Oscar Blumenthal
Encyclopedia
Oscar Blumenthal or Oskar Blumenthal (13 March 1852 Berlin
- 24 April 1917, Berlin) was a German
playwright and drama critic.
and the university of his native town, and at the university at Leipsic
, where he received the degree of doctor of philosophy in 1872. After having been editor of the Deutsche Dichterhalle in Leipzig, he founded in 1873 the Neue Monatshefte für Dichtkunst und Kritik. In 1875 Blumenthal moved to Berlin, where he became theatrical critic of the Berliner Tageblatt, holding this position until 1887, when he opened the Lessing Theater, of which he was director till 1898. From 1894 to 1895 he was also director of the Berliner Theater. From 1898 he was engaged exclusively in literary work.
Blumenthal was well-known as a critic and playwright. His critiques in the feuilletons of the newspapers sparkle with humour, at the same time doing justice to authors and actors. Because of their sharpness he was sometimes called "bloody Oscar". His plays have had merited success, and many of them were well received at the leading German theaters. Together with Gustav Kadelburg
he wrote several comedies like the famous Im weissen Rössl. As a researcher in literature he became famous for his edition of the works of Christian Dietrich Grabbe
. He also was successful a theatrical manager.
Blumenthal is also known for his humorous short poems, for example:
Das ist ein hässliches Gebrechen,
Wenn Menschen wie die Bücher sprechen.
Doch reich und fruchtbar sind für jeden
Die Bücher, die wie Menschen reden.
(It is a terrible flaw
When people speak like books,
But good and useful for everyone
Are books that speak like people).
last five together with G. Kadelburg;
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
- 24 April 1917, Berlin) was a German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
playwright and drama critic.
Biography
Blumenthal was educated at the gymnasiumGymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
and the university of his native town, and at the university at Leipsic
Leipsic
Leipsic is the old English spelling for the German city of Leipzig.Leipsic may refer to:-Places:In Germany:* LeipzigIn the United States:* Leipsic, Delaware* Leipsic, Indiana* Leipsic, Ohio* West Leipsic, Ohio...
, where he received the degree of doctor of philosophy in 1872. After having been editor of the Deutsche Dichterhalle in Leipzig, he founded in 1873 the Neue Monatshefte für Dichtkunst und Kritik. In 1875 Blumenthal moved to Berlin, where he became theatrical critic of the Berliner Tageblatt, holding this position until 1887, when he opened the Lessing Theater, of which he was director till 1898. From 1894 to 1895 he was also director of the Berliner Theater. From 1898 he was engaged exclusively in literary work.
Blumenthal was well-known as a critic and playwright. His critiques in the feuilletons of the newspapers sparkle with humour, at the same time doing justice to authors and actors. Because of their sharpness he was sometimes called "bloody Oscar". His plays have had merited success, and many of them were well received at the leading German theaters. Together with Gustav Kadelburg
Gustav Kadelburg
Gustav Kadelburg was a Hungarian-German Jewish actor, dramatist, writer.He made his first appearance at Leipzig in 1869, and two years later played at the Wallnertheater in Berlin...
he wrote several comedies like the famous Im weissen Rössl. As a researcher in literature he became famous for his edition of the works of Christian Dietrich Grabbe
Christian Dietrich Grabbe
Christian Dietrich Grabbe was a German dramatist.Born in Detmold, Lippe, he wrote many historical plays and is also known for his use of satire and irony. He suffered from an unhappy marriage...
. He also was successful a theatrical manager.
Blumenthal is also known for his humorous short poems, for example:
Das ist ein hässliches Gebrechen,
Wenn Menschen wie die Bücher sprechen.
Doch reich und fruchtbar sind für jeden
Die Bücher, die wie Menschen reden.
(It is a terrible flaw
When people speak like books,
But good and useful for everyone
Are books that speak like people).
Literary works
Blumenthal is the author of many plays and novels, among which may be mentioned:- Allerhand Ungezogenheiten, Leipzig, 1874, 5th ed., 1877;
- Für alle Wagen und Menschenklassen, ib. 1875;
- Bummelbriefe, Danzig, 1880;
- and the comedies Der Probepfeil, 1882;
- Die grosse Glocke, 1887;
- Der schwarze Schleier 1887;
- Der Zaungast, 1889;
- Grossstadtluft, 1891;
- Heute und Gestern, 1892;
- Hans Huckebein, 1897;
- Die strengen Herren, 1900;
last five together with G. Kadelburg;
- Im Weissen Rössl, 1898 (famous for Ralph BenatzkyRalph BenatzkyRalph Benatzky , Moravia, Austrian Empire – 16 October 1957), born in Moravské Budějovice as Rudolf Josef František Benatzki, was an Austrian composer of Czech origin...
) - Merkzettel, 1898;
- Matthias Gollinger, with M. Bernstein, 1898;
- Verbotene Stücke, 1900;
- Gesammelte Epigramme, 1890
- He also edited Grabbes Werke und handschriftlicher Nachlass, ib. 1878.