"The Resplendent Bonbonnière"
The
building, familiarly called the "bonbonnière" because of its shape,
was designed by the architect Jean-Émile Resplandy. The first version of the
theater, with a capacity of no more than 856 seats, was demolished in 1909. The
theater was transformed and expanded to accommodate 1,350 seats on four levels
(orchestra, balcony, mezzanine, and gallery). The new hall, whose exterior
facade is left intact, was inaugurated again on January 4, 1911. You can see a
photo of the theater in 1928, during the performance of the French star Suzy
Vernon, who stayed at the Carlton.
