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IN MEMORIAM


Hanns Kolmar

*Hanns was an ATPAM Press Agent since 1955

Hanns died Thursday, May 24, 2001, in San Francisco of pneumonia, 4 days short of his 89th birthday. Born in Mannheim, Germany where his father was a leading character actor/director in the state theater, he escaped just ahead of Hitler's minions, who were angered at his Heidelberg University writings for the college paper and the Berliner Tageblatt. Mr. Kolmar went to England, and supported himself by writing movie and living reviews fox the European Herald in German and English.

Immigrating to New York in 1935, he moved to St. Louis where he was an actor and director at the Little Theater, as well as co-founder of the late Civic Theater. Returning to New York, Kolmar had feature roles acting on and off Broadway. He was proud to receive his citizenship during this period and was drafted in 1943. After basic training, he was a member of the 4th Mobile Radio Broadcasting Company and transferred to Radio Luxembourg, where he worked as a writer, translator and producer of German language programs.

Returning after the war, Kolmar was picked as a road press agent for the touring company of Laurence Olivier's film, "Henry V." He came to San Francisco and, like so many, fell in love with the city and the rest is history. He worked as a publicist and ATPAM press agent for movies and their stars, ballet companies, symphony orchestras, plays and musicals (both touring and local) for 44 years, becoming senior press agent in North California as well as local steward for his union for many years. He was proud of his long (over 30 years) association with the Lamplighters Musical Theater.

Upon retirement, Mr. Kolmar volunteered at the S.F. Performing Arts Library & Museum, as well as accompanying his writer-wife to numerous movie screenings, theater openings anal restaurants, until his recent illness.

Hanns was the ATPAM steward from San Francisco for many years, preceding Tess Collins. He is survived by wife Virginia (Ginny), stepdaughter Karin Stem (Steve) of Atlanta, brother Klaus (Peg) and nieces and nephews of Long Island, NY. Memorial service will be held later this summer. Donations to SF Performing Arts Library & Museum or SF Lamplighters.

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