Queen of the Night

Régine keeps on dancing

Régine Choukroun claims to have invented the discotheque. Even if that's not true, at one time she actually did own 19 clubs around the world. Now, as she works on her memoirs, GEORGE WAYNE takes a twirl with the undisputed Queen of the Night.

George Wayne: How was your summer in Saint-Tropez, Queen Regine?

Regine: I am finishing writing my book about the clubs; it will be a very serious book, but, of course, we will talk about the people who came to these clubs. It will be out next year.

G.W. Queen Regine, what happened when you and your son, Lionel Rotcage, were arrested on that American Airlines flight after he lit a cigarette?

R. We were in business class, and let me tell you. for seven years I traveled with American Airlines. So I am known. I'm a V.I.P. They bring me to the plane. They make a lot of chichi.

G.W. But then, if you dare to express your feelings, they think you're threatening them.

R. Exactly! Now, my son has a little girl, and she wanted to go to the toilet, so he stood up with his daughter and took her. Now he's in the smoking section. And he decided to have a cigarette. One second after, a steward rapped him on the shoulder and said, 'Kill that!' Lionel told him he was just waiting for his daughter in the toilet. But he runs back and gets the purser. A very aggressive woman. So he put out the cigarette and gave it to her. I think she took it very badly.

And she said, 'The captain says if you light another cigarette he will land the plane.'

Lionel told her he understood and she should stop threatening him. She left, goes to the captain. He comes back and says, 'You've just threatened my crew.' My son told him it was the reverse. The captain said he didn't want to hear it and he was going to land the plane. He was hysterical. It was a nightmare. They said we were landing in Boston to refuel. They were lying. They put us in jail.

G.W. They put Regine in a filthy prison cell?!

R. Exactly. We were fingerprinted. They took pictures like we were criminals.

G.W. Tell me a little about Regine Choukroun's life.

R. I was born in Belgium, and I grew up in Paris. And I decided very early to become somebody very famous.

You know, I invented the discotheque. I invented the colored lighting for the disco. I made the twist very famous. G.W. What was your first club?

R. Chez Regine in 1957. In 1962, I opened New Jimmy's. In 1973, I opened in Brazil; in '76, New York. Then 19 clubs on three continents.

G.W. How many clubs are still open?

R. Six. I'm also a singer, an actress.

G.W. And a drama queen. And you still love the nightlife.

R. I still love to dance until six in the morning. G.W. Did you really teach the Duke of Windsor how to do the twist?

R. Yes. One night I received a call from the personal secretary of the Duke and Duchess I of Windsor. One hour later they arrived at the cafe. And that was the beginning of a very, very strong friendship.

G.W. Who was one of the first celebrities you ever met?

R. [Porfirio] Rubirosa.

G.W. Did you ever see that legendary "thing"?

R. Yes. [Laughs.]

G.W. Was it as big as legend has it? R. Absolutely. But that was not his first quality. He was a very fabulous man, and a very good friend.

G.W. Any diva has to be an egomaniac. So I suppose you are one, too.

R. No, no. I don't have a big ego. I'm the only diva without a big ego.

G.W. Regine has seen much. What keeps her interested in life?

R. I'm a very curious person. I think every morning is a new adventure. And every night also.

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