History

JET Studio 218 Chaussée de Jette, 1081 Brussels

History

The cabaret « A la Cour des Princes » (At the Court of Princes)

In his Histoire des environs de Bruxelles (History of Brussels’ surroundings) published in 1855, Alphonse Wouters explains that at the cabaret À la Cour des Princes, « beer is really the prince’s beverage, and can be enjoyed at one of the 17 tables on the terrace, in the shadow of beautiful trees ».

In 1862, Benoît Van Eeckhout and his wife Jeanne Serkeyn move in 218 chaussée de Jette. She manages the tavern while he is a locksmith, but as soon as the 1880’s, he will be known as the “Locksmith – Innkeeper”…

In 1893, the Prinsenhof is taken over by Jean-Baptiste Vanderzeypen who combines it with his job as a cooper. A room will also be arranged to host the society of the Les Vrais Amis Arbalétriers (The True Crossbowmen friends).

Les Vrais Amis Arbalétriers (The True Crossbowmen Friends)

The society Les Vrais Amis Arbalétriers was created in 1877. On Sunday September 25^th, 1898, the society organizes in its place 218 chaussée de Jette a crossbow archery contest. First price: a silver-gilt medal. The context starts at 9 am to end at 6 pm on the same day. The target is placed at a 10 meters distance and the cost is 50 centimes. On Sunday November 23^rd 1902, a bird shooting with small crossbows is organised, with a cost of 1 franc and prices in poultry and small game.

In 1907, the society « Les Vrais Amis Arbalétriers » celebrated its 100 anniversary.

Jean-Baptiste Vanderzeypen will be replaced by innkeeper Vandenbreede in 1901, to whom Branswyck will succeed in 1908, renovating the tavern, then Philémon Lion in the early 1920’s. Philémon Lion’s tavern will host the society Simonis Pelote who use, in share time with others, the pitch for pelota game, officially authorized on square Eugène Simonis on weekdays and Sundays as of 1925. On September 11^th 1927, Simonis Pelote wins the Oscar Bossaert Challenge where the different pelota societies are opposed.

In September 1926, Philémon Lion creates a spectacle room in his inn and, one year later, a dance room. Different events and spectacles will take place there. The place also hosts the royal society De Brabantzonen which will organize several spectacles there too.

De Brabantzonen

The theatre society De Brabantzonen was founded in 1871. Its objective: Flemish dramatic art. Its annually organizes two public representations, with plays performed by the society members and selected within the repertoire of authors like Félix Vande Sande, Nestor De Tière ou Alexandre Dandois.

The theater society De Brabantzonen has encountered many successes and won prices in different contests in the theatre area: Brussels in 1872, Oostende in 1877, Antwerp in 1882 and Maastricht in 1895. It has also participated to several charities like the one organized in 1896 for the profit of the newly opened Hospice Jourdan, that would be officially inaugurated the next year. In 1898, it counts a hundred members – which is at that time the largest society in Koekelberg – and applies for the name of « Royal Society ». The Royal Society De Brabantzoen will actively participate the success of several tournaments of the Landjuweel that has become the most important theatre contest of Flemish amateurs. Its tradition, dating back to the ancient guilds and brotherhoods, then later of the Rhetoric Chambers who used to organize writing and poetry tournaments, was revived in 1922 under the impulse of the Flemish writer Herman Teirlinck, born in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean in 1879. The Landjuweel cup was awarded after a context among the different societies. In 1936, the eleventh Landjuweel cup was won by the society De Morgenster of Malines and in 1937, the twelfth award went to the Brabantzonen of Koekelberg who gave L’Idiot by Dostoïevski. In 1938, the same Brabantzonen will organise the thirteenth Landjuweel that will be won by the Sint-Augustinuskring of Antwerp for their performance in Les Loups by Romain Rolland. The award ceremony took place at the Town Hall on Sunday June 19^th in 1938. In addition to the Landjuweel and four other prices, two special awards will be given to them: the “best speech production” with a silver-gilt medal offered by Burgomaster Oscar Bossaert, and the price of the “best direction” awarded by the Échevin de l’Instruction publique Arthur Pladet.

On Saturday January 14^th 1933, the dramatic circle of the Victoria biscuit and chocolate factory organises at the Het Prinsenhof Café, a charity in aid of the Koekelberg Solidarity Committee. This will be repeated in 1934 in aid of “Les Petits lits bleus” (the small blue beds) of Koekelberg. A benefit of 2 512 francs will be produced. The charity “Les Petits lits bleus » aims at helping young mothers in the need and is run by Germaine Bossaert-Van Beneden, Oscar Bossaert’s wife.

The Decca Studios

After having been managed by innkeeper Hagenmeyer, the tavern À la Cour des Princes will cease its activities during World War Two. In 1942 Fonior SA-Studio Decca moves in, specializing in recording and amplifying. E.W. Pelgrims opened a record shop in 1928 in Brussels and, in 1929 he created the Fonior Company which will be importing records as of 1932 and will obtain exclusivity for Decca in 1934.

In the 1960’s, numerous well-known artists will work there, like Edith Piaf, Charles Trenet or Toots Thielemans.

In the 1970’s, the International Holding Pelgrims Group (IPG) is producing records, of which  Fonior is the Belgium branch of Decca. Fonior will face bankrupt in 1980. The studios on 218 chaussée de Jette will be taken over by Salvatore Adamo from 1981 until 1986. In 1986, Erwin Vervaecke will take the torch until end of 1997.

Salvatore Adamo

Salvatore Adamo, French speaking author and composer, of Belgium & Italian nationalities, was born on November 1st in 1943 in Comiso, Sicily. Eldest brother of an eight children family, he arrives in Belgium in 1947 when his father decides to emigrate. He grows up in Jemappes and his father works in the coal mines. In 1960, he participates to a context on Radio Luxemburg and wins a first success in 1963 with “Sans toi ma mie” and later “Tombe la neige”, “Vous permettez Monsieur” in 1964, “Les Filles du bord de mer” et “Mes mains sur tes hanches” in 1965, Inch’Allah  in 1967, and many others that will follow. In 1994,  he brings out « C’est ma vie », with a series of concerts in the Casino de Paris, then in 1995,« La vie comme elle passe », an more intimist record followed in 1998 by « Regards ».  Even if he lives in Uccle – of which he will be made Citizen of Honour in 2010 –, Adamo will never forget his roots in Koekelberg. He will perform there on stage on two occasions at events organised for the traditional Bal du bourgmestre: on March 10^th 1990 and March 12^th 1994.

Jet Studio

The former Studios Decca will be taken over by Jet Studio in 1997 and they will equip the studio with high performing recording technologies,comparable to those used by Michael Jackson. In 2010 however, a slowdown in activities will oblige the owner of Jet Studio, Staf Verbeeck, to sell the

facilities.

In December 2010, it will be bought by Rising Sun Studio represented by Rudy Coclet and the Caraïbes Studio, represented by Pascal Flamme. Jet Studio hence remains a recording studio with high quality and leading edge technology equipment.They are going on under the name “Jet Studio”.

The house on 218 chaussée de Jette still shows on its facade the place of a former canopy roof that used so serve as pigeon house like many other houses in the sourroundings.

Written by Didier Sutter