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Master Vatin at C.S.S.
Left photo : Fencing was taught at C.S.S. starting in 1910, here Master Vatin teaches his skill to two young children during the 1950’s.
Right photo: He was also a swimming teacher, seen here with his "groupies".
Il would also MC the evening of the Grand Ball in 1955.
M. Jean Vatin was also a swimming teacher, on the right photo he is here with his "groupies".
Il would also MC the evening of the Grand Ball in 1955.
Henry Cabot Lodge at C.S.S. in 1966
Study of the Ambassador
Here's a Saigon poolside study of U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Henry Cabot Lodge. Much still active, Lodge was 63.
Vice Consul Eddie Smith at C.S.S. in 1966.
Vice Consul Eddie Smith at Cercle Sportif Saigonnais.
© François Sully (1927-1971)
The Cercle magazine in 1955
The “Revue du Cercle” (Magazine) was a bi-monthly published in Saigon which related all the activities at the C.S.S.
The opening of the Grand Ball in 1955
On the program : Meritan and his orchestra, Jimmy Bex and his large ”Jade Palace” ensemble, Régine and André Berny, acrobatic dancers from the “Arc-en Ciel”, and Nicole and Marie Triem..
The official presentation of a check to H.E. Minister Pham-Van-Huyen, commissioner-general for refugees..
The Annual Grand Ball
Saturday, March 5th, 1955
Around the World in one night
Left photo : The annual Grand Ball of the C.S.S. on March 5th, 1955.
Right photo: A particularly successful evening with Madame Vincenti, Colonel Bachelot, US Naval Attaché Lacy, and Madame Ravel.
Price list of the Annual Grand Ball of 1955
For the Around the World departure:
Have a cocktail:….”Paradise” or “the Little Devil”; $50
CHAMPAGNES (bottle): $300 (Bolinger, Charles Heidsieck, Dry Monopole, Krug, Moët & Chandon, Mumm Cordon Rouge, Piper Heidsieck, Pommery, Veuve Cliquot).
WINES: $150 (Traminer, Muscadet, Tavel Rosé, Arbois Rosé) $100 (Côtes du Rhône, Beaujolais).
VARIOUS OTHER DRINKS: $75 (Cognac, Peppermint Schnapps, various others), $100 (Scotch Whisky, $45 (Beer 33), $30 (¼ ltr. Perrier).
COLD BUFFET: $120 (Paté in aspic), $40 (Ham sandwich), $80 (Cold Cuts), $50 (Poached egg in aspic with ham), $60 (Rabbit in pastry crust), $30 (Fruit tart), $30 (Apple, orange), $40 (Pear), $15 (Coffee)..
Prices shown are in Vietnamese Piasters.
The Big Night of the Cercle
by Jacques Chancel
Jacques Chancel on the right in this photo.
It was a beautiful night. Spotlights and lanterns light up the Cercle. It wasn’t quite 10 p.m.
It was an evening, like so many others, perhaps a bit less chilly… an evening full of promises… so different from the one whose theme was “Fashion through the Ages”. Remember that awful rain… that terrifying downpour of 1954? In recalling that sad prank by Nature, I think of the justified despair of our Festival Committee. However, like performers in a “botched” entrance, the young ones, overcoming their quite natural anger and disappointment, had hoped in the space of one night that the next day would be better. It was.
Once none of this existed.
Why come back to revisit the past? In my view it’s a necessity, because supported by facts that existed it is easy to assume that the programming of such an event is one of the characteristic phases of daring. Did you for a moment consider the work done by the decorators, the costumers, the electricians? What about expenses?
What if the imponderable malicious act prevented our Ball?
Because each year the Cercle Sportif “dared”, this night became the most beautiful on Saigon’s calendar.
The people identified in this photo taken during the costume party at the Cercle Sportif of Saigon on March 5th, 1955 are, from left to right:
- First row: (kneeling), 2nd from left, Marie-Noëlle Lagrange; 3rd, Françoise Faubeau; 4th, Odette Robert.
- Second row: 5th from left, Anne-Marie Dubourg; 9th, Marie-Thérèse Houel.
- Third row: 1st, Bernard Lacouture; 4th, Patrick Wintrebert..
Thanks to Pierre and Anne Marie Du Bourg.
The night was really very beautiful.
To accomplish this speedy ‘Round the World trip, one thousand three hundred invited guests had chosen a not-very-commercial airline: the one of good humor and fantasy. This fun world had set up its décor on the tennis courts. I mentioned in passing the works of Monsieur Di, the decorator for C.S.S.: the Eiffel Tower, the foggy sky of London, the Pyramids of Egypt, the coast of Hong-Kong, the beaches of the islands, all landscapes to keep your imagination going. I saw an immense globe which rotated with the wind, and further on, a runway and a modern airport.
It was barely 10 p.m.
And this World was deserted.
Fortunately, I knew that it would soon be very lively. I would hate to have missed the first arrivals. From the terrace the immense runway lined with colored panels could have been the hall of a Le Bourget (airport in Paris), which gave its travelers a kind of picture over which to fly.
Then the long parade of cars began… vehicles of all makes enhanced by well-dressed women. A Buick: one admired its lines. A modest Renault 4 CV: its modest crew was cheered.
I had distanced myself a bit and was standing at the top of the stairs leading to the tennis courts. In this way I could better judge the effect of an arrival. Two tall, pretty young women then made their entrance. They were admirable in their light finery, in their costumes from the islands. They were noticed.
A show that toured the World
The officials in the photo : Mr. and Madame Letessier, Mr. Gruchy, Madame and Miss Gamblez..
George Meritan and his little band led the dancers. The bar attracted a few bachelors looking for a show. It was already becoming the center for all those who wished to leave their favorite table for a bit and to come get refreshments.
Finally the program began…
First came a round of masked groups…
Gypsies, Martians, various types. Then René Laporte, from Radio-France-Asie, was kind enough to explain to us what was customary to admire in a trip around the World. Photos will describe this better than any text could do. I will say, however, that I was captivated by the pure grace of the Polynesian women, and by the rhythm of the warriors. Every country was represented: Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos made up a most graceful set. The Parisian woman reminded me of No. 11 Montpensier Street in Paris, near the Royal Palace, that fashion-model club that was run by the lovely Praline.
The pictures were perfect.
From the “Arc-en-Ciel” in Cholon to the “Moulin Rouge” in Paris
Having triumphed at the " Arc-en-Ciel” nightclub in Cholon for three weeks, the marvelous dance couple Régine and André Berny was kind enough to present their act during the big night at the Cercle. They were a great success. Their kindness and their grace won them a lot of admiration. They are now in Paris and the audiences of the “Moulin Rouge” will be able to applaud them. Régine and André Berny are very young… we hope they will become great dance stars. Their performance will be noted in the annals of artistic activities at the Cercle Sportif Saïgonnais.
Thanks to Monsieur Vatin
Thanks to all those who had the kindness and merit to fund this festival. Monsieur Vatin, the tireless M.C., once again very proud of his young people.
Doctor Lebon was right to trust him.
The lighting gave color to the various scenarios. They were well directed by Stein Bernard who made sure that this spectacle was a ‘sound and light’ treat...
It was a trip around the World.
But we came back to Saigon and we danced until dawn to the rhythms of Jimmy Bex and his “Jade Palace” big band.
From an article published in the “Revue du Cercle” No. 31, March-April 1955
The end of the C.S.S. Ball
A big thank-you to René Poizat who has allowed us to re-live the activities of the C.S.S. with the photos and documents from his personal collection.
View of the tennis courts and the swimming pool
from the buildings of the C.S.S.
From the railing of the big terrace of the Cercle the view extends across the length of the courts alive with the sound of tennis balls. The horizontal ochre line of the pergola with flowering bougainvilleas encircles the swimming pool..
The gardens of the C.S.S. in 1955
Mrs Poizat and his son in the beautiful gardens of the C.S.S.
Theater at the Cercle Sportif in 1963
"The Sign of Kikota"
The play, “The Sign of Kikota”, by Roger Ferdinand, was put on in 1960 at the "Theater of What’s New" (Le Théatre des Nouveautés) in Paris by Fernand Gravey and is a satire of psychoanalysis.
It was done again in 1963 at the Cercle Sportif of Saigon by Jean Proper Bied with these actors: Martine Laurencin, René Laporte, (Radio France-Asia), and Claudine Dreuilhe, daughter of the headmaster of the Marie Curie High School.
The sets were created by Claudine Dreuilhe and built by Van Di, set decorator at the C.S.S.
Boules games at the Cercle Sportif in the 60's
Frenchmen playing pétanque (boules games) at the Cercle Sportif Saïgonnais.
Dance gala at the Cercle Sportif in 1964
Dance gala at the C.S.S. organized by Madame Bachet for New Year’s Eve, 1964.
Awarding of flowers by the Director of the Cercle Sportif Saïgonnais.
The Cercle Sportif Saigonnais in 1971
© Left photo : Jack Van Omnen
"To make of the Cercle Sportif a ”House of France” where each of its thousand members can feel at home – whatever his situation – and can find all he could wish for to enhance his leisure, that is the goal always set by those who ran this vast organization. Sports, happiness, beauty, all was gathered in this privileged place where a breeze of smiling good humor blows since its opening, and where the old French traditions of friendly courtesy and eclecticism in good taste..."
From the monthly magazine "Sud-Est". February 1950, by Christine Chanut.
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