Archive for the ‘Walled In Berlin’ Category

Berlin’s Titania-Palast has a glorious past

Monday, May 17th, 2021

 

Berlin’s Titania-Palast is one of the few remaining cinemas in Berlin that dates back to the days of silent movies and the early days of sound film. The theater opened on 26 January 1928 and accommodated an audience of 2,000. Its large Art Deco foyer, red velour-covered walls and gilded elements imparted a feeling of elegance and sophistication. Louis Armstrong, Josephine Baker, Maurice Chevalier, Marlene Dietrich, Zarah Leander, Yehudi Menuhin and Hank Williams were among the world-class stars who performed here.

The cinema of the past

Initially, Berlin’s Titania-Palast showed only silent movies, accompanied by an orchestra of up to 60 musicians. But already one-and-a-half years later, the first sound film, “The Singing Fool” flickered on the screen.

The building survived World War II unscathed. While prior to World War II, visitors had enjoyed movies, theater performance and film screenings,  post-war the Titania-Palast became an important center of the social and cultural life in Berlin. It was here that the Berlin Philharmonie gave its first post-war concert in 1945. It was here that the Free University was founded in 1948. It was here that the Berlinale, a renowned annual film festival, was founded in 1951. And it was here that the Insulaner, a prominent cabaret group, frequently performed.

After the construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 and the rising popularity of television, the number of visitors to the Titania-Palast steadily declined. Berlin’s Titania-Palast went broke. In 1966, the Berlin Electrical Works leased part of the building. Retail shops leased the remainder.

Berlin’s Titania-Palast today

For 30 years, only the 1920s façade was a reminder that the cinema had seen better days. In 1995, the building was completed gutted and remodeled to include seven projection halls. But that is where the similarity between the old and the new Titania-Palast ends. The stately building is a cinema once again, but just like Café Kranzler, today’s Titania-Palast shares only its name with the once glamorous cinema.

 

Berlin's Titania-Palast has a glorious past. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license. www.walled-in-berlin.com

Berlin’s Titania-Palast has a glorious past. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license. www.walled-in-berlin.com

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

Living a Long Life versus Getting Old

Monday, May 3rd, 2021

 

It’s paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn’t appeal to anyone.

Andy Rooney, American Television Writer

 The idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn't appeal to anyone. www.walled-in-berlin.com

The idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn’t appeal to anyone. www.walled-in-berlin.com

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

Happiness is a journey not a destination

Monday, April 19th, 2021

Happiness is a journey, not a destination!

For a long time, it seemed to me that life was about to begin – real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business. Then life would begin. Finally, it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.

The new perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is how you perceive your life. So, treasure every moment. Treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special. And remember that time waits for no one.

 

Happiness is a Journey. Photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2013. www.walled-in-berlin.com

Happiness is a Journey. Photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2013 .www.walled-in.berlin-com

Stop Waiting for the Right Moment

So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you turn 21, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you start work, until you get promoted, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until the first or the fifteenths of the month, until you get married, until you have kids, until the kids leave home, until you get a new car or a new home, until your car or home is paid off, until you get divorced, until spring, summer, fall, or winter, until your song comes on, until you’ve had a drink, until you’ve sobered up, until you retire, until you die, or until Covid 19 has run its course. There is no better time than right now to be happy.

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

Little Church in the Green – a Magical Place

Monday, March 15th, 2021

 

The Little Church in the Green, or “Kirchlein im Gruenen” as it is called in German, is a tiny, picturesque place of worship tucked into the forest outside the small village of Alt Placht. Alt Placht is located near the town of Templin in the northeastern part of the State of Brandenburg, Germany. The area is part of the water-rich Uckermark Lakes Nature Park, a 350 square mile reserve north of Berlin. German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, grew up in this area. Her father, pastor Horst Kasner was instrumental in saving the quaint little church from demolition.

The Little Church in the Green (Kleines Kirchlein in Gruenen) is a magical place in the village of Placht, not far from Templin in the northeastern part of the State of Brandenburg in Germany. Photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2019. www.walled-in-berlin.com

The Little Church in the Green (Kleines Kirchlein in Gruenen) is a magical place in the village of Placht, not far from Templin in the northeastern part of the State of Brandenburg in Germany. Photo © J. Elke Ertle, 2019. www.walled-in-berlin.com

Origin of the Little Church in the Green

The Kirchlein im Gruenen is truly a magical place. Surrounded by linden trees that are older than the church itself (the trees date back to the 1500s), it looks like something straight out of a fairytale. Already during the Middle Ages, a small church stood on this spot. Then, around 1700, a small house of worship was constructed to serve as a chapel to the Alt Placht manor. The present-day Little Church in the Green was built on the foundation of the original manor chapel. Its architectural style corresponds to the half-timbered buildings in northern France. Therefore, historians believe that this charming little chapel was built by Huguenot refugees.

The Kirchlein im Gruenen Undergoes a Period of Decay

With time, the little church fell into disrepair, and from 1970 on it was in partial ruins. Vandals stole its antique box locks and door fittings. Its bronze bell, dating from 1721, was sold to the St. Elisabeth Abbey in Berlin in 1980. Eventually, the Kirchlein im Gruenen became such an eyesore that it was slated for demolition. But there was no money to knock it down.

Rescue and Restoration of the Little Church in the Green

After the Fall of the Wall in 1989 and the German reunification in 1990, a citizen group formed with the goal of restoring the little church to its former glory. A West Berlin architect who had fond childhood memories of the Little Church in the Green, started the initiative.  Pastor Horst Kasner, Merkel’s father, chaired the group from 1997 until his death in 2011. Renovation began in 1993. The first service took place a year later. There had been no service for 30 years. The bell was brought back in 1995, and the restoration project was largely completed by 1997. In 2002, the organ was consecrated. Since then, baptisms, intimate weddings, Easter and Christmas services and concerts are held on a regular basis.

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

Fifth Season of the Year – Fools Time in February

Tuesday, February 16th, 2021

 

Germany enjoys an unofficial Fifth Season every year, the fools time. Wedged between some of the cold days of winter, the Fifth Season in 2021 will be celebrated from February 11 to February 16. Depending on the region, fools time is called different names and involves slightly different customs. Although it originated in the Catholic regions of the country, Protestant areas, such as Berlin, celebrate as well. But no matter what it is called, the Fifth Season ends at midnight on Shrove Tuesday. The next day, Ash Wednesday, is the official beginning of the 40-day Lenten period of fasting.

Carnival is the Fifth Season in the Rhineland

In the Rhineland, the Fifth Season of the year is called Karneval (carnival in English). The word is Latin-based and originated in the 17th century. Pre-Lenten celebrations were already popular in the Middle Ages but were prohibited later during the French occupation. In 1804, the ban was lifted, and after the French left in 1815, it became the custom to mock the Prussian military during Karneval.

The biggest Karneval celebration takes place in Koelln (Cologne), and its biggest event is the Rose Monday parade. The parade stretches out for almost four miles and takes place two days before Ash Wednesday. It is best known for its political and social parodies and elaborate floats that poke fun at local, national and international politicians and events. Rhyming speeches, called Buettenreden, are also an integral part of the celebrations. These spoofs take their name from the barrel-shaped podium used by the speaker, the Buett.

Fasching in Berlin

In Berlin and other parts of Northern Germany, the Fifth Season is called Fasching. The word dates back to the 13th century and is derived from a Germanic expression that refers to the last serving of alcoholic beverages before Lent. Fasching is the time to dress up as devils, pirates, American Indians, princesses, animals, fruits and vegetables. No floats, no speeches.

Typical Fasching costume worn in Berlin during the Fifth Season in the 1960s. Realism was not a requirement. The feather authenticated the costume. Photo © J. Elke Ertle, 1963. www.walled-in-berlin.com

Typical Fasching costume worn in Berlin during the Fifth Season in the 1960s. Realism was not a requirement. The feather authenticated the costume. Photo © J. Elke Ertle, 1963. www.walled-in-berlin.com

Fastnacht in Mainz

The term Fastnacht is mostly used in the city of Mainz in Northern Germany and in Swabia and Switzerland. The term “fastnach” without the (t) at the end, means “night of being wild and foolish.” Participants often wear masks. Over the years, Mainz has been the home of  some of the best fools time humorists. In the 1960s, two men, Otto Duerr and Georg Berresheim, were outright famous. The duo masqueraded as two cleaning ladies who shared their wisdoms. If you google “frau babbisch und frau struwwelisch” on YouTube, you’ll be able to watch a dated version of one of their 1960s performances. The quality of the video isn’t very good, but boy, does it bring back memories.

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

 

Political Party or a Conspiracy to Seize Power?

Monday, February 15th, 2021

“If a political party does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is right and that is moral, then it is not a political party; It is merely a conspiracy to seize power.”

— Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th President of the United States and a member of the Republican Party, during a speech at the 4th Annual Republican Women’s Conference on 6 March 1956.

What might President Eisenhower have concluded after listening to the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump?

In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower delineated the difference between a political party and a conspiracy to seize power. www.walled-in-berlin.com

In 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower delineated the difference between a political party and a conspiracy to seize power. www.walled-in-berlin.com

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

It’s easy to fool people – politicians do it every day

Monday, February 1st, 2021

 

It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled.

— Mark Twain

It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled, a quote by Mark Twain. www.walled-in-berlin.com

It’s easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled, a quote by Mark Twain. www.walled-in-berlin.com

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

A Bright New Day is Dawning in the USA

Wednesday, January 20th, 2021

A bright new day is dawning in the United States of America after four years without governance. Today, the Biden/Harris team steps up and the Trump/Pence team steps down. That means today marks the return to civility, decency, honesty, fairness, accountability, diplomacy, reason, science and reality. Gone are the lies, dysfunction, delusion, self-adulation, insults, spite, nepotism, name-calling and cronyism. Carpe Diem! Let’s all help to put America back together again.

 

A bright new day is dawning in the USA. Photo © M.T. 2019. www.walled-in-berlin.com

A bright new day is dawning in the USA. Photo © M.T. 2019. www.walled-in-berlin.com

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

The Rutabaga Winter During World War I

Monday, January 18th, 2021

The Rutabaga Winter (Kohlruebenwinter in German) of 1916/1917 was something that German WWI survivors never forgot for the rest of their lives. I was born after WWII and still remember my father vehemently refusing to eat carrots because they reminded him of rutabagas. I have never attempted to prepare this cousin of broccoli for dinner, but reading about the Rutabaga Winter is making me curious. I just might give this humble root vegetable a try after all.

What is a Rutabaga?

Known as Swede or rutabaga in North America, its scientific name is Brassica napus napobrassica. https://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/106302/#b. It is part of the cruciferous family of vegetables and supposedly a cross between a cabbage and a turnip. With its purple top and beige bottom, the rutabaga does not look particularly tempting, although it is not without some health benefits. Just one cup meetsalf our daily vitamin C requirement.

 

The rutabaga winter (Kohlruebenwinter) of 1916/1917 was one of the most difficult periods for the German civilian population during WWI. www.walled-in-berlin.com

The rutabaga winter (Kohlruebenwinter) of 1916/1917 was one of the most difficult periods for the German civilian population during WWI. www.walled-in-berlin.com

 

Why the Rutabaga Winter of 1916-1917?

Since the summer of 1914, Germany had waged a two-front war with France and Britain in the West and Russia in the East. Then, in Fall of 1916, fierce autumn storms and ceaseless rains led to a dismal potato and wheat harvest. Much of the produce rotted in the ground. Germany desperately tried to import these foods. But the British navy thwarted all efforts by blockading the North Sea approaches. For Germany’s civilian population, the continuous Sea blockade meant a constant threat of starvation. Malnourishment and illness claimed thousands of lives. Eighty thousand children died of starvation. The winter of 1916–1917, which became known as the “Rutabaga Winter” (Kohlruebenwinter), was one of the most difficult periods for the German civilian population during WWI.

What Made the Germans Turn to Rutabagas?

By February 1917, the potato and wheat supplies had run dry. Luckily, 80 million tons of rutabagas had survived the winter in storerooms. Now, the humble vegetable had to jump to the rescue. To overcome the population’s image of the rutabaga as animal fodder, the war ministry’ propaganda machine touted it as  “Prussian Pineapple.” Suddenly, recipes for rutabaga jam, cake, bread, casseroles, soups, beer and coffee appeared. People had rutabaga soup for breakfast, rutabaga “steak” for lunch and rutabaga cake for dinner. To make it easier to digest, the war ministry advocated chewing 30 bites for 30 minutes (about 2,500 times). Decades later, most Germans still could not stand the sight of rutabagas because of their association with hardship and misery.

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.

 

What Integrity is and what it is not

Monday, January 4th, 2021

Integrity was sorely missing from Donald Trump’s bid for reelection. His consistent lies about most anything made me revisit the meaning of the word. Below are two quotes relative to what integrity is and what it is not. The first is a simple definition of the word, the second was the essence of the Trump campaign.

 

Integrity is choosing your thoughts and actions based on values rather than personal gain. www.walled-in-berlin.com

Integrity is choosing your thoughts and actions based on values rather than personal gain. www.walled-in-berlin.com

 

What Integrity is

Integrity is choosing your thoughts and actions based on values rather than personal gain.

–Anonymous

What Interity is not

Integrity DOES NOT involve feeding people’s egos in an attempt to manipulate them into getting something you want. Integrity is not being nice with the expectation of reward. Integrity is not preying on people’s weaknesses to meet your own needs. Integrity is not making promises you cannot keep. Integrity is not withholding key information until you have won someone over by fueling their desires. Integrity is not waiting until they’ve signed on the dotted line to reveal the fine print or legally manipulative part of the contract.

What those things encompass can be described quite simply as inauthentic, offensive, and manipulative.

— Zero Dean

 

For a sneak peek at the first 20+ pages of my memoir, Walled-In: A West Berlin Girl’s Journey to Freedom, click “Download a free excerpt” on my home page and feel free to follow my blog about anything German: historic and current events, people, places and food.

Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.