Greater Cologne

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Groß-Köln (or Groß-Cöln ) was the first large folk variety theater in Cologne . It opened in 1912 and destroyed during World War II.

History of origin

Cologne's theater scene was very diverse even before the Second World War. There was an international variety show in the “Kaiserhof” (opened by Ludwig Blatzheim in September 1931) and a popular “Der Burghof” (1900; Hohe Straße 38), while the “Kolibri” (1930–1933) presented intellectuals with the political reviews of the “ Blue blouses ”, the greater Cologne in the north of the old town offered folk things . The latter was built between 1911 and 1912 by the Cologne architect Carl Moritz , known for his theater and opera houses, who also built the Cologne Opera House . It was built at Friesenstrasse 44/46, where the Cölner Bürgerbräu Josef Waßmann brewery, founded in 1896, was previously located. The house was home to a variety theater and several dining establishments, including the "Bonbonniere" a private room -Local.

Start time

Greater Cologne (Postcard 1912)

At that time Friesenstraße was Cologne's most important amusement mile. The operator of the variety show was Ludwig Blatzheim, with his extensive connections in the art scene, who later also ran the “Kaiserhof” and the “Burghof”. The carnival and autumn revues in Greater Cologne were among the major seasonal events in Cologne. Because of the low admission and drink prices, it quickly became the city's first large popular variety theater. Since the "City of Cologne" has been officially written as "Cologne" again since February 1, 1919 , the theater changes its name accordingly.

The Greater Cologne Theater, popularly known as the “popular urban establishment”, was subject to censorship between 1914 and 1918, like other theaters , so that political allusions in spoken and song texts were censored as well as facial expressions and gestures. It was confiscated by the occupying forces in 1918. After the confiscation, the Cologne humorist Grete Fluss made a daily guest appearance from 1926 . She thrilled in 1930 with the premiere of the revue The Fastelovend princess with that of Willi Ostermann composed title Och, wat dat wor Fröher nice but in Colonia (Oh, what was that earlier beautiful but in Colonia) the audience.

The home revue Die Rutschbahn began in 1928, in November 1928 Otto Reutter and between May 16 and 31, 1929 the Comedian Harmonists appeared here for the first time with a new, permanent line-up. Here “real life in Cologne every evening in association with city entertainment at will” could be enjoyed. For the less well-heeled public, the Klein family opened the pub “Klein Köln” opposite in 1926, which still exists today.

In 1931, Hans Heinz Lüttgen was commissioned to convert and rebuild the entrances to the amusement facilities; to reopen on New Year's Day 1932, the premiere of the anniversary revue for Willi Ostermann Vum Billa zum Zilla by Hans Jonen and Leo Renner, directed by the new operators Ludwig and Hans Herbert Blatzheim .

The End

There are no clear indications of the end of Greater Cologne. In any case, this entertainment venue was still listed in Greven's address book in 1941/42 , although the premises were probably confiscated by the Wehrmacht in late 1939 / early 1940. On the night of May 30th to 31st, 1942, 1047 British fighter planes attacked Cologne during Operation Millennium , destroying the Gross-Cologne variety theater . The Sartory Halls opened in its place on November 11, 1948 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Politische Revue-Kabarett-Varieté in Cologne 1928-1938 ( Memento of the original from July 18, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , NS Documentation Center Cologne @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.museenkoeln.de
  2. ↑ Jürgen Müller, Willkommen - Bienvenue - Welcome , 2008, p. 307.
  3. ↑ Peter Fuchs (ed.), Chronik zur Geschichte der Stadt Köln , Volume 2, 1991, p. 194.
  4. ↑ Jürgen Müller, Willkommen - Bienvenue - Welcome , 2008, p. 282.
  5. ^ The Willi Ostermann story
  6. ↑ Elmar Buck / Daniela Franke, Cologne, the city and its theater , 2007, p. 246.
  7. ↑ Jürgen Müller, Willkommen - Bienvenue - Welcome , 2008, p. 309.
  8. ↑ Jürgen Müller, Willkommen - Bienvenue - Welcome , 2008, p. 309.

Coordinates: 50 ° 56 ′ 28.6 ″  N , 6 ° 56 ′ 34.5 ″  E