adayinthelesbianlife:

Frédé (Frédérique Baulé, 1914 – 1976) was called the “Amazon of Parisian Nights” and “Queen of Paris Lesbians”.

Twenty-two-year-old Frédé was working in the famous underground cabaret, Le Monocle, in Montparnasse. Marlene Dietrich, at the time the best-known and best-paid actress in the world, falls for deeply shy Frédé. In 1936 they embark on a relationship which witnesses say looked totally unbalanced, but it continues for more than 20 years, as evidenced by their correspondence.

Soon after meeting, Marlene set Frédé up in business with a nightclub called La Silhouette (after Marlene’s favourite bar in Berlin). It became known as Chez Frédé and catered to lesbians and cross-dressing women, but also to celebrities.

Errol Flynn describes Frédé in his autobiography:
“She dressed better than any man I had ever seen. … her overall effect that of a sophisticated English schoolboy. Her man’s haircut looked better on her than on any man.”

La Silhouette did so well that in the late 1940s Frédé moved to a larger place, Carroll’s.

Frédé had a number of passionate relationships, and then she met American Marilyn Leff (Miki), seen above. In the 60s the trend of discotheques killed the cabaret, and the deeply loving marriage of Frédé and Miki killed the customers’ fantasy of seducing the mythical butch. Frédé and Miki swore fidelity and stayed together till the end. Frédé was diagnosed with leukaemia and moved with Miki to an old barn in Mareil-le-Guyon where she kept busy painting and planning her next club. She passed in February 1976, just before its opening.

fredebelledenuit.blogspot.co.uk