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Straussmania

25 December: Sophiensäle: From steam bath to dance floor

Isabella Sommer

In the Biedermeier era, Vienna’s first Russian steam bath was built, but its resourceful owner soon converted part of the location into a “multi-purpose hall”. This was later expanded, and the Sophienbad eventually became the Sophiensäle. The dancing Viennese are thrilled and spin here at balls of all kinds. Musically only the best is offered, also all “Sträusse”; play on. (Full text on ORF Topos)

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Straussmania

24th December: Eduard Strauss I. and Eduard Strauss II. in America

Eduard Strauss I – Two Tours of America with the Strauss Orchestra

Norbert Rubey

During a concert tour of Germany Eduard Strauss got to know the American concert agent David
Blakely. After lengthy negotiations a contract was signed at the end of February 1890: concerts and
matinees were to be given in more than 70 towns and cities in the north-east of the USA and Canada
with the Strauss Orchestra (42 musicians and three assistants) between May and December 1890. In
particular, regular events were to be held on the newly opened Madison Square Garden in New York. (English full text)

German full text on ORF Topos: https://topos.orf.at/straussmania-eduard-strauss-usa100

Eduard Strauss II –
Another Viennese Kapellmeister in America and even in Japan

Eduard Strauss

Eduard Strauss I. (1835 – 1916) disbanded the Strauss Chapel, founded by his father in 1827, on the following day, February 13, 1901, after giving his last concert in New York on February 12, 1901. Eduard Strauss I was 65 years old at the time and retired to his apartment at Reichsratsstraße 9 (1010 Vienna). Some 65 years later, in the fall of 1966, his grandson, the conductor Eduard Strauss II (1910 – 1969), embarked on an extensive tour of the USA and Canada with the specially founded Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra. (German full text)

Eduard Strauss II. in Japan 1962; c. Familienarchiv Prof. Dr. Eduard Strauss
Eduard Strauss II. at “Theater an der Wien” 1963 c. Familienarchiv Prof. Dr. Eduard Strauss
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Straussmania

23 December: Contemporary History Sketches of the Ball of the City of Vienna

Oliver Rathkolb

It was to take nineteen years before the distinguished “Citizens’ Ball”, which premiered in 1872in the presence of Emperor Franz Joseph, moved from the Redoutensaal of the Vienna Hofburgto the newly built City Hall as the “Ball of the City of Vienna”. Quite deliberately, theincreasingly self-confident bourgeoisie symbolically stood up to the “court balls” and theparticularly exclusive aristocratic “court balls”. Joining this progressive trend at the openingon February 1, 1890 were Carl Michael Zierer, who composed the Viennese Citizen (WienerBürger) waltz (op. 419), and Johann Strauss with his City Hall Ball Dances (Rathaus-Ball-Tänzen) (op. 439). (Fulltext)

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Straussmania

22 December: “Colossal” dancing pleasure in Brigittenau

Cornelia Szabó-Knotik

In the Biedermeier era, many of Vienna’s suburbs offered the pleasure-seeking city dwellers their own dance establishment. A special feature here was the “Colosseum” in the suburban town of Brigittenau. The attraction that gave it its name was a gigantic elephant made of papier-mâché with a volcano model in its giant skull. If contemporary reports are to be believed, the dancing and partying of the masses was pretty much the order of the day. (Full text on ORF Topos)

https://topos.orf.at/straussmania

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Straussmania

21 December : Dancing pleasure at the “Casino Zögernitz” in Döbling

Norbert Rubey

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)

https://topos.orf.at/straussmania-casino-zoegernitz100

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/)
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Straussmania

20 December: Dance with the “Schrammeln” at the Gschwandner

Manfred Permoser

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)

https://topos.orf.at/straussmania-gschwandner100

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19 December: The “Güldene Waldschnepfe” as a “Schrammelmusik” stronghold

Herbert Zotti und Susanne Schedtler

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)

https://topos.orf.at/straussmania-goldene-waldschnepfe100

Unbekannt, Gasthaus zur “güldenen Waldschnepfe”, um 1900, Wien Museum Inv.-Nr. 243252, CC0 (https://sammlung.wienmuseum.at/objekt/643002/)
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18 December: From the cowshed to the dance-crazy Colosseum

Manfred Permoser

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)

https://topos.orf.at/straussmania-schwender-colosseum100

Johann Stauda (Fotograf), 15., Schwenders Kolosseum – Mariahilfer Straße / Reindorfgasse, um 1880, Wien Museum Inv.-Nr. 32606, CC0 (https://sammlung.wienmuseum.at/objekt/63471/)
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17 December: A casino for pleasure in Baumgarten

Isabella Sommer

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)

https://topos.orf.at/straussmania-casino-baumgarten100

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16 December: Slide and Strauss at the”Meidlinger Tivoli”

Manfred Permoser

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)

https://topos.orf.at/straussmania-tivoli100

Bernhard Wertheimer & Cie Frankfurt a/M (Hersteller), “Gruss vom Tivoli, Wien.”, 1899, Wien Museum Inv.-Nr. 235469, CC0 (https://sammlung.wienmuseum.at/objekt/992629/)