The older gentlemen's cabaret

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Cabaret Starszych Panów performing sculpture in Opole
Jerzy Wasowski
Jeremi Przybora (1951)

The Older Gentlemen's Cabaret ( Polish Cabaret Starszych Panów ) was broadcast by Polish State Television ( TVP ) from 1958 to 1966.

The history

The year 1958 was not one of the happiest in the history of the Polish People's Republic . The country, ruled by Władysław Gomułka , had already forgotten all hopes of the political thaw of 1956. Nevertheless, a cheerful, apolitical program appeared on Polish television with the cabaret of the elderly, written and performed by the electro-acoustician and amateur composer Jerzy Wasowski (1913–1984) and radio announcer and lyricist Jeremi Przybora (1915–2004).

The cabaret

In the broadcasts, two distinguished gentlemen in black tailcoats and gray-striped trousers were visited by various, sometimes strange people who inadvertently embarrassed them. But there never were conflict situations: The good-naturedness of the hosts, the smile solved every tense situation. And there was a lot of singing. For each of the 20 programs, Jeremi Przybora wrote several funny texts, and Jerzy Wasowski composed original melodies for them.

The show was applauded by viewers - the atmosphere of the old-fashioned salon had nothing to do with the gloomy, cramped present of the 1950s. The party bosses showed their displeasure all the more violently. The wife of the First Party Secretary criticized the cleavages of Kalina Jędrusik and the absence of issues such as the leaders of the working class and the victorious struggle for crop yields. The authors often managed to bypass censorship .

The broadcasts

  1. Afternoon of the Elderly Men (Popołudnie Starszych Panów) (first performance October 16, 1958)
  2. Eve of the Elderly Men (Wieczór Starszych Panów) (June 6, 1959)
  3. The Autumn Night (Jesienna noc) (October 24, 1959)
  4. The Radiator Opera (Kaloryfeeria) (January 30, 1960)
  5. The second spring (Druga wiosna) (May 14, 1960)
  6. The Little Sorrow (Smuteczek) (October 29, 1960)
  7. The Green Carnival (Zielony karnawał) (May 20, 1961)
  8. The Superfluous May Approach (Niepotrzebni mogą podejść) (November 4, 1961)
  9. A Whole Different Story (Zupełnie inna historia) (March 17, 1962)
  10. The Unexpected End of Summer (Niespodziewany koniec lata) (October 27, 1962)
  11. The blooming career sprouts (Kwitnące szczeble) (April 6, 1963)
  12. The Unknown Offender (Nieznani sprawcy) (April 12, 1964)
  13. The Travel Break (Przerwa w podróży) (August 26, 1964)
  14. 14 and ¾ (14 i ¾) (June 12, 1965)
  15. The Last Naives (Ostatni naiwni) (December 11, 1965)
  16. Takes care of Leon (Zaopiekujcie się Leonem) (July 22, 1966)

There were also some reruns, song broadcasts, etc.

In addition, the film director Kazimierz Kutz created the comedy The Summer Heat (Upał) in 1964 with the Elderly Men and other actors.

The technology

The first programs had to be broadcast live, as there was no possibility of recording yet. Then the telerecording process was used - direct recording from the screen onto 16 mm cine film. Only the last shipments could be registered on Ampex magnetic tape. But all the recordings that have survived - half a century after they were made - have cult status in Poland despite the poor picture quality and often appear on DVDs. Hundreds of absurdly comical songs from cabaret are also offered on CDs.

The actors

The ladies: Irena Kwiatkowska , Barbara Krafftówna , Kalina Jędrusik and Aleksandra Śląska as well as Messrs. Wiesław Gołas , Wiesław Michnikowski , Czesław Roszkowski and Mieczysław Czechowicz enjoyed and still enjoy general popularity today.

The motto:

"Unfortunately, we have reached the age
when we no longer start off well [ when we are no longer expected to do good things ],
on the other hand we are satisfied because we no longer start off badly either.
The two older men, the two older men, despite the hoarfrost on their hair,
despite the fluctuating health, the May weather always shines in our hearts ”.

- remained a trademark of the now deceased owners of the cabaret.

Web links

Commons : The Older Gentlemen's Cabaret  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

YouTube

literature

  • Roman Dziewoński: Kabaretu Starszych Panów wespół w zespół . Prószyński i S-ka, Warsaw 2002, ISBN 83-7337-154-0 .
  • Roman Dziewoński, Monika i Grzegorz Wasowscy: Ostatni naiwni: leksykon Kabaretu Starszych Panów . Świat Książki, Warsaw 2005, ISBN 83-7391-875-2 .