First World War Internee actor Paul Kaiser, Knockaloe Camp, Isle of Man
Date(s): ?1918
Scope & Content: The identification of Paul Gustav Karl Kaiser is based upon the prisoner number 21394 which appears on the glass plate, and comparison with the repatriation lists which appear on the ICRC website. He arrived at Knockaloe 7/10/15 and his Red Cross information bureau number was 27343. He first appeared on a list of prisoners in January 1915, recorded as Unteroffizier, Gr.-I 1, Kp 1, Landwehr (army reserve). Home address: Brandenburg, Kleine Gartenstr. 36. Held at Stratford Camp.
Here he is dressed as a character from 'Der liebe Augustin', 1912, composed by the Austrian, Leo Fall (1873-1925) - known as 'Princess Caprice' in London and said to have been performed 3,360 times in Berlin. Der liebe Augustin, (Dear Augustin) revision of Der Rebell; Neues Theatre, Berlin, 3 February 1912 (Der Rebell - 3 acts - Book and lyrics by Rudolf Bernauer, Ernst Welisch; Theater an der Wein, Vienna, 28 November 1905).
Lager Zeitung 22 December 1916 praised his role as 'Humpty Bumpty' in a variety show, whilst on 7 October 1917 as the character 'Musenfett' in 'Film Magic' he was described as 'the kingpin in an excellent cast.'
Nationality: German
Language: English
Extent: overall: 16 cm x 12 cm
Physical description: Black & white glass half-plate negative
Item name: photograph
Collection: Photographic Archive
Level: ITEM
ID number: PG/7870/39119
Subject tags : studio portrait, theatre, opera, historical costume.