Achtung! Wir grüßen dich!
What admiral could resist returning the salute
of four shapely young women dressed in
sequined bathing costumes and bi-corned hats?
of four shapely young women dressed in
sequined bathing costumes and bi-corned hats?
They were the:
Damen Gesang und Verwandlungs Ensemble
Blitzmädels
directed by M. Witthein
~~
~~
Ladies Singing and Transformation Ensemble
Lightning Girls
Lightning Girls
Their postcard was sent on an obscured date,
to someone in Berlin by way
of the German Marine Schiffspost.
to someone in Berlin by way
of the German Marine Schiffspost.
***
No doubt the admiral's wife would prefer
the Blitzmädel's more nautical costume
as pictured here with their marlinespike accessory.
the Blitzmädel's more nautical costume
as pictured here with their marlinespike accessory.
This postcard was sent on the 26 November 1913
from Friedrichshafen, an industrial city
in the German state of Baden-Württemberg.
It is situated on the northern shoreline
of Lake Constance (Bodensee)
which borders both Switzerland and Austria.
from Friedrichshafen, an industrial city
in the German state of Baden-Württemberg.
It is situated on the northern shoreline
of Lake Constance (Bodensee)
which borders both Switzerland and Austria.
***
Costumes were a specialty of the Blitzmädel,
and it's likely that under those sailor suits
they were wearing stripey bathing costumes.
The quartet of Lightening Maidens
were Verwandlungskünstlerin or quick change artists.
and it's likely that under those sailor suits
they were wearing stripey bathing costumes.
The quartet of Lightening Maidens
were Verwandlungskünstlerin or quick change artists.
This postcard was posted on 25 January 1916
from Neumünster, a city in the north German state
of Schleswig-Holstein.
from Neumünster, a city in the north German state
of Schleswig-Holstein.
***
The Damen Gesang Werwandlungs Quartett
Lustige Hamburger „4 Blitzmädel”
traveled with a large wardrobe
that allowed them to portray
a wide variety of German fashions.
Their music hall performances
likely combined songs and dance moves
with strategically placed screens on stage
that let them quickly transform
from female to male and back again.
Based on the postmark on this postcard
they had been around since at least 1910.
This was sent from Lüneburg,
a town in Lower Saxony, Germany
not far south from their home city of Hamburg,
to a soldier in Hannover
from a whole platoon of his comrades,
at least two dozen, who no doubt were enjoying
the performance of the enjoying the Blitzmädel.
Lustige Hamburger „4 Blitzmädel”
traveled with a large wardrobe
that allowed them to portray
a wide variety of German fashions.
Their music hall performances
likely combined songs and dance moves
with strategically placed screens on stage
that let them quickly transform
from female to male and back again.
Based on the postmark on this postcard
they had been around since at least 1910.
This was sent from Lüneburg,
a town in Lower Saxony, Germany
not far south from their home city of Hamburg,
to a soldier in Hannover
from a whole platoon of his comrades,
at least two dozen, who no doubt were enjoying
the performance of the enjoying the Blitzmädel.
Unfortunately we can never know
what songs, dances, skits, or humor
the Blitzmädels incorporated into their act.
But there is a modern dance group
that is a kind of cultural descendant.
what songs, dances, skits, or humor
the Blitzmädels incorporated into their act.
But there is a modern dance group
that is a kind of cultural descendant.
Check out this performance of four men
from Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo.
They do not sing, but I think their cross-dressing
conveys some of the humor of the Blitzmädels
from Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo.
They do not sing, but I think their cross-dressing
conveys some of the humor of the Blitzmädels
* * *
* * *
This is my contribution to Sepia Saturday.
Click the link to see what's playing on stage.
Click the link to see what's playing on stage.
