Hans Otto Kessler (later Dr. John Otto Kessler) was born in Vienna in 1928 to Alice Blanca Neuhut and Jakob Kessler. The family relocated to Baden, approximately thirty-five miles from Vienna when Hans (Hansi) was four-years old. His maternal grandfather retired from his role as the sales director of a light bulb company, and bought a hotel. Kessler lived in this hotel as a child where his mother cooked, and his father managed the expenses. Growing up, Kessler knew of his Jewish identity, but his family practiced Judaism socially rather than religiously. He was exposed to a variety of religions because his mother came from a predominantly Catholic family, and his maternal grandmother studied Buddhism. In 1938, shortly after the Nazis gained control of Austria, Kessler’s father was arrested and detained in Vienna. Kessler, along with his mother, and maternal grandmother, were baptized as Lutherans, potentially an effort of protection from Nazi control. Kessler’s mother, a resourceful woman who enjoyed reading English detective novels, used her language skills to secure a job in England. She received the position immediately, and managed to free her husband from prison. The Kesslers overcame the risky journey to England, narrowly escaping patrolmen at the border between Germany and Belgium. From Belgium, they boarded a ferry to England. In England, Kessler’s mother worked as a chef, and his father earned a living as a butler. Kessler assimilated and learned English at a boarding school near Sussex. John Kessler and his family immigrated to the United States in 1940. They lived in New York for one month. Kessler’s mother wanted to live in a warmer climate, and the family decided to relocate to Jacksonville, Florida. Kessler attended boarding school in Connecticut, and later moved to Jacksonville after his parents established themselves financially. Back in Vienna, Kessler’s grandparents could no longer manage the hotel, and felt threatened by Nazi control. They escaped to Cuba and joined Kessler’s family in 1941. Kessler attended high school in Jacksonville and was a stellar student, earning a scholarship to Columbia University. His father passed away in 1945, and his mother joined him in New York. Kessler earned a degree in physics, later achieving a PhD. He married his wife, Eva, in 1950. He began working at the University of Arizona in 1966, where he is currently a researcher and professor Emeritus. Alice Blanca Neuhut and Jakob Kessler lived in Vienna. Their son, Hans Otto Kessler (later Dr. John Otto Kessler), was born in 1928. Alice's father retired from his role as the sales director of a light bulb company, and bought a hotel. The Kessler family lived in this hotel where Alice cooked, and Jakob managed the expenses. Alice came from a predominantly Catholic family, and her mother studied Buddhism. In 1938, shortly after the Nazis gained control of Austria, Jakob Kessler was arrested and detained in Vienna. Alice, Hansi, and her mother had been baptized as Lutherans, and Alice, who enjoyed reading English detective novels, used her language skills to secure a job in England. She received the position immediately, and managed to free her husband from prison. The Kesslers overcame the risky journey to England, narrowly escaping patrolmen at the border between Germany and Belgium. From Belgium, they boarded a ferry to England. In England, Alice worked as a chef, and Jakob earned a living as a butler. They immigrated to the United States in 1940 and lived in New York for one month. Alice wanted to live in a warmer climate, so the family decided to relocate to Jacksonville, Florida. Back in Vienna, Alice's parents could no longer manage the hotel, and felt threatened by Nazi control. They escaped to Cuba and joined their family in the US in 1941. After Jakob died in 1945, Alice joined her son back in New York.
Comedy about a family eating
Lizzy Film Produktion. “Familie Unterernährt isst Gansl. Lustspiel in 2 akten” “Es folgen nun zu diesem stück die akteure: alle disk” “Glühlampen putz ich bei der watt doch ess’ ich gans sind alle platt” (00:00:36) A man addresses the camera in a slightly exaggerated way. “Ich bin immer renitent das ist mein temperament” A women (possibly Lizzy or her mother/mother in law) smokes and talks. “Ich bin der susi, den a jeder kennt hochintelligent” Jakob? speaks to the camera. “Eine mastkur soll ich machen? Ah, da muss ich selber lachen!” Lizzy? speaks, then laughs. “1.Akt” (00:01:23) Man in chef costume looks at the set table. “Johann Lässt den gong erbeben gleich wird die tafel sich beleben” Man playing the chef hits a gong then pulls out a chair for [?] while Jakob and Lizzy sit. “Nun kommt das gansl schon daher doch vaters sessel ist noch leer.” An empty chair. Family discusses. Waldi [the dachshund] gets in the chair and eats food.”Im Kaffeehaus Sitzt er g’wiss bei ultimo pagat und sküss” The family plays a card game. They eat a meal. Special effects with reversed footage to make it seem like chef is magically picking up wine bottles. “Der letzte bissen liegt bereit doch jeder zeigt sich abgeneigt” The family discusses the meal. “Plӧtzlich. Kurzschluss” “Doch jeder wollt für sich den bissen der susi hat es büssen müssen” Two forks are pressed into Jakob's hand. The card game continues. [?] checks the time. “Gewonnen hat er viel jetzt erhebt er sich vom spiel” “eilt nach haus zum ganslessen das trinkgeld hat er nicht vergessen” They light cigarettes. “O schreck, jetzt kommt der vater und nichts zu essen hat er.” Man points to an empty serving dish. “Will er gansl auch am end?” “Zurück zum regiment” Re-wound footage of the family eating. “Der vater kommt sieht auf die uhr dann zieht er den gewinnst hervor” A man, possibly one of the couple's fathers, takes a wallet out of his pocket and shows his money. He sits down to eat. “Nun hat er nach der gans gestochen den braten hat er nicht gerochen” He continues to eat. “Staunend sehen alle zu. Wie die gans verschwindet’ im nu.” “Der vater nicht zu halten ist, zurück bleibt nur der knochenmist” The plate of food is almost empty. “Vom fleische blieb zurück kein hauch man sieht es hier an diesem bauch” The man who was eating now has a large stomach from eating so much. “Das gansl druckt ihn fürchterlich ins geheime schleicht er sich” Man has a sour look on his face while shaking his head and rubbing his stomach. He hobbles away. “Ende”