55 moments

1. Birth at Hôpital Tenon

   1915-12-19 · Hôpital Tenon, Paris, France

   Piaf was born Édith Giovanna Gassion at Hôpital Tenon in Paris.

2. Childhood care in Bernay

   1918-01-01 · Bernay, Normandy, France

   

   By the end of the First World War, Piaf was being cared for at her paternal grandmother's brothel in Bernay, Normandy. The source dates this only as being by the end of World War I; 1918 is the maximum defensible year-level date.

3. Street-singing residence at Grand Hôtel de Clermont

   1930-01-01 · Grand Hôtel de Clermont, Paris, France

   After touring with her father, Piaf rented a room at the Grand Hôtel de Clermont and sang in Paris and its suburbs with Simone Berteaut. The article places this in the year after she began touring with her father at age fourteen; date is therefore year-level.

4. Professional debut at Le Gerny's

   1935-10-01 · Le Gerny's, 54 rue Pierre-Charron, Paris, France

   Piaf began the engagement that launched her professional career as La Môme Piaf at Louis Leplée's Paris nightclub. The source gives two possible opening dates, so month precision is used.

5. Bobino engagement

   1937-02-01 · Bobino, Paris, France

   Piaf appeared at Bobino during an early Paris music-hall engagement.

6. First ABC music-hall appearance

   1937-03-01 · ABC Music Hall, Paris, France

   Piaf made her first appearance at the ABC music hall, where audience demand led to additional numbers beyond her original five-song contract.

7. Third ABC engagement

   1938-04-01 · ABC Music Hall, Paris, France

   Piaf returned to the ABC for a third documented engagement.

8. First top billing at L'Européen

   1938-10-01 · L'Européen, Paris, France

   Piaf topped a music-hall bill for the first time at L'Européen before moving on to Bobino. The source does not give separate dates for the two venues; October is used for the first-listed engagement.

9. Top-billed appearance at Bobino

   1938-11-01 · Bobino, Paris, France

   Piaf's first top-billed music-hall run continued at Bobino. The source does not give separate dates for the two venues; November is used for the second-listed engagement.

10. First solo concert at Salle Pleyel

    1940-09-28 · Salle Pleyel, Paris, France

    After returning to occupied Paris, Piaf gave her first solo concert at Salle Pleyel with an orchestra.

11. Meeting Marcel Blistène in Marseille

    1942-01-01 · Marseille, France

    Piaf met film director Marcel Blistène in Marseille during the occupation.

12. ABC wartime engagement

    1942-10-01 · ABC Music Hall, Paris, France

    At the ABC, Piaf ended each show with "Où sont-ils tous mes copains" before German censorship required her to remove the presentation.

13. Residence on rue Villejust

    1942-11-01 · 5 rue Villejust, Paris, France

    Piaf moved into Madame Billy's establishment at 5 rue Villejust in Paris's 17th arrondissement. Rue Villejust was renamed rue Paul-Valéry; coordinates represent the historic street address.

14. Casino de Paris revue

    1943-02-01 · Casino de Paris, Paris, France

    Piaf held a booking in a revue at the Casino de Paris, though the booking was interrupted for five weeks.

15. Berlin tour departure

    1943-08-14 · Berlin, Germany

    Piaf traveled by train to Berlin to begin a seven-week tour for French prisoners of war and forced laborers in Germany. The source establishes Berlin as the journey destination but does not identify a specific Berlin venue.

16. Performance at Moulin Rouge

    1944-01-01 · Moulin Rouge, Paris, France

    Piaf performed at the Moulin Rouge, where she worked with Yves Montand and began an affair with him.

17. Second Salle Pleyel concert

    1944-02-02 · Salle Pleyel, Paris, France

    Piaf returned to Salle Pleyel for a second documented concert during the occupation.

18. Allied-forces performance in Marseille

    1944-12-01 · Marseille, France

    Piaf performed alongside Yves Montand for Allied forces in Marseille after the Liberation.

19. Théâtre de l'Étoile engagement

    1945-02-01 · Théâtre de l'Étoile, Paris, France

    Piaf was booked at the Théâtre de l'Étoile with Yves Montand. Coordinates represent the historic L'Étoile venue area near avenue Kléber.

20. Return to Théâtre de l'Étoile

    1945-09-01 · Théâtre de l'Étoile, Paris, France

    Piaf returned to L'Étoile with the pianist Robert Chauvigny, who became her long-term conductor and arranger. Coordinates represent the historic L'Étoile venue area near avenue Kléber.

21. Reburial of Marcelle and Louis Gassion

    1946-04-12 · Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, France

    Piaf attended the exhumation and reburial of her daughter Marcelle and her father at Père Lachaise Cemetery.

22. Théâtre de Chaillot appearance

    1946-05-01 · Théâtre National de Chaillot, Paris, France

    

    Piaf and Les Compagnons de la Chanson appeared at the Théâtre de Chaillot with a fifty-piece orchestra.

23. Return to L'Étoile with Les Compagnons

    1947-09-01 · Théâtre de l'Étoile, Paris, France

    

    Piaf returned triumphantly to L'Étoile with Les Compagnons de la Chanson. Coordinates represent the historic L'Étoile venue area near avenue Kléber.

24. American opening night at Playhouse Theatre

    1947-10-30 · Playhouse Theatre, New York City, New York, United States

    Piaf opened her first major New York engagement at the Playhouse Theatre, performing there through 6 December. The Playhouse Theatre was at 137 West 48th Street and has since been demolished.

25. Versailles Club engagement

    1948-01-01 · Versailles Club, New York City, New York, United States

    Piaf held an extended engagement at the Versailles club in New York. Coordinates are a representative point for the historic Manhattan nightclub site.

26. Second Versailles Club run

    1948-09-22 · Versailles Club, New York City, New York, United States

    After flying back to New York, Piaf began a second Versailles engagement that lasted until 14 December. Coordinates are a representative point for the historic Manhattan nightclub site.

27. Sell-out Salle Pleyel shows

    1949-01-01 · Salle Pleyel, Paris, France

    Piaf gave two sell-out shows at Salle Pleyel. The source gives two dates in January; month precision avoids creating duplicate cards for the same venue run.

28. Versailles performance after Cerdan's death

    1949-10-28 · Versailles Club, New York City, New York, United States

    After learning that Marcel Cerdan had died in an air crash, Piaf performed at the Versailles and dedicated the evening to him. Coordinates are a representative point for the historic Manhattan nightclub site.

29. Three-month Versailles booking

    1950-09-13 · Versailles Club, New York City, New York, United States

    

    Piaf began another three-month booking at the Versailles after returning to New York with Eddie Constantine. Coordinates are a representative point for the historic Manhattan nightclub site.

30. La P'tite Lili opening at the ABC

    1951-03-10 · ABC Music Hall, Paris, France

    

    Piaf starred in the opening of Marcel Achard's musical La P'tite Lili at the ABC.

31. Marriage to Jacques Pills in New York

    1952-09-01 · New York City, New York, United States

    Piaf's civil and religious marriage to Jacques Pills took place in New York, with Marlene Dietrich as maid of honour. The source gives two marriage dates but not the individual ceremony venues; city coordinates are used.

32. Residence on Boulevard Lannes

    1953-03-01 · 67 bis boulevard Lannes, Paris, France

    Piaf and Jacques Pills moved into their apartment at 67 bis Boulevard Lannes after returning from the United States.

33. Théâtre Marigny performances with Jacques Pills

    1953-04-01 · Théâtre Marigny, Paris, France

    Piaf and Jacques Pills performed together for a month at the Théâtre Marigny, including a revival of Le Bel Indifférent.

34. First post-reopening Olympia engagement

    1955-01-01 · Olympia, Paris, France

    Piaf began her first engagement at the recently reopened Olympia music hall.

35. Carnegie Hall triumph

    1956-01-01 · Carnegie Hall, New York City, New York, United States

    Piaf performed at Carnegie Hall during her North American career, an appearance characterized in the chronology as a triumph. The cited chronology provides year but not a performance date.

36. Triumphant Olympia return

    1956-05-01 · Olympia, Paris, France

    After fourteen months away, Piaf returned to Paris and played a triumphant Olympia engagement.

37. Second Carnegie Hall performance

    1957-01-13 · Carnegie Hall, New York City, New York, United States

    Against medical advice, Piaf gave her second Carnegie Hall performance; the concert was recorded for later release.

38. Record-breaking Olympia engagement

    1958-02-01 · Olympia, Paris, France

    Piaf's second Olympia engagement was extended to 128 performances and drew 240,000 audience members.

39. Stage illness in Stockholm

    1958-05-28 · Stockholm, Sweden

    Piaf became ill while performing on stage in Stockholm and was flown home for hospital treatment. The venue is not identified; city-center coordinates are used.

40. Waldorf Astoria performances

    1959-01-01 · Waldorf Astoria, New York City, New York, United States

    During her final U.S. tour, Piaf performed at the Waldorf Astoria and became ill on stage there twice. The chronology establishes the event in 1959 but does not give a month or day.

41. Illness on stage at Maubeuge

    1959-12-03 · Maubeuge, France

    During the tour later called her "suicide tour," Piaf became ill on stage in Maubeuge. The venue is not identified; settlement coordinates are used.

42. Television interview in Dieppe

    1959-12-11 · Dieppe, France

    Piaf recorded a television interview with Pierre Desgraupes in Dieppe. The recording venue is not identified; settlement coordinates are used.

43. Collapse on stage in Dreux

    1959-12-13 · Dreux, France

    Piaf collapsed while performing in Dreux and was rushed back to Paris. The venue is not identified; settlement coordinates are used.

44. Treatment at the American Hospital of Paris

    1960-01-01 · American Hospital of Paris, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France

    Piaf was treated for jaundice at the American Hospital in Neuilly-sur-Seine. The American Hospital of Paris is in Neuilly-sur-Seine, immediately west of Paris.

45. Olympia premiere that saved the venue

    1960-12-29 · Olympia, Paris, France

    Piaf premiered her renewed Olympia engagement, which continued into 1961 and helped save the venue from bankruptcy.

46. American Hospital operation

    1961-05-01 · American Hospital of Paris, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France

    Piaf returned to the American Hospital in Paris for her eighth operation in fewer than three years. The American Hospital of Paris is in Neuilly-sur-Seine, immediately west of Paris.

47. Olympia performances with Théo Sarapo

    1962-09-01 · Olympia, Paris, France

    

    Piaf performed with Théo Sarapo at the Olympia in the weeks before their marriage.

48. Eiffel Tower television performance

    1962-09-25 · Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

    Piaf performed televised renditions of "Le Droit d'aimer" and "Non, je ne regrette rien" from an Eiffel Tower platform.

49. Bobino engagement with Théo Sarapo

    1963-02-01 · Bobino, Paris, France

    

    Piaf and Théo Sarapo held a final major Paris engagement at Bobino while her health was visibly deteriorating.

50. Final live performances at Lille Opera

    1963-03-30 · Lille Opera, Lille, France

    Piaf performed at the Lille Opera House on 30 and 31 March; these were her last live performances. The source gives a two-day run; the first date is used for chronology ordering.

51. Convalescence at Cap Ferrat

    1963-05-31 · Cap Ferrat, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France

    Piaf traveled with her entourage to La Serena, a seaside villa at Cap Ferrat, to convalesce. The exact location of La Serena is not supplied in the source; coordinates represent Cap Ferrat.

52. Move to La Gatounière near Mougins

    1963-08-01 · Mougins, France

    On medical advice, Piaf moved to La Gatounière near Mougins. Coordinates represent Mougins because the source identifies La Gatounière only as near the settlement.

53. Final move to Plascassier

    1963-09-01 · Plascassier, Grasse, France

    Piaf moved to the villa L'Enclos de la Rourée in Plascassier, near Grasse, during her final illness. Coordinates represent Plascassier; the villa's exact geolocation is not provided in the source.

54. Death at Plascassier

    1963-10-10 · Plascassier, Grasse, France

    Piaf died at Plascassier after months of serious illness. The immediately preceding chronology entry establishes her residence at Plascassier; coordinates represent the village rather than the undocumented precise villa location.

55. Burial at Père Lachaise

    1963-10-14 · Père Lachaise Cemetery, Paris, France

    Piaf's funeral and burial took place at Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.