2010
As the Tigerpalast enters a new decade, we re-discover the appeal of variety entertainment in downtown Frankfurt.
2009
Our anniversary celebrations reach their climax in July 2009 with a spectacular reception given by the mayor of Frankfurt, Petra Roth, in the ancient Kaisersaal in City Hall – 100 employees and performers from around the world are honoured with this unique privilege, here, in the capital of variety. Germany’s leading variety club comes of age. No other theatre like it exists in Europe!
2008
On 5th March 2008 the international performers from the Tigerpalast give a performance on behalf of the city of Frankfurt am Main at the International Tourism Exchange (ITB) in Berlin.
On 23rd May 3,000 members and guests of the IHK Frankfurt celebrate the 200th anniversary of this leading business institution. For the first time the Tigerpalast stages a complete performance and catering event on the historic square in front of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
On 1st September publishers Suhrkamp/Insel and the Tigerpalast hold a joint presentation on Reinhold Batberger’s book “Der Jahrhundertjongleur Francis Brunn”. Four years of research went into producing this wonderful book on the life and times of the legendary juggler Francis Brunn: a literary event in time to mark the beginning of the “20 years of the Tigerpalast” anniversary programme.
30th September 2008: twenty years ago to the day we began our metropolitan foray into variety: curtain up for the very first time at the Tigerpalast – an event marked on its 20th anniversary by an international gala evening attended by the movers and shakers of Frankfurt, featuring guest stars from Moscow, Paris and New York – the crème de la crème of modern variety!
Maria Happel, an actress from Vienna’s Burgtheater, ennobles the anniversary evening with Edith Piaf: “Je ne regrette rien”, Frankfurt showering the performance with standing ovations from the outset…
Throughout the entire year we celebrate the legends of modern variety to captivated anniversary houses. Oleg Izossimov, Kris Kremo, Nathalie Enterline, the Pellegrini Brothers and Aurelia Cats, George Schlick, the Blackwits, Vince Bruce and Cong Tian. The variety all-stars, at home in the Tigerpalast.
2007
In February 2007 Hesse’s Minister of Science and Art, Udo Corts, awards the founders of the Tigerpalast Varieté Theatre -Johnny Klinke and Margareta Dillinger – the state of Hesse’s Goethe Badge of Honour. Both Goethe badges are given for the founding and realisation of the entire Tigerpalast brand. This is the highest cultural-political accolade achieved to date by variety in Germany.
2006
On 28th and 29th June 3,000 guests once again witness a first-class international Tigerpalast revue to celebrate 1,100 years of the town of Weilburg.
24th and 25th July 2006, 55th anniversary of the Fulda Zeitung: The Tigerpalast stages its international performance festival in Fulda in front of 2,500 guests – on both evenings.
16. September 2006 For the fifth year running Tigerpalast performers make a charitable appearance at the WIZO* Sponsor A Child gala evening. (*international Jewish aid organisation)
2005
The FIFA World Cup dress rehearsal - the Confederations Cup - kicks off on 15th June 2005. At the opening ceremony in Frankfurt’s new Commerzbank Arena, in front of 60,000 spectators and millions of television viewers, the Tigerpalast sets the scene for this major sporting and cultural event with a tightrope display in cooperation with the Frankfurt Opera. Performers from the Tigerpalast once again open the HESSENTAG state fair. From 18th to 21st June 2005 4,500 guests were treated to performances by the variety all-stars in the courtyard of Weilburg’s Baroque residence.
At the premiere of the 2005/2006 season some 4,000 visitors to the Städel Maecenas Summer Night celebrate fine art meets performance art in the grounds of the Frankfurt Städel museum on the banks of the Main.
2004
From 2nd to 31st December 2004 more than 20,000 guests once again attend Germany’s leading variety Christmas revue in the great hall of the Wiesbaden Kurhaus. The Tigerpalast and Circus Roncalli, the leading exponents of modern variety, dazzle audiences with a balanced programme of world-class acts.
2003
To mark the beginning of the Year of Disabled People, 1,000 disabled and able-bodied guests attended an international Tigerpalast gala evening in March 2003 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the IB Behindertenhilfe Hessen in Oberursel town hall. As part of Frankfurt’s bid to hold the 2012 Summer Olympics, Johnny Klinke staged an Olympia Day for 15,000 sports fans on the Römerberg in Frankfurt.
On 2nd September 2003 the Tigerpalast celebrates its 15th anniversary with an international gala.
From 11th December 2003 to January 2004 the Tigerpalast in cooperation with Bernhard Paul, founder of Circus Roncalli, presents a Christmas revue for 30,000 guests in the Wiesbaden Kurhaus.
2002
On 2nd February 2002 variety director Johnny Klinke presents the international variety all-stars at the Sports Ball. For the first time the Tigerpalast produces the artistic concept for one of Germany’s leading social events, held in Frankfurt’s Festival Hall.
In November 2002, in cooperation with New Yorker Francis Brunn, we stage the Flamenco acrobatic show INCOGNITO for a total of 8,000 visitors to the Jahrhunderthalle in Hoechst. (World premiere in Frankfurt’s Alte Oper).
At the opening of the Hesse State Representation in Berlin by the prime minister of Hesse, Roland Koch, in September 2002, Johnny Klinke and Margareta Dillinger stage a first-class international variety revue featuring performers from 10 nations.
2001
HESSENTAG On 18th May the international stars of the Tigerpalast theatre open the Hessentag 2001 state fair in Dietzenbach with an “International Variety Stars – Guests of Hesse” revue in front of more than 20,000 visitors.
2000
On 19th August 6,000 guests attend the Maecenas Summer Night at Frankfurt’s Städel museum featuring the premiere of the Tigerpalast variety club’s autumn 2000 show. In September 2000 Martin Göschel takes over as Tigerpalast chef de cuisine. Ever since the Michelin Guide continues to confirm the quality of the restaurant with its one Michelin star.
1999
Numerous international gala performances:
- Programme to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Witten/Herdecke University
- Festive programme to celebrate the re-opening of Frankfurt’s Palmenhaus
- In November 1999 another gala programme for the city of Frankfurt in New York. In autumn 1999 an original line up of performers from New York’s Broadway makes a guest appearance at the Tigerpalast in an exclusive European premiere. Title: “Hoofing and Banging”
1998
2nd and 3rd October: the Tigerpalast celebrates its 10th anniversary! 2 million ARD television viewers watch the live transmission of the international anniversary revue. Frankfurt’s mayor, Petra Roth, honours the founders, performers and employees of the Tigerpalast variety club with a reception in Frankfurt’s Kaisersaal. During its first 10 years, the Tigerpalast welcomed more than 1 million guests from Germany and abroad.
29th November: the Tigerpalast makes a guest appearance in New York – giving a variety revue for the city of Frankfurt in the public library.
1997
International gala guest appearances in France, Switzerland and Italy. Under the management of Viktor Stampfer and Miguel Martin, the Tiger restaurant receives its first Michelin star in November 1997.
1996
April: 3-day guest appearance at the Bad Neuenahr Kurhaus to revive the entertainment scene in this historic spa town.
1995
June: Luc Jochimsen, editor-in-chief of the Hessischer Rundfunk, films a 45-minute feature “Unter Deutschen Dächern” about life at the Tigerpalast, watched on 4th June by 3.5 million ARD 1 viewers.
September: the Tigerpalast takes on the staging of a city fair in celebration of “50 years of the Frankfurter Rundschau”, attended by 150,000 people.
November: co-initiator of the charity event LOBBY für WOHNSITZLOSE und ARME e.V. attended by 2,400 guests at Frankfurt’s Alte Oper.
1994
17th April: 1st International Variety Night in Leipzig
Cooperation with local variety enthusiasts to found the first variety club in Germany’s new federal states.
12th June 1994: THE HISTORIC TIGHTROPE WALK
At the climax of celebrations to mark Frankfurt’s 1,200th anniversary and following three years of preparation, Frenchman Philippe Petit walks a tightrope from the Paulskirche to the Kaiserdom steeple – at a height of 80 metres. 500,000 spellbound spectators on the ground and 5 million television viewers witness a full programme of acts featuring 400 performers: twelve hours of live entertainment on the Römerberg. Johnny Klinke and Margareta Dillinger realise the dream of a lifetime – in the end the Tigerpalast contributes more than half a million deutschmarks to the total cost of 3 million.
30th October: opening event of the Fritz Bauer Institute held at the Tigerpalast: nineteen-twenties Jewish cabaret relived on the Tigerpalast stage.
1993
14th October: Performers from the Tigerpalast open the new university at Witten/Herdecke.
1992
Opening of the Palast bar (architects: Axel Strigl and Rüdiger Kramm) – metropolitan meeting place for international cultural encounters. Blues and jazz nights return to Frankfurt. Joan Faulkner and the Clark Brothers from America make their new home in Frankfurt am Main
8th March: Guest appearance representing the city of Frankfurt at the International Tourism Exchange (ITB) in Berlin
30th October: The Tigerpalast revue opens Hanover’s new state theatre.
1990
15th to 17th March: Guest appearance during the Leipzig Trade Show
28th to 30th June: 45-minute television feature with HR for ARD 1 television channel
14th to 18th November: Performance in the Palmengarten for international guests attending the ATP tennis tournament. Max Raabe and the Palast orchestra make their first appearance on a German variety stage at the Tigerpalast.
1991
Variety revue given by the Tigerpalast at the opening of the ICE railway station in Kassel attended by Germany’s president Richard von Weizsäcker
31st May: Performance in ICC Berlin to mark German Communication Day 1991
8th June: In front of 10,000 metal workers in Darmstadt: centenary celebrations by the metalworkers’ union IG Metall featuring a Tigerpalast revue, guest star Matthias Beltz
29th August to 1st September: Museumsuferfest in Frankfurt am Main.
1989
21st February: First international guest appearance at the tourism trade show in Milan
1st and 2nd September: Co-staging of the Museumsuferfest in Frankfurt am Main.
1988
30th September 1988, opening of the first new variety club of modern times in Frankfurt am Main. A grant issued by the Hesse state government and cooperation with the city of Frankfurt am Main in a downtown area earmarked for redevelopment makes it possible to convert the former Ballhaus (used by the Salvation Army for 60 years) in Heiligkreuzgasse 16-20. Opening of the cultural venue without reliance on subsidies with the aim of both establishing an independent, professional culture of entertainment and of reinforcing the cultural renaissance of Frankfurt’s inner city. 30 permanent employees – 20 international performers and musicians (“one of the most risky new cultural ventures in post-war Germany...” Hesse Department of Trade).
Matthias Beltz was right when he announced on 30th September 1988:
LIBERTÉ – EGALITÉ – VARIETÉ
1986
Johnny Klinke and Margareta Dillinger found the Tigerpalast. Co-founder is leading Frankfurt cabaret artist Matthias Beltz. Previously – from a base in Berlin: three years spent collecting ideas and studying the history of nineteen twenties’ entertainment culture with trips to Budapest and Prague, London, Paris and Barcelona. Move to establish international performers’ network.
