Etzel von Oeringen (October 1, 1917 – June 24, 1929), better known as Strongheart , was a male German Shepherd that was one of the early canine stars of feature films .
37-539: Born October 1, 1917, Etzel von Oeringen was a male German Shepherd dog bred by a private breeder, Robert Niedhardt of Quedlinburg , Germany. Etzel was trained in Berlin as a police dog and served in the German Red Cross during World War I . His owner was left in poverty after the war, and was unable to even support the dog. Concerned that Etzel would end up in less humane hands, he declined larger offers and instead sent
74-605: A new religion. The cathedral was closed in 1938 and during the war. The local crematory was kept busy burning the victims of the Langenstein-Zwieberge concentration camp. Georg Ay was local party chief from 1931 until the end of World War II . During the war, Quedlinburg was the location of a subcamp of the Buchenwald concentration camp and a subcamp of the Mittelbau-Dora concentration camp . American occupation during
111-491: Is 120.42 square kilometres (46.49 square miles). Before the incorporation of the two (previously independent) municipalities of Gernrode and Bad Suderode in January 2014, it was only 78.14 square kilometres (30.17 square miles). The town Quedlinburg consists of Quedlinburg proper and the following Ortsteile or municipal divisions: Quedlinburg has an oceanic climate (Cfb) resulting from prevailing westerlies , blowing from
148-462: Is a graduate of Illinois State University and Arizona State University . He won the 2003 Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustration, recognizing My Friend Rabbit , and he was a runner-up in 1995 for Time Flies . Rohmann also won the Sibert Medal as the illustrator (with his wife, Candace Fleming , as the author), for Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera. In 2015, he created
185-499: Is a picture book for young audiences by Caldecott Medal winner Emily Arnold McCully . The New York Times praised her "meticulous job of recreating the quicksilver world of that bygone media age. The megaphones, bobbed hair and jodhpurs are all here. And in Etzel, a dog born and bred to be strong and brave, she has given young readers a rare portrait of a Hollywood hero who was just as heroic off-screen as on." Strongheart: Wonder Dog of
222-518: Is a town situated just north of the Harz mountains, in the district of Harz in the west of Saxony-Anhalt , Germany . As an influential and prosperous trading centre during the early Middle Ages, Quedlinburg became a center of influence under the Ottonian dynasty in the 10th and 11th centuries. The castle, church and old town with around 2,100 timber houses, dating from this time of influence, were added to
259-482: Is again on display here. The former Stiftskirche St. Wiperti was established in 936 when the Kanonikerstift St. Wigpertus (of male canons) was moved from the castle hill to make way for what became Quedlinburg Abbey. The church was built at the location of the first Ottonian Royal palace at Quedlinburg. Around 1020, a three-aisled crypt was added to the basilica. The crypt, which survived all later alterations to
296-606: Is known to have existed since at least the early 9th century, when there was a settlement known as Gross Orden on the eastern bank of the River Bode . It was first mentioned as a town in 922 as part of a donation by King Henry the Fowler ( Heinrich der Vogler ). The records of this donation were held by the abbey of Corvey . According to legend, Henry had been offered the German crown at Quedlinburg in 919 by Franconian nobles, giving rise to
333-571: Is located in Halberstadt . Regionalfernsehen Harz (RFH; Harz Regional Television) broadcasts on the local cable television network. A number of novels have been set in Quedlinburg and the surrounding area, such as Wilhelm Raabe 's Der Schüdderump . The first part of Theodor Fontane 's novel Cécile (1887) takes place in Quedlinburg and Thale, as do the various novels of Dorothea Christiane Erxleben and Julius Wolff 's The Robber Count: A Story of
370-500: Is one of the lowest in Germany, which has an annual average hovering around 440 mm. In August 2010, Quedlinburg was the driest place in Germany, with only 72.4 L/m . The mayor is Frank Ruch (CDU), elected in 2022. Quedlinburg is twinned with: In the centre of the town are a wide selection of half-timbered buildings from at least five different centuries (including a 14th-century structure, one of Germany's oldest), while around
407-581: The National Center of Cinematography and the Moving Image . The Return of Boston Blackie (1927) survives from a 16mm print and is available on region-free DVD. Strongheart was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960. His star is located at 1724 Vine Street. In the 1926 picture book Strongheart; The Story of a Wonder Dog , Trimble wrote the story of how Strongheart came to
SECTION 10
#1733092954892444-538: The UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994 because of their exceptional preservation and outstanding Romanesque architecture . Quedlinburg has a population of more than 24,000. The town was the capital of the district of Quedlinburg until 2007, when the district was dissolved. Several locations in the town are designated stops along a scenic holiday route, the Romanesque Road . The town of Quedlinburg
481-625: The 18th century, however. The abbey was secularized in 1802 during the German Mediatisation , and Quedlinburg passed to the Kingdom of Prussia as part of the Principality of Quedlinburg. Part of the Napoleonic Kingdom of Westphalia from 1807 to 1813, it was included within the new Prussian Province of Saxony in 1815. In all this time, ladies ruled Quedlinburg as abbesses without "taking
518-518: The Harz Country (1884). Other novels set in the area include Gerhard Beutel's Der Stadthauptmann von Quedlinburg (1972), Helga Glaesener 's Du süße sanfte Mörderin (You Sweet, Gentle Murderess; 2000), and ten novels by Christian Amling about the fictional private investigator Irenäus Moll. Because of its historical architecture, Quedlinburg has been used as the backdrop for various film and television projects. Several episodes (64, 67--70, 76) of
555-676: The North (1922), The Love Master (1924), and White Fang (1925). Strongheart became the first major canine film star, preceding the fame of Rin Tin Tin by two years. In 1929, while being filmed for a movie, Strongheart accidentally made contact with a hot studio light and was burned, which caused a tumor to form, and ultimately caused his death. Strongheart died June 24, 1929, at Murfin's home. Virtually all of Strongheart's films have been lost . A print of The Love Master (1924) survives in France, at
592-508: The Silver Screen (2018) is a novel for ages 8–12 by Candace Fleming and illustrated by Caldecott Medal winner Eric Rohmann . Kirkus Reviews said, "Like a silent movie plot, Fleming’s narrative is full of adventure, romance, and suspense." The book received a starred review in Booklist . Quedlinburg Quedlinburg ( German pronunciation: [ˈkveːtlɪnbʊʁk] )
629-618: The United States and was chosen for motion pictures, of his training, and of his progress in films culminating with White Fang . Strongheart's popularity inspired Doyle Packing Company to adopt his name and photograph for a canned dog food in 1932. Strongheart Dog Food did a respectable business, especially in the Midwest, and was available in stores until at least 2002. J. Allen Boone wrote two books, Letters to Strongheart (1939) and Kinship with All Life (1954), about animal communication and
666-487: The church, is also a designated stop on the Romanesque Road today. The nearest airports to Quedlinburg are Hannover , 120 kilometres (75 miles) northwest, and Leipzig/Halle Airport , 90 kilometres (56 miles) southeast. Much closer, but only served by a few airlines, is Magdeburg-Cochstedt . An airfield is located at Ballenstedt-Assmussstedt for general aviation . Regional trains operated by Deutsche Bahn and
703-526: The death of Emperor Otto I , a Reichstag (Imperial Convention) was held at the imperial court in which Mieszko , duke of Polans , and Boleslav , duke of Bohemia , as well as numerous other nobles from as far away as Byzantium and Bulgaria , gathered to pay homage to the emperor. On the occasion, Otto the Great introduced his new daughter-in-law Theophanu , a Byzantine princess whose marriage to Otto II brought hope for recognition and continued peace between
740-517: The dog to a friend who operated a reputable kennel in White Plains, New York . At age three, Etzel was brought to the United States to be sold. At the sixth annual show of the Shepherd Dog Club of America, October 15–16, 1920, Etzel placed third in his class. He was described as "immense in body and hind leg formation, in body and legs a trifle better than either of the dogs above him". Etzel
777-472: The high-pressure area in the central Atlantic towards Scandinavia. Snowfall occurs almost every winter. January and February are the coldest months of the year, with an average temperature of 0.5 °C and 1.5 °C. July and August are the hottest months, with an average temperature of 17 °C (63 °F) and 18 °C (64 °F). The average annual precipitation is close to 438 mm with rain occurring usually from May to September. This precipitation
SECTION 20
#1733092954892814-408: The historic steam narrow gauge railway , Alexisbad and the high Harz plateau. The castle and Stiftskirche St. Servatius still dominate the town like in the early Middle Ages. The church is a prime example of German Romanesque style . The treasure of the church, containing ancient Christian religious artifacts and books, was stolen by an American soldier but brought back to Quedlinburg in 1993 and
851-675: The last months of World War II brought back the Protestant bishop and the church bells, and the Nazi-style eagle was removed from the tower. However, in the 1980s, upon the death of one of the US military men, the theft of medieval art from Quedlinburg came to light. Quedlinburg was administered within Bezirk Halle while part of the Communist East Germany from 1949 to 1990. It became part of
888-685: The old town of Quedlinburg and the castle mount with the Stiftskirche (collegiate church) are listed as one of UNESCO 's World Heritage Sites . Quedlinburg is one of the best-preserved medieval and Renaissance towns in Europe, having escaped major damage in World War II. In 2006, the Selke valley branch of the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways was extended to Quedlinburg from Gernrode , giving access to
925-453: The outer fringes of the old town are examples of Jugendstil buildings, dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The old town of Quedlinburg is among the largest in Germany with a size of around 90 hectares. 2000 half-timbered houses can be found here. The oldest, the "Ständerbau", dates back from 1347. Another famous building is called "Klopstockhaus", the birthplace of poet Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock . Since December 1994,
962-535: The private Transdev company run on the standard-gauge Magdeburg–Thale line connecting Quedlinburg station with Magdeburg , Thale, and Halberstadt. In 2006, the Selke Valley branch of the Harz Narrow Gauge Railways was extended into Quedlinburg from Gernrode, giving access via the historic steam-operated narrow-gauge railway to Alexisbad and the High Harz plateau. Quedlinburg is connected by regional buses to
999-658: The resistance of the town and expelled the bishop's forces. Quedlinburg was forced to leave the Hanseatic League and was subsequently protected by the Electorate of Saxony . Both town and abbey converted to Lutheranism in 1539 during the Protestant Reformation . In 1697, Elector Frederick Augustus I of Saxony sold his rights to Quedlinburg to Elector Frederick III of Brandenburg for 240,000 thalers. Quedlinburg Abbey contested Brandenburg-Prussia 's claims throughout
1036-608: The rulers of the Eastern and Western empires. In 994, Otto III granted the right of market, tax, and coining, and established the first market place to the north of the castle hill. The town became a member of the Hanseatic League in 1426. Quedlinburg Abbey frequently disputed the independence of the town, which sought the aid of the Bishopric of Halberstadt . In 1477, Abbess Hedwig , aided by her brothers Ernest and Albert , broke
1073-632: The series Ärger im Revier (Trouble in the Precinct) broadcast by RTL Zwei were filmed in Quedlinburg. From 2012 to 2017, the ARD daytime series Heiter bis tödlich: Alles Klara was filmed in the city and its vicinity, with 48 episodes over three seasons. The following films were partially filmed in Quedlinburg: Eric Rohmann Eric Rohmann (born October 26, 1957) is an American author and illustrator of children's books . He
1110-400: The state of Saxony-Anhalt upon German reunification in 1990. During Quedlinburg's Communist era, restoration specialists from Poland were called in during the 1980s to carry out repairs on the old architecture. Today, Quedlinburg is a center of restoration of Fachwerk houses. Quedlinburg is the setting for the acclaimed 2016 Frantz , serving as a quintessential small German town in
1147-486: The surrounding villages and small towns. Additionally, there are long-distance buses to Berlin. The Mitteldeutsche Zeitung ( Central German Newspaper ) maintains a local newsroom in Quedlinburg. In addition, the newspapers SuperSonntag (SuperSunday), Wochenspiegel (Weekly Mirror), and Harzer Kreisblatt (Harz District Newspaper) are published locally. The local public broadcaster is Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR; Central German Broadcasting ), whose regional office
Strongheart - Misplaced Pages Continue
1184-496: The survival of the dog's soul after death. Both books were reprinted many times and remain classics of the Spiritualist faith . Boone was a Washington Post correspondent who looked after Strongheart for an extended period while Murfin and Trimble were away on business. Boone and Strongheart reportedly formed a deep bond, and Boone believed the dog was a transformational being. Strongheart: The World’s First Movie Star Dog (2014)
1221-515: The town being called the "cradle of the German Reich". After Henry's death in 936, his widow Saint Matilda founded a religious community for women ( Frauenstift ) on the castle hill, where daughters of the higher nobility were educated. The main task of this collegiate foundation, Quedlinburg Abbey , was to pray for the memory of King Henry and the rulers who came after him. The Annals of Quedlinburg were also compiled there. The first abbess
1258-473: The veil"; they were free to marry. The last of these ladies was a Swedish princess, an early fighter for women's rights, Sofia Albertina . During the Nazi regime , the memory of Henry I became a sort of cult, as Heinrich Himmler saw himself as the reincarnation of the "most German of all German" rulers. The collegiate church and castle were to be turned into a shrine for Nazi Germany . The Nazi Party tried to create
1295-485: The wake of WWI, home to a family who is reeling from the death of a son in the war. The town is located north of the Harz mountains, about 123 m above NHN . The nearest mountains reach 181 m above NHN. The largest part of the town is located in the western part of the Bode river valley. This river comes from the Harz mountains and flows into the river Saale , a tributary of the river Elbe . The municipal area of Quedlinburg
1332-530: Was Matilda, a granddaughter of King Henry and St. Matilda. The Quedlinburg castle complex, founded by King Henry I and built up by Emperor Otto I in 936, was an imperial Pfalz of the Saxon emperors. The Pfalz , including the male convent, was in the valley, where today the Roman Catholic Church of St. Wiperti is situated, while the women's convent was located on the castle hill. In 973, shortly before
1369-587: Was seen by film director Laurence Trimble , who had owned and guided Jean , the Vitagraph Dog, the first canine movie star in the United States. Trimble recognized Etzel's potential and persuaded Jane Murfin , a screenwriter for his films, to buy the dog. A new name, Strongheart, was suggested by the publicity department of First National Pictures , which released his first film. Trimble trained Strongheart and directed him in four rugged outdoor adventure films scripted by Murfin: The Silent Call (1921), Brawn of
#891108