Amália, Queen of the Fado ( Rainha do Fado ) 03 video

*With heartfelt thanks to Rosa (quartominguante) for her two pics of "Primavera no Alentejo". tinyurl.com For Amália aficionados... With much assistance from Wikipedia: The Paris Olympia was founded in 1888 by Joseph Oller, the creator of the Moulin Rouge. The Olympia is the oldest music hall in Paris and one of the most famous music halls in the world. Today it is easily recognizable by its giant red glowing letters announcing its famous name. It opened in 1889 as the "Montagnes Russes" but in 1893 was renamed the Olympia, as it remains to this day. Beyond musicians, the Olympia has played host to a variety of entertainment including circuses, ballets, and operettas. However, following a steady decline in appearances by the great stars, from 1929 until 1944, it served as a movie theatre. It may have opened as a music hall under the German occupation of France during World War II, but certainly in 1945 after the Liberation, it was again a music hall free to Allied troops in uniform. But attendees had to listen to the playing of four national anthems before the varied programs, and that always ended with a spirited French can-can performed by dancers, some of whom reputedly were no longer young. (Yes, as if fighting for France's liberation was not enough.) Thereafter however, at times it may have reverted to movies again until Bruno Coquatrix (1910 - 1979), a French songwriter and music impresario managed to gain ownership of the famous building -- would make an ...