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Showtime March 25, 1999
 
 
 
Mr. Rainer Wallraf (left in above picture and right pic) and our producer, but "Daddy" Rainer still giving last instructions to the engineer in his "last" radio show after 24 year in business.

copyright Euroshowtime News, production forBavarian State Radio, excerpts by Euroshowtime or as indicated..

In 1976 began what was to become an unique classic German show and series for over two decades: "Musicaltime", presented and written by Mr. Rainer Wallraf, later to be renamed as "Showtime". He broadcasted first on the pop channel, Radio 3 (Bayern 3), later on Radio 2. Listen to the first trailer of Mr. Wallraf´s musical show, once "Musicaltime"

The first show - by chance - brought together Euroshowtime News, at an early stage, and this series. The initial collaboration later merged into many new projects, amongst them "Euroshowtime".

The first show was focusing on the 1976 Broadway season, including the fantastic stage production of "The Wiz". The programme provided (for a German audience) rare music and information about Broadway, London West End and show business in general in the years 1976 to 1999. The Man, producer, presenter and writer, Rainer Wallraf, was ambitious to keep up "high quality reporting" in German Public Radio.

On March 25, 1999, the last broadcast by Rainer Wallraf have been aired. Due to this retirement, the show again had to change format but lost much of its uniqueness. Dietmar Bohne wrote and produced the Farewell to "Mr. Showbusiness".


   

The series "Musical Time" soon changed name to "Showtime"and RainerWallraf and Dietmar Bohne were joining forces, working closely together; the original trailer became a classic, re-issued and rewritten for our own radio series in Berlin later - and (once) Mr. Wallraf to be guest in the show.

Mr. Rainer Wallraf was also responsible for many show business events on highest level:

  • Brasil Tropical "Brasiliana"
  • radio production to marketing the first ever musical CD since Hair: the Vienna production of "Evita"
  • world premiere and live broadcast of the openeing night of "Elisabeth" in Vienna
  • Author of the Columbus-Musical "Tierra"
   
 

 
  • Last but not least: the legendary "Gala Concert For Hal Prince", staged at the Munich Concert Hall and released on CD by First Night Records London. This "Live"-event was produced and written by Rainer Wallraf and took place in the presence of the artist, Hal Prince. It revealed the famous Broadway producer's Jewish background: his family had a show shop in Munich before immigrating to America ! Rainer Wallraf speaks in an interview about Harold Prince and his German background (in German). Links between Rainer Wallraf and Hal Prince are still strong.

Listen to Rainer Rallraf singing about Hal Prince in the concert (Patricia Nessy, Charles Prince/son, Rainer Wallraf) (copyright: Bavarian State Radio/First Night Racords London).

Tributes to Rainer Wallraf's retirement arrived from around the world:

  • Harold Prince ( see right column)
    "I can't imagine Bavarian State Radio without your shows! Congratulations for years of electrifying this station with your elegant approach to musical theatre. Question: who will replace you? No one. Bravo. Hal"

  • Peter Weck, Vienna (original audio statement in German by the famous Vienna theatre producer, who first brought "Cats" to the continent)

  • Michael Kunze, New York City (original audio statement from the renown German author and lyricist, "Elisabeth", "Mozart" and "Dance of the Vampires", recently on Broadway.