Retro Paris
A view of the Paris buildings and the river Seine from the Eiffel Tower Date: 1960s
by Carol Sheridan
Paris is often referred to as the most romantic city in the world – and while I have no personal experience of the city, I absolutely love it.
Place de la Concorde: the bridge leading to it is the Pont de la Concorde Date: circa 1920
I have decorated my home in French provincial style, I love French champagne and French cuisine, I firmly believe that Paris is the capital in world fashion and I adore what I believe to be a typical French lifestyle.
Old movies, even old war movies, depict Paris as the city of love and when one of these movies comes on the television I am there, hooked on every image, word, song. The Cole Porter song I Love Paris is a song that I adore and simply melt inside whenever I hear it.
Paris is right at the top of my bucket list for places I must visit and I know I am not alone in my love of this beautiful city.
Gary Chapman also adores Paris and has an enduring fascination with the Jazz Age. He has been an avid collector of ephemera from the inter-war years, focused largely on fashion, cabaret, silent film, music hall, dance, theatre and costume design. A large part of his collection is connected with Paris and the Paris music hall.
“Even today Paris remains the most popular tourist attraction in the world with over 32 million visitors in 2013. It is not difficult to understand why. Significantly it is also thought to be the most romantic city in the world and Paris continues to flourish as a magnet for lovers despite the many clichés. Simply put, as a rendezvous for love, Paris has it all,” says Gary.
Gary Chapman (in association with the Mary Evans Picture Library) is the author of the delightful book Retro Paris published by New Holland Publishers Australia. To look at this stunning book is to take a walk back in time with a collection of evocative photographs taken in Paris, one of the greatest cities in the world.
The Dolly Sisters wearing creations by Jean Patou in La Valse Lumineuse, Paris En Fleurs, Casino de Paris, Paris, 1925
Drawing on the vast archive of images, Retro Paris is a testimony to the elegance and history of Parisian culture, whether it be admiring the majestic cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, or savouring the infamous Moulin Rouge in the City of Love.
A Renault showroom in Paris, France Date: 1930s
A group of passengers with an aircraft taking them on a London to Paris flight, in the early days of aviation. The pilot stands on the left, with his goggles up on his forehead. Date: circa 1920
Beautifully presented in hardcover format with more than 400 unique images, Retro Paris is a visual snapshot of a wonderful era now long past. This stunning book has pride of place on my coffee table with my guests always picking it up and pawing over the pages. Photographers, travellers and lovers of Paris will be enraptured with this book. It would make a great gift for almost anyone but in the words of a famous Australian, ‘do yourself a favour’ – rush out and get it for yourself.
RRP AU$45.00 – Hardback format
