Ellis Kaut, inventor of the Pumuckl, would have turned 100 on November 17th. How she got the famous goblin and other exciting facts.
Ellis Kaut (1920-2015) is not only the inventor of the Pumuckl – the children's book author, who was born in Stuttgart 100 years ago and moved to Munich as a toddler, became a local celebrity when she was just 18 years old: in 1938 she was named the first official Munich child . But the most important work of the writer is the little goblin in Meister Eder's workshop, which she invented in the early 1960s and which is still very popular with children today. It is important to know about the Klabautermann and his inventor.
Pumuckl's creation
Even before the Pumuckl, Kaut was successful with "Kater Musch". She wrote his stories as a radio play series for BR. In the summer of 1961, the station was looking for a new radio play for its children's program. When Ellis Kaut was looking for an idea, the first thing that came to mind was the name Pumuckl – a nickname that her husband had given her. On February 21, 1962, Bayerischer Rundfunk broadcast the first radio play by "Meister Eder und seine Pumuckl". The Pumuckl voice came from Hans Clarin (1929-2005).
Master Eder
It is well known that Pumuckl belongs to Meister Eder, the owner of a carpenter's workshop in a Munich backyard. The lovable bachelor in his early 60s, to whose glue pot the red-haired goblin stuck to, should actually be portrayed in the TV series by the radio play speaker Alfred Pongratz (1900-1977). When he died unexpectedly shortly before the start of filming, Gustl Bayrhammer (1922-1993) took over the part. The first season ran in 1982 and 1983, season two in 1988 and 1989. In addition, films, books and radio drama tapes were made, and in 1999 another less successful one TV season, "Pumuckl's Adventure".
She created Pumuckl's look
The little goblin can thank Barbara von Johnson (78) for the appearance of Pumuckl. The German illustrator and artist is the first to design the redhead, she illustrated Ellis Kaut's Pumuckl stories from 1963 to 1978. The animation of the Pumuckl for television was done in Hungary.
Dispute over Pumuckl
A court awarded Barbara von Johnson in 2003 to be named as the author of the graphic template for every visual representation of Pumuckl. Later there was trouble because von Johnson supported a children's painting competition in which Pumuckl was looking for a friend. Here Kaut saw her moral rights violated. The court ruled in favor of the illustrator. Ellis Kaut and Barbara von Johnson later made up.
Howard Carpendale's contribution
"Hurray, hurray, Pumuckl is here" – no Pumuckl episode without the famous theme song. The melody comes from the composer Fritz Muschler (1945-2010). Also involved in the song was not only director Ulrich König (71), but among others also pop singer Howard Carpendale (74). Pumuckl spokesman Hans Clarin himself sang the song.
Demolished backdrop
Gustl Bayrhammer, who died in 1993 at the age of 71, had campaigned against the demolition of old town houses in the Lehel district of Munich after the end of the Pumuckl filming. Including the film set of the carpenter's workshop in a backyard of Widenmayerstraße 2. Unsuccessful.
Worldwide success
The television series about the cult goblin ran on the screens in 28 countries. Pumuckl is known in Brazil and China. In addition to the radio play, book and TV series, the famous redhead even has his own musical.
TV comeback
Ellis Kaut would be delighted to receive this 100th birthday present: Pumuckl should come back on television! A new series is planned, when and where it will be shown is not yet known.