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Louis Alphonse Gassion
Louis Alphonse Gassion (10 May 1881 – 3 March 1944) is best-known as the father of Édith Piaf, the legendary singer-songwriter who was known as France's national chanteuse and was internationally famous, but he was himself an entertainer, as a circus performer and theatre actor. Biography Gassion was born on 10 May 1881 in Falaise, Calvados to Victor Alphonse Gassion, was a horseman in the circus, and Louise Léontine ( Deschamps), the madam of a brothel in Bernay, Normandy. He had seven sisters, two of whom died at a young age. He began his career in the circus with the 'Ciotti' circus, and became a contortionist. At first, he performed with family, then, on his own. On 4 September 1914, he married Annetta Giovanna Maillard, an Italian-born café singer known under the stage name of Line Marsa. On 19 December 1915, she gave birth to their first child, a daughter- Édith Giovanna, who would go on to become Édith Piaf. He left Édith in the care of his mother when she ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Falaise, Calvados
Falaise () is a commune in the Calvados department in the Normandy region in northwestern France. Geography Falaise lies on the river Ante, a tributary of the river Dives, about southeast of Caen. History The area around Falaise has been inhabited from prehistoric times, but it was only at the end of the prehistoric period and the beginning of the Gallo-Roman era that the area, Falaise in particular, was regularly inhabited. Evidence of settlement from the time has been found at Vaston, an agricultural area just north-east of the modern town. Falaise, as it is sited today, probably came into being around the castle. The town was the birthplace of William the Conqueror, first of the Norman Kings of England. He was frequently referred to as William the Bastard, on account of his being born out of wedlock to Herleva from Falaise, reputedly a tanner's daughter. The Château de Falaise (12th–13th century), which overlooks the town from a high crag (french: falaise), was ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
