The story of Fritz Grünbaum, Mr Greentree.

 

Welcome to the irrepressible world of Fritz Grünbaum…

Writer, satirist, social commentator, early ‘Talkies’ star, and Cabaret owner, Grünbaum was born in Moravia, now Czechia, the son of a Jewish art dealer, he moved to Vienna, aged 18 to study law but instead was drawn to the theatre. 

 

He first made his name in Vienna as an author or libretti for operetta, while his reputation for quick-witted repartee made him a popular entertainer on the Vienna Cabaret circuit. He was a popular fixture at the famous Simpl Cabaret for nearly 25 years, performing as Master of Ceremonies and as a comedy duo with long time friend, Karl Farkus

After World War I he divided his career between Vienna, Berlin, and Budapest. He also appeared in a dozen early talkie films, among them "The Theft of the Mona Lisa" (1931), "The Good Sinners" (1931), "A Song, A Kiss, A Girl" (1932), and "Man with No Name" (1932), and the stage musical "Dream Express" (1931), which he co-wrote with Farkas.

His notoriety for sharp political satire grew. An ardent antifascist, he was banned from performing in Germany and Hungary in 1933 but continued to mock Hitler in Vienna, long after it became dangerous to do so.

With all out war in Europe looming, in February 1938, he gave his last performance at the Simpl Cabaret, Vienna. As he entered the darkened stage he cried; 

 

“I see nothing but darkness, absolutely nothing. I must have stepped into the National Socialist Culture…”

 

Soon after, Germany annexed Austria, Grünbaum attempted to flee to Czechoslovakia, only to be turned away at the border.  He was arrested, then imprisoned at Dachau, then  Buckenwald, then back to Dachau.

 

The irrepressible comedian staged clandestine performances to entertain his fellow prisoners with mordant humour about concentration camp life.

On New Years Eve, 1940, Grünbaum gave his last performance to the patients of the Dachau infirmary. When recognised by a fellow inmate, he only gave his camp number and reportedly said;

 

“I just want to spread a little happiness on this last day of the year.”

 

He died just two weeks later from tuberculosis, at the Dachau concentration camp. 

He was permitted the dignity of having his body returned to Vienna for burial at the Zentralfriedhof's Jewish section. His tombstone bears a cenotaph for his wife Lilly, who died at Auschwitz in 1942. Grünbaum was a noted art connoisseur. Following his arrest, Natzi officers stole his 450-piece collection, which included works by Durer, Rembrandt, Degas, Kokoschka, and over 60 works by Egon Schiele. Some are still unaccounted for.

In Grünbaum we discover a life a little less ordinary, a celebrated public figure that trod a fine line in a dangerously shifting society.  And more, an inextinguishable belief in the restoring power of theatre, of survival through kindness, imagination and creativity.