Adalbert Klingler

Adalbert Klingler (born December 28, 1896 in Zürich-Riesbach; died November 28, 1974 in Zürich-Oerlikon) was a pioneer of artistic hand puppetry in Switzerland, father of the Migros Kasperli in Park im Grüene, and author of his Kasperli pieces and various poems in Swiss German Dialect (Zurich Switzerland).

Life
Adalbert Klingler was born on December 28, 1896 in Zürich-Riesbach as the first son of master tailor, Salomon Klingler, and his wife Maria (née Eng). He was the pride of his parents and his father, in particular, saw him as the offspring of the tailor's profession. A job other than that of his father was hardly an option at the time. Adalbert Klingler lived with his parents in Zürich-Aussersihl his entire childhood and beyond.

«Bewitched» by puppetry
In 1901, as a five-year-old boy, he came into contact with puppetry for the first time. He himself later said: «At that time in the Trattoria Viola on Langstrasse, where the Burattinaio, the Italian puppeteer had set up his small stage, I became literally bewitched with his Bergamasco native, a Kasper Giuppin. He blew up my world. A completely new world opened up to me.» Whenever little Adalbert was able to escape from home, he took his place there. Sometimes, his mother almost had to force him out of the smoke-filled bar at ten o'clock in the evening.

He dedicated his entire life to his beloved hand puppets. But the path to becoming a pioneer of artistic hand puppetry in Switzerland and probably the first puppeteer hired full-time by an employer was long and rocky. Decades of searching and wandering, hoping and despairing, wanting and failing followed.

In 1915 he broke off an apprenticeship as a decorative painter. In 1918 he completed his apprenticeship as a tailor in his father's shop. In 1920 he tried to study theology. He then worked as a magazine representative for two years, and from 1926 he worked for 15 years as a life insurance representative and another six years as a furniture insurance representative.

In his free time, he worked as an amateur actor, e.g. at the «Freie Bühne Zurich». Thanks to his expressive voice, he was chosen as a role actor at the «Swiss Marionette Theater in the Museum of Design, Zürich». There he gave his voice to the monkey «Jaffo» in the play «Zirkus Juhu» by Traugott Vogel. He also worked as a speaker and reciter at the Radio Studio Zurich. A highlight was his appointment to participate in the Einsiedeln World Theater in 1924 and 1925.

In 1928 he married Hilde Endres (born November 28, 1905, † November 20, 1995.) The two had four children together: Irmgard (1928), Adalbert Jr. (1929), Werner (1932) and Lilo (1938). In addition to the four children, household and gardenwork, she supported her husband in his puppet show.

First engagements
In 1933 at the «Züga», the Zurich horticultural exhibition, Klingler appeared in front of the public for the first time with «Adalbert Klingler's Artist Kasperlitheater» and thrilled young and old alike. In 1938, the Gantenbein & Co company in Chur organized Kasperli puppet shows from December 11th to 18th. During this time, Adalbert Klingler and his wife left their four small children in the care of grandparents and friends in order to be able to accept this commitment. In 1939, Klingler received an engagement in Nestlé's children's paradise at the Swiss national exhibition «Landi 39» in Zurich. Over the course of six months, more than 70'000 children attended the Landi Kasper performances in 550 performances. From 1939 to 1946, Klingler was involved, among other things, in alternating engagements with the Globus and Jelmoli department stores.

From 1939 to 1945, Klingler visited the troops as a puppeteer as part of the Spiritual national defense on behalf of the Federal Military Department's «Army and Home» section together with the author Traugott Vogel with the newly-founded traveling theater «Schnabelweid». With their «HD Hansjoggel» (HD = relief service) they brought variety, humor and joy to the soldiers' hard days of service.

In 1942–1943, Klingler received permission from the Zurich City School Board to organize performances of his Punch and Judy shows in kindergartens, 1st to 6th grades and special classes after prior agreement with the house heads. In 1944 performances also took place at schools in Winterthur. In 1945, Adalbert Klingler wrote the hand puppet show «D'Schwiizer Spänd vo Chinde-Händ» (Swiss donation from children’s hands) on behalf of Pro Juventute. He performed this piece free of charge in Zurich school buildings as an important contribution to raising funds for war victims: The Swiss donation to war victims from 1944 to 1948 was a public collection by the Swiss people as an expression of solidarity with the victims of the Second World War.

Main job puppeteer
In 1946, Gottlieb Duttweiler, the founder of the Migros Cooperative Association, hired him at «Park im Grüene» in Rüschlikon. Adalbert Klingler became the first puppeteer in Switzerland to hold a permanent position. From then on, he gave performances in the park in the summer, and in the winter, he toured throughout German-speaking Switzerland. Under the name «Adalbert Klingler's Artist Kasperli» he appeared as a solo player, assisted by his wife Hilde Klingler-Endres and later also by his eldest daughter Irmgard Spörri-Klingler, who also served as his helper and chauffeur.

In 1964, Adalbert Klingler had to stop playing at «Park im Grüene» after several cataract operations and constant throat irritation. He left his figures and Punch and Judy pieces in the park and they live on there to this day. His successor was Jörg Scheider, who brought Kasperli into Swiss children's rooms in the following years through his cassette recordings. In the following years until his death in 1974, Adalbert Klingler worked intensively as a writer. He revised Kasperli plays, wrote poems in the Zurich dialect and published many of his plays in various publishers.

Significance as an artist
Adalbert Klingler is the author of around 100 Punch and Judy plays in true Zurich dialect. Around 25 of them were published in print by SJW, Castel, Globi and Haupt-Verlag as well as self-published. At the beginning, Klingler played to foreign texts, many of which were of German origin. He later began to write his own texts for hand puppet shows, most of them in the Zurich dialect. His successors continue to perform his pieces in the Park im Grüene to this day. He also wrote poems in dialect.

Adalbert Klingler could be described as the father of Swiss hand puppetry. He is considered the pioneer of artistic hand puppetry in Switzerland. He worked primarily with well-known personalities. This is how many of the figures he designed himself created by well-known artists such as Carl Fischer, Gustav Rauber, Ruth Zürcher-Schlüter and Claire Moser-Pilny. He had a long-standing penpal relationship with the artist Klara Fehrlin. She illustrated many of his works and also drew a portrait of him. The stage set for his puppet show «Thanks to Animals and Man», an Indian fairy tale, was created by the Swiss painter and expressionist Helen Dahm. The writer Traugott Vogel was Adalbert Klingler's friend and mentor.

Klingler's Artist Kasper
In 1975, the puppeteer Ueli Balmer paid tribute to his predecessor as the innovator of the character of Kasper: «Adalbert Klingler's puppet show was groundbreaking for educational artistic puppetry in this country.» In contrast to Max Jacob's Hohnsteiner Kasper, who was known in Germany and Austria at the time, with his hooked nose and broad laughing mouth, Klingler's Swiss counterpart has more of the traits of a sincere and clever boy. The development into Klingler-Kasper in its current form took time. His first Kasper still clearly bore the features of his German colleague. Klingler's new Kasper figure with the bulbous nose was carved in 1928 by Carl Fischer (1888–1987), the same man who commissioned Alfred Altherr to create the Hansjoggel for the production of «Dr. Faust» of the Swiss Marionette Theater. Klingler's Kasper is a local character. He embodies the fresh, the «gift of the gab»- type of character, the so-called «Zürihegel».

Chasperli pieces
With a few exceptions, the pieces are preserved as typescripts in the estate. This is with his granddaughter Regula Klingler.

1942 1943 1944 1945 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1967 1968 1969 Undatierte Stücke Unvollendete Stücke Plays by Adalbert Klingler, that are still played in the Park im Grüene at Rüschlikon
 * S Chrippeschpiil.
 * Blütenfein und Kuluruwunschifex.
 * Em Chaschper sys Gärtli. (new version march 1968)
 * Em Chaschper sy Müli. (1943/1961)
 * De Goldschatz im Fröscheweier. (1943, revision: june/july 1968)
 * Das Bananenkrokodil.
 * De guet Gäischt oder es gschpängschteret im Doorf.
 * E luschtigi Gsangsschtund.
 * D Sune schynt für ali Lüüt. (2nd revision 1968)
 * S verhäxte Hündli. (1st draft 1948, 3rd version 1968)
 * Kasper, Hex und Tausendschön.
 * De Chaschper, s Hüendli und de Ooschterhaas. (4th revision 1967)
 * Alles wägere Chaz.
 * De Nachthöiel. (new version march 1969)
 * D Prinzässi Tüpfi und ihres sydig Naselümpli. (the present version of 1968 ist the result of four thorough revisions over a period of 20 years. These revisions mainly concerned linguistic improvements.)
 * Em Chaschper si Himelsräis. (1st draft 1948, written 1967)
 * De verloore Himelsschlüssel.
 * Ilgewiiss und Roseroot.
 * Füürioo.
 * S Güliloch. (new version 1969)
 * Die schlau (gschyd) Puuretochter.
 * Des Teufels drei goldene Haare.
 * Alles wäg ere Chatz. (1st draft 1950, final version 1968)
 * Sunegold und de König Yszapfä. (3rd revision 1967)
 * De Chaschper und di drüü Seck Määl / Die verschwundenen Mehlsäcke.
 * Faust. (incomplete draft)
 * Am Fluss / Im Chaschper sym Garte.
 * D Schläckhäx. (new version 1968)
 * Rumperlstilzli.
 * D Glückschroon.
 * Die beede Röiber Luchs und Fuchs.
 * Chaschper, Tazelwurm und Glögglispiil.
 * D Robinsoonhütte. (1952, 1960, 1968)
 * Der aarm Gumperli. (completely revised 1968)
 * S gfunde Häärz. (5th revision 1968)
 * Die beiden Glocken.
 * Dä böös Nachber.
 * Bim Waldweier im Tannäbüel.
 * Nu es chlyses Liechtli.
 * D Zauberlaterne.
 * S Läbeswasser.
 * Der Öpfelschtand.
 * Lupf mi uuf, cheer mi um. (3rd revision 1956)
 * De König Trooschtlebaart. (3rd revision 1968)
 * Em Chröömer syn Chorb.
 * Die beede Glogge.
 * Guutschäross und Achergaul. (1st draft 1958, completely new version 1967)
 * Silberhäärz und Goldhäärz.
 * Der Menschen und der Tiere Dank.
 * Dä Charfunkelschtäi.
 * Wie de Chaschper König wiirt .(revised 1969)
 * De Fischer und sy Frau.
 * S Sunegold.
 * Em Riis syn Taappe und de Plämpel vo de Zauberglogge.
 * De Zauberschpruch im Bergchrischtal. (4th revision 1968)
 * Hookus – pookus – Zauberstäcke. (revised october 1968)
 * D Schläckhäx. (new version may/june 1968)
 * De armi Gumperli. (1952, completely revised and expanded 1968)
 * D Häxebluem. (new version 1968)
 * De Froschkönig. (3rd completely new version)
 * De Chaschper, s Beetli und e Chue. (2nd revision 1968/69)
 * Das arme gefangene Rotkehlchen.
 * De Chaschper hät halt es guets Heerz.
 * Em Mäieli sin Geburtstag (Es Chaschperstuck nach ere Idee vo de Claire Moser-Pilni).
 * Die blaue Seerose.
 * De Zirkus Ach und Krach.
 * Prinz Goldlagg.
 * Die Zauberuhr.
 * Kaspers gute Tat.
 * Schnupfsack, Chnaschterchruut und Taneböim.
 * D Wunderwienecht im Märliwald.
 * S Hansli und s Griitli.
 * Faust.
 * Kasperl als Lehrbub.
 * Pass uuf, heb Sorg.
 * De Häxebaum.
 * Vom Chaschper und em heilige Chrischt.
 * D Luussalbi.
 * Globi wird Kasperle Direktor.
 * Ys-Gräm.
 * Kasper in der Schule.
 * Dr Chaschper schpillt Chaschperli.
 * Lieböigli.
 * De Vogel mit em goldige Herz.
 * Wambambo.
 * D'Schnapshäx.
 * S'verlorene Chrönli.
 * Profässer Übergschiid.
 * De verzaubereti Prinz.

Published works

 * Globi’s lustige Kasperli-Bücher. Band I: Globi wird Kasperli-Direktor / E gspässigi Grichtsverhandlig / Ein lustiges Spiel vom Kaster am Nil / Schnuderzapfe, Zigerchrapfe und de Tod / Praktische Anleitung zum selber Kasperli spielen. Illustriert von Herbert Leupin. Globi-Verlag, Zürich 1943/1944.
 * Globi’s lustige Kasperli-Bücher. Band II: Dä Globi weiss en Raat / Isepaan Lokematiif / Wänn de Chaschper d Chindli gschweiget / e luschtigi Gsangs-Schtund / Ibitumm-Zältli / Praktische Anleitung zum Selbstbau eines Bühnenhauses. Illustrated by Herbert Leupin. Globi-Verlag, Zürich 1945.
 * Chaschper, Chrischt und Königssoon: Drei Handpuppenspiele auch für grosse Leute. Verlag Paul Haupt, Bern 1959.
 * De Chaschper schlüüfft is Määrli-Gwand. Vier zürichdeutsche Kasperstücke. Verlag Paul Haupt, Bern 1967.
 * Em Chaschper sis Gärtli; ein fröhliches Spiel für das Handpuppentheater. With linocuts by Klara Fehrlin. Schweizerisches Jugendschriftenwerk, Zürich 143. (= SJW Nr. 152)
 * De verloore Himmelsschlüssel: Es Chaschperlispiil vom Adalbert Klingler mit Zäichnige vo der Klara Fehrlin. Schweizerisches Jugendschriftenwerk, Zürich 1949. (= SJW Nr. 333)
 * Prinz Goldlagg. Castel Verlag, Wollerau/SZ 1963.
 * Em Chröömer syn Chorb. Volksverlag, Elgg.
 * S Läbeswasser. Es Chaschperlispiil im Mëërli-Gwand nach de Brüeder Grimm. Eigenverlag Gnosseschaft zur Limet, Zürich 1953.
 * Der gute Wichtelmann; nach Motiven aus dem finnischen Märchen «der Hausgeist». Für die Kasperlibühne frei gestaltet und mit Zeichnungen von Adalbert Klingler. Self-published Genossenschaft zur Limmat, Zürich.
 * Zauberer, Hex und Tausendschön. Self-published Genossenschaft zur Limmat, Zürich.
 * Rumpelstilzli: Es Chaschperlispiil nach em Mëërli vo de Brüedere Grimm, ersunen und zämäpüschelet und mit Helglenen uusstaffiert vom Adalbert Klingler. Self-published Genossenschaft zur Limmat, Zürich.

Literature

 * Oskar Eberle: Wege zum Volkstheater. In: Jahrbuch der Gesellschaft für Schweizerische Theaterkultur, Bd. 13, 1943, S. 33–37. Webzugriff via E-Periodica
 * Ursula Bissegger: Puppentheater in der Schweiz. In: Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Theaterkultur (Hrsg.): Schweizer Theaterjahrbuch, Bd. 41, 1978. Webzugriff via E-Periodica
 * Theo und Mariann Landolt: Abschied. In: Figura. Zeitschrift für Puppen- und Figurentheater, Jg. 24, Nr. 76, Heft 2. S. 11.
 * Beat Matter: De Chasperli isch da. In: Migros-Magazin, Nr. 2, 9. Januar 2012, S. 10–17. Link
 * Balmer-Krüger, Ueli: Eintritt frei – Kinder die Hälfte. Von Puppenspielern, Gauklern und Komödianten in Europa. Books on Demand, 2013.
 * Elke Krafka: Aussenansicht Schweiz: Figurentheater. ZeitSpuren, Brunn am Gebirge 2023.