The “Lindenstrasse” was just celebrating its topping-out ceremony: 37 years ago, producer Hans W. Geißendörfer guided the press through the scenery in Cologne
Photo: United Archives via Getty Images, United Archives. All rights reserved.
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For 35 years, “Lindenstrasse” with its residential buildings, the Astor cinema center, the Café Bayer and the Restaurant Akropolis was a familiar sight for millions of viewers. Now, two years after the setting of the first German soap opera, the outer set is being completely demolished – the excavators have already arrived.
Mother Beimer’s house is no longer there
The house in which, among other things, mother Beimer had her home, has already been razed to the ground. According to a “WDR” spokeswoman, the demolition work on the production site in Cologne-Bocklemünd should be completed by the end of April. First, the buildings made of concrete or wood were gutted; Façade cladding, windows and company signs removed and disposed of.
A piece of German television history is preserved
However, the actual apartments were not in the houses, but in a large hall. They were dismantled shortly after the end of shooting and parts can be viewed in museums: Helga Beimer’s kitchen is on display in the House of History in Bonn; Props from the Café Bayer and Restaurant Akropolis can be viewed in the Technik Museum Speyer.
The kitchen of the dreaded caretaker Else Kling has been in the latter museum in Rhineland-Palatinate for almost ten years. While the kitchen is screened with plexiglass, the other backdrops are walkable as well. The most striking aspects of “Lindenstraße” are shown on around 60 square meters – so at least a piece of German television history is preserved.
After all, the little birds are allowed to stay
Otherwise, the outer scenes were only used by swifts, house sparrows and bats. Shortly before the start of the demolition, however, the little birds were no longer to be found, according to a spokeswoman. Now a green area is to be created on the “Lindenstraße” area – the “WDR” wants to set up a species protection house there as a replacement living space for the animals should they return.
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