Ernst Tautenhayn

Austrian actor and operetta singer Ernst Tautenhayn (1874–1944) appeared in silent films of the late 1910s and early 1920s. The tenor often was engaged as an operetta singer. He was a popular artist and he performed at numerous stages.


German postcard by P.R.A. - Verein Photographischer Reproduktions-Anstalten GmbH, Berlin, no. 6. Photo: L. Guttmann, Wien, 1911.


Austrian postcard by B.K.W.I. (Brüder Kohn, Wien), no. 103. Photo: Delta-Film. Ernst Tautenhayn in Wo die Lerche singt/Where the Lark Sings (Hubert Marischka, 1918).


Austrian postcard by Iris Verlag, Wien, no. 47. Photo: Residenz.

A natural entertainer

Ernst Maximilian Tautenhayn was born in 1873 or 1874 (sources differ) in Vienna, Austria-Hungary. He was the son of the sculptor Josef Hermann Tautenhayn and Eleonore Eufrosina Tautenhayn.

The boy was a natural entertainer who was able to gain a foothold at the theatre in 1893 although he did not get acting or singing lessons. He debuted at the Lindentheater (or Theater Unter den Linden and later named Metropol-Theater) in Berlin.

From 1893 to 1895 he worked as a singer and actor in Graz and at the Carltheater in a suburb of Vienna, Leopoldstadt. Then he performed at the Landestheater in Linz and was a member of the Deutsches Theater in Prague.

From 1910 to 1920 he was an operetta tenor at the Theater an der Wien and later at the Bürger-, Carl- and Johann Strauß-Theater in Vienna.

Ernst Tautenhayn also performed at the Wiener Volksoper, the Vienna People's Opera. In the years up to and through the First World War the Volksoper attained a position as Vienna's second prestige opera house. In 1919, Felix Weingartner became artistic director and principal conductor.


Austrian postcard by Iris Verlag, Wien, no. 46. Photo: Residenz.


German postcard by B.K.W.L. Photo: L. Gutmann, 1918. Louise Kartusch and Ernst Tautenhayn in the stage operetta 'Wo die Lerche singt' (1918) by Franz Léhar.


Austrian postcard by "Oce" Kunstverlag, Wien, 1919. Photo: Cobé, Wien.

Leading roles in Franz Lehár operettas

Ernst Tautenhayn appeared in four silent Austrian films. These included Mir kommt keiner aus/Nobody comes from (Jakob Fleck, Luise Kolm, 1917) with Liane Haid, Wo die Lerche singt/Where the Lark Sings (Hubert Marischka, 1918) with Louise Kartousch and Töte sie!/Kill Her (Ernst Marischka, 1920).

His fourth anbd last film was Dorala (N.N., 1921) with Lily Marischka, Hubert Marischka and Muck de Jary. He sang almost all the leading roles in Franz Lehár operettas on Viennese stages and became an audience favourite. Occasionally he also appeared in Prater establishments, e.g. Bundestheater im Kaisergarten.

On the occasion of the ‘referendum’ after the annexation of Austria in 1938, he wrote: ‘For me, this “yes” is the most beautiful “yes” of my life.’ In 1941, he became a professor at the newly opened Vienna Operetta School. Ernst Tautenhayn remained active as an artist till his death.

For a long time, he had only appeared in guest roles, but finally, the Vienna Opera House engaged him again for his earlier starring roles and organised a festive performance of ‘Die Fledermaus’ (The Bat) on the occasion of his 70th birthday in 1943, in which he appeared as Frosch for the last time.

Ernst Tautenhayn died in 1944 in Zlabings (Slavonice), Czechoslovakia, at 71. He was married to the singer Therese Schiner (Theresia Tautenhayn) and they had a daughter, Wilhelmine Tautenhayn. His grave, dedicated in his honour, is located in the Vienna Central Cemetery.


Austrian postcard by B.K.W.I. (Brüder Kohn, Wien), no. 100. Photo: Delta-Film. Louise Kartousch, Hubert Marischka, Franz Lehar and Ernst Tautenhayn on a publicity still for Wo die Lerche singt/Where the Lark Sings (Hubert Marischka, 1918).


Austrian postcard by B.K.W.I. (Brüder Kohn, Wien), no. 107. Photo: Delta-Film. Ernst Tautenhayn, Louise Kartousch and Mariette Weber in Wo die Lerche singt/Where the Lark Sings (Hubert Marischka, 1918).


Austrian postcard by B.K.W.I. (Brüder Kohn, Wien), no. 108. Photo: Delta-Film. Louise Kartousch and Ernst Tautenhayn in Wo die Lerche singt/Where the Lark Sings (Hubert Marischka, 1918).


Austrian postcard by B.K.W.I. (Brüder Kohn, Wien), no. 110. Photo: Delta-Film. Ernst Tautenhayn, Louise Kartousch and Otto Langer in Wo die Lerche singt/Where the Lark Sings (Hubert Marischka, 1918).

Sources: Wien Geschichte Wiki (German), Geni, Wikipedia (German and English) and IMDb,