“Decent Society”

Among "decent society", the commonest forms of entertainment were dance parties, receptions, literary evenings and theatre performances. Well-to-do ladies organised their renowned jours fixes (which lived on into the 1960s), fixed days of the month on which they would open their drawing rooms to receive friends.

The Heraklion bourgeoisie patronized fashionable establishments such as the Roidis Casino (in present-day Chandakos St.) or music clubs such as the cafés chantants, where small bands and chanteuse dancers entertained the clientele to the strains of European music. Patisseries were another favourite haunt, including Michail Mathioudakis' "Knossos" (on present-day Dikeosinis Avenue), and Michail Metaxas' cake shop (on what is now Karterou St.).