La roue tourne

La roue tourne is a French non-profit mutual-aid association for the entertainment industry, founded on 15 May 1957 by actor Paul Azaïs and humanitarian Janalla Jarnach. Its stated purpose is to support, and provide financial and material assistance to, artists who have fallen on hard times or who have retired. The association operates under the French law of 1901 on associations and the law of 14 January 1933 on assistance and charity. The organisation was born from personal hardship. Paul Azaïs, a popular French actor, was struck by a car while cycling home from a film studio; he spent 20 days in a coma and had to interrupt his career. Because he was three days short of qualifying for social-security coverage, he experienced severe financial distress. He resolved to help fellow performers facing similar difficulties once he recovered. With Janalla Jarnach, he founded La roue tourne, which quickly attracted support from major figures of French cinema, music and letters. Under the honorary presidency of Fernandel and the sponsorship of Jean Marais and Michèle Morgan, the first honorary committee included Marcel Achard, Bourvil, Charles Boyer, Jacques Brel, René Clair, Jean Cocteau, Annie Cordy, Joseph Kessel, Marcel Pagnol, Tino Rossi, Jacques Tati and others. Maurice Chevalier donated land at Ris-Orangis for a retirement home, and cinema audiences were once invited to contribute envelopes to the association. From the 1960s, members could intervene during a performance, show or film screening to solicit assistance. Today the association examines each case individually without judgment, promotes access to legal, social and medical rights, and provides financial aid to the most deprived people awaiting their entitlements — rent, electricity bills, food — while accompanying those in solitude with respect for their dignity. It remains active in France and is registered in the Répertoire national des associations (RNA) and with a SIREN number.

La roue tourne was founded on 15 May 1957 by actor Paul Azaïs and humanitarian Janalla Jarnach as an entertainment mutual-aid association under the French law of 1901, and as an assistance and charity organisation under the law of 14 January 1933. Its creation followed a personal tragedy: in 1943, Azaïs, a well-known French actor, was knocked down by a car while cycling home from a film studio. He spent 20 days in a coma and had to interrupt his career. Because he was three days short of the work required to qualify for social-security coverage, he fell into deep distress for years. He decided that once he recovered he would help fellow performers facing the same difficulties. The association quickly gained backing from leading figures of French entertainment and culture. Under the honorary presidency of Fernandel and the sponsorship of Jean Marais and Michèle Morgan, the first honorary committee was formed. It included Marcel Achard, Paul Gordeaux, Bourvil, Charles Boyer, Jacques Brel, René Clair, Jean Cocteau, Annie Cordy, Paulette Dubost, Joseph Kessel, Dr Bernard Lapay, Noël-Noël, Marcel Pagnol, Tino Rossi, the sculptor Serge, Sophie Stambat, Jacques Tati, Georges van Parys and Serge Veber. Maurice Chevalier donated land at Ris-Orangis for the construction of a retirement home, and during the era of cinema usherettes, envelopes were offered to audiences for the benefit of the association — an initiative attributed to Chevalier. From the 1960s, members of the association could intervene during a performance, a show or a film screening to solicit assistance. Over the decades, La roue tourne has continued its mission of studying each case individually without judgment, facilitating access to legal, social and medical rights, and providing financial aid to the most deprived individuals awaiting their entitlements, such as rent, electricity bills and food. It also accompanies those suffering from solitude while respecting their dignity. The association remains active in France and is listed in the Répertoire national des associations and has a SIREN registration.

• 1960

  From the 1960s, members can intervene during performances, shows or film screenings to solicit assistance.

• 1957

  On 15 May, Paul Azaïs and Janalla Jarnach found La roue tourne as an entertainment mutual-aid association.

• 1943

  Paul Azaïs is struck by a car while cycling home from a film studio, spends 20 days in a coma and interrupts his career.

Non-profit entertainment-industry mutual aid and charity association

1. 1Association La roue tourne — official websiteassociationlarouetourne.com
2. 2Notre Histoire | larouetourneassociationlarouetourne.com
3. 3La roue tourne (association) — Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org
4. 4La roue tourne — Wikidatawikidata.org