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Maurice Chevalier Collection

Began working with his brother as a circus acrobat to support his family, French revues and his way with the ladies gave him is start in entertainment.

Maurice Chevalier

16 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 6 hours, 3183 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
8 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from May 21, 1947:

"Philco Radio Time: Maurice Chevalier"



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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Maurice Chevalier
(1888 – 1972)


Maurice

Nothing could make an American girl swoon like a dose of suave Continental charm, at least, Hollywood wanted to believe it.  Deserved of not, Frenchmen had a reputation as the greatest lovers in the world, and Hollywood would never back down from the notion that sex sells. This situation worked right into the hands of the son of a Parisian house painter who would take the screen by storm, Maurice Chevalier.

Maurice Chevalier

Born in Paris, 1888, Maurice was the youngest of nine children. His father was a drunkard who had trouble keeping steady work and eventually left his wife and children, forcing Maurice to drop out of school to help support his mother. For a time he worked with an older brother as a circus acrobat but had to drop out after an injury. Unpaid at first, Maurice began singing in cafes for tips. He made friends in the Parisian theater community who brought him into contact with Fréhel, one of the biggest stars of French revues in 1909. The professional relationship became romantic as well, but Maurice left her in 1911 as her problems with alcohol and drug abuse became apparent.

Chevalier then partnered with dancer Mistinguett at the Folies Bergère. The 36-year-old had been the highest paid female entertainer in France and had entranced men from across Europe. She apparently found her new partner just as entrancing, even though Chevalier was 13 years younger than she was. The partnership temporarily broke up when Maurice was called up for national service and sent to the front lines in 1914. Chevalier was injured by shrapnel and captured by the Germans in the early weeks of the Great War. He learned English from the English soldiers in the same POW camp, and after two years of internment, he was released through the intercession of King Alfonso XIII of Spain, an admirer of Mistinguett's.

Maurice became very popular with American and British servicemen while performing at the Casino de Paris in 1917, and the Americans turned their new friend onto Jazz. He began headlining the Palace Theatre in London, although he continued to sing in French. Returning to Paris after the War, he displayed a roguish charm, appearing in a tuxedo and a straw boaters hat. He made a few films, and when Douglas Fairbanks came to Paris on his honeymoon he offered Chevalier a part in Mary Pickford's next picture. Maurice declined, the reception to his previous films showing that he was not popular in silent films. However, he did travel to America about the time talkies burst onto the scene and he appeared in the American musical Innocents in Paris (1929). He made a series of pictures with songstress Jeanette Macdonald, beginning with The Love Parade (1929). Chevalier was quite taken with her and pursued her off the set but Jeanette spurned him, calling him "the quickest derrière pincher in Hollywood".

Maurice in a top hatAfter several Hollywood triumphs, Chevalier returned to Europe in the late Thirties, renewing his stage career while appearing in movies in England and France. His was appearing in a revue at the Casino du Paris when France fell to the Nazis. He was invited to perform in Berlin on several occasions but he refused. He was convinced to perform at the same POW camp where he had been interred during the First War, which led to the release of several prisoners but also resulted in accusations of collaboration. Chevalier was cleared of the charges by a French court after the War, but he had trouble regaining his visa to the United States for the next decade. His status in McCarthy-era America was further exacerbated when he joined a number of artists and scientists in signing the Stockholm Appeal, a call for a ban on atomic weapons which was later revealed to have been instigated by communist organizations.

When McCarthyism finally faded in the mid-Fifties, Chevalier mounted a very successful US tour in 1955. After nearly a two-decade absence from Hollywood, he appeared in Love in the Afternoon (1957) with Audrey Hepburn and Gary Cooper. He followed up with the musical Gigi (1958) starring with Leslie Caron. Chevalier made several more pictures and made his farewell concert tour in 1967. He was coaxed out of retirement to sing the title song for Disney's The AristoCats (1970), which would be his final Hollywood project. Maurice Chevalier passed away in Paris on January 1, 1972, at the age of 83. A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1651 Vine St is dedicated honoring Maurice Chevalier's contributions to Motion Pictures.

For more French entertainment, see also: This is Paris and Paris Star Time.

Maurice 1965

Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    16 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 6 hours, 3183 min
    16 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 6 hours, 3183 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 16 shows – total playtime 6 hours, 53 minutes
    2. Biography In Sound 560228 Wc Fields.mp3
    3. Charlie Mccarthy 641115 Chase And Sanborn 100th Anniversary.mp3
    4. Merry Widow 1934 Maurice Chevalier.mp3
    5. Philco Radio Time 470521 032 Maurice Chevalier.mp3
    6. This Is Paris 490331 01 First Ep Louise Village Wedding.mp3
    7. This Is Paris 490623 13 Louise Irving Berlin Tribute.mp3
    8. This Is Paris 490630 14 Place Pigalle Tohama.mp3
    9. This Is Paris 490707 15 Cole Porter Tribute Les Invalides.mp3
    10. This Is Paris 490714 16 Cest Si Bon Palais De La Concorde.mp3
    11. This Is Paris 490728 18 Mimi Tour Of French Riviera.mp3
    12. This Is Paris 490804 19 Little Bit Heaven Hat St. Honore.mp3
    13. This Is Paris 490811 20 Un Petit Sourire Django Reinhardt.mp3
    14. This Is Paris 490818 21 Louise Eddie Cantor.mp3
    15. This Is Paris 490825 22 Cest Si Bon Jacqueline Francois.mp3
    16. This Is Paris 490901 23 Suzy Delair Arc De Triomphe.mp3
    17. This Is Paris 490908 24 Visit To Gare St. Lazare.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    16 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 6 hours, 3183 min
    16 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    189 MB – total playtime 6 hours, 53 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 16 shows – 189 MB – total playtime 6 hours, 53 minutes
    2. Biography In Sound 560228 Wc Fields.mp3
    3. Charlie Mccarthy 641115 Chase And Sanborn 100th Anniversary.mp3
    4. Merry Widow 1934 Maurice Chevalier.mp3
    5. Philco Radio Time 470521 032 Maurice Chevalier.mp3
    6. This Is Paris 490331 01 First Ep Louise Village Wedding.mp3
    7. This Is Paris 490623 13 Louise Irving Berlin Tribute.mp3
    8. This Is Paris 490630 14 Place Pigalle Tohama.mp3
    9. This Is Paris 490707 15 Cole Porter Tribute Les Invalides.mp3
    10. This Is Paris 490714 16 Cest Si Bon Palais De La Concorde.mp3
    11. This Is Paris 490728 18 Mimi Tour Of French Riviera.mp3
    12. This Is Paris 490804 19 Little Bit Heaven Hat St. Honore.mp3
    13. This Is Paris 490811 20 Un Petit Sourire Django Reinhardt.mp3
    14. This Is Paris 490818 21 Louise Eddie Cantor.mp3
    15. This Is Paris 490825 22 Cest Si Bon Jacqueline Francois.mp3
    16. This Is Paris 490901 23 Suzy Delair Arc De Triomphe.mp3
    17. This Is Paris 490908 24 Visit To Gare St. Lazare.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    16 recordings on 8 Audio CDs. Total playtime 6 hours, 53 min
    16 recordings on 8 Audio CDs
    total playtime 6 hours, 53 min

    Maurice Chevalier Disc A001

    1. Merry Widow 1934 Maurice Chevalier
    2. Philco Radio Time 470521 032 Maurice Chevalier

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Maurice Chevalier Disc A002

    1. This Is Paris 490331 01 First Ep Louise Village Wedding
    2. This Is Paris 490623 13 Louise Irving Berlin Tribute

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Maurice Chevalier Disc A003

    1. This Is Paris 490630 14 Place Pigalle Tohama
    2. This Is Paris 490707 15 Cole Porter Tribute Les Invalides

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Maurice Chevalier Disc A004

    1. This Is Paris 490714 16 Cest Si Bon Palais De La Concorde
    2. This Is Paris 490728 18 Mimi Tour Of French Riviera

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Maurice Chevalier Disc A005

    1. This Is Paris 490804 19 Little Bit Heaven Hat St. Honore
    2. This Is Paris 490811 20 Un Petit Sourire Django Reinhardt

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Maurice Chevalier Disc A006

    1. This Is Paris 490818 21 Louise Eddie Cantor
    2. This Is Paris 490825 22 Cest Si Bon Jacqueline Francois

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Maurice Chevalier Disc A007

    1. This Is Paris 490901 23 Suzy Delair Arc De Triomphe
    2. This Is Paris 490908 24 Visit To Gare St. Lazare

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Maurice Chevalier Disc A008

    1. Biography In Sound 560228 Wc Fields
    2. Charlie Mccarthy 641115 Chase And Sanborn 100th Anniversary

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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