Blumenthal, Oskar

German author and playwright; born at Berlin March 13, 1852. He was educated at the gymnasium and the university of his native town, and at the university at Leipsic, where, in 1872, he received the degree of doctor of philosophy. After having been editor of the "Deutsche Dichterhalle" in Leipsic, he founded in 1873 the "Neuen Monatshefte für Dichtkunst und Kritik." In 1875 Blumenthal moved to Berlin, where he became the-atrical critic of the "Berliner Tageblatt," holding this position until 1887, when he opened the Lessing Theater, of which he was director till 1898. From 1894 to 1895 he was also director of the Berliner Theater. Since 1898 he has been engaged exclusively in literary work.

Oskar Blumenthal.

Blumenthal is well-known as a critic and playwright. His critiques in the feuilletons of the newspapers sparkle with humor, at the same time doing justice to authors and actors. His plays have had merited success, and many of them have been well received at the leading German theaters. As a theatrical manager he was very successful.

Blumenthal is the author of many plays and novels, among which may be mentioned: "Allerhand Ungezogenheiten," Leipsic, 1874, 5th ed., 1877; "Für Alle Wagenund Menschenklassen," ib. 1875; "Bummelbriefe," Danzig, 1880; and the comedies "Der Probepfeil," 1882; "Die Grosse Glocke," 1887; "Der Zaungast," 1889; "Grossstadtluft," 1891; "Hans Huckebein," 1897; "Im Weissen Rössl," 1898, the last three together with G. Kadelburg; "Merkzettel," 1898; and "Verbotene Stücke," 1900. He also edited "Grabbe's Werke und Handschriftlicher Nachlass," ib. 1878.

Bibliography:

  * Meyers, Konversations-Lexikon, s.v.;
  * Brockhaus, Konversations-Lexikon, s.v.



S. F. T. H.