Paris, 1892: A dark-haired, mustachioed man in a red tuxedo took the stage at the internationally famous Moulin Rouge cabaret and debuted one of the most unique acts in show business history.
He introduced himself as Le Petomane. Although there is no direct French-to-English translation of the made-up title, it roughly means ‘the fart artist’ or ‘the fartiste.’
The man proceeded to create all manner of audacious and hilarious sounds. But not with his mouth. With his anus. By farting.
Because he had unparalleled mastery of his sphincter muscles and colon, Le Petomane could not only pass gas at will but could also control the strength and length of his farts.
He began his act by imitating various sounds: the short bursts of a newlywed passing gas on her wedding night, the long sound of fabric being torn, or a profound burst of a cannon explosion.
He could blow out candles and play music on a flute using nothing more than his flatulence.
Le Petomane claimed that his farts didn’t stink because he always gave himself an enema before every performance.
He quickly became the cabaret’s top headliner and a one of France’s wealthiest entertainers.
His real name was Joseph Pujol, a native of Marseille.
He stumbled upon his unique physical gift by accident. He swam in the ocean during a family outing and his colon mysteriously filled with seawater. When he returned to land, he then expelled the water from his rectum in a controlled and steady stream. Friends and family found it funny.
He then attempted to do the same but with only air, not water. In time, he learned to pucker and create sounds. Everyone found him hilarious.
Young Joseph couldn’t explain how, but he could suck air into his colon and expel on command as easily as anyone can do with their mouth, esophagus, and lungs.
He developed a stage act that he performed in and around Marseille. In no time, Le Petomane became a sensation.
The Moulin Rouge was, and still is, one of France’s national treasures. The cabaret is most famous for its cancan dancers. It was also the home to legendary actress Sarah Bernhardt.
In his era, Le Petomane outdrew them both. Audiences howled at the antics of the flatulent Frenchman.
He never exposed his bare ass to the public; he always kept his pants on. He presented himself as a classy gentleman who just happened to fart at will.
Pujol would smoke cigarettes with his rear end, sucking the smoke into his colon and releasing it through his slacks.
He performed recognizable French tunes out of his backside, and audiences would sometimes sing along.
For his finale, he would stand some distance away from a candle, blow it out with a powerful fart, and then proceed to blow out each of the stage lights.
Le Petomane went on tour across the Continent with his immensely popular act. When he returned to Paris, he shunned the Moulin Rouge and opened his own cabaret.
His theatrical show ran successfully for years until he shuttered it after the First World War. The newer generations didn’t find the fart artist quite as funny.
Joseph Pujol retired from show business and opened a bakery in his hometown. He lived long enough to see the liberation of France from Nazi occupation in 1945.
A few books and films have been produced about the fartiste, and Johnny Depp expressed interest in portraying him one day. ALSO:
In his film Blazing Saddles, which features the all-time classic comedy fart scene, Mel Brooks named his character Governor Lepetomane.
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