Cheerful Aalborg

The text contains the most vital information on the items shown in the exhibit. Walk through the exhibit clockwise then the texts will appear in the right order. Since the industrialization, the label Cheerful Aalborg has been applied to describe Aalborgs festivity scene and nightlife. The exhibition presents the good side as well as the bad side the festive balls for the upper-class, the costume parties from the past and the present, the bars with both cheerful nights and dismal existences, the music venues, the theatrical life, the movie theatres, the street entertainers and the amusement parks. At the entrance of the exhibition you can see a map of the pubs of Aalborg. The map shows where the pubs were located and when. Take note of the vast number! Only the legal pubs are shown on the map. Pubs 1804, 1874 and 1960

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Crepe paper festoons from around year 1930. Faun costume and fairy costume, both worn at an end of season dance in the 1930s. Two pairs of castanets from Agnes Schiellerups dance school. Ball cards from 1885-1890. Two bronze medals from 1961. Given to five-year dance school students. Cotillions. The fine balls always offered a cotillion dance, during which small gifts or tokens were handed out. 7) Aalborg Doctors Associations book of ballads from 1876. 8) Archaeological finds from the subsoil of Cheerful Aalborg. The drinking jug is German and from around year 1580. Mouth harp in metal. Bone flute. 9) Percussion rifle, used for bird shooting by the Fire Brothers. The barrel is marked Aalborg 1845. Medals for Aalborg Brotherly Association for shooting. 10) A song in honor of Aalborg from the citys many revues. 11) A song for the club Enigheden. Printed in Aalborg year 1813. Regulations for the members of the club Enigheden and an invitation to a ball held at the club facilities. 12) Enighedslund drawn by Th. Kauffeldt. Model of Enighedslund at Vesterbro. 13) Lamp from Vesterbros movie theatre. 14) Table banner promoting the choir of Aalborg and Nrresundby Bakers Association. 15) Cutlery and glasses from the Craftsmens Association in ster. Schedule of the evening entertainments at the Craftsmens Association on the 30th of December 1885. 16) A fork and a knife from Kilden and souvenirs from Food Fair in Aalborghallen. 17) Silver buttonhole emblem from the Tobacconists Singing Association. Fest symbol from the 5th of June 1849 the Aalborg Folk Festival Committee. On the wall over the exhibition case: Coat of arms with the monograms of King Christian IX (King from 1863-1906) and Queen Louise. The bucklers were most likely used as decoration during a royal visit. At the end of the exhibition case: The 1870 regulation for prostitutes. On the wall: theatrical manager Julius Petersen (1844-1917) and his spouse Anna Petersen.

Posters presenting festive events in Aalborg. Ventriloquist performance at Kompagnihuset on the 23rd and the 24th of March 1813. Magician show at Aalborg Theatre on Sunday the 28th of June 1846. Variety performance with wrestling on roller-skates and many other acts, circa year 1900. Circus Miehe-show at Sauers Plads.

Cheerful Aalborg top and bottom The ways in which the inhabitants of Aalborg used the entertainments offered in the city varied greatly according to class. Before the 20th century, the majority of the population did not have the time or the money to concentrate on much else than making ends meet. The low salaries were just enough to pay the most vital expenses. For the average inhabitant of Aalborg, entertainment often consisted in the free pleasures. The local bar was the only free time pleasure for many workers. The weekly salary was often spent on drinking in one of the countless little bars, and the families were thus forced to go to bed hungry. Music For as long as Aalborg has been inhabited, the town has seen people playing music, dancing and singing. In 1779 Aalborg became a garrison town, which means that it became a base for the military. Amongst other things, this resulted in the regiment musicians becoming part of the towns music scene. In the late 19th century Aalborg went from being a quiet provincial town to being a large industrial city. To the delight of the nightlife enthusiasts, new dance venues started to emerge. In the high dance circles In order to fare in the formal circles, one had to learn how do dance. Each winter the children of the upper classes took dance lessons, ending with an elegant end of season dance with fancy costumes, gowns and seaman clothes.

Consuls uniform. This particular uniform belonged to the Norwegian consul Hans Larsen prior to World War II. Two evening gowns from the mid 1900s.

Dress worn at an end of season dance in the 1930s. Seamans outfit from the 1940s. Seaman outfits were worn by boys at festive occasions.

Music pavilions in the greens If one had some extra cash and wanted to spend a summer night listening to music in the greens, there were no less than five places to choose from before World War I. You can see them all on the monumental map of Aalborg from 1936.

Restaurant Strekassen at Skovbakken. Painting from around year 1900. The octagonal table top was carved by a young pharmacist apprentice who was very enthusiastic about the style at Strekassen, which represented the Viking age. Above the entrance you will see an old carousel ridgepole from Tivoli Karolinelund. The cups, saucers and sauce boats are from Frederiksminde (Strekassen) at Skovbakken. The songbook is from Skovbakkens summer theatre in 1915.

Menu and programs from Hotel Royal in Nrresundby.

The pubs Aalborg is famous for its pubs and vivid nightlife. These have contributed to the creation of the phenomenon known as Cheerful Aalborg, for good and bad. On the downside, Aalborg has acquired a reputation for being a harsh port with a bit too much commotion.

In the 1880s there were fourteen pubs for every thousand inhabitants! Aalborg was called the Paris of the North, a title which most likely occurred due to the vibrant night scene. The pubs functioned as social gathering places for the inhabitants. Jomfru Ane Gade is probably the most infamous street in Aalborg and is also known as Gaden (The Street) amongst the locals. Gaden is one of Aalborgs tourist attractions, and it is visited by a vast number of young people every weekend. Feel free to play a game of darts!

The chairs and the table cloth are from Cafe Limfjorden.

Cheerful Aalborg? The dark side of the joyful life has always been characterized by drug- and liquor abuse. In the 19th century as well as today, significant problems with drinking, violence and drunkenness reign in Aalborgs night life. On top of the exhibition case: Photographs from Hbet, Gaslight and Faklen. Beer bottles from the Aalborg brewery Urban, which was closed in 1986. A dog and a rabbit made of beer caps. Advertisement for Hotel IRIS located in Bispensgade. 19th century. Trays from Automatcafeen located on the corner of Algade and Roldgyden. Menu and price list from Ambassadeur. Bill from Hotel Phnix 1918.

Two of Aalborgs vanished alleys around year 1900. On the left: Skolegades Vandgyde, on the right: Schiellerups Gang. The two streets appear very idyllic, but nevertheless they were located in areas which, according to the narratives, were marked by illicit bars and prostitution.

Shrovetide and carnival There was a time when Shrovetide was not merely for children. Once a year, citizens would dress up in costumes and attend the party of the year, either in clubs or in the private quarters. Here in the exhibit you will find photos from the Aalborg city archives of men and women, boys and girls in costumes, taken by the photographer Tnnies at Nytorv. The traditions of Shrovetide and carnival are still immensely popular, and Aalborg has the largest carnival in Northern Europe! On the right: Designs for party settings. Every year the Craftsmens Association threw a major fancy dress party on the occasion of Shrovetide. These are four models used for parties in the 1940s and the 1950s. From top Cheerful Paris, Austrian Winter Wonderland, Picnic, and Whitsun Market in ster. The dragon head (top, left) was created by the carnival group Alkoholdet, one of the oldest carnival groups. Used in the 2008 carnival parade. Mars and Venus-costume. In 2009, this costume was one of many costumes featured in the carnival parade. Feel free to try on one of the many carnival hats! Revues, varieties and shows For a long period of time, Aalborg has offered one popular revue after the other. Revues provide folksy entertainment candid, coarse and often ambiguous. Aalborg has offered revues since the end of the 19th century, and the golden age of the revue was in the 1920s and 30s. One by one, the smaller revue scenes were forced to shut down due to the emergence of TV, radio and movie theatres. Aalborghallen, which opened in 1953, had the capacity to set up much larger shows.

Props from winter revues in Aalborg Kongres og Kultur Center. If youd like, you can have someone take your photograph with the props.

Revue songbooks. It is common that the texts mirror local personalities and events. The checker-cap and the parking meter are from Aalborghallen (now AKKC). On the right you will see a selection of their revue schedules.

From jazz to punk Jazz first came to Aalborg in 1923, and starting from the 1930s, several jazz clubs started to emerge. During the 1960s, the view of young people changed; suddenly the youth years were seen as a special life stage, and there was a general consensus that young people were entitled to their own style in music and fashion as well as their own money. Pigtrdsmusik, a form of rock, became the big thing. In the 1970s, new music venues emerged, offering rock, beat, jazz and folk music. The music genre known as punk had its debut in 1979.

On the wall you will see posters from the Music Association Skren, plus Studenterhuset and Tusindfryd. Sign from the music venue Multi Maren.

Theatre history It is likely that travelling comedians have been coming to Aalborg since the Middle Ages. In 1878 Aalborg Theatre started up in Jernbanegade. In 1915 the municipality of Aalborg took over the theatre and renovated it thoroughly from the inside out. During the German occupation, the Germans had commandeered Aalborg Theatre and made it into Wehrmachts Kino, which was to entertain the 10.000 German soldiers that were settled in Aalborg during the war. In September 1945, the reopening was celebrated with a massive show in form of the Danish national play Elverhj. The play is a tribute to the King and to the blunt Danish people.

Costumes from the play Elverhj (Elf Hill), staged in the fall of 1945 at Aalborg Theatre. Fest flags. Flags which were used by Aalborg Theatres Staff Association during the annual end of season festivities. Two of the oldest flags can be found on the pillar near the exhibit entrance.

At the theatre. Opera glasses. Stage lamp from Aalborg Theatre. Regulations and receipts from Det Dramatiske Selskab founded in 1809. Theatre poster. On Boxing Day 1864, Capriciosa was performed at Aalborg Theatre. Schedule for Aalborg Theatre from around year 1970.

Costumes, stage management items, books, spotlight and framed posters were kindly loaned to us by Aalborg Theatre.

Tivoli and fun fairs Things were nice and peaceful in the provincial town of Aalborg. Outdoor shows were one of the entertainments that were either low price or free of charge, which made them available for the ordinary, average inhabitants and their children. Sometimes during the summer, a circus or travelling carnival would come to town. Each year on the Danish holiday Grundlovsdag or during the solstice celebrations, parties were held at Skovbakken, offering stalls, performers, swings and carousels. Karolinelund In the late summer of 2010, Tivoli Karolinelund was closed down after 63 years of offering carousels and rollercoaster rides in one of Aalborgs oldest gardens. During the first years, the main attractions were the amateur nights on the outdoor stage, the give-away nights and the childrens entertainments. As the Tivoli became more settled, more

amusements emerged; roller coasters, the House of Horror, shops, lucky wheels, air swings and carousels. Most of the items in this part of the exhibition are from Tivoli Karolinelund. Thomas Dam, the creator of Gjltroldene (puppets/trolls) decorated the first House of Horror. On the wall and on the floor are some of the troll figurines from the ride. The wizard stirring in the large pot was originally placed on the outside of the House of Horror. The mirrors are from Karolinelunds first Hall of mirrors. Poster from Tivoli Karolinelunds last opening day on Saturday September 4th 2010. If youd like you can sit in the bumper car and try the lucky wheel to the left.

The wrestler Magnus Bech-Olsen became a Danish sports hero when he defeated The dreadful Greek Antonio Pierri in 1897. The belt which Bech-Olsen won is decorated with an image of Pierri. The ticket machine was used inside the park as were the earplugs, mainly by those who were in charge of the rides. The Tivoli-coins and the bracelets were used for payment. Pjerrot adorns some of the last souvenirs he became the main attraction during the last years of Karolinelunds life.

Moving pictures - before television In the earlier days Aalborg had much more movie theatres than it has today. The first movie theatres emerged before television had entered the living rooms. In order to watch a movie, or vivid images as they were called, one had to go to the movie theatre. The movie theatres were for children as well as adults, and they were widely popular. Movie theatre tickets. Collected by Orla Nielsen, founder of Biffen. The first ticket is from 1967 when he watched Dr. Zhivago. The number of stars indicates his opinion of the different films. Magda Hougaard collected no less than 352 movie theatre and theatre programs between 1920 and 1960. The seat from movie theatre is kindly loaned to us by Biffen in Nordkraft. Over your head: A selection of movie posters from some the greatest films in history. Gone with the wind (1939) One of the first movies to be shown in colors. Breakfast at Tiffanys (1961) Featuring Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly. Metropolis (1927) A science-fiction film about a futuristic city. Casablanca (1942) A romantic drama starring Humphrey Bogart.

The museum theatre The films are shown in the following order: Rundskuedagen in 1916: Festive costumes and cheerful Aalborg inhabitants (Historical drama) Nordjysk Udstilling in 1933: Beautiful scenes from Karolinelund and Kildeparken (Historical drama) Karneval i Aalborg (Aalborg Carnival): A joyful event like no other. Here, the sky is the limit! (Comedy) Jomfru Ane Gade: Aalborgs most infamous street where anything can happen! (Drama)

The films last a total of 30 to 40 minutes. You can find more movie clips from Aalborg at www.moviscop.dk. The films are shown in collaboration with the Aalborg City Archives and with kind permission from Nordjyske medier.

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