Joseph Oller

Joseph Oller created the Moulin Rouge. An audacious perfectionist, his ambition was to create ‘the biggest and most beautiful of cabarets; a temple dedicated to Woman, the Dance and the Cancan.’ It was a bet that paid off for this businessman bursting with ideas, who was willing to risk everything by opening the Moulin Rouge on the specific date of 6 October 1889 at 8.00pm on the dot, even when the extensive works that he had undertaken were not yet completely finished.

The magic was there from the first evening, the hall was packed, and the charm has never ceased to be present in this magical place, which has become one of the most prominent symbols of France and the world most renown cabaret!