Elsie Attenhofer facts for kids

Elsie Attenhofer (born February 21, 1909, in Lugano, died September 16, 1999, in Bassersdorf) was a talented Swiss artist. She was a cabaret performer, an actress, a writer, and someone who performed monologues. She was known for her sharp wit and strong opinions.

A Life of Creativity and Courage

Elsie's parents ran hotels in Lugano. She was quite adventurous from a young age. In 1931, she became one of the first Swiss women to get a private pilot's license. Her first job was as a secretary for a doctor who studied the brain.

In 1934, Elsie joined a famous group called the Cabaret Cornichon. This group was known across Switzerland for its clever and sometimes sharp humor. Elsie was a very important part of the group until 1942. She performed with other great artists like Max Werner Lenz and Voli Geiler.

In 1940, Elsie married Karl Schmid, who studied German language and literature. They had two children, a son born in 1942 and a daughter born in 1943.

Speaking Up for Fairness

In 1943, Elsie wrote a play called Wer wirft den ersten Stein? (Who will throw the first stone?). This play was a strong message against unfair treatment of people. It was considered too bold by some theaters at first. But in October 1944, as World War II was ending, the play was finally performed. It was a big success and received great reviews.

After the war, Elsie traveled to Germany. There, she met Werner Finck, a master of political comedy. He wanted her to perform at his theater. But Elsie wanted to stay independent. So, she created her own "One-Woman-Show." This show was a collection of the best sketches from her time with Cabaret Cornichon. In the 1970s, she toured all over Europe with her show. She performed in four different languages!

In 1989, Elsie wrote a book called Réserve du Patron. In this book, she had an imaginary conversation with her late husband about their lives. Elsie received many honors for her work. In 1990, she won the Oberrheinischen Kulturpreis. Eight years later, she was given a gold medal from the Canton of Zürich. This award recognized her strong belief in democracy and her kindness to others.

Selected Films

Elsie Attenhofer also appeared in several films:

• Fusilier Wipf (1938)
• Heidi (1952)
• The Daring Swimmer (1957)