Le Monocle was a

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

ian

lesbian bar A lesbian bar (sometimes called a "women's bar") is a drinking establishment that caters exclusively or predominantly to lesbian women. While often conflated, the lesbian bar has a history distinct from that of the gay bar. Significance Les ...

, opened in the 1920s by Lulu de Montparnasse. Located on Boulevard Edgar-Quinet, it closed during the occupation of France by Germany in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

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The name of the club comes from the fact that the

monocle A monocle is a type of corrective lens used to correct or enhance the visual perception in only one eye. It consists of a circular lens placed in front of the eye and held in place by the eye socket itself. Often, to avoid losing the monoc ...

was used as a symbol of recognition among lesbian individuals in the early 20th century. After the "flamboyant 1920s and the retrenchment of the 1930s," the bar was closed during the occupation of France by Germany during World War II. It was one of the first lesbian clubs in the city. At its peak, Le Monocle was considered a luxurious club where "fashionable" women could dance, talk, and kiss without fearing judgment or persecution. Regarded as a popular venue for lesbians in Paris during the 1920s and 1930s, its reputation as a safe space for women was well-known. There were often long queues to enter the club, which featured an all-female orchestra. It was also a meeting and networking place for artists, intellectuals, and influential women. However, like all lesbian venues, the women who used to work there were "constantly monitored by the police.". It was at Le Monocle that cabaret manager Frede met

Anaïs Nin Angela Anaïs Juana Antolina Rosa Edelmira Nin y Culmell ( ; ; February 21, 1903 – January 14, 1977) was a French-born American diarist, essayist, novelist, and writer of short stories and erotica. Born to Cuban parents in France, Nin was the d ...

and

Marlene Dietrich Marie Magdalene "Marlene" DietrichBorn as Maria Magdalena, not Marie Magdalene, according to Dietrich's biography by her daughter, Maria Riva ; however, Dietrich's biography by Charlotte Chandler cites "Marie Magdalene" as her birth name . (, ; ...

, with whom she later had a love affair. Frede then opened her own lesbian cabaret with the help of Dietrich. Businesswoman

Marthe Hanau Marthe Hanau (1890 – 19 July 1935) was a Frenchwoman who successfully defrauded French financial markets in the 1920s and the 1930s. Early life Marthe Hanau was born in Lille to the family of a Jewish industrialist. She married Lazare Bloch ...

also frequented Le Monocle with her partner Josèphe.. The photographer

Brassaï Brassaï (; pseudonym of Gyula Halász, ; 9 September 1899 – 8 July 1984) was a Hungarian–French photographer, sculptor, medalist, writer, and filmmaker who rose to international fame in France in the 20th century. He was one of the numerou ...

was allowed to enter the bar and take photos in 1932. The athlete

Violette Morris Violette Morris (18 April 1893 – 26 April 1944) was a French athlete and Nazi collaborator who won two gold and one silver medal at the Women's World Games in 1921–1922. She was later banned from competing for violating "moral standards". ...

appeared in one of these photos taken at Le Monocle with Lulu de Montparnasse, and one of the prints was sold for $17,500 at

Christie's Christie's is a British auction house founded in 1766 by James Christie (auctioneer), James Christie. Its main premises are on King Street, St James's in London, and it has additional salerooms in New York, Paris, Hong Kong, Milan, Geneva, Shan ...

in 2012. Lucienne Franchi, also known as Lulu de Montparnasse, gave the spotlight on stage to Line Marsa, the mother of

Édith Piaf Édith Giovanna Gassion (19 December 1915 – 10 October 1963), known as Édith Piaf (), was a French singer and lyricist best known for performing songs in the cabaret and modern chanson genres. She is widely regarded as France's greatest popu ...

. After the sale of Le Monocle, she also became the owner of the cabaret La Roulotte.. Le Monocle is mentioned in the works of historian Florence Tamagne, who describes it as a place where "all women dressed like men, in tuxedos, and had their hair cut in a bob."

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External links

Inside the Monocle, the Parisian Nightclub of the 1930s
1920s in LGBTQ history Defunct lesbian bars Lesbian history in France Defunct LGBTQ drinking establishments LGBTQ drinking establishments in France Cabarets in Paris

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