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Es Geht Wohl Anders (Things Turn Out Differently): The Unexpected Life of Walter Arlen Main Menu "Arlen in LA" by Michael Haas "The Dichter Department Store and Jewish Retailers in Vienna" by William M. Katin "Walter Arlen, Music Critic" by Mary Enid Pinkerson Multimedia Citations and Additional Resources About This Exhibit

Dichter Collection Photo Library

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A selection of photographs of Walter (Aptowitzer) Arlen and the Dichter/Aptowitzer family from the Sammlung Dichter (Dichter Collection), an archive of historical materials donated by Walter, his sister Edith Arlen Wachtel and their cousin, Ernest Dichter. The archive was created by Schüetz Design, as part of their efforts to recover the history of the Dichter Department Store Building in 2005-2008. They have generously granted permission to republish the photos here.
You can learn more about their preservation efforts, including their exhibit about the Dichter family "Pillars of Memory," here.

Contents of this tag:

In Burgenland, 1933
Tante Henshi c. 1920s The Dichter family at their home in Burgenland in the 1920s. Seated in the center is Leopold Dichter and to his right, his sister Hannah (Henshi), who moved to Chicago in the late 19th century. Tante Henshi, as Walter knew her, provided crucial assistance, including visas, to Walter and other family members that allowed them to escape Austria when the Nazis came to power. Image from the Dichter Collection, courtesy of Schüetz Design.
At the Parliament Building, 1930
In Bad Sauerbrunn, 1934
With Berthold Silberstein c. 1932
Dichter Department Store c. 1910 The signage in this 1910 photo of the store indicates the items that the Dichters offered: "HAUS KUCHENGERATE," which means "cooking utensils," a message reinforced by the pots and pans prominently displayed. Other signs on the left side of the photo advertise rubber goods, toys and leather goods. The number "40" indicates the store's location at Brunnengasse 40. Image from the Dichter Collection, courtesy of Schüetz Design.
Dichter Department Store, 1929
In Burgenland, 1929 Walter's family at their home in Burgenland in November, 1929. Standing left to right are Dr. Blick, Berthold Silberstein, Toddy Kolb, Michael Aptowitzer (Walter's father), and Rosl Dichter. Seated left to right are Mrs. Blick, Esther Dichter, Edith Aptowitzer, Shirley Wahl, Rose Wahl, Gretl Dichter, Isidor Dichter, and cousin Joyce Wahl. Walter sits on the ground in the front. Image from the Dichter Collection, courtesy of Schüetz Design.
Dichter Department Store 1937
At the home of Minna Coe, 1957 Walter (top left) and guests at a dinner party hosted by Minna Coe (seated, center) in honor of Heitor Villa Lobos (seated, center) during the filming of "Green Mansions" in 1957. Standing next to Walter are choral conductor Roger Wagner, Viennese conductor Ernst Kanitz, and John Vincent, chair of the UCLA Music Department. Seated on left is renowned film composer Milkos Rosza. Image from the Dichter Collection, courtesy of Schüetz Design.
Hiking in Austria, 1990s
Villa Dichter, 1932
At the Piano, 1950
Hiking in Sauerbrunn, 1935
Walter and Edith, 1946
With Leopold Dichter, 1941
Diamandstein Sketch 1934
Walter Arlen c. 1952
As Franz Schubert 1928
In Chicago, 1940
At Graduation, 1971
Michael Rattner Bar Mitzvah, 1950
At the Beverly Hills Hotel, 1957
First Job in Chicago, 1939
Outside the Dichter Department Store, 1928
At the home of Irving Mills, 1965
Four Generations 1925
With Consul General Thomas Klestil, c. 1970s Walter (far left) stands next to Austrian Consul General Thomas Klestil and members of a German theater group during their visit to Los Angeles in the early 1970s. Klestil, who opened Austria's consulate in Los Angeles in 1969, went on to serve as Austria's ambassador to the UN and was elected President of Austria in the 1990s. Also pictured are the German Consul General Constantin von Dziembowski (far right) and German cultural attaché Ingeborg Kurtz (center). Image from the Arlen (Dichter) Collection, courtesy of Schuetz Design.
With Kojian and Kachaturian, 1974
With Copland and Mills, 1965
With Eugene Ormandy c. 1970s Walter with famed conductor Eugene Ormandy and his wife Margaret at their home in Palm Springs. Ormandy was born to Jewish parents in Hungary and came to the United States in 1921. He began his tenure as the conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1936 and served for in the post for over 44 years. Ormandy would often consult with Walter about his work during visits to his family's vacation home in Palm Springs, as pictured here c. 1970s. Image from the Arlen (Dichter) Collection, courtesy of Schuetz Design.
Hannah and Wolf Aptowitzer
With Aunt Rosl c. 1920s
Walter, Edith and Michael, 1946
With the Austrian General Counsel, 1984