Les Gnoufs-Gnoufs
Les Gnoufs-Gnoufs , also Dîner or Ronde des Gnoufs-Gnoufs , was a Parisian artists' association founded in 1858 for the authors and actors of the Théâtre du Palais-Royal . Furthermore, the Gnoufs-Gnoufs were in the tradition of the goguette .
history
The name was derived from the operetta Le punch Grassot by Eugène Grangé and Alfred Delacour , in which Paul Grassot made grunts ( gnouf, gnouf ) in his role .
Working lunches were held regularly under the leadership of Paul Grassot in the then legendary Le Brébant restaurant . Depending on the occasion, whether of a more serious or cheerful nature, the meetings were called gnouf-gnouf de Coblenz or gnouf-gnouf de Pologne . Women were excluded because of their coquetry and the possible rivalries that had driven other artists' associations to break up.
After dessert there was regular singing for the whole place. Most of the time, the artists wrote songs suitable for the occasion, which were then given to the lecture. The restaurant therefore offered the Gnoufs-Gnoufs the menus at a preferential price, as the vocal performances of the well-known and popular artists attracted a large number of visitors and the event became the talk of the town. Since the songs were not only popular entertainment, but also often openly criticized politics, the Gnoufs-Gnoufs, like other artist groups, were under observation.
The dinners were continued with constant success until 1869.
Trivia
Since no women were allowed in the Gnoufs-Gnoufs, Virginie Déjazet was invited to a meeting. She appeared in an elegant man's suit including a formal tie. After dessert, she too serenaded the audience.
The later very famous cocktail Punch de Grassot was invented on the occasion of the meeting.
Famous members
Eugène Grangé
Paul Grassot
literature
- Alfred Delvau : DDictionnaire de la langue verte: argots parisiens comparés , 1866, volume 1, p. 229, digitized
- La Chanson illustrée: Les Dîners chantants , edition of May 2, 1869, p. 2, digitized
- La Chanson illustrée: Les Dîners chantants , edition of May 9, 1869, p. 3, digitized