Did you know Shanghai’s nightlife once rivaled Paris? The Paramount nightclub is a key to understanding that. Right here we stand before its legendary entrance. The Paramount wasn’t just any club. It was the “Gate of a Hundred Pleasures” a shimmering monument to glamorous debauchery. Opened in 1933 with a lavish golden-key ceremony it quickly became Shanghai’s most famous and hedonistic spot.
Imagine the scene. Russian orchestras filled the air. The dance floor pulsed with energy. “Taxi girls” lined the bar offering their services. The Paramount’s Art Deco design was stunning. It even boasted the city’s first VIP room and the first bar on a dance floor.
But even the Paramount had its rivals. Sir Victor Sassoon a powerful landowner didn’t take kindly to a rude waiter. He decided to build a better club. He opened Ciro’s in 1936 a modern nightclub that eclipsed The Paramount in sophistication. The competition was fierce. The Paramount struggled. It nearly went bankrupt.
Despite the competition the Paramount’s guest list remained impressive. Zhang Xueliang the “Young Marshall” was a regular. So were notorious gang leaders like Pockmarked Huang and Big-Eared Du. Some say the band paused respectfully when Du entered.
The good times couldn’t last. The Japanese invasion of 1937 marked the beginning of the end for The Paramount. A taxi girl’s defiance resulted in her tragic death on the dance floor. The club’s glory days were over. After 1949 it became a cinema showcasing Maoist propaganda.
Today The Paramount stands as a testament to Shanghai’s vibrant past. Though renovated it still captures the old Shanghai spirit. The original fittings may be gone. The rosewood dance floor is covered in tables. But if you close your eyes you can still hear the music feel the energy relive the legendary nights of The Paramount.