C. 1967 – The Nouveau Théâtre de Luxembourg seen from inside a coach driving on the Boulevard Robert Schuman in Luxemburg. Scan © by Mark Zanzig/zanzig.com
The story behind the image
This image is part of the big slide collection I purchased a while ago. Here, the anonymous photographer took part in a bus trip to Luxemburg. When the group approached the Nouveau Théâtre de Luxembourg on the Boulevard Robert Schuman he met the almost perfect moment to capture this image.
Perfect? Yes. Here’s why:
- The angle is almost identical with contemporary postcard shots which show just the building.
- The bus driver and the tour guide create a stunning directness. I feel like I am sitting there, on a seat in the second row, and enjoy the excursion to the attractions of Luxemburg.
- The red BMW 2000 ti on the other side of the street is exactly in the center of the image, and its bright paint contrasts well with the green and yellow surroundings. (If only it would be a bit sharper!)
- The photographer just had this one chance. Back in 1967 he could not capture a series of images and pick the best image later. It a now-or-never moment for this single image. A moment earlier or later, and the opportunity would have been gone.
What’s more, there are many small details to be discovered: the lack of headrests, the dashboard with its sturdy switches and knobs and simplistic design, the cigarettes and the adhesive tape on the dashboard,
Funny fact: The construction of the theater was completed in 1964, so it was still pretty new by then. The bus – apparently a Mercedes-Benz O 302 – had been introduced in 1965, and the BMW 2000 ti went into production from January 1966. Thus, we see three novelties of the 1960s in just a single image.
The theater has been renamed to Grand Théâtre de la Ville de Luxembourg in 2003 and has a history of its own. It received international attention when the Concours Eurovision de la Chanson was hosted here in 1973 and again in 1984. While I wouldn’t call it beautiful, its architecture is certainly an eye-catcher.
Finally, this image would be impossible to shoot today. The tiny wall that separates the greens from the street has been extended and now blocks the view of the main entrance.
A very interesting photo. In my view.
The high resolution image
| Photographer | unknown |
| Capture Date | c. 1967 |
| Location | Luxemburg |
| Image Source | 35 mm color slide film |
| Digital Image Source | EPSON Perfection 4870 Photo |
| Digital Image Source Format | TIFF, 48 bits/pixel, sRGB |
| Edited Image Format | JPEG, 24 bits/pixel, sRGB |
| Edited Image Dimensions | 6505 x 4374 Pixels |
| Copyright | Scan © by Mark Zanzig/zanzig.com |
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