The Birth of Glamour.

It happened in Chicago. Chez Paree opened its doors in 1932, during the depths of the Great Depression, in the old Chateau Theater building at 610 North Fairbanks Court. It was the brainchild of Mike Fritzel and Joe Jacobson, two nightlife impresarios who envisioned a swanky Parisian-style supper club right in the heart of Chicago. Styled after the most elegant venues of Europe, it was part restaurant, part nightclub, and part theatrical stage – and all extravagance.

It wasn’t long before Chez Paree earned a national reputation as the place to see and be seen. The signature décor was high drama: jewel-toned curtains, mirrored columns, spotlights slicing through smoky air, and plush banquettes wrapping around a glimmering stage. It set the tone for a sophisticated night out – and spared no expense in doing so.

Chez Paree became a magnet for the biggest entertainers of the day. Frank Sinatra crooned there. Ella Fitzgerald swung. Judy Garland, Sophie Tucker, Peggy Lee, Martin & Lewis, Lena Horne, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett – the list reads like a who’s who of 20th-century entertainment. The shows were staged with Broadway-level pizzazz: Long-legged showgirls called the “Adorables” warmed up the crowd draped in skimpy costumes with exaggerated headdresses, as guys and dolls arrived for dinner and rounds of drinks.

The cocktails at Chez Paree were as much a part of the show as the performers – strong, classic, and elegantly presented. Champagne cocktails arrived in gleaming, crystal-clear, cut-glass coupes that caught the light like cut diamonds, their refined silhouettes a perfect match for the club’s high-glamour aesthetic.