Johann-Strauß-Theater

About

The Johann Strauss Theater was built at Favoritenstraße [ de ] 8 in Wieden in 1908 when Viennese operetta was highly successful. The architect Eduard Prandl [ de ] built a theatre dedicated to operetta for 1,200 spectators in Baroque Revival style. It was opened on 30 October 1908 with 1001 Nacht, an arrangement of Indigo und die vierzig Räuber by Johann Strauss, made after he died.

The world premiere of Emmerich Kálmán's Die Csárdásfürstin in 1915 was followed by more than 500 performances. Alexander Girardi starred in Kálmáns Der Zigeunerprimas, premiered in 1912. In 1925, Lehár's Paganini was first performed. Josephine Baker appeared in her revue Schwarz auf weiß in March 1928.

The theatre faced financial problems due to the Great Depression in 1929 and the growing attraction of sound film. Therefore the architect Carl Witzmann [ de ] transformed the house into a cinema for 1,400 people in 1931. Named Scala, it was opened on 30 September 1931. It was also used for Varieté performances.

Between 1948 and 1956, when the district was under Soviet occupation, the housе was used for drama theatre in ambitious staging, such as with Karl Paryla and Therese Giehse in Brecht plays,…