Gyula Kabos
Encyclopedia
Gyula Kabos was a Hungarian
actor and comedian, widely known for his comedic movie roles in the late 1930s.
as Gyula Kann. After completing Elek Solymosi's acting school, he started acting in Szabadka (Subotica
), where he worked until 1910 with a short interruption in 1906–07 when he lived in Zombor (Sombor
). Szabadka granted him his first successes, his first successful forays into the world of theatre, and this is the town where he met his first great comedic partner, Gyula Gózon
. Following his advice, he moved to Nagyvárad (Oradea
) and lived there from 1910 to 1913. Later on, he remembered these years quite fondly. He was a well-known actor in town and had various comic adventures with his partner (which were released weekly in the town newspaper). He later moved to Budapest to play in different theatres, including the Király Színház, the Vígszínház, Pesti Kabaré, while trying, but ultimately failing to start an American-styled variety theatre in Nagyvárad (1919).
After numerous attempts, Mátyás Schneider won him for a role for his loud film, Hyppolit, a lakáj (Hyppolit, the Butler) in 1931. The movie became one of the first movie success in Hungary, and along with its soundtrack, becoming one of the most-known cinematic work of the era. The success results in several other foreign-language movie roles. After a small detour in Vienna
, trying to impress the Austrian public, he works again in Budapest from 1932. As the global financial crisis, and the more and more popular movies further decimate the Budapest theatre scene, his career is struggling again is small, low-paying roles, overshadowed by few remaining stars. As the Magyar Színház theatre offers him a few dramatic roles, he accepts them, and thereby returns in the front of larger audiences. After a few dramatic roles, he returns to his old light-hearted comedic character, to great success, also touring in Germany.
from his original 60 Pengő/day payment (as comparison actress Sári Fedák
got 540 Pengő/day). To get his livelihood, he needed to make movie after movie, while also playing numerous theatres. His role in the Vígszínház act Lovagias Ügy is another great success, winning back his theatrical audience. By 1935, he becomes one of the most sought-after movie actor, as he could greatly adapt to the then-special process of shooting only one scene at a time. Notable movies of this era are Halló Budapest and Köszönöm, hogy elgázolt.
, Baja
, and many premieres were disrupted. As historians believe, the growing number of such revolts were orchestrated from Germany. Kabos slowly becomes the center point of attacks, a condition that fills him with fear and despair, not only for himself, but for his family. He buries himself in work, whenever possible. The third big success, A Noszty fiú esete Tóth Marival is followed by a massive right-wing press campaign against director István Székely, after which he left the country. Losing one of his main partner in movie-making, Kabos fears he could be next. With budgets decreasing, Kabos, became more and more like a cornerstone of Hungarian filmmaking of the time, deciding the financial success or failure of the venture. In 1937 he leaves Vígszínház theatre, to act in the Andrássy and Magyar theatre. These are the months of his last bigger achievements, as air-raid sirens, the first signs of the coming WWII were disrupting the work more and more often. In spring 1938 he starts to plan his escape. With the help of his old friend Sándor Korda, he sends his son István to England to university. After playing in three light comedies, his 33 year theatrical career in Budapest comes to a close. While he still continues to make movies, including his first real leading role in Papucshős, the first anti-Jew laws make his work slowly impossible. In 1939 newspapers began to spread rumors that Kabos is travelling to America. With his wife at his side, and in deep depression, he leaves the country in the compartment of a train leaving from the Keleti train station. Through Ostende and Dover
they travel to London, where they meet their son István. On 1. February 1939, aboard the vessel Paris, they sail out towards America, to a future Kabos was uncertain about.
, Passaic
. As he described, movie theatre owners tried to ruin their shows, and seats were half empty, even while entry costs were less than half the price of movie tickets. In April 1939 the group continues to tour in Chicago, Detroit, with Kabos making extra appearances, often 4 times a day. But even as such, earnings remained miserable. They situation gets worse when his wife is moved to hospital with bile failure, needing instant operation, taking away most of their spare money. Sándor Incze, a renowned theatrical figure also in exile, offers Kabos a role in New York, but after travelling there, he declines, partly by discovering that he doesn't speak the theatrical English language. While in Hungary, the attacks again him become more powerful, even questioning his nationality. By the summer of 1939, they start to run out of money. Kabos arranges a second tour with offhand groups, to mild success. He starts to build a small theatre room out of a restaurant of his friend, but fails after one month. Playing in small acts once-twice a week, the couple gets enough money for basic food, otherwise they make walks in the Central Park
. Kabos wrote a small book of his life, directed an amateur movie sketch to tour with, and a 3-hour revue, all failing. With the help of a friend, he gets a small role in one of the Broadway theatres, but has a heart attack on stage. His doctor orders him to stop going to rehearsals, but he denies. Barely surviving two other seizures, he is moved to a hospital, where, after lying in oxygen tent unconsciously for two weeks, dies on 6 October 1941.
under the name 'Kobas'. His adopted daughter Gabriella received a scrambled telegram from his mother with the news of the death, but the county only knew of it after the official statement from the Iroda MTI on 9 October. By this time in Hungary, Kabos's movies were banned, most of his colleagues denied of work, and the country was in war for 3 months. Newspapers only wrote the fact of death, as war news were the most important.
After the war, the first copies of Kabos movies reappear for a short time, although most of them were lost during the fights. But the slowly established communist government thought them to be works of the aristocratic society of the past, and as such, not permitted for the working society – the copies were returned to their archival boxes, only to open up in the fifties and seventies, to short lived successes. The softening political situation of the 1980s allowed the reappearing of his cinematic work in movies and the National Television
, and later cable stations, recapturing his former fame. He was reburied in the Farkasréti Cemetery
in Budapest, by the presence of large crowds.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
actor and comedian, widely known for his comedic movie roles in the late 1930s.
Early Years
Kabos was born on March 19, 1887, in BudapestBudapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
as Gyula Kann. After completing Elek Solymosi's acting school, he started acting in Szabadka (Subotica
Subotica
Subotica is a city and municipality in northern Serbia, in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina...
), where he worked until 1910 with a short interruption in 1906–07 when he lived in Zombor (Sombor
Sombor
Sombor is a city and municipality located in northwest part of Serbian autonomous province of Vojvodina. The city has a total population of 48,749 , while the Sombor municipality has 87,815 inhabitants...
). Szabadka granted him his first successes, his first successful forays into the world of theatre, and this is the town where he met his first great comedic partner, Gyula Gózon
Gyula Gózon
Gyula Gózon was a Hungarian actor and comedian.-Life:Gyula Gózon was born on 19 April 1885, in Nové Zámky, but grew up in Esztergom. With the mentoring of his brother, he could fulfill his dream of learning to be a singer actor at the actor school of Szidi Rákosi in Budapest...
. Following his advice, he moved to Nagyvárad (Oradea
Oradea
Oradea is the capital city of Bihor County, in the Crișana region of north-western Romania. The city has a population of 204,477, according to the 2009 estimates. The wider Oradea metropolitan area has a total population of 245,832.-Geography:...
) and lived there from 1910 to 1913. Later on, he remembered these years quite fondly. He was a well-known actor in town and had various comic adventures with his partner (which were released weekly in the town newspaper). He later moved to Budapest to play in different theatres, including the Király Színház, the Vígszínház, Pesti Kabaré, while trying, but ultimately failing to start an American-styled variety theatre in Nagyvárad (1919).
Career between 1919–1933
In 1919 he marries Mária Puhalag, and adopts her daughter, Gabriella Surányi. They moved to Budapest, where his son István György Kabos was born. As directors discover his comedic talent, he gets more and more small roles, including one in the Vígszínház. While his appearances are met with high critical acclaim, the financial crisis of the country drew a shadow to the theatrical world, also reducing his appearances. However, this situation proved as an opportunity, as the renowned Fővárosi Művész Színház (the future Operettszínház) closed its doors, and a new search began for a director. Along with László Békeffi, his name was trusted enough that they got the job. But life as a manager proved to be hard as Kabos disapproved the high salaries of leading actors, resulting in numerous conflicts. Again, the new plays are met with high critical acclaim, but not with monetary success, so the theatre needs to pull out formerly played acts. Continuing work conflicts, the appearance of the first loud movies, and disinterest of the public eventually result in bankruptcy. While he already tried himself in numerous small, often experimental silent films during the 1910s, he disliked them, as he blamed them for the downfall of theatrical world.After numerous attempts, Mátyás Schneider won him for a role for his loud film, Hyppolit, a lakáj (Hyppolit, the Butler) in 1931. The movie became one of the first movie success in Hungary, and along with its soundtrack, becoming one of the most-known cinematic work of the era. The success results in several other foreign-language movie roles. After a small detour in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, trying to impress the Austrian public, he works again in Budapest from 1932. As the global financial crisis, and the more and more popular movies further decimate the Budapest theatre scene, his career is struggling again is small, low-paying roles, overshadowed by few remaining stars. As the Magyar Színház theatre offers him a few dramatic roles, he accepts them, and thereby returns in the front of larger audiences. After a few dramatic roles, he returns to his old light-hearted comedic character, to great success, also touring in Germany.
Comedian and movie star
Beginning with Márciusi Mese (A March tale) he begins to like doing movies. After the 1934 premier of Meseautó (Dream Car), his other massive success, he is confronted with standing ovation. The sudden fame surprises Kabos, as he does not understand why a movie star should be famous (by then he only watched a few scene of his own work). In his numerous later film characters he plays the tragicomical small man in the hard years of the 30s, motivated by fear to carry out foolish acts. While the public believed he became a rich movie star, Kabos's financial situation remained dire, as he needed to pay the debts of his theatrical failure, and had to support his poor family, who did not believe that he was much like them. Even while being the most known comedy star, because of the creditors, he only got 10 PengőPengo
Pengo may refer to:*Pengo , a 1982 video arcade game from Sega*Hungarian pengő, the name of an old Hungarian currency*Pengo language, a Dravidian language spoken in south central India...
from his original 60 Pengő/day payment (as comparison actress Sári Fedák
Sári Fedák
Sári Fedák was a Hungarian actress and singer, one of the most well-known prima donnas of her time...
got 540 Pengő/day). To get his livelihood, he needed to make movie after movie, while also playing numerous theatres. His role in the Vígszínház act Lovagias Ügy is another great success, winning back his theatrical audience. By 1935, he becomes one of the most sought-after movie actor, as he could greatly adapt to the then-special process of shooting only one scene at a time. Notable movies of this era are Halló Budapest and Köszönöm, hogy elgázolt.
Final years in Hungary
In 1936 he completes the movie version of the Lovagias Ügy, which was the first to spark the opposition of the radical right-wing groups, that were starting a few years before. Protests, shouting "Down with Jewish movies" were held in Budapest, PécsPécs
Pécs is the fifth largest city of Hungary, located on the slopes of the Mecsek mountains in the south-west of the country, close to its border with Croatia. It is the administrative and economical centre of Baranya county...
, Baja
Baja
-Geography:* Baja California peninsula, a peninsula in North America* States of Mexico** Baja California** Baja California Sur* Baja Arizona* Baja, Hungary* Baja Verapaz, a department of Guatemala...
, and many premieres were disrupted. As historians believe, the growing number of such revolts were orchestrated from Germany. Kabos slowly becomes the center point of attacks, a condition that fills him with fear and despair, not only for himself, but for his family. He buries himself in work, whenever possible. The third big success, A Noszty fiú esete Tóth Marival is followed by a massive right-wing press campaign against director István Székely, after which he left the country. Losing one of his main partner in movie-making, Kabos fears he could be next. With budgets decreasing, Kabos, became more and more like a cornerstone of Hungarian filmmaking of the time, deciding the financial success or failure of the venture. In 1937 he leaves Vígszínház theatre, to act in the Andrássy and Magyar theatre. These are the months of his last bigger achievements, as air-raid sirens, the first signs of the coming WWII were disrupting the work more and more often. In spring 1938 he starts to plan his escape. With the help of his old friend Sándor Korda, he sends his son István to England to university. After playing in three light comedies, his 33 year theatrical career in Budapest comes to a close. While he still continues to make movies, including his first real leading role in Papucshős, the first anti-Jew laws make his work slowly impossible. In 1939 newspapers began to spread rumors that Kabos is travelling to America. With his wife at his side, and in deep depression, he leaves the country in the compartment of a train leaving from the Keleti train station. Through Ostende and Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
they travel to London, where they meet their son István. On 1. February 1939, aboard the vessel Paris, they sail out towards America, to a future Kabos was uncertain about.
Life in America
The pair moves into the Woodrow Hotel in New York, where they receive numerous contract offers from fellow countrymen living in the city. Kabos accepts the manager position of a small Hungarian troupe, but in letters he complained that his colleagues are without talent. They go for a 2 week long tour including Philadelphia, TrentonTrenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
, Passaic
Passaic
-In New Jersey:*Passaic, New Jersey, a city in Passaic County*Passaic County, New Jersey*Passaic River, a river in northern New Jersey*Glacial Lake Passaic, a prehistoric proglacial lake-Historical events:...
. As he described, movie theatre owners tried to ruin their shows, and seats were half empty, even while entry costs were less than half the price of movie tickets. In April 1939 the group continues to tour in Chicago, Detroit, with Kabos making extra appearances, often 4 times a day. But even as such, earnings remained miserable. They situation gets worse when his wife is moved to hospital with bile failure, needing instant operation, taking away most of their spare money. Sándor Incze, a renowned theatrical figure also in exile, offers Kabos a role in New York, but after travelling there, he declines, partly by discovering that he doesn't speak the theatrical English language. While in Hungary, the attacks again him become more powerful, even questioning his nationality. By the summer of 1939, they start to run out of money. Kabos arranges a second tour with offhand groups, to mild success. He starts to build a small theatre room out of a restaurant of his friend, but fails after one month. Playing in small acts once-twice a week, the couple gets enough money for basic food, otherwise they make walks in the Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
. Kabos wrote a small book of his life, directed an amateur movie sketch to tour with, and a 3-hour revue, all failing. With the help of a friend, he gets a small role in one of the Broadway theatres, but has a heart attack on stage. His doctor orders him to stop going to rehearsals, but he denies. Barely surviving two other seizures, he is moved to a hospital, where, after lying in oxygen tent unconsciously for two weeks, dies on 6 October 1941.
Legacy
The funeral was managed by Ferenc Göndör, an immigrant friend. The actor was buried in Cedar Park cemetery, Emerson City, New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
under the name 'Kobas'. His adopted daughter Gabriella received a scrambled telegram from his mother with the news of the death, but the county only knew of it after the official statement from the Iroda MTI on 9 October. By this time in Hungary, Kabos's movies were banned, most of his colleagues denied of work, and the country was in war for 3 months. Newspapers only wrote the fact of death, as war news were the most important.
After the war, the first copies of Kabos movies reappear for a short time, although most of them were lost during the fights. But the slowly established communist government thought them to be works of the aristocratic society of the past, and as such, not permitted for the working society – the copies were returned to their archival boxes, only to open up in the fifties and seventies, to short lived successes. The softening political situation of the 1980s allowed the reappearing of his cinematic work in movies and the National Television
Magyar Televízió
Magyar Televízió is the Hungarian national public service television company, with three TV channels, called m1 , m2 and m3....
, and later cable stations, recapturing his former fame. He was reburied in the Farkasréti Cemetery
Farkasréti Cemetery
Farkasréti Cemetery or Farkasrét Cemetery is one of the most famous cemeteries in Budapest. It was opened in 1894 and is noted for its spectacular sight towards the city ....
in Budapest, by the presence of large crowds.
Filmography
| Title | Character | Runtime |
|---|---|---|
| 1931 | ||
| Hyppolit, a lakáj | Schneider Mátyás | 80 min. |
| Egy autó és semmi pénz | ||
| 1932 | ||
| Piri mindent tud | Bognár Béla | 67 min. |
| Repülõ arany | Cadar úr | 51 min. |
| 1933 | ||
| Mindent a nõért | ||
| 1934 | ||
| Márciusi mese | bank executive Kende, Lili's father | 66 min. |
| Meseautó | Halmos Aladár | 99 min. |
| Lila akác | Angelusz | 79 min. |
| Az új rokon | Sándor főpincér/ Head waiter Alexander | 83 min. |
| Emmy | 70 min. | |
| Iglói diákok | ||
| 1935 | ||
| Köszönöm, hogy elgázolt | Ferenc inas/ servant Franz | 84 min. |
| Ez a villa eladó | Buckó József | 75 min. |
| Budai cukrászda | Schulmayer házgondnok/ House warden Shulmayer | 84 min. |
| Elnökkisasszony | Vas Ödön | 84 min. |
| Halló, Budapest! | ||
| Címzett ismeretlen | Stangl | 82 min. |
| Az okos mama | Kaiser, operettszerző/ operetta composer, Kaiser | 74 min. |
| 1936 | ||
| Szenzáció | Szálka Leó | 66 min. |
| Nászút féláron | Fernauer Lajos cégvezető, CEO | 85 min. |
| Három sárkány | Dr. Kempelen József | 71 min. |
| Duna-parti randevú | Szalai ügynök/ agent Szalai | 66 min. |
| 1937 | ||
| Fizessen, nagysád | Fábry Ágoston, malomtulajdonos/ Mill owner Agoston Fabry | 65 min. |
| Hetenként egyszer láthatom | Poznay | 71 min. |
| Lovagias ügy | Virág Andor, könyvelő/ Andor Virag, accountant | 86 min. |
| Torockói menyasszony | Herskovics | 70 min. |
| Pesti mese | Vadász Lehel, az Atlantic Bank igazgatója/ executive of Atlantic bank | 86 min. |
| Szerelembõl nõsültem | Barna | 90 min. |
| Hotel Kikelet | Megyeri Boldizsár | 78 min. |
| Viki | Dr.Weiss | 60 min. |
| A kölcsönkért kastély | Gruber Menyhért | 85 min. |
| 120-as tempó | Richter Menyhért | 71 min. |
| Úrilány szobát keres | Csahos Ödön, ügyvédjelölt/lawyer-to-be | 82 min. |
| 300 ezer pengõ az utcán | ||
| Maga lesz a férjem! | Dr. Balogh Elemér | 72 min. |
| A harapós férj | Dr. Zsengellér Bernát, ügyvéd/lawyer | 82 min. |
| Hol alszunk vasárnap? | Virág Benõ | 60 min. |
| 1938 | ||
| Pillanatnyi pénzzavar | Harry, sofőr/ chauffeur | 81 min. |
| Borcsa Amerikában | ||
| Beszállásolás | Kulcsár úr,Tibor titkára | 82 min. |
| Rozmaring | ||
| Döntõ pillanat | Kulinyi | 85 min. |
| Fehérvári huszárok | 65 min. | |
| Papucshõs | Kovács Gyula | 76 min. |
Sources
- http://www.szineszkonyvtar.hu/contents/k-o/kaboselet.htm The life of Gyula Kabos on szineszkonyvtar.hu
- http://mek.oszk.hu/02100/02139/html/sz13/6.html Gyula Kabos in the Hungarian Theatrical Lexicon, (György, Székely. Magyar Színházművészeti Lexikon. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1994. ISBN 978-963-05-6635-3), freely available on mek.oszk.hu
- Tibor, Bános: Kabos Gyula Budapest: Athaneum, 2001. ISBN 963-9261-31-9