Hendrik Saar (pseudonyms Kivilombi Ints[1] and Sulgnokk;[2] March 8, 1893 – 1944) was an Estonian journalist, caricaturist, playwright, and clown.

Hendrik Saar
Hendrik Saar as a clown at the Arena circus
Born(1893-03-07)March 7, 1893
Died1944 (aged 49–50)
NationalityEstonian
Occupation(s)Journalist, caricaturist, playwright, and clown

Early life

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Saar was born in Laatre parish[1] in the Põhja-Ruhja district of Valmiera County. He was the son of Villem Saar (1850–?) and Ann Saar (née Ilves, 1865–1954).

Career

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In addition to working as a journalist, cartoonist, playwright, and clown, Saar also performed as a cathedral singer and stage actor. He translated operetta texts and theater jokes, and he staged his own plays. In 1919, together with Gori, he started publishing the humor magazine Sipelgas [et]. He also served as the editor of several other humor magazines in Tallinn—Vana Meie Mats [et] (1919), Meie Mats [et] (1920–1921), Kodanik Mats [et] (1920s), and Naljaleht [et] (1929–1930)—and of the film magazine Kino-Film (1927–1928) and the erotic magazine Nauding [et] (1931). In addition, he published six issues (which were confiscated) of the serialized novel Tallinna saladused (Tallinn Secrets, 1926–1927) and continued from February 1927 with the title Uued Tallinna saladused (New Tallinn Secrets), which was published in 18 issues.[3]

Because Saar was not accepted as an actor in other theaters, he created his miniature theater Illusioon to parody "real art."[4] In 1930, he had a supporting role in the film Kuldämblik (The Golden Spider), in which he played a musician.[5]

Arrest and disappearance

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After the outbreak of German–Soviet War in 1941, Saar published a column about Adolf Hitler in the newspaper Sirp ja Vasar.[6] Presumably because of the accompanying cartoons, he was arrested in 1942 by the German occupation authorities. He was last seen cleaning the streets of Tallinn in the spring and summer of 1944 in a labor column of prisoners.[7]

Works

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  • 1918: Nurjaläinud äpardus (Misadventure Averted)
  • 1918: Käbid torbiku sees (Cones in a Cone)[8]
  • 1918–1924: Punktimehed (Point Men)
  • 1919: Ha-ha-ha!
  • 1919: Kui kaks nii ühte nägu on... : naljamäng kahes vaatuses (If Two Faces Are the Same...: A Comedy in Two Acts)
  • 1921: Otsekohesus (Frankness)
  • 1922: Nõialind ja hea poiss Juku (The Witch Bird and the Good Boy Juku)
  • 1922: Riigivaras (The Thief of the State)
  • 1922: Imesõrmus ja vaene laps Anni (The Miracle Ring and Poor Child Anni)
  • 1922: Kolmikliit (The Triple Alliance; illustrations by Gori and verses by Hendrik Saar)[9]
  • 1923: Ahvi tütar. Juhtumised maal ja üksikul saarekesel (The Monkey's Daughter. Incidents in the Country and on a Lonely Isle)
  • 1923: Paremad kupleed (Better Couplets)
  • 1923: Kergats (The Fop)
  • 1923: Elli langemine. Jutustus Tallinna elust (The Fall of Elli. A Story about Life in Tallinn)
  • 1924: Pöörang (The Revolution)
  • 1924: Abielumeeste kavalused (Wives of Husbands)
  • 1924: Pleki-Karla kosjakäigud (The Courtships of Pleki-Karla; operetta)
  • 1925: Kah kaarditark (Also a Fortune Teller)
  • 1925: Kommunistid korteris (Communists in an Apartment)
  • 1925: Sangaste Juss (Juss of Sangaste)
  • 1925: Viina pärast (After Vodka)
  • 1926–1927: Tallinna saladused (Secrets of Tallinn; 1–6, December 1926 – January 1927, confiscated; in February 1927 published under the new title Uued Tallinna saladused, New Secrets of Tallinn)
  • 1927: Lõbunaisterahva romaan. Tallinna juhtumisi (A Novel by a Funny Woman. Incidents in Tallinn)
  • 1927: Jõulu-album 1927 (Christmas Album 1927; verses by Hendrik Saar)[10]
  • 1933: Pruut ja lehm (The Bride and the Cow)
  • 1941: "Misajast Hitler on hull?" (Since When Is Hitler Crazy?), Sirp ja Vasar 27 (July 24), page 5

Family

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Hendrik Saar was married to Roosi Saar (1897–1926), who left him and then committed suicide in Dakar after being imprisoned for murder.[11][12][13] Their daughter was the ballet dancer Asta Saar (1920–2000). She was married to the baritone Georg Ots from 1944 to 1964.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b Esna, Olaf (November 3, 2009). "Kui naljamehed pürgisid 1920 . aastal riigikokku". Pärnu Postimees. No. 211. p. 10. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  2. ^ Saaremaa muuseum: kaheaastaraamat. Kuressaare: Saaremaa muuseum. 2009. p. 151.
  3. ^ "Uued Tallinna saladused: romaan / Kivilombi Ints". E-kataloog ESTER. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  4. ^ "Teatris kihab kabaree". Postimees. November 4, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  5. ^ "Kuldämblik (1930)". Eesti Filmi Andmebaas. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  6. ^ Sulgnokk (July 24, 1941). "Misajast Hitler on hull?". Sirp ja Vasar. No. 27. p. 5. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  7. ^ "Tallinna saladused: [romaan]". Antikvariaat OÜ. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  8. ^ "Käbid torbiku sees: ja teised lastejutud / Henrik Saar; pildistanud Ed. Wiiralt". E-kataloog ESTER. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  9. ^ "Kolmikliit". Eesti rahvusbibliograafia. Tallinn: Eesti Rahvusraamatukogu. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  10. ^ "Jõulu-album 1927". Eesti rahvusbibliograafia. Tallinn: Eesti Rahvusraamatukogu. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  11. ^ "Perekonna drama Aafrika rannal". Waba Maa. No. 14. January 17, 1926. p. 5. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  12. ^ "Eesti perekonna kurbmäng teel L.-Ameerikasse". Päewaleht. No. 266. October 1, 1926. p. 3. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  13. ^ "Kes oli Roosi Saar?". Esmaspäev. No. 40. October 4, 1926. p. 1. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  14. ^ "Asta Ots lahkus Georgi juubelinädalal". Eesti Päevaleht. March 29, 2000. Retrieved September 10, 2024.