Music hall and variety theatre in Paris.
It opened in 1869 and soon became a major music hall, presenting operettas and pantomimes. By the 1890s its repertory also included vaudeville sketches, acrobats, ballets, and magicians. After the vogue of nudity appeared in Parisian music halls (1894), the Folies produced sensational displays of women in scanty but opulent costumes that soon overshadowed its other performances. Under the management of Paul Derval (1918–66), the Folies achieved an international reputation and became one of Paris's major tourist attractions. Each show requires about 10 months of preparation, 40 sets, and 1,000 costumes.