ComradeHuxley
Donor
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The summer [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Olympics[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] of 1936 were, if nothing else quite spectacular. So much so that many Nazi inventions like the [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Olympic [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]t[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]orch became part of their [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]tradition.[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] But there is one forgotten little curiosity that really [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]deserves to be [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]revive. [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]This is the short story of Adolf Hitler's Sturmtänzer (Stomdancer).
It all began with Hitler visiting a comedy show,……………..no its really true. You see, before he became "The [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Fuehrer[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]" Adolf was just some broke artist in Munich looking for some meaning in life. A sad story, if he wasn't, well Hitler. Anyway Adolf, pretty much down and depressed gets invited by a friends to watch a show by Karl Valentin in one of Munich Beer Halls. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Karl Valentin the "Chaplin of Germany" [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Who is that?
Hard to believe that anyone could forget him but just in case, here we go. Karl Valentin came from a reasonably well-off middle-class family; his father had a partnership in a furniture-transport business. Valentin first worked as a carpenter's apprentice, and this experience proved useful in the construction of his sets and props later in life. In 1902, he began his comic career, enrolling for three months at a variety school in Munich, under the guidance of Hermann Strebel. His first job as a performer was at the Zeughaus in Nürnberg (Nuremberg). In the wake of his father's death Valentin took a three-year break from performing during which he constructed his own twenty-piece one-man band (with which he eventually toured in 1906).Valentin also took musical studies, learning the guitar with Heinrich Albert. Soon Valentin was performing regularly in the cabarets and [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]beerhalls[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] of München (Munich). He developed a reputation for writing and performing short comic routines, which he performed in a strong Bavarian dialect, usually with his female partner, Liesl Karlstadt.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Hitler really in need for a cheer, and a fan of good light-hear[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]t[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]ed humor ([/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]t[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]he man secretly watched Disney [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]cartoon f[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]ilms during the war [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]after all[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]) so he hit off with the fellow performer. Now after the war the two got very [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]separate[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] way. [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Valentin made numerous films, both silent and with audio but it was as a stage performer in cabarets that Valentin built a reputation as one of the leading comic performers in Germany during the Weimar Republic. He worked together with Ber[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]t[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]hold Brecht and his female [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Jewish[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] companion [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Liesl Karlstadt. [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Hitler meanwhile did his stuff.
[/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]On. October 21.1934 he built his life long dream in Munich the „Grusel- und Lachkeller“ or the Panoptikum [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif](Spook- and Laughcellar)[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif], some type of [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Wax museum [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]but with a very, very surreal touch. It was constructed in the cellar of the Hotel Wagner in the Sonnenstraße, a place were he and Karlstadt often performed. [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]One critic ,Herbert Ihering wrote the following description of the place: „There is an audience in the corners, but its made up of wax statues. Walking trough the dark you suddenly find [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]yourself[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] in a swamp, you sink, and [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]everything[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] glitters, as if the bottom, of the water has people…..Words become objects, sayings become real.“
[/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]If you thinks that sounds spectacular, [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]congratulations[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] you are one of a hand full of people who [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]appreciated[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] Valenti's vision. The place bombed, hard. Valentin pretty much became bankrupt, but still [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]couldn’t[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] stop obsessing about the whole projects. In his desperation he even wrote a letter to [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Addie[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif], asking for some form of help. Now, for whatever reason, if it was friendship, [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]appreciation[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] for his talent, or both, Hitler inve[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]n[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]ted Valentin to help with the preparation of the entertainment [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]program[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] of the 1936 [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Olympics.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Slightly damaged photo of the German Olympics 1936[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Here the Sturmtänzer come to play. Valentin knew that he had to get people curious about his Panoptikum, to talk about it. Therefore he had invented the Luftnummer Akrobaten (Hot Air Acrobat with the emphasis on hot air) to stand in front of the building, frenetically flailing his arm all day. What could be better at gaining attention than that. Unfortunately, while people were entertained by it, the actual development costs were much more than ever could reasonably regained. Nevertheless, the quick witted Valentin knew to rename the Lufnummer Akrobaten to Sturmtänzer and make a killing selling them to the Organization Committee, recovering some of the cost, and helping friends and colleagues [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]leave Germany before it became to late for them. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]In fact things are looking very bright for Valentin's Legacy. There are some inside rumors that they will see the light of the day once again. If true the [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Luft[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]nummer A[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]krobaten [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]will do so in all their punny glory instead of masquerading their true wacky nature behind a martial facade. Yes, I am quite hopeful that this time the Munich Games of 1972, will capture the fun spirit of Valentin's early days instead of being an exercise in Gallows humor that his latter life became.
[/FONT]Münchener Abendzeitung, 3. September 1971
Joachim Schlägel
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Notes and Souces
[/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A very special techwank by ComradeHuxley [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]wikipedia: Karl Valentin [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Inspired by the real story behind the airdancer, wacky inflatable.....man which can be read
[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]here: The Caribbean Origins of the Dancing Inflatable Man[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]
[/FONT]
It all began with Hitler visiting a comedy show,……………..no its really true. You see, before he became "The [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Fuehrer[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]" Adolf was just some broke artist in Munich looking for some meaning in life. A sad story, if he wasn't, well Hitler. Anyway Adolf, pretty much down and depressed gets invited by a friends to watch a show by Karl Valentin in one of Munich Beer Halls. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Karl Valentin the "Chaplin of Germany" [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Who is that?
Hard to believe that anyone could forget him but just in case, here we go. Karl Valentin came from a reasonably well-off middle-class family; his father had a partnership in a furniture-transport business. Valentin first worked as a carpenter's apprentice, and this experience proved useful in the construction of his sets and props later in life. In 1902, he began his comic career, enrolling for three months at a variety school in Munich, under the guidance of Hermann Strebel. His first job as a performer was at the Zeughaus in Nürnberg (Nuremberg). In the wake of his father's death Valentin took a three-year break from performing during which he constructed his own twenty-piece one-man band (with which he eventually toured in 1906).Valentin also took musical studies, learning the guitar with Heinrich Albert. Soon Valentin was performing regularly in the cabarets and [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]beerhalls[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] of München (Munich). He developed a reputation for writing and performing short comic routines, which he performed in a strong Bavarian dialect, usually with his female partner, Liesl Karlstadt.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Hitler really in need for a cheer, and a fan of good light-hear[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]t[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]ed humor ([/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]t[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]he man secretly watched Disney [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]cartoon f[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]ilms during the war [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]after all[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]) so he hit off with the fellow performer. Now after the war the two got very [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]separate[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] way. [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Valentin made numerous films, both silent and with audio but it was as a stage performer in cabarets that Valentin built a reputation as one of the leading comic performers in Germany during the Weimar Republic. He worked together with Ber[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]t[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]hold Brecht and his female [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Jewish[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] companion [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Liesl Karlstadt. [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Hitler meanwhile did his stuff.
[/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]On. October 21.1934 he built his life long dream in Munich the „Grusel- und Lachkeller“ or the Panoptikum [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif](Spook- and Laughcellar)[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif], some type of [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Wax museum [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]but with a very, very surreal touch. It was constructed in the cellar of the Hotel Wagner in the Sonnenstraße, a place were he and Karlstadt often performed. [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]One critic ,Herbert Ihering wrote the following description of the place: „There is an audience in the corners, but its made up of wax statues. Walking trough the dark you suddenly find [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]yourself[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] in a swamp, you sink, and [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]everything[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] glitters, as if the bottom, of the water has people…..Words become objects, sayings become real.“
[/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]If you thinks that sounds spectacular, [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]congratulations[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] you are one of a hand full of people who [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]appreciated[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] Valenti's vision. The place bombed, hard. Valentin pretty much became bankrupt, but still [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]couldn’t[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] stop obsessing about the whole projects. In his desperation he even wrote a letter to [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Addie[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif], asking for some form of help. Now, for whatever reason, if it was friendship, [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]appreciation[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] for his talent, or both, Hitler inve[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]n[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]ted Valentin to help with the preparation of the entertainment [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]program[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif] of the 1936 [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Olympics.[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Slightly damaged photo of the German Olympics 1936[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Here the Sturmtänzer come to play. Valentin knew that he had to get people curious about his Panoptikum, to talk about it. Therefore he had invented the Luftnummer Akrobaten (Hot Air Acrobat with the emphasis on hot air) to stand in front of the building, frenetically flailing his arm all day. What could be better at gaining attention than that. Unfortunately, while people were entertained by it, the actual development costs were much more than ever could reasonably regained. Nevertheless, the quick witted Valentin knew to rename the Lufnummer Akrobaten to Sturmtänzer and make a killing selling them to the Organization Committee, recovering some of the cost, and helping friends and colleagues [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]leave Germany before it became to late for them. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]In fact things are looking very bright for Valentin's Legacy. There are some inside rumors that they will see the light of the day once again. If true the [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Luft[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]nummer A[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]krobaten [/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]will do so in all their punny glory instead of masquerading their true wacky nature behind a martial facade. Yes, I am quite hopeful that this time the Munich Games of 1972, will capture the fun spirit of Valentin's early days instead of being an exercise in Gallows humor that his latter life became.
[/FONT]Münchener Abendzeitung, 3. September 1971
Joachim Schlägel
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Notes and Souces
[/FONT] [FONT=Times New Roman, serif]A very special techwank by ComradeHuxley [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]wikipedia: Karl Valentin [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Inspired by the real story behind the airdancer, wacky inflatable.....man which can be read
[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]here: The Caribbean Origins of the Dancing Inflatable Man[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]
[/FONT]
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