Trivia

Bought himself a castle for the (then) astounding sum of 480,000 Reichsmark.

Set up his own production company and was active during World War I as director and producer.

On stage from 1901. He was the first German actor to sign a film contract (with Deutsche Bioscop in April 1912). He eventually became one of the most highest paid stars of silent films.

He got an engagement at the "Bochumer Stadttheater" although he earned only the half of the salary he had had as a seller. But his enthusiasm became rewarded. When he got a film offer from the Bioskop he didn't hesitate one moment.

The 9th April 1912 is a historical date in the German film history, when Ludwig Trautmann signed the first film contract which had ever been concluded.

Ludwig Trautmann's offer for new movies dropped off in the 20's but he still was able to play in few movies till to the 50's.

He was a member of the jury at the 1st Berlin International Film Festival in 1951.

The so-called "serious" theater actors despised him, they named him "Kinntöppler". But in contrast to Ludwig Trautmann, the names of his mockers fell into oblivion, their doing on German stages wasn't captured and was lost for ever. However Trautmann was able to erect a monument to himself with his movies.

He became a darling of the women and on the height of his career he even bought a castle with 22 rooms for the in those days outrageous sum of DM 480'000.--. At this time his theater colleagues despised him no longer long ago.

The actor Ludwig Trautmann was the first German movie star at all.

He was in a position to found his own film company, he wrote scripts and directed movies.

He grew up in a small city and when tumblers visited the city he decided to go to the theater in order to become an actor. But his father urged him to do an apprenticeship as a seller because the taking of the acting profession wasn't viewed as respectable. Ludwig Trautmann gave in and practiced this occupation. But beside it he took clandestine acting lessons.

Ludwig Trautmann was a very successful movie actor and he rallied a crowd round him and became wealthy.