Circus Krone Building refers to three circus buildings that have, and currently exist at the same location on the Marsstraße in the Maxvorstadt district of Munich, Germany. These buildings consist of the original Circus Krone Building, its temporary replacement, and the current permanent building.
The original Circus Krone Building was a 4,000-seat wooden circus arena completed in 1919. It was the headquarters and permanent circus building of Circus Krone. Beyond being used for circus performances, the Circus Krone Building was rented to various civic, political, and religious organisations to host meetings and speeches. It was rented numerous times to the Nazi Party, of which included Adolf Hitler delivering 7 speeches in the building between 1920 and 1930. In December 1944, as a consequence of strategic bombing during World War II, the building was destroyed during a bombardment by the Allies of World War II.
After the conclusion of World War II in 1945, a temporary wooden structure with 1,800 seats was built such that Circus Krone could continue its circus show performances.
The third and current Circus Krone Building, opened in 1962, is a 3,000-seat multi-purpose venue built using reinforced concrete infrastructure and brick walls. It continues to serve as the headquarters and permanent circus building of Circus Krone, which is considered as “Europe’s most famous traditional circus”. Circus Krone occupies the building for its winter circus program every year traditionally from December until the beginning of April. For the remaining months of the year, the Circus Krone Building is rented out as a multi-purpose venue for entertainment and corporate events, including concerts, cabarets, musicals, comedy shows, television recordings, company presentations, and press conferences.
History
Original Building
The origins of the original Circus Krone Building date back to 1900, when Carl Krone inherited his father’s travelling menagerie, ‘Menagerie Continental’, which performed year-round across Europe. By 1905, Krone and his wife, Ida Ahlers, had developed the menagerie into a circus show, establishing it as Circus Krone. Deciding to permanently locate their circus in Munich, Germany, the couple commissioned the Circus Krone Building to be built on the Marsstraße in the Maxvorstadt district of the city. The construction of the Circus Krone Building was completed in 1919, featuring a wooden circus arena with 4,000 seats. Besides being used by Circus Krone for their circus shows, the building also hosted numerous events organised by the Nazi Party. Adolf Hitler delivered 7 scheduled speeches in the Circus Krone Building between 1920 and 1930. During World War II, Circus Krone performances continued despite air raid alarms disrupting many of the shows. In December 1944, the original Circus Krone Building was destroyed during an air raid by the Allies of World War II.
Temporary Building
Shortly after the conclusion of the war in 1945, a temporary wooden structure with 1,800 seats was constructed. This was at the request of the U.S. occupation forces of Allied-occupied Germany who wanted to present a circus show to their general from World War II, George S. Patton. This allowed Circus Krone to continue their circus show until the company and building were confiscated from the Krone family in 1946 by the American governors as part of their effort in dividing Germany so that it would not be able to regain its former strength. The Krone family was given back Circus Krone and the Circus Krone Building in 1948, and resumed its winter circus show program.
Current Building
A new permanent building, the current Circus Krone Building, was opened in 1962 at the same location on Marsstraße in the Maxvorstadt district of Munich. It was commissioned by Frieda Sembach-Krone, the daughter of Carl Krone and Ida Ahlers, and her husband, Carl Sembach. Frieda Sembach-Krone inherited Circus Krone from her father after his death in 1943. The building, which has 3,000 seats, was built using reinforced concrete infrastructure and brick walls. It continues to be occupied by Circus Krone for their winter circus program every year. Circus Krone’s current winter program begins on Christmas Day and concludes at the beginning of April the following year. It is divided into 3 distinctive themes that run for one month each.