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

The caption in the circle says:

The Queen of the Shows

The famous star Madame Badia Masabni

Who has recorded many skits and show films

She will surprise her audiences at the beginning of next month

By opening a new theater and presenting new and innovative programs.

The "show films" that they are referring to here were short films that Badia made. They were meant to be shown at cinemas either before the feature film or during the intermission. Apparently she filmed many of those shorts.

This beautiful picture of Badia Masabni appears to be an advertisement for an Egyptian store that sells German-made Hofmann pianos and Telefunken radios.

The white letters in the center say BADIA MASABNI TROUPE.

Center bottom says "Aziz Poulis" which is the salesman.

On the bottom right it says in both English and Arabic: Piano Hofmann, Masr Telephone 56114.

On the bottom left it says in both English and Arabic: Radio Telefunken Alexandria Telephone 3305.

Aziz Poulis' music store used to provide musical instruments for Egyptian films during the Golden Era. In 1938, they announced that they were giving a free gift away with each purchase of a piano or other musical instrument from their store, in honor of King Farouk's wedding. So far as I know they're still around today, located on Adli street in Cairo.

The source where this photo was found did not identify the date when it originally appeared. Badia looks very young and thin in this picture. Judging by her hairstyle, it seems to be from the early 1930's.

This rare photograph of Badia Masabni was taken in 1912. It shows her wearing traditional Syrian/Lebanese garb sitting with a balas (jug) on her lap.

Traditionally, people used a balas to carry water, store honey, or save cheese.

In this photo, Badia Masabni poses in a dance costume. The caption says that the photo was taken on September 11, 1924 and that it's her "wedding dress", but that is incorrect.

Below is a photo of Badia Masabni and Naguib el Rehani on their wedding day, and the dress in this photo is definitely not the dress she was wearing on the occasion of her wedding. The 1924 date on this picture is probably incorrect as well, because she didn't yet own any of her nightclubs in 1924. At that time she was mostly known for being an actress rather than a dancer.

Badia poses in a costume, holding a lyre. Judging by the hat style, I believe this was taken in the mid-1920's.

The caption in the lower right corner says, "Badia Masabni, spouse of Naguib El Rehani".

Badia and Naguib separated in 1926. They never actually divorced, and remained legally married until el-Rehani's death in 1949.

This rare picture shows Badia Masabni and her dance troupe in the 1939 movie Cairo Nights, one of the handful of films that Badia appeared in. She is standing in the center of the photo next to Mohamed Fawzy.

To the right, you can see a very young Taheya Carioca (who was a member of the troupe) smiling widely and leaning against another dancer.

The plot of the film is about a young Bedouin girl who travels to Cairo in search of her betrothed. Once in Cairo, she meets a nightclub owner who offers her work at the club. Eventually, she becomes a famous artist. When her family discovers it, they travel to Cairo to punish her. However, her betrothed finds her, rescues her from her angry family, and marries her. The film also stars Abdel Salam El Naboulsi and dancer Gamalat Hassan.

Photo Credit: Sama3y.net

From left to right:

• Singer/composer Mohamed Fawzy who was the brother of singer Hoda Sultan. He was "discovered" by Badia Masabni and he got his first big break at her club. Mohamed Fawzy founded the very first vinyl LP record factory in Egypt in 1958. His company recorded as well as manufactured records.
• Badia Masabni
• Next to Badia, in the center of the picture is Taheya Carioca.
• Gamalat Abdo, a dancer in Badeya's club and Taheya's best friend. According to the Egyptian television series Carioca, Gamalat never made it as a solo artist and never achieved fame. She wasn't considered as talented and beautiful as the other girls who made it as soloists such as Taheya Carioca and Samia Gamal. Gamalat Abdo danced in the ensemble pieces with other dancers, including Taheya Carioca before Taheya made it as a soloist. The fact that Gamalat was sick and poor made her retire early. For that reason, Taheya shared a flat with Gamalat and hired her as a personal assistant when Taheya retired from dancing and moved on to a career as an actress. Gamalat died of lung cancer at the age of 38.  
• The man on the right is famous violin player Anwar Mansi who was married to Lebanese singer/actress Sabah. He is the father of her daughter. 

In this photo, Badia Masabni is dancing at a wedding. She is the one on the left playing sagat (finger cymbals) and wearing an evening gown. In a 1966 interview she said she always wore evening gowns for her performances rather than revealing outfits.

The other dancer is Fathya Sherif who used to work at Badia's nightclub as a dancer and a monologuist (stand-up comic). Fathya was married to actor Imad Hamdy.

This photo appears on many Arabic-language web sites. El Destour is one example.

Badia Masabni (near the left of this photo) sits with her musicians. In front of her, wearing Arab garb, is Farid al-Atrache.

I think the musician to the right of Farid holding the oud is Farid Ghosn.

This photo shows Badia Masabni showing a young Taheya Carioca how to crochet.

Source and date of photo not known, but was may have been taken shortly after Taheya went to work at Badia's club in 1933.

Oum Kalthoum (in the dark glasses) and Badia Masabni enjoy a moment together as old friends reunited. This photo lies in the center of a collage displayed at the Oum Kalthoum Museum on Rhoda Island at Cairo, Egypt.

This photo shows Badia Masabni, Samia Gamal and Taheya Carioca in their later years. This historic snapshot was taken long after Badia had sold her Opera Casino and had retired to Lebanon. Witness the joy of three old friends reunited.

• Historic Photos of the Golden Era. Photos of Bamba Kashar, Beba Ezz el-Din, Hekhmet Fahmy, Leyla el-Chakraa, and more.
• Van Leo: Photographer to the Stars. Photos by the legendary photographer featuring many of Badia Masabni's contemporaries.

• Historic Photos of Samia Gamal. Photos of Samia, who was named "National Dancer of Egypt" by King Farouk in 1949.
• Gabriel Lekegian: Capturing Memories of Egypt. Features photos taken between 1870 and 1890.

Biographical

• The Life of Badia Masabni
  • Part 1: Queen of Suffering and of the Night. Her early childhood in Syria and Argentina.
  • Part 2: Unlimited Pain. Badia's return to Syria (after Argentina) and her move to Lebanon with her mother.
  • Part 3: Escape from Her Mother's Hell. How Badia's family thwarted two marriage opportunities for Badia and made her live in squalor.
  • Part 4: Here's Cairo. Badia finally arrives in Egypt to pursue her dream of being an actress..
  • Part 5: The Return to Beirut. Badia continues to develop her acting skills in Egypt, then moves to Beirut.
  • Part 6: Fame in Beirut and Pain in Damascus. Badia's career change from acting to singing and dancing, and her rise to stardom in Beirut.
  • Part 7: The Beloved of the Public. Badia's continued stardom in Syria and Lebanon, her illness with smallpox, and the death of her mother.
  • Part 8: The Seeker of Love. Badia continues her singing and dancing career, adopts a daughter, and deals with man troubles.
  • Part 9: Crazy About Badia. Badia continues her career as a singer and dancer in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Egypt.
  • Part 10: Naguib el-Rihani and the Theater. Badia's acting career soars while she performs in plays with el-Rihani's troupe.
  • Part 11: Marriage to Naguib el-Rihani. Badia marries Naguib el-Rihani and moves on to the next chapter in her life.
  • Parts 12 through 14 will be posted in the future.
• Historic Photos of Badia Masabni. Several photos of Badia collected by Priscilla.
• Was Badia Masabni Lebanese or Syrian? Priscilla Adum settles the question by explaining how Middle Eastern people view origins.
• Celebrity Bare Backs of the Golden Era. A gossip magazine shows the bare backs of Badia and other celebrities.
• Feeding the Chickens. Badia on her farm in Lebanon after retiring from club ownership in Cairo.
• Badia Masabni with Old Friends. A photo taken at Badia Masabni's dairy farm in Lebanon shows her posing with the Rahbani Brothers, Fairouz, Farid al-Atrache, Mohamed Abdel Wahab, Najeeb Hankash, and Philemon Wehbe.

Badia, the Club Owner

• Badia Masabni: Fish of the Month. By George Sawa explains how the word "fish" is used in Arabic to compliment a dancer.
• Badia Masabni: Bada3da3. Translated by Priscilla Adum. Sometimes Badia Masabni took her troupe on tour to perform in Europe and other Arab countries. This article talks about such a tour in 1933.
• Badia Masabni on El Sabah Magazine Cover. Badia was featured on the cover of El Sabah Magazine in 1933.
• Badia Masabni on Kawakeb Magazine Cover. Badia was featured on the cover of Kawakeb in 1933.
• Badia Masabni's Dancers in 1935. Photo of Badia and her dancers.
• Badia Masabni's Dancers and the Stage Names of Actresses. Translated by Priscilla Adum. Photo of Badia and her dancers, along with brief article.
• Badia Masabni: The Lady and Her Clubs. By Priscilla Adum. The years of Badia's life that she ran nightclubs in Egypt.
• Badia Fights Back Against the Competition. Translated by Priscilla Adum. Probably sometime between spring 1937 and November 1940.
• Artists and Journalists at Badia's. Translated by Priscilla Adum. A review of the new show in 1938 Badia planned to present for her comeback to the theater after being swindled out of her previous one by Beba Ezz el-Din.
• Badia Masabni Satirizes the Hollywood Stars. Translated by Priscilla Adum.
• Isaac Dickson: Dance Instructor to Egyptian Stars. By Priscilla Adum. The dance trainer and choreographer who worked with Badia Masabni and her dancers.
• From Badia's at El Giza to Road El Farag: Backstage At The Summer Casinos. Gossip about what celebrity dancers do backstage. Translated by Priscilla Adum.
• Artists and Journalists at Badia's. Translated by Priscilla Adum. A review of the new show in 1938 Badia planned to present for her comeback to the theater.
• Three Hours at Badia Casino's Program. Magazine review of one of the shows presented at Badia's Casino. Translated by Priscilla Adum.
• Badia Masabni's Years as a Club Owner: A Timeline. From opening Sala Badia in 1926 through selling Casino Opera in 1950.

Interviews

• Badia Masabni Segment of 1928 Interview with Naguib el-Rihani.
• Badia Masabni and Beba Ezz el-Din Reveal How They Learned to Dance. 1930's.
• Badia Masabni Newspaper Interview December 3, 1938
• Badia Masabni Interviewed on Television by Layla Rostum in 1966

Flyers and Ads

• 1920's
  • 1926 Ad for Grand Opening of Sala Badia
  • 1927 Ad for Musicians at Sala Badia.
  • 1928 Ad for Opening of Badia's Alexandria Summer Club
  • 1928 Ad for Closing of Badia's Alexandria Summer Club
  • 1928 Ad for Badia's Show at Sala Badia in Cairo
• 1930's
  • 1930 Ad for Grand Opening of Badia Masabni's New Club in Giza City
  • 1931 Ad for Grand Re-Opening of Badia Masabni's Remodeled Club in Giza City
  • 1932 Ad for a Show at Casino Badia on Emad el-Din Street. Promotes plays, monologues, sketches, and songs.
  • 1933 Ad for a Show at Badia Masabni's Summer Club. Includes a female impersonator on the roster.
  • 1934 Ad for a Show at Badia Masabni's Club on Emad el-Din Street. Translated by Priscilla Adum. Also includes background information about the Muslim religious festival Eid al-Adha which coincided with this play titled Kharouf el Eid.
  • 1935 Ad for Badia Masabni's Show at the Alhambra Theater.
  • 1935 Ad Announcing Badia's Retirement from the Stage. To pursue a career in cinema.
  • 1935 Ad for a Show at Badia Masabni's Club Featuring a Cast of 60 People.
  • 1935 Advertisement for Badia Masabni's Sala. Promotes a show at Sala Badia with the comedy "Battle of Dogs, Cats, and Rats", a Pharaonic musical segment, Spanish dance with castanets, and more.
  • 1935 Ad Promoting Badia Masabni's Summer Casino at English Bridge in Giza. Includes information about English Bridge and Badia's club there. Mentions the act Famous Women as being part of the program.
  • 1935 Photo Showing Badia Masabni's Cast for the Show Famous Women. Features Badia Masabni dressed as Queen Shagaret el Dor.
  • 1936 Ad for the Premiere of Badia Masabni's Movie: Queen of Theaters.
  • 1936 Publicity Flyer for Badia Masabni's Film: Queen of Theaters
  • 1937 Ad Announcing Grand Opening of Badia Masabni's Summer Casino in Giza
  • 1938 Ad Promoting a Comedy Called Chokehold at Badia Masabni's Summer Club.
  • 1938 Newspaper Ad for Grand Opening of Badia Masabni's New Club at Majestic Theater. Appeared in Al Ahram Newspaper on December 8, 1938.
  • 1939 Rival Ads for Badia Masabni's & Beba Ezz el-Din's Clubs. October 5, 1939.
  • 1939 Rival Ads Promoting Badia's Club and Beba Ezz El-Din's Club. Published on October 31, 1939.
  • 1930's Ad for a Show at Sala Badia. Songs, monologues, and Tunisian dancing.
  • 1930's Ad Showing the Cast Members for Shows at Badia Masabni's Summer Casino. Probably from early 1930's. Translated by Priscilla Adum.
  • 1930's Ad Promoting a Show at Badia Masabni's Summer Club known as Badia's Garden in Giza. Translated by Priscilla Adum. The cast included heavenly creatures from Marrakech!
• 1940's
  • 1940 Ad Promoting Shows at Badia's Summer Casino in Giza City
  • 1940 Ad Announcing Grand Opening of Casino Opera. Shows November 9 as the opening date.
  • 1940 Ad Announcing Grand Opening of Casino Opera. Shows November 14 as the opening date.
  • 1940 Ad for New Show at Badia Masabni's Casino Opera
  • 1940's Ad for New Show Featuring Badia Masabni's and Beba Ezz El-Din's Dance Company

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.