Emil Manser

A portrait about a much liked 'Town Original' called Emil Manser in Lucerne.

In 1997 Madeleine's short documentary idea ‘Emil Manser’ (Das Luzerner Stadtoriginal) finds realisation in a collaboration, and Madeleine re-edits a new version in 2004 (10min), (in memory of Emil Manser’s death).

Emil Manser (born November 19, 1951 in Appenzell, † August 3, 2004 in Lucerne) was a Swiss street artist and self-proclaimed mayor of Lucerne. Because of his humorous, socio-critical sayings, which he carried on cardboard signs around his neck and because of his constant presence in public space, especially in front of the building of the Luzerner Kantonalbank, he was in the 1990s in Lucerne as a city original. Manser grew up in Appenzell in a farming family with six children. He completed an apprenticeship as a book printer at the Appenzeller Tagblatt and moved to Lucerne in 1971. At the end of the 1980s, Manser was seen on the street with cardboard signs with slogans like "I'm honored to be of the same kind". Also purposely misspelled «Blakat nur für gehobene Kreise» or «Glück für Sie: betle ganzen Januar zum Halben Breis» or «Badzeli oder Ich <<singe>>». On the night of 3 August 2004, Manser fell into the river Reuss and died. He left a farewell poster with the inscription "Cancer! Chose shortcut to the sky ».