Dive into the golden age of nightclubs in Sarthe

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“I’m talking to you about a time that those under twenty cannot know. » The lyrics of the song Bohemia, composed by Charles Aznavourcome to mind when we talk about the golden age night clubs in Sarthe, which is located in the years 80-90.

Sarthe one of the most dynamic departments

At that time, Sarthe had more than forty nightclubs! Which made it one of the most dynamic departments in France in this area.

“Sarthe was a meeting point. Parisians coming from Paris but also people from Angers could come to Le Mans”, recalls Michel Charmeton who knows the nightlife world well having been a disc jockey (DJ) in his discotheques 19 to 35 years old.

The Noyennais also worked for a local radio station: Jupiter FM. In this context, he interviewed artists who came to Sarthe establishments.

Discotheques have replaced balls

The first nightclubs appeared in France in the 1960s and gradually replaced balls.

“Those who had a dance hall transformed it into a nightclub. »

Others had marquees where they organized their balls and used them to create traveling discos.

“There was the Ménard family, with the Club 72. It really was a huge club. When the marquee arrived in Malicorne, it took up the entire place,” underlines the man who hosts many events in Sarthe.

The Ménards, who also managed the La Charmille/Rafal-flash nightclubs, moved their marquee from village to village.

The Faure family, originally from Souligné-sous-Ballon, also created their traveling discotheque on Cyclops and the Goldorak under the marquee. The family also owned the Lydia club.

Roger Peslier also had its mobile discotheque: the Superman.

Mythical establishments

Little by little, “real” nightclubs are developing. In Sarthe, establishments were particularly renowned.

“The Shadock in Dollon is the discotheque that really created the event with the booth that came out of the ground and Jérôme Lavigne who had a music group before and who revolutionized the discotheque scene in Sarthe.”

» Parisians came to Sarthe to see La Selle Club »

The Selle clubhas The Milessewas also popular. “It was an unmissable club. His advertisements could be found even in Paris. Parisians came to Sarthe to see La Selle Club.”

Another legendary establishment, the Jaguar in La Hutte in North Sarthe. “The DJ booth was hanging from the ceiling behind a Jaguar. In the summer, it was very, very hot up there. And you shouldn’t open the window for a little ventilation. We went up there by a ladder,” recalls Michel Charmeton.

Las Vegas, Phantasm, Chris Club…

Regarding the territory of the Sabolian Country, we can cite the vegas which was located in Sablé on the road towards Vion, “It was a bit of the Wild West. The owner dressed like a cowboy.”

There was also the Fantasyroad to Pincé. “It was a magnificent discotheque which had been created by the landscaper, from Sablé, Georges Huet. There was a nice clientele who came mainly from Angers. »

Without forgetting the Chris Club in Avoisewhich has existed since 1980, or the Aqualimba which reopened a few weeks ago under the name Dream Club, in La Chapelle d’Aligné.

Still in our sector we can also cite, The Santana/ The Look has Longnes, The Duguesclin in Noyen-sur-Sarthe or even Le Cap Horn has Courcelles-la-Forêt.

Strong competition

Given the large number of nightclubs, competition was strong between the different establishments.

And so we had to stand out. “The display was important. There were posting chores. As our posters did not stay long because the competitors took them away, at the end, people put pieces of glass in the glue so that whoever came to take them down could prick their fingers a little,” says Michel Charmeton.

Some competitors sometimes came at night to steal the bulbs or try to damage them.

“So we put on blister guards but in the end it was no longer enough. So people would add a few little razor blades so that people would cut their fingers a little. »

Tips for attracting customers

Another little trick used at the time: “When we had an evening that could attract people, we would sometimes fill the parking lot artificially with the local mechanic, or with staff and friends. Everyone brought their cars back to fill the parking lot. »

“A time when the DJ was the king of the party”

Club releases were highly anticipated in the 80s and 90s. “There was work during the week and at the weekend it was their club. We didn’t miss his release. »

A time when “the DJ was the king of the party. It was interesting because he was creative. He had before him 500 or 1,000 people who did not know each other. And when people left at the end of the evening, we had the impression that they were leaving as a family. It was truly a musical communion. »

Crazy evenings

Even today, people remember crazy evenings.

“The DJ with only two records and a microphone could create something. Perhaps it was necessary to have a sense of observation. But when we found the right moment to play the right piece of music. That’s it, it was a party, we just had to fuel it. »

Nightclubs managed to attract stars. “We found Jean-Luc Lahaye, Julie Pietri, Thierry Pastor… They toured all the local nightclubs. »

If the golden age seems far away: “there are still dinosaurs who keep the flame alive”. At Breil-sur-Mérizethe family Touchard is always present with the Disco Teckand in Avoise, Jean-Paul Lesage is still at the head of the Chris club.

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