PHOTO CREDIT: Above photo by John Rickman Photography, San Jose, California.

This advertisement announces the November 9, 1940 opening of Badia Masabni's winter season at her new establishment, the Casino Opera at Ibrahim Pasha Square.

Note the mention of the revolving stage, which was innovative for its time, and contributed to the theater's fame.

A different advertisement promoted the grand opening of the Casino Opera as occurring on November 14, 1940. It is unclear why these ads show two different dates.

Click on the image below to see the advertisement in more detail.

Casino Opera

At Ibrahim Pasha Square in Egypt
Telephones 47431, 44814, 47432

Madame Badia Masabni

Opens Her Winter Season At Her New Establishment

Beginning November 9, 1940

And Introducing For the First Time The Latest Revolving Stage

The Grand Musical Show: Much Affinity

Seven Acts:

1. The Musical Court
2. The Hospital of Love
3. The Amazing Magician
4. A Government Thief
5. Bay3ni wala Sharini
6. A Kiss for 5 Piasters
7. The White Tarboush*

Written By El Oustaz Abou El Seoud El Ebiary 
Composed By El Oustazayen Farid Ghosn and Ahmed El Sherif

The Dance Mise en Scene Created By [Dance] Professor Isaac Dickson and El Oustaz Edward Fares

Directed By El Oustaz Beshara Wakim

Taheya Carioca**

Musical Dance Party Daily at 5:00 pm
Daytime Performance Every Sunday at 10:00 am, No Entrance Tickets Necessary
Evening Performances Daily from 9:30 pm until 2:00 am

* A tarboush is a style of hat that was fashionable in Egypt before the 1952 revolution. Many people in North America refer to this style of hat as a fez, but Egyptians use the word tarboush.

** Translator's Note: Taheya's name is written by itself, indicating her fame and status as she needs no introduction.

• 1940 Ad Announcing Grand Opening of Casino Opera. Translated by Priscilla Adum. Another "grand opening" ad, but for a different date of November 14, 1940.
• Articles and Advertisements Featuring Badia Masabni and Her Businesses. An index to other resources on this web site.

• 1940 Ad for New Show at Badia Masabni's Casino Opera. Translated by Priscilla Adum. For a show starting November 30, 1940.

Priscilla is a dancer of Lebanese heritage who enjoys researching the Golden Era of Egyptian dance. She owns a collection of more than one hundred classic black and white Egyptian films which is continually expanding.

Priscilla has also gathered a large library of dance related articles and clippings from Middle Eastern magazines and newspapers, many of which she has translated from the original Arabic to both English and Spanish.

Priscilla currently resides in Central America where she is a dance instructor.