History of the "Bijou Tennis Show"
The Bijou Tennis Show started with the idea that people should have fun with tennis and laugh with the sport.
Inspired by the classic comedy and athleticism of the Harlem Globe Trotters™, the concept of presenting to the audience that both playing and watching tennis can be FUN was born!
The rest is HISTORY!
We all have started with not knowing how to play the game and Bijou shows us that he can laugh at himself as others laugh with him!
The show started in Southern California in 1977 and has now played in 33 countries and over 30 states in the U.S.A.
HOW DID IT START
1975 one Friday evening Alfred Elkins took his son Henri to see the Harlem Globetrotters perform at the Sports Arena in Los Angeles CA. While they were watching the show, ideas came to mind and they left with what was the beginning of the Bijou Tennis Show. The idea that "Tennis should be fun first and foremost" was the theme they sought to pursue. Alfred was a Vaudeville performer winning 1st place in Vienna Austria for comic-acrobatic dancing and took his act around the world for years before WW II. After visiting 13 countries and doing his show "THE ELKINS" Alfred found himself fighting while in the French Foreign Legion, after the war he came to the United States in 1947. Bringing his beautiful wife Suzanne who was a singer and performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall in NY they lived in the BIG APPLE for 9 years before going to California to start their new life there. After finishing college Henri tried to make his name on the satellite tour. Not being able to sustain a career while playing Henri and Alfred worked hard for 2 years putting together a show called “The Court Jesters”. Four years of playing clubs, tournaments and celebrity events a break came through. Philippe, a friend of Henri’s while on tour in France came to study how the American coaches trained their players, he saw the show and wrote back to his boss at the time Mr. Patrice Dominguez. Patrice was working with Pro-Serv Europe at the time and a contract was written for Henri to bring his talents to France for 6 months. Twelve years later and hundreds of shows under his belt The Bijou Tennis Show came back to the USA and is still making us laugh with what is the ONLY tennis comedy trick shot show in the world.
Inspired by the classic comedy and athleticism of the Harlem Globe Trotters™, the concept of presenting to the audience that both playing and watching tennis can be FUN was born!
The rest is HISTORY!
We all have started with not knowing how to play the game and Bijou shows us that he can laugh at himself as others laugh with him!
The show started in Southern California in 1977 and has now played in 33 countries and over 30 states in the U.S.A.
HOW DID IT START
1975 one Friday evening Alfred Elkins took his son Henri to see the Harlem Globetrotters perform at the Sports Arena in Los Angeles CA. While they were watching the show, ideas came to mind and they left with what was the beginning of the Bijou Tennis Show. The idea that "Tennis should be fun first and foremost" was the theme they sought to pursue. Alfred was a Vaudeville performer winning 1st place in Vienna Austria for comic-acrobatic dancing and took his act around the world for years before WW II. After visiting 13 countries and doing his show "THE ELKINS" Alfred found himself fighting while in the French Foreign Legion, after the war he came to the United States in 1947. Bringing his beautiful wife Suzanne who was a singer and performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall in NY they lived in the BIG APPLE for 9 years before going to California to start their new life there. After finishing college Henri tried to make his name on the satellite tour. Not being able to sustain a career while playing Henri and Alfred worked hard for 2 years putting together a show called “The Court Jesters”. Four years of playing clubs, tournaments and celebrity events a break came through. Philippe, a friend of Henri’s while on tour in France came to study how the American coaches trained their players, he saw the show and wrote back to his boss at the time Mr. Patrice Dominguez. Patrice was working with Pro-Serv Europe at the time and a contract was written for Henri to bring his talents to France for 6 months. Twelve years later and hundreds of shows under his belt The Bijou Tennis Show came back to the USA and is still making us laugh with what is the ONLY tennis comedy trick shot show in the world.
- WTA Wismilak Ladies Open, Bali
- A IG Japan Open, Tokyo
- Opening ceremony of the Lexington County Tennis Center, SC
- USPTA International Convention
- Fund Raising, Arthur Ashe Tennis Center, PA
- USPTR Symposium, Hilton Head SC
- USTA Teachers conference in NY
- Junior Tennis Carnival, Lancaster PA
- Pro-Am, Wilmington NC
- The Bienvenue Country Club, Nashville NC
- USPTR Symposium, Hilton Head SC
- US Open Arthur Ashe Kids Day
- French Open, Finals Day
- Delaware Smash, WTT in Delaware
- Junior Tennis Carnival, New Cannon CT
- USTA/USPTA Middle States conference
- Hannover, with Stephan Edberg sponsored by Adidas
- Boca Pointe Country Club, FL
- ATP Masters, Hannover Germany
- 20+ shows with Sportech International, Australia
- US Open Arthur Ashe Kids Day
- National Men’s 40’s, The Landings Club, GA
- USPTR Symposium, Hilton Head SC
- Supershow, Georgia Dome, Atlanta GA
- Australian Open OZ Tennis Day
- ATP Masters Hannover, Germany
- French Federation of Tennis
- 50+ shows for sponsors (see list)
- 75+ shows for private clubs in France
- 60 shows for special events clubs in Europe
- 55 shows, galas, tennis camps in Europe
- 30 shows for Penn France & FFT Tour
- 300+ shows under pro serve, Europe
- US based shows nationwide