The Théâtre de la Gaîté, a former Parisian theatre company, was founded in 1759 on the boulevard du Temple by the celebrated Parisian fair-grounds showman Jean-Baptiste Nicolet as the Théâtre de Nicol
The Théâtre de la Gaîté's fourth and last theatre on the boulevard du Temple, used from 1835 to 1862
According to Howarth this is Nicolet's first theatre on the boulevard du Temple (before 1762). Other authors have identified it as Nicolet's theatre at the Foire Saint-Laurent. A parade, a short comic entertainment designed to entice passersby to buy tickets, is being performed on the balcony. Gouache, Musée Carnavalet.
An entr'acte at Nicolet's theatre
Plans of the Ambigu-Comique (left), which opened in 1769, and the Gaîté (right), which opened in 1764
Théâtre de la foire
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Théâtre de la foire is the collective name given to the theatre put on at the annual fairs at Saint-Germain and Saint-Laurent in Paris.
Théâtre de la Gaîté (boulevard du Temple)
…The Théâtre de la Gaîté (French pronunciation: ), a former Parisian theatre company, was founded in 1759 on the boulevard du Temple by the celebrated Parisian fair-grounds showman Jean-Baptiste Nicolet as the Théâtre de Nicolet, ou des Grands Danseurs (pronounced ). The company was invited to perform for the royal court…
A fire which destroyed the Foire Saint-Germain on the night of 16/17 March 1762
The Foire Saint-Germain after its reconstruction in 1763. A parade, a short comic entertainment to entice passersby to buy tickets, is being performed on the balcony of Nicolet's theatre.
Foire Saint-Germain in 1763, miniature by Blarenberghe
Foire Saint-Ovide around 1770 by Jacques-Gabriel Huquier, (musée de la Révolution française).