In today’s 19th district of Vienna, there was also a place dedicated to the Viennese’s dancing pleasure in the 19th century. A peasant boy from Lower Austria had the “Casino Zögernitz” built in Oberdöbling. The establishment was successful – even the famous Sträusse conducted their bands here and performed many a composition for the first time in front of an audience. (Full text on ORF Topos)
Karl Wenzel Zajicek (Aquarellist), 19., Döblinger Hauptstraße 76–78, Casino Zögernitz, um 1880, Wien Museum Inv.-Nr. 76615/296, CC0 (https://sammlung.wienmuseum.at/objekt/144037/)
The Gschwandner establishment in Hernals started out in the Biedermeier era as a typical Heuriger. In addition to food and drink, however, music has always played an important role. The legendary “Schrammeln” also played there for dancing. Thanks to various additions, the pub eventually became one of the most important entertainment establishments for concerts and balls. (Full text on ORF Topos)
Biedermeier Vienna is not only crazy about waltzes, folk music is also experiencing a peak at this time: the legendary “Schrammeln” play music to listen to as a quartet and are extremely successful with it across all social classes. Their musical headquarters at that time was in Dornbach. The “Güldene Waldschnepfe” becomes the stronghold of Schrammel music. (Full text on ORF Topos)
The Viennese of the Biedermeier era were so waltz-crazy that a resourceful businessman even had a cowshed converted into a magnificent dance establishment. With success, Carl Schwenders’ “Colosseum” entertainment paradise attracts dance enthusiasts in droves. Musically, they are offered only the best. The most sought-after ensembles of the city perform, including, of course, the bands of the Strauss brothers. (Full text on ORF Topos)
Johann Stauda (Fotograf), 15., Schwenders Kolosseum – Mariahilfer Straße / Reindorfgasse, um 1880, Wien Museum Inv.-Nr. 32606, CC0 (https://sammlung.wienmuseum.at/objekt/63471/)
Entrepreneurs were not the only ones to create all the opulent entertainment establishments where the Viennese danced in 19th century Vienna. In Baumgarten, today’s 14th district of Vienna, the city council once decided to build a venue. It was used very successfully for various events. And even the early television is connected with the “Baumgartner Casino”. (Full text on ORF Topos)
Around 1830, the Viennese were spoiled for choice when it came to venues for the ultimate in musical enjoyment and dancing. Two resourceful entrepreneurs nevertheless deliver a new attraction: a “slide” with a music pavilion at the Tivoli on “Grüner Berg”. The establishment is highly successful, thanks in part to the choice of music. Two Strauss´s perform with their “Piecen”. (Full text on ORF Topos)
Bernhard Wertheimer & Cie Frankfurt a/M (Hersteller), “Gruss vom Tivoli, Wien.”, 1899, Wien Museum Inv.-Nr. 235469, CC0 (https://sammlung.wienmuseum.at/objekt/992629/)
If the offer was attractive enough, the Viennese waltzers in the Biedermeier era also liked to go to the suburbs. A resourceful entrepreneur once had the idea of converting a disused brickworks into an amusement park in the countryside. With success. For several years, the Alte Landgut in Favoriten offered an unbeatable combination of Viennese waltzes and a colorful bouquet of attractions. (Full text on ORF Topos)
Balthasar Wigand (Künstler), “Wien von dem K. K. Ziegelofen vor der Favoriten Linie”, um 1820–1830, Wien Museum Inv.-Nr. 114945/1, CC BY 4.0 (https://sammlung.wienmuseum.at/objekt/814264/)
Even in Alsergrund, today’s 9th district of Vienna, the public once danced to music in three-four time. In the pub “Zum Weißen Schwan,” for example, Johann Strauss’s father was the bandmaster on several occasions. He even became an event organizer on his own account in this entertainment establishment. But also the fancy decoration should attract the Viennese to dance in the Rossau. (Full text on ORF Topos)
August Prinzhofer (Künstler), J. Höfelich´s Witwe (Ausführung), “Franz Morelly.”, 1854, Wien Museum Inv.-Nr. W 4542, CC0 (https://sammlung.wienmuseum.at/objekt/448110/)
The traditional Sträußelsäle have experienced a lot in the course of their history. The audience once danced here to the beat of three-four time. But political issues were also discussed in the Sträußelsäle, when Karl Marx spoke about “exploitation under capitalism” in the revolutionary year of 1848. And the famous Max Reinhardt later gathers Vienna’s culture chiceria here for exuberant celebrations. (Full text on ORF Topos)
Carl (Karl) Ledermann jun. (Hersteller), 8., Josefstädter Straße – mit Theater in der Josefstadt, Ansichtskarte, um 1898, Wien Museum Inv.-Nr. 234233, CC0 (https://sammlung.wienmuseum.at/objekt/1015552/)
The Apollosaal on Schottenfeld was an opulently furnished entertainment establishment in 19th century Vienna. Anyone who crossed the threshold of the location was drawn into the spell of the magnificent rooms – complete with marble columns, artificial ponds, waterfalls and real trees. All this shone in the glow of thousands of candles, while the Viennese turned to the music in a waltzing rhythm. (Full text on ORF Topos)
Wenzel Deimel (Stadtbaumeister), Etablissement Apollosaal in der Zieglergasse, Schnitt durch die beiden Säle, 1819, Wien Museum Inv.-Nr. 19351/3, CC0 (https://sammlung.wienmuseum.at/objekt/152223/)
Zum Großen Zeisig
The restaurant “Zum großen Zeisig” (today: 7., Burggasse 2) was a popular dance and folk singing venue in the 19th century. The house “Zum großen Zeisig”, located on Spittelberg at the Burg-Glacis, was built in 1698 by the court trellis-maker Fabian Fritz, who sold it in 1711 to the innkeeper and carter Mathias Zeissel. During the battles in 1809 the house was severely damaged, then rebuilt and provided with a large hall. The inn established there actually carried the sign “Zum goldenen Adler”. (German full text)