Friedrich Kaiser
Kaiser, Friedrich (Biberach, 1814-74, Vienna), an unusually prolific dramatist who, although born in Württemberg, was the son of an Austrian officer. Kaiser began a career as a civil servant, but resigned his post in 1838. By then some of his plays had already been produced in the Leopoldstädter Theater (later Carl-Theater). In 1840 Kaiser signed a contract with the director, Karl Carl, and provided the theatre with a number of effective comedies and farces in the tradition of the Viennese Volksstück, including Der Schneider als Naturdichter (1843) and Die Schule des Armen (1847). Exploited by Carl and other directors, he derived little financial benefit from his numerous stage successes, but he influenced Anzengruber, who admired his work which was in turn indebted to Nestroy. In his later years he treated social problems, including prostitution (Ein verrufenes Haus, 1872) and also composed a patriotic play dealing with General G. E. von Laudon. He wrote some 150 plays in all, of which more than 70 have never been printed.
Kaiser is also the author of the historical novels Ein Pfaffenleben (2 vols., 1872), on Abraham a Santa Clara (the subject also of a play in the same year), and Unter dem alten Fritz und Kaiser Joseph (2 vols., 1877), on Friedrich II of Prussia and the Emperor Joseph II. In 1871 appeared the memoirs (Bunte Bilder) Unter fünfzehn Theaterdirektoren and in
