Just how folles were the “Années Folles”? In the digital archives of the French National Library, I stumbled upon a few clues, in vibrant colour. “Paris Plaisirs” is a long-forgotten monthly revue that appears to have been published sometime between 1922-1938 (possibly earlier) from 12 Rue Georges-Berger in Paris – and there’s virtually nothing else we can tell you about it – except that Georges Simenon, a prolific European author occasionally contributed his essays. Packed with fabulous fleshy femme fatales from front to back, it appears to have set the standard for 20th century erotic publications, catering to the clientele of the bohemian underworld. During the interwar years, the music halls and cabarets were at the centre of the Parisian Jazz Age. The headlining acts of these establishment were the cover girls of choice for “Paris Plaisirs”, dressed in jaw-dropping costumes and dripping in diamante. Short of a time machine to the front row of the Moulin Rouge circa 1920-something, loosen your garter and have a look-see through the archives of this little-known Parisian publication…
Browse the inside pages in the French National Library archives.
