European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 16, 1959, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Surrounded by communist sea keep Berlin laughing i weekly broadcasts by fun Loving group one of Rias most popular programs by Ernie Weatherall staff writer the Leader of the islanders with his wife Tatyana Sais who is also a / member of the troupe. Use Trautschold plays Loyal red Comrade  a i Bruno Fritz one of the regulars on the popular show. During the Long cold Days of the blockade berliners who were Lucky enough to have their rationed electricity turned on would gather around a weekly radio program called Guenther Neumann and the islanders to forget their troubles. Over Rias radio in american sector one of the typical bits of humor that made berliners laugh during those perilous Days under communist siege were even the Best blockade is no bargain. But if there must be a blockade in t it better to be blockaded by the russians and fed by the americans just imagine if it were the other Way around eleven years later with the City facing still another crisis Guenther Neumann and his islanders Are still broadcasting Over Rias and keeping berliners laughing. As a student Neumann spent his time studying the political cabaret an institution almost unknown in America As others studied Bach and Kant. But before he had a Chance to write for the cabarets Hitler came and Neu Mann had to wait until after the War be fore he could use his gift of humor. In a Small cabaret which had sprung out of the ruins of shattered Berlin Neumann sat at the piano and played while his wife Tatyana Sais Sang the songs he had  they became a big act. Neumann Pond Werner Oeh Laege r began writing and collecting stories for a Magazine Tiey started called die Insulander the is Landers named for the Island dwellers of West Berlin. In 1948, they were asked by Rias to broadcast the Best stories from their Magazine. Since then the islanders have become almost a trademark of the radio  broadcast was a weekly affair. Neu Mann would prepare the script then a few hours before the broadcast scan the communist East zone newspapers for any news items he could use. Neumann has torn up half the script an hour before broadcast time to keep the show on top of the latest news develop ments. His troupe of islanders were use to last minute  at that time began to be flooded with books Magazine articles and news paper features with such stories i was Hitler s Secretary i was Hitler s trans Lator and i was Hitler s Valet to men Tion a few. Between islander scripts Neumann wrote what he called a musical grotesque satiric opera called i was Hitler s  during the blockade Neumann did a movie he called Berlin  the film was All his. He had the original idea he wrote the scenario the lyrics and the music. One memorable portion is of the Soldier who has returned to Berlin after being away for years because of world War ii. He continuously visits the housing office looking for a place to live. The final scene shows him an old Man with a Long White Beard still waiting for the office to try and locate an apartment for him. Turning out a weekly show became too much for even prolific Neumann. Now the islanders take to the air Over Rias Oncea month. Everyone in the troupe has other acting jobs some in West Germany on the stage movies or television. Neumann is Busy most of the time working on motion pictures. One movie called the wonder children As the newly Rich created by the eco nomic wonder in the Federal Republic Are called by berliners has been called one of the most humorous films produce Din Germany since the War. One Day a month the islanders meet Iberlin and go Over the script. The performance is Given in a theater on Berlin s Kurfuerst Tendam before a live audience. The tape made at each performance is broadcast Over Rias on the first sunday of the following month with repeat Broad casts made several times a week until the next show has been taped for airing. The islanders will like Berlin s spree River keep on rolling along. Berliners Are great believers in Neumann s Philps Ophy that no matter How bad conditions Are if you can laugh at them they Are not unbearable. And Guenther Neumann and his Island ers help the Island dwellers of Berlin to keep laughing. Cover Page 9 photo is of Ewald Wenck who plays a Berlin worker still Able to smile in spite of continuing crises. Rias photo Guenther Neumann Center with some of his  he keeps West berliners laughing despite red pressure and continuing crisis. Joe Furtner plays a Moscow professor the stars and St Matt