I saw them all start, that’s the title of the book that Doudou Morizot has just released. The former manager, who worked for nearly thirty years in the legendary Olympia hall, tells anecdotes about the stars he has met and in particular looks back on the “damage” of singer Gilbert Bécaud.
Doudou, his real name Roger Morizot, spent thirty years behind the scenes of the legendary hall of theOlympia where he worked as a manager. Years during which the man, now 91, compiled anecdotes about all the stars he has met. Stories he decided to unveil in a book called I saw them all start, published on February 11 by Éditions de l’Archipel.
“A chainsaw-cut Steinway!”
Among the crisp stories of the ex-manager of the room on Boulevard de Capucines in Paris, there is the “damage” of Gilbert Bécaud. An event on which Doudou Morizet returned in the columns of the Parisian. “Mr. 100,000 volts, he broke the piano, relates Doudou with a smile on his face. He was tapping on it, instead of playing normally. It was my job to call the tuner the afternoon before the show. Often, he would tell me that a rope had to be replaced! It cost a fortune.“One day, the ex-manager decided to cut up the piano:”Becaud complained that the lid was too high and people couldn’t see his hands. I suggested to Coquatrix (editor’s note: general manager of the Paris Olympia from 1954 to 1979) cut the feet a little and saw off the sides. A Steinway cut with a chainsaw! The boss was crazy“, still laughs Doudou Morizet.
Anecdotes like this one, Doudou Morizet has compiled in spades in his book, like the anger that the singer Dalida could sting.
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© BERTRAND RINDOFF PETROFF
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2/12 –
Gilbert Bécaud
He returns in particular to the “damage” of singer Gilbert Bécaud.
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© CHARRIAU
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3/12 –
Gilbert Bécaud
“Monsieur 100,000 volts, he broke the piano,” says Doudou with a smile on his face.
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© CHARRIAU
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4/12 –
Gilbert Bécaud
“He was hitting on it, instead of playing normally. It was my job to call the tuner the afternoon before the show. Often he would tell me I had to replace a string! It cost a fortune.” , remembers the former manager of the Olympia.
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© CHARRIAU
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5/12 –
Gilbert Bécaud
One day, the former manager decided to cut up Gilbert Bécaud’s piano.
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© CHARRIAU
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6/12 –
Gilbert Bécaud
“Bécaud complained that the lid was too high and people couldn’t see his hands,” he explains.
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© CHARRIAU
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7/12 –
Gilbert Bécaud
“I suggested to Coquatrix (editor’s note: general manager of the Olympia in Paris from 1954 to 1979) to cut the feet a little and saw off the sides. A Steinway cut with a chainsaw! The boss was crazy”, s amuses Doudou Morizet again.
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© AGENCY
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8/12 –
Gilbert Bécaud
Anecdotes like this one, Doudou Morizet has compiled in spades in his book.
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© AGENCY
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9/12 –
Gilbert Bécaud
A book released on February 11.
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© JLPPA
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10/12 –
Gilbert Bécaud
Doudou Morizet met the biggest stars of his time during his career.
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© JLPPA
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11/12 –
Gilbert Bécaud
At each significant meeting, the former manager took notes.
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© JLPPA
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12/12 –
Gilbert Bécaud
Notes that he decided to unveil to the general public.
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