Georges Bernier
Encyclopedia
Georges Bernier more commonly known as Le Professeur Choron, was a French humorist and founder of Hara Kiri magazine
.
, Bernier was orphaned by his father at 11 years and without a proper education, he vacillated between many jobs before fighting in the Indochina Wars
for 28 months. On his return he worked in the press, and rose through the ranks to take the position of sales manager of the satirical newspaper Zéro.
and Fred (comics)
, with whom he founded the magazine Hara Kiri in 1960. After an initial ban, production of the magazine moved from Rue Charon to Rue de Montholon and Éditions du Square was created at its publication house.
In addition to his role of patron of Éditions du Square, Bernier also invested time in writing and photo-editing for Hara Kiri. It was during this era that he appeared on Jean-Christophe Averty's television variety show Les Raisins verts.
In 1969 the Hara Kiri team created Hara-Kiri Hebdo which shortly thereafter was renamed L’Hebdo Hara-Kiri. Other magazines published by Bernier's Editions du Square were the monthly comic Charlie Mensuel
, one of the first ecological journals La Gueule ouverte, Mords-y l'œil, Surprise from designer Bernhard Willem Holtrop, and Jean-Patrick Manchette
's BD, l'hebdo de la BD.
1970 saw the creation of Charlie Hebdo
a weekly political newspaper for which Bernier was a regular contributor. The publication folded in 1981, but was relaunched by Cavanna and Bernier in 1993 and, as of 2011, remains in publication.
' Merci Bernard. His last publications include La Mouise and Grodada, a publication for children. He also participated in several publications affiliated with Hara-Kiri, including ZOO and Yeti, as well as the launching of the periodical Zero in 1986.
in Paris and was buried at Montparnasse Cemetery
alongside his wife Odile Vaudelle (1934–1985). In 2008, director Pierre Carles
and artist Martin released the documentary Choron Dernière in his honour.
Books:
Operettas:
Hara-Kiri (magazine)
In 1960, Georges Bernier, Cavanna and Fred Aristidès created the monthly satirical magazine Hara-Kiri. Hara Kiri Hebdo, its weekly counterpart, was first published in 1969....
.
Early years
Born in Laneuville-aux-Bois in LorraineLorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
, Bernier was orphaned by his father at 11 years and without a proper education, he vacillated between many jobs before fighting in the Indochina Wars
Indochina Wars
The Indochina Wars were a series of wars fought in Southeast Asia from 1947 until 1979, between nationalist Vietnamese against French, American, and Chinese forces. The term "Indochina" originally referred to French Indochina, which included the current states of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. In...
for 28 months. On his return he worked in the press, and rose through the ranks to take the position of sales manager of the satirical newspaper Zéro.
Éditions du Square
It was at Zéro that he met François CavannaFrançois Cavanna
François Cavanna is a French author and satirical newspaper editor.He contributed to the creation and success of Hara-Kiri and Charlie Hebdo...
and Fred (comics)
Fred (comics)
Fredéric Othon Theodore Aristidès, known by his pseudonym Fred, is a French comics artist and comic book creator in the Franco-Belgian comics tradition...
, with whom he founded the magazine Hara Kiri in 1960. After an initial ban, production of the magazine moved from Rue Charon to Rue de Montholon and Éditions du Square was created at its publication house.
In addition to his role of patron of Éditions du Square, Bernier also invested time in writing and photo-editing for Hara Kiri. It was during this era that he appeared on Jean-Christophe Averty's television variety show Les Raisins verts.
In 1969 the Hara Kiri team created Hara-Kiri Hebdo which shortly thereafter was renamed L’Hebdo Hara-Kiri. Other magazines published by Bernier's Editions du Square were the monthly comic Charlie Mensuel
Charlie Mensuel
Charlie Mensuel was a French monthly comics magazine. Its publication began in February 1969, and ceased in February 1986.-History:...
, one of the first ecological journals La Gueule ouverte, Mords-y l'œil, Surprise from designer Bernhard Willem Holtrop, and Jean-Patrick Manchette
Jean-Patrick Manchette
Jean-Patrick Manchette was a French crime novelist credited with reinventing and reinvigorating the genre. He wrote ten short novels in the seventies and early eighties. His stories are violent, existentialist explorations of the human condition and French society...
's BD, l'hebdo de la BD.
1970 saw the creation of Charlie Hebdo
Charlie Hebdo
Charlie Hebdo is a French satirical weekly newspaper, featuring cartoons, reports, polemics and jokes. It appeared from 1969 to 1981, when it folded, and was resurrected in 1992. The current editor is cartoonist Charb. His predecessors are François Cavanna and Philippe Val...
a weekly political newspaper for which Bernier was a regular contributor. The publication folded in 1981, but was relaunched by Cavanna and Bernier in 1993 and, as of 2011, remains in publication.
Later years
In 1988 Bernier adapted his fiches bricolages for television. He also participated in Jean-Michel RibesJean-Michel Ribes
Jean-Michel Ribes is a French actor, playwright, screenwriter, theatre director and film maker. Since 2002 he has been the managing director of the Théâtre du Rond-Point.- Awards :* 2001: Plaisir du Théâtre Award...
' Merci Bernard. His last publications include La Mouise and Grodada, a publication for children. He also participated in several publications affiliated with Hara-Kiri, including ZOO and Yeti, as well as the launching of the periodical Zero in 1986.
Personal life
Bernier was the father of the comedienne Michèle Bernier. He died 10 January 2005 at Necker-Enfants Malades HospitalNecker-Enfants Malades Hospital
The Hôpital Necker – Enfants Malades is a French teaching hospital, located in Paris, France. It is an hospital of the Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris group, and is affiliated to the University of Paris Descartes...
in Paris and was buried at Montparnasse Cemetery
Montparnasse Cemetery
Montparnasse Cemetery is a cemetery in the Montparnasse quarter of Paris, part of the city's 14th arrondissement.-History:Created from three farms in 1824, the cemetery at Montparnasse was originally known as Le Cimetière du Sud. Cemeteries had been banned from Paris since the closure, owing to...
alongside his wife Odile Vaudelle (1934–1985). In 2008, director Pierre Carles
Pierre Carles
Pierre Carles is a French documentarist, who has often been compared to Michael Moore for his use of the documentary form to denounce mainstream media, which he accuses of having conflicts of interest .-Filmography:...
and artist Martin released the documentary Choron Dernière in his honour.
Works
Albums:- Boum boum badaboum le Professeur Choron chante ses chansons
Books:
- Les Jeux de con du professeur Choron, Éditions du Square, 1971
- Les Fiches bricolage du professeur Choron, Éditions du Square, 1977
- L'Art vulgaire (with Gébé), Éditions du Square, 1982
- Les Chansons du Professeur Choron (illustrated by Philippe Vuillemin), Himalaya, 1991
- Choron et Vuillemin sexologues, Magic Strip, 1992
- Je bois, je fume et je vous emmerde, ed. Régine DeforgesRégine DeforgesRégine Deforges is a French author, editor, director, and playwright.Born in Montmorillon, Vienne, she is sometimes called the "High Priestess of French erotic literature." Deforges was the first woman to own and operate a publishing house in France...
, 1992 - Les Jeux de con du Professeur Choron, GlénatGlénat (publisher)Glénat Editions SA is a French publisher with its head office in Grenoble. The company publishes many things, including comic books and manga in France, Benelux, and Spain; it was founded by Jacques Glénat. The Spanish subsidiary has its head office in Barcelona. The Benelux subsidiary, Glénat...
, 1992 - Vous me croirez si vous voulez (in collaboration with Jean-Marie Gourio), FlammarionGroupe FlammarionGroupe Flammarion is the fourth largest publishing group in France, comprising many units, including its namesake, founded in 1876 by Ernest Flammarion, as well as units in distribution, sales, printing and bookshops . Flammarion became part of the Italian media conglomerate RCS MediaGroup in 2000...
, 1993 - Y'a rien de pire que l'ignorance (in collaboration with Philippe Vuillemin), Canal+ edition, 1996
- Tout s'éclaire (in collaboration with Éric Martin), Le Dilettante, 2001 ISBN 2842630440
Operettas:
- Ivre-mort pour la patrie (with Philippe Vuillemin), Canal+, 1998