Classical · Architecture

One-Two-Two

Paris

One-Two-Two was a brothel in Paris named after its address, 122 rue de Provence. It was one of the most luxurious and illustrious brothels in the city during the 1930s and 1940s. Located in the arrondissement near Printemps and boulevard Haussmann, it formed part of a prominent urban setting. The establishment opened in 1924 under Marcel Jamet and his first wife, Fernande, known as Doriane. At the beginning, Doriane employed only three “essoreuses.” In 1939, she left to follow a wealthy diplomat, and Georgette Pélagie, called Fabienne, replaced her as sous-maîtresse at the age of 21. Marcel Jamet later married her in 1942. The building later housed the headquarters of the Fédération française de la tannerie-mégisserie. During the Occupation, the One-Two-Two was a leisure place for many German Army officers from 1940 to 1944.

Map showing the location of One-Two-Two in Paris
Location of One-Two-Two in Paris

Nearby Objects

Location and History of One-Two-Two

One-Two-Two, also known as Intro, was one of the most luxurious and illustrious brothels in Paris in the 1930s and 1940s. Its name was derived from its address, 122 rue de Provence. The establishment was located in the arrondissement near Printemps and boulevard Haussmann. After its period as a brothel, the building later housed the headquarters of the Federation francaise de la tannerie-megisserie.

Origins and Early History

The One-Two-Two opened in 1924 under Marcel Jamet and his first wife, Fernande, known as Doriane. Doriane acquired 122, rue de Provence through her husband, and at the beginning of the One-Two-Two she employed only three essoreuses. In 1939, Doriane left the establishment to follow a wealthy diplomat. She was replaced by Georgette Peligie, called Fabienne, who became sous-maitresse at the age of 21. Marcel Jamet later married Georgette Peligie in 1942.

The building at 122, rue de Provence had an earlier history as Origines, a three-story building that had formerly been the private hotel of Prince Joachim Murat. In 1933, Marcel Jamet raised Origines by four floors, bringing it to a total of seven floors. During the period of occupied Paris, Marcel Jamet also hosted a feast for 56 selected guests, serving 34 magnums and 176 bottles of champagne.

Operation and Client Experience

One-Two-Two operated with 22 decorated rooms and employed between 40 and 65 women to serve about 300 clients per day. It was open from 16:00 until 4:00 the following morning. At the entrance, sous-maitresses filtered the men before admission. The establishment also had a bar, a dining room for the girls, and a medical office. The girls were required to make four passes per day, excluding tips, and two passes on Sundays.

The venue worked with a restaurant called Boeuf a la ficelle, named after a filet beef roast recipe dipped in vegetable broth with spices on a string. Clients could come only for dinner and socializing. In the Miami lounge, they were offered coffee and cigars while talking with the girls without any further obligation. The waitresses wore only high-heeled pumps and a camellia in their hair.

The One-Two-Two During the Occupation

During the Occupation from 1940 to 1944, the One-Two-Two served as a leisure place for many German Army officers. It did not use rationing tickets, and it became a site linked to the German military presence in Paris. Several figures were associated with it: Otto Brandl, an Abwehr official living in France and said to control the Paris black market, had a reserved table there, as did Captain Wilhelm Radecke. The establishment was managed by "monsieur Michel" (Mandel Szkolnikoff), described as the largest supplier for the Germans, while "monsieur Joseph" (Joseph Joanovici), a Romanian-born former ragpicker with the status of "economically valuable Jew", was a master of the house. "Joino" also conducted trafficking with Germans and gave bribes at the One-Two-Two for favors. Members of the French Gestapo, the Carlingue, including men of Pierre Bonny and Henri Lafont, were present there. The One-Two-Two closed in 1946 following the Marthe Richard law banning brothels in France.

Social Use and Visitor Motives

Des hotes de marque is a place frequented by high society. It is visited both to be seen and to enjoy the charm of its guests. Some men come there only to dine with their companions, indicating that the place also serves as a setting for social meals.

The Voyage Around the World

Le voyage autour du monde is presented as a tour of erotic pleasures around the world. It consists of performing Kamasutra-inspired figures in rooms associated with different countries. The rooms are decorated like cinema sets from various epochs and countries, creating a staged environment for the experience. The layout includes main rooms devoted to specific themes, while the upper floor rooms are dedicated to sado-masochistic pleasures.

Related Film Appearance

One-Two-Two is associated with Les Raves brises de l'entre-deux-guerres, a docu-fiction released in 2018 by Jan Peter and Frederic Goupil. In the film, the role of Marcel Jamet is played by Robinson Stevenin. This connection places One-Two-Two within a later screen work that refers to the interwar period.