Visual Treasures from the “Wiesn” (Meadow)

art

A rich tradition of images and views existed from the very start on the Oktoberfest.

One of the most important sources from the nineteenth century are the two cycles by Gustav Kraus, which depict the pageants of 1835 and 1842.
Portraits of numerous historical personalities, who influenced the Oktoberfest, are kept in the portrait collection of the Münchner Stadtmuseum (Munich Municipal Museum).
Some of the few exceptions may be found in the Fotosammlung (photo collection) Groth-Schmachtenberger of the University Library in Augsburg (folder 16, image numbers 161, 162, 163, 164, 165). These come, probably without exception, from the 1956 Oktoberfest, one shot (162) possibly dates to 1960.
Until the 1950s, the Hamburg cigarette manufacturer Reemtsma was present at the Oktoberfest with its own advertising activities. The advertising event of the year 1933 for a brand of cigarettes called "Salem Gold" went under the slogan of that year’s cigarette album: “Der Kampf ums Dritte Reich” (The Fight for the Third Reich). A handmade photo album, probably made in-house as an advertising gift, documents the mixture of popular festival, advertisement and propaganda.
Obviously, there are countless shots in the private collections and in economic archives.

Collection of Portraits and Views

The collection contains portraits and views in original graphic techniques as well as photos. The people depicted are scholars, musicians, writers, actors and European rulers of the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries. The views show cities and buildings, the main emphasis is on Bavaria.

Apart from some older views, the collection contains photos of the Oktoberfest and of the pageant of 1930 as well as aerial views of the Theresienwiese (Theresia Meadow) of 1959. Valuable are the photos of the 7th Deutsche Bundesschießen (German federal shooting contest; 24 - 31 July 1881). Since there are hardly any shots of the festival tents preserved in the collections of the Staatsbibliothek (State Library), the photos of the similarly designed facilities of the Bundesschießen may offer an impression of the interiors of such facilities during the age of historicism.

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Portrait and view collection
Picture number port-013680

"Münchener Kindl" on a beer barrel of the state-owned Hofbräuhaus with beer mug and radio.

Advertising postcard (front), around 1900

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Portrait and view collection
Picture number port-013740

7th German Federal Shooting 24 - 31 July 1881
Group picture in front of the Festhalle "Zur Schützenlisl. Münchner Kindl Bier"
The painter Friedrich August von Kaulbach (1850-1920) had painted the popular motif of the "Schützenlisl" after the model of the waitress Coletta Möritz (1860-1953) on the occasion of the federal shooting.

Photography, 1881

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Portrait and view collection
Picture number port-013758

7th German Federal Shooting 24 - 31 July 1881
View from a location in front of the Schützenlisl tent over the Theresienwiese to the shooting hall where the actual competitions took place.

Photography, 1881

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Portrait and view collection
Picture number port-013757

7th German Federal Shooting 24 - 31 July 1881
View over the Theresienwiese to the fairground. On the left the central festival hall. In the background right Hall of Fame and Bavaria.

Photography, 1881

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Portrait and view collection
Picture number port-013743

7th German Federal Shooting 24 - 31 July 1881
View from the fairground on the Theresienwiese to the main gate. Like all the photos in this series, this one also seems to have been taken before the federal shooting, as evidenced by the still intact grassy areas as well as the clearly discernible signs of the construction work (ladder, painter at work).

Photography, 1881

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Portrait and view collection
Picture number port-013742

7th German Federal Shooting 24 - 31 July 1881
View over the fairground on the Theresienwiese to the central festival hall. In accordance with the "German" orientation of the event, the Prussian-German imperial eagle is depicted above the main entrance.

Photography, 1881

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Portrait and view collection
Picture number port-013737

7th German Federal Shooting 24 - 31 July 1881
View inside the central festival hall, which is decorated with the flags of participating marksmen's associations.

Photography, 1881

Picture Archive of the Bavarian State Library
Portrait and view collection
Picture number port-013738

7th German Federal Shooting 24 - 31 July 1881
View inside the central festival hall, which is decorated with the flags of participating marksmen's associations.

Photography, 1881

Photo archives Fruhstorfer and Timpe

Georg Fruhstorfer (1915-2003) mainly photographed Munich events between 1946 and 1980. Felicitas Timpe (1923-2006) documented with her work the scientific, cultural and public life of Munich in the years 1951-2003.

Both collections contain photos of October festivals of the post-war period.

Picture Archive of the Bavarian State Library
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-008360

Festive procession for the Oktoberfest 1952: Silesian costume group on the Odeonsplatz; in the background the ruins of the Palais Leuchtenberg destroyed during the war.

Photography, 21 September 1952

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012223

Procession for the Oktoberfest 1952: participant disguised as a "Schmied von Kochel"; in the background the partially destroyed building of the State Wilhelmsgymnasium.

Photography, 21 September 1952

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012224

Festive procession for the Oktoberfest 1952: participant dressed as a " Schmied von Kochel " with Marienfahne; in the background the ruin of the Palais Leuchtenberg destroyed by war.

Photography, 21 September 1952

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012225

Festive procession for the Oktoberfest 1952: Upper Bavarian costume group on the Odeonsplatz with crowned ribbon pole for the ribbon dance.

Photography, 21 September 1952

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012226

In September 1956 the New York City Ballet gave a guest performance in Munich. The recording shows the dancer and choreographer Jacques d'Amboise (born 1934) together with the dance critic Max Niehaus (1888-1981) during a joint visit to the Oktoberfest. A pretzel stand can be seen in the background.

Photography, September 1956

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012228

In September 1956 the New York City Ballet gave a guest performance in Munich. The recording shows the dancer and choreographer Jacques d'Amboise (born 1934) with the dancer Tanaquil LeClerq (1929-2000) at a rehearsal for the 1954 ballet "Western Symphony". Both belonged to the original cast of the work since its premiere.

Photography, September 1956

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012230

Oktoberfest 1953: Children watching a 3D movie.

Photography, 1953

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012231

Oktoberfest 1953: Night shot of a rotating chain carousel.

Photography, 1953

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012232

Oktoberfest 1953: Nocturnal view (from the location of the Hall of Fame?) over the brightly lit festival grounds. In the background the towers of the church St. Paul.

Photography, 1953

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012233

Oktoberfest 1953: a visitor during the rollover with the ship's swing.

Photography, 1953

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012234

During the Oktoberfest in 1953, a series of pictures was created showing the actors (from left to right) Margot Leonard (born 1927), Bruni Löbel (1920-2006) and Robert Freitag (1916-2010) on a stroll. Here they stand next to two brewery horses, in the background one of the marquees.

Photography, 1953

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012235

During the Oktoberfest in 1953, a series of pictures was created showing the actors (from left to right) Margot Leonard (born 1927), Bruni Löbel (1920-2006) and Robert Freitag (1916-2010) on a stroll. Here they pose at a shooting-range.

Photography, 1953

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012236

During the Oktoberfest in 1953, a series of pictures was created showing the actors (from left to right) Margot Leonard (born 1927), Robert Freitag (1916-2010) and Bruni Löbel (1920-2006) on a stroll. Here they pose at a shooting-range.

Photography, 1953

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012237

During the Oktoberfest in 1953, a series of pictures was also created showing the actors (from left to right) Margot Leonard (born 1927), Robert Freitag (1916-2010) and Bruni Löbel (1920-2006) on a stroll. Here they pose in front of a booth with sausages.

Photography, 1953

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012238

During the Oktoberfest in 1953, a series of pictures was created showing the actors (from left to right) Margot Leonard (born 1927), Bruni Löbel (1920-2006) and Robert Freitag (1916-2010) on a stroll. Here on a roller coaster ride.

Photography, 1953

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012239

Oktoberfest 1953: Actress Bruni Löbel (1920-2006) at a stand with postcards.

Photography, 1953

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012240

Oktoberfest 1953: Actress Bruni Löbel (1920-2006) with a brewery horse.

Photography, 1953

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012241

Festive procession for the Oktoberfest 1953: The magnificent team of the State Hofbräuhaus on the Odeonsplatz; in the background the ruins of the Palais Leuchtenberg, destroyed by war and already cored.

Photography, 20 September 1953

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012242

Festive procession for the Oktoberfest 1953: The magnificent team of the State Hofbräuhaus on the Odeonsplatz; in the background the ruins of the Palais Leuchtenberg, destroyed by war and already cored.

Photography, 20 September 1953

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012243

Festive procession for the Oktoberfest 1953: traditional costume chapel on the Odeonsplatz; in the background the ruins of the Palais Leuchtenberg, destroyed by war and already cored.

Photography, 20 September 1953

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012244

Procession for the Oktoberfest 1953: traditional costume groups on the Odeonsplatz; in the background photographers and the towers of the collegiate church St. Cajetan (Theatinerkirche).

Photography, 20 September 1953

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012245

Festive procession for the Oktoberfest 1953: traditional costume chapel on the Odeonsplatz; in the background the towers of the Ludwigskirche.

Photography, 20 September 1953

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012246

Festive procession for the Oktoberfest 1953: Schäffler on the Odeonsplatz. In the background the destroyed bazaar building.

Photography, 20 September 1953

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012247

Festive procession for the Oktoberfest 1953: dancing costume group on the Odeonsplatz. In the background the destroyed bazaar building.

Photography, 20 September 1953

Picture Archive of the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek
Photo archive Timpe
Picture number timp-012248

Festive procession for the Oktoberfest 1953: Festive car with representation "Alte Hauptwache am Marienplatz" on the Odeonsplatz. In the background the destroyed bazaar building.

Photography, 20 September 1953