Note from the Editor

 

EDITORS NOTE

 

Yes, the Editor is EVIL!

 

I will be away until the beginning of next week and therefore will not be posting for the next few days (unless something comes up before I leave or I can work out how to blog from my phone)

 

 

This may not be particularly professional but...

On a personal note to a special someone

I WILL MISS YOU!!!  

Tempelhof Theatre Roof Appeal

Tempelhof Theatre

Throughout the war Tempelhof Theatre has continued to put on shows for the public despite the continued bombardment from the allies. Over the course of the conflict our beloved theatre has taken substantial damage, yet the shows continue.  

 

The damage is substantial and now the Theatre is suffering from 2 major issues.  

 

Tempelhof is notorious for it's changeable weather and certain headline performers have been heard complaining about getting wet when it is raining. and this may damage the ability of Tempelhof to continue to attract major performers.  (It should be noted that no one has ever heard any of the dancers complain about this.) 

Some may argue that the new alfresco style of theatre brings a  refreshing charm, however there is a second problem and that is that the elements may start to further deteriorate the fit of the building and may start to effect the electrics and such.

 



Interior of Tempelhof Theatre

Tempelhof as a whole has also taken a bit of a beating, with many building and infrastructure needing to be repaired or demolished in a safe way, not to mention the on-going costs of maintaining the island.

 

As we all love our theatre it is urgent that we try to get the roof remedied.  As you know that throughout hostilities Tempelhof Theatre has been giving free shows to the residents to maintain moral, and it is not the intention of management to change that.  There are however donation tins at the front of the stage, we would ask that people attending show to dig deep if they are able to help support the continued shows at Tempelhof, the on-going costs of the island and hopefully the speedy restoration of our spectacular theatre to it's former glory.

Exterior of Tempelhof Theatre
Roof

 A serious note from the editor:
It should be noted that the above article and following statement are my own personal views as editor of the blog and has not been asked for, discussed with or sanctioned in any way by the Tempelhof Management. (Which is true of all articles I have posted to date, other than those advertising upcoming shows, which have been requested and checked for accuracy).

It is my sincere belief that management of Tempelhof are delighted to present the highest quality entertainment they can get within this wonderful environment which has only the most minimal of advertising in it to try to maintain it's authentic look.  There is however a cost to this as good acts are not free (nor should they be as they are genuine professionals),  nor is the cost of maintenance of the land. I am certain that management appreciate all the visitors who support the acts here, and certainly do not want to make the guests feel they are being bled dry, however if you do enjoy shows at Tempelhof and you can afford it, a donation (even very modest ones) I am sure they would be greatly appreciated.









Maiden in the Tower

Old Water Tower

MissUnderstood Lighthouse

I have been asked to write about what it is like to live in a water tower, and how I came to live in a water tower in the first place.

I was visiting Tempelhof in 1939 with an travelling variety show from the United States of America as a dancer. I am British myself, I was 16 at the time and frankly was desperate for work and was scouted out while the tour was in the UK as one of the dancers had suffered a serious illness (this is what I was told at the time, actually I think she got pregnant). So I joined the tour naively, not politically aware and not really paying attention to where it was going to go.

So here I was finding myself in Germany at the beginning of the Second World War... the show was allowed to continue on it's way as at the time there were no hostilities between the US and Germany, but I as a British Citizen was detained by the local Commandant.  Unsure what really to do with me,  they did not really want to shove me into the cells, but nor did they feel I could run free, so they quite literally locked me in the tower, a disused water tower that was converted into living quarters, as although quite comfortable, it was virtually impossible for me to escape from as there was only one door in or out, and getting out the windows was impractical.



Cover of Frauen-Warte featuring Miss Lighthouse
 

As the war rolled on and moral on the Island lowered the owner of the local theatre convinced the Commandant to allow me out of the tower under supervision to help put on shows to help keep spirits up.  Quite shockingly my performances got the attention of  Frauen-Warte where I made the front cover.

After the former regime left the Island I have been given my "freedom." I use the word freedom reservedly as I obviously am unable to return to Britain while hostilities continue, and frankly we are all effectively prisoners here as we are cut off from the main land at present. I was however with my "freedom" offered a job here at the paper and a new residence. I turned them down.

You may ask why I would choose to stay in my "prison cell."  Well as you can see from the following photographs the Water Tower is actually quite luxuriously furnished and has some of the spectacular views in Temeplhof.

While the Circumstances under which I ended up living in Tempelhof are quite unfortunate I have come to love the place and the people here and my prison cell has become a real home.