Weiss Ferdl

Weiss Ferdl (28 June 1883 – 19 June 1949, real name: Ferdinand Weisheitinger)^[1] was a German actor,^[2] humorous folksinger, and author. He appeared in 19 films between 1928 and 1941 and performed regularly at the Platzl, a well-known Munich theater. Weiß Ferdl was born in the town of Altötting, 96 km (60 mi) east of Munich.

Weiss Ferdl
Weiß Ferdl in 1924
Born	(1883-06-28)28 June 1883 Altötting, German Empire
Died	19 June 1949(1949-06-19) (aged 65) Munich, West Germany
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1928-1941

His famous song "Ein Wagen von der Linie Acht" ("A Carriage from Line 8") is still played to this day. It is a mocking song about Munich people and the trams in Munich.^[3] The Weiß-Ferdl-Mittelschule, a secondary school in Altötting, has a retired blue Munich Tram carriage in the southeast corner of the schoolyard.^[4]

Selected filmography

• Behind Monastery Walls (1928)
• Left of the Isar, Right of the Spree (1929)
• The Immortal Vagabond (1930)
• The Song of the Nations (1931)
• The Champion Shot (1932)
• The Master Detective (1933)
• The Two Seals (1934)
• Financial Opportunists (1934)
• All Because of the Dog (1935)
• Orders Are Orders (1936)
• Gordian the Tyrant (1937)
• Wunschkonzert (1940)

Selected discography

• CD Weiß Ferdl, I woaß net wia ma is, Aufnahmen 1919–1946, Ed. Christian Springer, Trikont 2001

Selected bibliography

• Ich bin kein Intellektueller. Ein heiteres Buch. Hugendubel, München 1941.
• Bayerische Schmankerl. Hrsg.: Bertl Weiss. dtv, München 1982, ISBN 3-423-01752-X.