The Vienna museum of theatre (Theatermuseum) has been open on October 26, 1991 in the most beautiful building in Baroque style – a palace Lobkovits. But official opening of the Austrian Theatermuseum was preceded by longish history. the 1st exhibits were a part of the Austrian state library which has appeared in baroque.
The limit of XIX and XX centuries in Vienna can be called the period of blossoming of theatre in all its manifestations. At the Austrians theatrical and musical exhibitions use so great popularity, the researches connected with development of theatre are carried out. In this regard in 1921 the decision on development on the basis of the Austrian state library of the separate collection devoted to theatre has been made. To pave the way for creation of this collection, Joseph Gregor (1888-1960) has been entrusted, to the librarian, the musicologist and the specialist in drama study.
As a result of his diligence in 1922 in Bolshenn the comedy exhibition has been presented to a hall of library. This event has appeared solving. On June 7, 1922 the transaction of purchase and sale of a personal collection of the actor and the director of Hugo Thimig (1854-1944) which is the basis for creation of meeting of collections has been made.
A year later the Ministry of Education of Austria was approved by collection creation. As the title "Collection Theatre" has been approved it. The forthcoming development of this collection was not limited only to collecting the contemporary records concerning theatre and literature. So in 1929 the brand new exposition «Archive for the film» has been created. In an extent of many decades the idea of creation of a separate museum to the devoted theatre was nourished, but only in 1975 the Austrian museum of theatre (Osterreichisches Theatermuseum) has been created. Its main role consisted in carrying out exhibitions on the basis of the Austrian state library. But soon, the room allocated under a museum about the Vienna state opera, became for it rather small. During this period the Austrian republic has bought a palace Lobkovits who after restoration was and is given to the Museum of Theatre (Theatermuseum).
Now collections of a museum include more than 100 thousand different drawings and engravings, 600 different models of theatrical suits of the 3rd eras, 700 тыщ a photo of eminent actors, composers and writers, autographs of eminent musicians, poets, playwrights, pictures etc. One of invaluable exhibits of a museum is the unique theatre of puppets of Richard Teshner (1879-1948) under the title «Gold case». All Theatermuseum totals about 2 million exhibits. The archive of a museum is invaluable to researchers and admirers of theatre. In library of theatre it is collected more than 80 тыщ books and repeating editions.
Now the Austrian Museum of theatre represents exhibitions of the most various subject: dance, opera, puppet theatre, performance, cinema, pantomime.
Museum of theatre (Osterreichisches Theatermuseum)