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Located between the old Florida cinema and the Gran Price Hall, the nightclub and Cabaret Rio, it was inaugurated on Friday, December 5, 1947.
It was one of the three places that at that time competed for a more select clientele, within the nightlife of the time: Rio, Floridablanca 127; Bolero, at Rambla Catalunya 24; and Emporium, at 4 Muntaner Street.
It had a Caribbean-type decoration that allowed one to approach the premises without the paraphernalia that was then required to enter other premises.
For its inauguration they looked for one of the figures in terms of hiring stars, who ensured the show in the performances: the multifaceted Maestro Demon. At that time, he was on the crest of the wave.
He joined the direction of the show with his own orchestra and with the performance of Bonet de San Pedro accompanied by his ensemble, as well as the presentation of a selection of beautiful young ladies and a cast of artists who were triumphing at that time in the city of Barcelona. Success was assured.
Maestro Demon (Lorenzo Torres Nin) was a Menorcan born on July 15, 1890, who came at a very young age to study music in Barcelona.
He soon became known as an interpreter and musician of light music, quickly succeeding in the most important venues in the city. He stood out as a composer and creator of the Demon’s Jazz Orchestra.
It hosted performances by great stars of the moment such as the French chansonier of Antillean origin Henri Salvador. Another of the artists who honored the venue with her presence, in 1956, was Josephine Baker, who was making a farewell to the world on the occasion of her retirement as an artist.
The ebony goddess had earned her fame as an artist and her reputation as a person, since her love for children led her to become an adoptive mother to the 12 children from different countries, whom she had taken in at her estate in Milandes. in Dordogne, France, affectionately known as The Rainbow Tribe.
During her stay in Barcelona, ​​Josephine Baker could not escape the pen of one of La Vanguardia’s most famous collaborators, Manuel del Arco.
With the demolition of the Gran Price, the Rio was about to enter into the operation of the builders of the new building, but they did not succeed.
Still having performances by established artists in his living room, in January 1972, a lady of Catalan song, Nuria Feliu, was also present on his stage.
But the changes in the public’s customs and the cachet of the great artists, little by little made them distance themselves from the small venues.
The Sala de Fiestas y Cabaret Rio did not have time for this to happen, because on the night of September 12, 1977, when he was still struggling to survive, a few hours after finishing his night session and closing the doors of the venue , a fire totally destroyed it.
