Dec 31, 2025
Popular life scene at the Moulin Rouge, Paris, France,
The Moulin Rouge opened in 1889 as an outdoor garden café-concert.
The large stucco elephant was originally displayed at the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1889 and was purchased by Moulin Rouge founders Charles Zidler and Joseph Oller to adorn their garden.
Gentlemen could pay a single franc to climb a spiral staircase inside one of the elephant's legs to a room in its belly, which served as an exclusive, male-only club or an alleged opium den, complete with belly dancers for entertainment.
The structure existed until 1906, when it was torn down during a renovation of the cabaret hall.
Photograph by Girot.
