Abstract
Abstract
Vauxhalls and pleasure gardens were emblematic sites of the expansion of the means of consumption and the commercialization of leisure in the eighteenth century. The foundation of the Colisée in Paris in 1769 addressed the desire to rival London, but this risky and costly undertaking, designed to host royal celebrations, challenged traditional monopolies in the entertainment industry. First encouraged by the Crown and political authorities, the establishment of the Colisée was soon characterized by wrongdoing and contentious social relationships that led to the rejection of any form of state control. Building upon largely unpublished sources, and connecting urban and economic history, this article aims to investigate the way in which this affair, which mobilized public opinion, was evidence of a re-articulation between the state, entertainment institutions and leisure companies.
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)