Fatty-George-Jazzmus
Tiny jazz museum in a historic public toilet in Jazzpark Eßling, commemorating the clarinettist Fatty George; free admission.
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About the museum
The clarinettist Franz Georg Pressler (1927–1982), known as the jazz musician "Fatty George", grew up in Eßling. At the end of the 1990s a lane in the village centre was named after him, and the neighbouring park after his vibraphonist Bill Grah. From the cultural initiative of the Eßling local historian Roman Kuntner, the association Kulturfleckerl Eßling was founded in 2002; it planned a Kulturstadl (cultural barn) for concerts and a small museum in the park.
In 2004 two Art Nouveau public toilets dating from the time of the 1873 World Exhibition were restored: one from Hernals became the Fatty-George-Jazzmus, and a historic urinal from Favoriten became the exhibition pavilion. The Kulturstadl and Jazzmus were opened in autumn 2005 with Joe Zawinul as guest of honour. Irene Bader has run the museum since 2015.
The collection is deliberately small: it shows a selection of documents and objects from jazz musicians who played with Fatty George, focusing on personality and the spirit of the times. The museum sees itself as a meeting place for jazz enthusiasts and also shows exhibitions on the subject of jazz, for which loans are sought. On request, the history of Viennese public toilets around 1900 can also be covered, with watercolours of buildings that still exist. The guest book in the Kulturstadl contains artists' autographs and visitors' comments.
Highlights
- Probably Vienna's smallest museum, in an Art Nouveau public toilet
- Documents and objects from jazz musicians who played with Fatty George
- Posters, photos and memorabilia of the Viennese jazz scene
- Free to visit, one hour before events in the Kulturstadl
- On request, insight into the history of Viennese public toilets
Permanent exhibition
- Fatty George und seine Mitspieler – Small permanent exhibition with documents and objects from jazz musicians who played with Fatty George, in a historic public toilet.
- Founded
- 2005
- Operated by
- Kulturfleckerl Eßling (Verein)
- Director
- Irene Bader
Admission & discounts
Admission is free.
Free admission.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
Parking around the building is scarce; a car park is at Seefeldergasse 4 (on Eßlinger Hauptstraße heading out of town, turn right at the Billa). Eßling has short-stay parking zones.
Amenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Changing exhibitions on jazz and jazz musicians; the museum director is looking for loans. On request, the history of Viennese public toilets around 1900 is presented with watercolours. |
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