Step Right In! Popular Entertainment circa 1900 as Reflected in Postcards

Oktoberfest is a popular motif in the 13,000+ postcards capturing all sorts of popular entertainment, part of our vast archive held at the Puppet Theater & Fairground Attraction Collection in Münchner Stadtmuseum. Digitized between 2024 and 2026 with support from bavarikon, these postcards are now available at bavarikon.de—not just for researchers but also for the general public to browse through and enjoy. "Step Right In! Popular Entertainment circa 1900 as Reflected in Postcards" is a digital exhibition showcasing key pieces in this collection.

Postcards had their heyday between 1896 and 1918, emerging as a widely popular visual medium of the early twentieth century. This is the period in which most of the digitized postcards were created, offering a vibrant picture of popular entertainment at the time and revealing an important aspect of everyday life among ordinary people.

Postcards in the collection capture puppet theaters, Oktoberfest and other popular fairground festivals, as well as associated topics such as beer brewing in Munich or fairground stalls. Further motifs include entertainment establishments in Munich and around the world such as restaurants, exhibitions, novelty shops, and even circuses. Humorous postcards including works by artist Lothar Meggendorfer (1847–1925) are a particular highlight.

The digital exhibition looks closely at stereotypical tropes frequently depicted on postcards, ranging from cliches about Bavaria and beer to gender roles and even discriminatory images. This section also addresses displays of human beings deemed somehow "different”. However, only a small number of the collection’s postcards in this area are made public to avoid disseminating racist and/or ableist imagery. Researchers may apply to view the entire collection.

bavarikon—Bavaria’s digital treasure trove—has offered the chance to digitize our archive. This online portal makes it possible for the diverse cultural heritage of Bavaria to be accessed around the world at no cost, serving both the culturally inclined general public and researchers. To date, over 580,000 items from over 200 cultural institutions have been made available online. bavarikon is a joint initiative of the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts and the Bavarian State Ministry for Digital Affairs. Its ongoing technical, editorial, and organizational operations are managed by the Bavarian State Library.