MOYABLE F
N
R
Y
VOLUME 10 NUMBER 4 NOVEMBER 2002
Hildegard Krahé "Mrs. Meggendorfer"
MBS Grows Up
-
By Ellen G.K. Rubin Scarsdale, New York
By Theo Gielen The Netherlands
Our fourth Conference in eight years it's no surprise that we are growing up. From the quiet conversations at our opening reception in Milwaukee's Wyndham Hotel to the in-depth subjects of our lecture topics, we are showing signs of maturation. Is it the effects of 9/11 or are we settling down in general? A bit of both, I think. -
Since the [ast conference, the squeals of delight at rekindling old
acquaintances
had
morphed into fervent hugs, handshakes, and private téte 4 tétes of friends playing "catch up." While newcomers, and there were
many,
were
warmly
welcomed, the Movable Book Society had now an extended family become Wally Hunt across the world. We flung were honored to have the Grand Master, Waldo Hunt, holding court (near the delicious food buffet) and admirers playing musical chairs, dropping into seats to catch pearls of wisdom and bask in the light of our "Progenitor." We missed Wally at the last meeting when he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement
Award.
The gears of the Conference, held September 19-21, 2002, meshed more smoothly than ever. Experience counts! At the 2000 Conference in New York City, Steve Horvath had suggested to Ann Montanaro that Milwaukee's William F. Eisner Museum of Advertising and Design host our next convention. This immediately provided a destination and a supporter of almost half our events. (Ann was visibly calmer these past two years.) The Museum would mount an exhibit of pop-up advertising to coincide with the Conference. We were catapulted out of the child-like fantasy world of our magical books into the real world where pop-ups are used to sell stuff. Continued on page 2
In one of the most idyllic parts of Bavaria, the scenery so well known from The Sound of Music, I had an opportunity this summer to meet and interview Mrs. Hildegard Krahé, the well-known connoisseur of the works Lothar Meggendorfer, the ultimate maker of movable books. Since the death of her beloved husband Peter in 2000, she has lived in a newly-built luxurous apartment residence constructed in the typical Bavarian style with large wooden balconies overgrown with colorful blooming flowers. Though she told me the village of Bayerisch Gmain is
situated halfway to the mountains and catches the breezes from one of three neighboring valleys, this day in June was very hot, with no refreshing wind at all.
Since she doesn't like to be questioned about her personal life, it took me several telephone calls before she agreed to an interview. Traveling from the city of Salzburg in Austria in the direction of the German Bad Reichenhall, the romantic city where for centuries the world's rich and famous took advantage of the waters, I worried if Mrs. Krahé, who had celebrated her 80" birthday just two weeks before, would feel fit enough for my visit. I planned to leave after a short
stay.
But
underestimated my hostess! After a whole day oftalking about her life, her
publishing activities,
her
research in the field of movable books and so much more, Mrs. Hildegard Krahé I had to leave because she had an appointment to go into the theater with a friend that evening? I am far from 80, but I was very tired when I traveled to Munich that evening.
Continued on page 18