Kintopp

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In the early days of film history, the term Kintopp was a common term for cinema and the first functioning film cameras. The term is out of date and is sometimes used synonymously for texts on early filmmaking. The origin of the word is uncertain. In the first decades of the 20th century, the spelling Kientopp was common.

Uses

Originally a Berlin fashion term, Kintopp was also used in the rest of the German-speaking area, primarily in urban areas, until the 1960s in the sense of "cinema" or "cinema film". “1a Kintopp” could mean “first-class film”, “We're going to the Kintopp”, however, meant the cinema building itself. Since the middle of the 20th century, the term has only been used in nostalgic contexts, for example when specialty film books deal with early film history (e.g. Beloved Kintopp , a reference work on German feature films from 1929 to 1945). Well-done, but unrealistic scenes in film and television are sometimes still referred to in the colloquial language as "Kintopp".

Another use of the word applies when unrealistic, impossible scenes occur in cinema and television, for example exaggerated stunt scenes . The Berlin band “ Keimzeit ” released the title “Kintopp” in 1990 on the album “Irrenhaus”. The text deals thematically with such unrealistic film scenes: "The hero stayed alive, the mafia is dead", possible explanations: "If I ask the director, he says: I'm sorry, all this is only intended for entertainment" and the Effect on the viewer: "I am drunk with kitsch and bitter with envy".

Contemporary documents and etymological attempts at derivation

Meyers Lexikon online defined Kintopp as an acronym for cinematograph in addition to its colloquial meaning for cinema . Despite its sound, the term is not a corruption of this word or the kinetoscope and is not meant to be contemptuous. Rather, it corresponds to a Berlin peculiarity of giving more or less complicated terms a “ Berlin touch ”.

Clever “Etymological Dictionary” is the only (but not verifiable) derivation of the early existence of a “Kino Topp” in the early years of the 20th century in Berlin-Kreuzberg , which was named after an innkeeper Alfred Topp. The movie theater currently called Moviemento was set up in 1907 on the upper floor of a newly built residential and commercial building. However, this contradicts the fact that Alfred Topp cannot be found in the address book. You can find the cinema owner Anna Topp with her cinema in Schöneberg. However, the year contradicts the assumption that it was named after it.

According to another theory, the origin of the term is related to Berlin's shop cinema tradition . In the pioneering days of film, these cinemas offered "Vierzehntel-Töppe", ie 400 ml glasses of peace beer for a groschen (10  Pfennig ) and at the same price the offer of silent film scenes in the "Cinematographs Theater of Living Photographs". For the Berliner at the time, this was an inexpressible word structure. By comparing these two cheap enjoyments, the old proverb "Hie Vierzehnteltopp, hie Kintopp" could be created. Because those “fourteenth pots” were served in the corresponding shop cinemas.

There are explanations that connect “Topp” with the Greek word “Topos” (Greek τόπος = “place”).

“The people gave the cinematograph theater the drastic name 'Kientopp'. As a result, visits to the theater suffered, because the better audience did not want to go to a 'kientopp'. Only after this theater, which is popularly known by the drastic name of 'Kientopp', had been given the 'Lichtspiele' and in many cases provided with more elegant furnishings, the visit by the better and wealthy audience rose in an unexpected way, and now the triumphant advance of the Photography in this direction can no longer be stopped. "

Kintopp was probably widespread in German-speaking countries outside of Berlin. “Something special is going on in Ohlmann's restaurant and cinematograph theater on Sunday, August 6th. In the morning there are some good things for breakfast and in the evening there is a gala cinema followed by a dance. "

Hanns Ewers claimed that he invented the word Kintopp. “It's the Ewers. (Telegram address: Filmewers.) Hanns Heinz Ewers, doctor and poet, [...] Ewers invented the word "vom Topp". From the Kintopp (without e!). When he lacked terms, it came naturally. ”“ That was already in all the newspapers: Hanns Heins Ewers invented the word Kintopp . If you write it with an ie , you do it at your own risk. The Creator did not foresee this nuance. ”“ Before that, Dr. Hanns Heinz Ewers, the enthusiastic cinema fan and inventor of the word Kintopp , gave a speech in which he lively advocated cinematography [...] "

“In America - as a result of a competition - the same word that has been coined recently to give the“ Kientöppen ”a more socially acceptable name has come up with the same word. We say 'light games', the Americans get 'photoplays' [!]. The only difference is that the Photoplays show not only living pictures but also variety numbers; formerly they were called "Nickelodeons", from the nickel (5 cents) which the entrance cost; since now mostly 10 cents are required, the name no longer fits. "

“Lichtspiele has given its company the name of a new Berlin 'Kino-Theater', at least a good and short German name, instead of the various names like 'Kinematographen-Theater', 'Zentral-Bioskop-Theater' and the like. like m. "

The first cinematograph theaters were also provided with words such as “theater of living photographs” and similar cumbersome word constructions. The term "Kintopp" spread because it was simpler. But it was soon used negatively and derogatory, for the "positive" meanings of the new art technology, "Lichtspiel" spread.

The activity of “filming” was evidently also referred to with this word: “It should not be overlooked that the actor with family can be granted an extra income like the one offered by 'Kientoppen' [...]”

Filmography

Kintopp Anno dazumal (FRG 1955) is a compilation of excerpts from the beginnings of film history (1910–22 / 55) and shows actors such as Hans Albers , Marlene Dietrich , Erika Glässner , Curt Goetz and Emil Jannings .

literature

  • Uta Berg-Ganschow, Wolfgang Jacobsen (ed.): … Film… city… cinema… Berlin… . 1st edition. Argon, Berlin 1987, ISBN 3-87024-105-5 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Kintopp ( memento from January 26, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) for the former lexikon.meyers.de
  2. ^ Kluge: Etymological Dictionary , 23rd expanded edition, Berlin 1999; P. 442
  3. ↑ "The Kientopp! I heard this word for the first time when I came back to Berlin and fell in love with it straight away. For four years I've been on three continents […] and I love the Berliners that they found this word. ”From a Monday newspaper October 31, 1910 in Der Sturm : 1910, vol. 1, no. 37, p. 296– 180
  4. ↑ Kintopp and Church . In: Die Zeit , No. 28/1954. Example of its use in the national press at the time.
  5. ↑ see also Lisa Matthias: Ich war Tucholskys Lottchen , Hamburg 1962; P. 5
  6. ↑ Keimzeit 1990, Kintopp auf Irrenhaus , music & text Norbert Leisegang .
  7. ↑ Wilfried Seibicke 1987; according to Kluge: Etymological Dictionary , 23. Erw. Edition, Berlin 1999; P. 442
  8. ↑ eisbergonline.de ( Memento of the original from December 17, 2013 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. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.eisbergonline.de
  9. ↑ Anna Topp . In: Berliner Adreßbuch , 1920, V .. "Cinematographic ideas: Luna Lichtspiele Anna Topp Schöneberg Hauptstrasse 18".
  10. ^ Berlin yearbook for trade and industry . 1910, pp. 599-600 193. Photographic supplies . According to The German Early Cinema Database: Document 559
  11. ^ Ohlmanns Kintopp . In: German Southwest African Newspaper . 4th August 1911
  12. ^ Ferdinand Kiss Hanns Heinz in all streets . In: Die Aktion, 1913, Vol. III, No. 16, p. 424
  13. ↑ Schaubühne . 1913, Vol. IX.1, No. 13, p. 368
  14. ↑ Berliner Börsen-Courier , March 20, 1913, No. 133
  15. ↑ Photographische Industrie, 1910, p. 1561, Lichtspiele und Photoplays . According to The German Early Cinema Database: Document 3036
  16. ↑ Photographische Korrespondenz , 1910, No. 509, p. 60. According to The German Early Cinema Database: Document 3420
  17. ↑ An extensive collection of quotations can be found as The German Early Cinema Database . as "The Documents Collection" until 1914.
  18. ^ Stage cooperative and cinema . In: The day March 22, 1913
  19. ↑ Kintopp in the past - database entry at zweiausendeins.de/filmlexikon