Marie Dubas
Encyclopedia
Marie Dubas was a music-hall singer, diseuse and comedienne.
Born in Paris, France, Marie Dubas began her career as a stage actress but became famous as a singer. Using the great Yvette Guilbert
as her model, Dubas started singing in the small cabarets of Montmartre
mixing comedy into her routine. She earned a following that led to offers to perform in Parisian operettas and musicals and during the 1920s and 30s, starred at such places as the Casino de Paris
and Bobino
, the great music hall
in Montparnasse
. Her most famous song, Mon légionnaire, was written by Raymond Asso
and recorded in 1936. Her popularity became such that in 1939 she toured the United States.
The occupation of France by the Germans during World War II proved a difficult time for the Jewish, Marie Dubas. Although married to a French gentile
who served in the Air Force, she was nevertheless banned by the Vichy
government and placed under house arrest by the Gestapo
who raided her Paris apartment. Forced to flee the country, Dubas took refuge in Lausanne, Switzerland where she remained until the end of the war. On her return to France, she learned her sister had been executed and her nephew had been shipped to a concentration camp, never to be heard from again.
The inspiration for Édith Piaf
, Marie Dubas returned to performing and in 1954 was chosen as a headliner for the reopening of the Paris Olympia
. A stage production about her life, Dubas de haut, en bas, was created by Opéra Éclaté
.
Marie Dubas retired in 1958. She died in Paris in 1972 and is interred there in the Père Lachaise Cemetery
.
Born in Paris, France, Marie Dubas began her career as a stage actress but became famous as a singer. Using the great Yvette Guilbert
Yvette Guilbert
Yvette Guilbert was a French cabaret singer and actress of the Belle Époque.-Biography:...
as her model, Dubas started singing in the small cabarets of Montmartre
Montmartre
Montmartre is a hill which is 130 metres high, giving its name to the surrounding district, in the north of Paris in the 18th arrondissement, a part of the Right Bank. Montmartre is primarily known for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré Cœur on its summit and as a nightclub district...
mixing comedy into her routine. She earned a following that led to offers to perform in Parisian operettas and musicals and during the 1920s and 30s, starred at such places as the Casino de Paris
Casino de Paris
The Casino de Paris, located at 16, rue de Clichy, in the 9th arrondissement is one of the well known music halls of Paris, with a history dating back to the 18th century. Contrary to what the name might suggest, it is a performance venue, not a gambling house...
and Bobino
Bobino
Bobino at 20 rue de la Gaîté, in the Montparnasse area of Paris , France, is a music hall theatre that has seen most of the biggest names of 20th century French music perform there....
, the great music hall
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...
in 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...
. Her most famous song, Mon légionnaire, was written by Raymond Asso
Raymond Asso
Raymond Asso was a French lyricist.Born in Nice, France, his parents separation saw him leave for Morocco at the age of 15. After his arrival he tried numerous professions, including: shepherd, factory worker, chauffeur and nightclub manager. Between 1916 and 1919 he worked as a Spahi, a type of...
and recorded in 1936. Her popularity became such that in 1939 she toured the United States.
The occupation of France by the Germans during World War II proved a difficult time for the Jewish, Marie Dubas. Although married to a French gentile
Gentile
The term Gentile refers to non-Israelite peoples or nations in English translations of the Bible....
who served in the Air Force, she was nevertheless banned by the Vichy
Vichy
Vichy is a commune in the department of Allier in Auvergne in central France. It belongs to the historic province of Bourbonnais.It is known as a spa and resort town and was the de facto capital of Vichy France during the World War II Nazi German occupation from 1940 to 1944.The town's inhabitants...
government and placed under house arrest by the Gestapo
Gestapo
The Gestapo was the official secret police of Nazi Germany. Beginning on 20 April 1934, it was under the administration of the SS leader Heinrich Himmler in his position as Chief of German Police...
who raided her Paris apartment. Forced to flee the country, Dubas took refuge in Lausanne, Switzerland where she remained until the end of the war. On her return to France, she learned her sister had been executed and her nephew had been shipped to a concentration camp, never to be heard from again.
The inspiration for Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf
Édith Piaf , born Édith Giovanna Gassion, was a French singer and cultural icon who became widely regarded as France's greatest popular singer. Her singing reflected her life, with her specialty being ballads...
, Marie Dubas returned to performing and in 1954 was chosen as a headliner for the reopening of the Paris Olympia
Paris Olympia
The Olympia is a music hall in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. Located at No. 28, Boulevard des Capucines, its closest métro/RER stations are Madeleine, Opéra, Havre – Caumartin and Auber....
. A stage production about her life, Dubas de haut, en bas, was created by Opéra Éclaté
Opéra Éclaté
Opéra Éclaté is a small-scale opera company based in Colomiers, Midi-Pyrénées, France.It was founded in 1985 by Oliver Desbordes, who remains its director, while also undertaking stage direction of many productions...
.
Marie Dubas retired in 1958. She died in Paris in 1972 and is interred there in the Père Lachaise Cemetery
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Père Lachaise Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the city of Paris, France , though there are larger cemeteries in the city's suburbs.Père Lachaise is in the 20th arrondissement, and is reputed to be the world's most-visited cemetery, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to the...
.