Hotel queen Hedda Adlon: That’s why she was “the bitch” for the family

Felix Adlon (57) tells the story of his step-great-grandmother in “Hedda Adlon: Loved, hated, admired – The unconventional life of the hotel queen” (Heyne Verlag). “From a persona non grata, Hedda became one of the most important figures in our family history. She not only steered the hotel through difficult times. Without her, the Adlon would most likely not exist today,” explains the great-great-grandson of hotel founder Lorenz Adlon.

“Charlie Chaplin, Edgar Wallace, Hans Albers, Heinz Rühmann, Herbert von Karajan, Josef Neckermann and the eccentric dancer Anita Berger went in and out of the Adlon. Through Hedda’s influence, the Adlon became the ‘place to be’,” reports Felix Adlon in an interview about his book, which was published on October 23rd. In it he also reveals how turbulent Hedda and Louis Adlon’s marriage was.

Felix Adlon: It was New Year’s Eve 1920 and Hedda was staying at the Adlon as a guest. She actually wanted to ring in the New Year quietly and quietly in her room. But an acquaintance persuaded her to join the party in the ballroom. Louis was of course there as host. Their eyes met and it was over for both of them. It was love at first sight that lasted a lifetime.

Adlon: She was the stepmother who, in the eyes of Louis’ five children, was the reason for their parents’ separation. To be honest, this family happiness had long since disappeared.

Adlon: Hedda recognized the need to shake the Adlon out of its sadness of the lost imperial era. The empire was a thing of the past. In order to attract new audiences and new guests to the Adlon, it took more than the luxury that the house had to offer. So Hedda suggested introducing the fashion of the Parisian five o’clock dance teas, complete with gigolos or dancers. Louis was of course outraged. Dancers in the Adlon – never. But Hedda knew how to convince her Louis. She was an absolute power woman. A doer who had the courage to fundamentally change her life again and again.

Adlon: Absolutely not! Hedda loved to work and organize. She attended every job interview and took care of the important procedures in the hotel. Together with Louis, she devoted all her strength and attention to the illustrious guests. Charlie Chaplin, Edgar Wallace, Hans Albers, Heinz Rühmann, Herbert von Karajan, Josef Neckermann and the eccentric dancer Anita Berger went in and out of the Adlon. Through Hedda’s influence, Adlon became the “place to be”.

Adlon: I think that Hedda and Louis were surrounded by so much glitz and glamor while running such a fantastic business that they grew apart a bit. In the seventh damn year of marriage, everything revolved around Adlon. Both were courted. Both had affairs. But they realized that their love was bigger and more important, and they turned back to each other. They were meant for each other and nothing should ever separate them.

Adlon: It was a misunderstanding. When Russian soldiers broke into the Adlon Villa, an employee stood protectively in front of Louis and said reproachfully: “Don’t you know who that is? That’s Louis Adlon! The general manager of the Hotel Adlon!” The only word the Russians understood was “general” and they led my peace-loving great-grandfather away. They interrogated and tortured him in various GPU cellars for almost two weeks until he collapsed during a forced march and died a short time later.

Adlon: Hedda immediately set out to find her beloved Louis to help free him. In her head it had to be possible to clear up the misunderstanding. She went from villa to villa, barracks to barracks to find her husband, putting her life in extreme danger as a woman in the Russian sector. She didn’t give up and found Louis – but unfortunately too late.

Felix Adlon, born in Munich in 1967, is the great-great-grandson of Lorenz Adlon, who founded the famous Hotel Adlon in Berlin more than a hundred years ago. He grew up in Bavaria, studied in the USA and became a film director like his father Percy. In 2010 they filmed the film drama “Mahler on the Couch” together. Today Felix Adlon is married to Nina Adlon, opera singer and singing teacher, has six children and lives in the Wachau.