Selim, Josma |
| SINGER, CABARET ARTIST (AUSTRIA) |
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BORN 5 Jun 1884, Wien - DIED 25 Aug 1929, Berlin BIRTH NAME Fischer, Hedwig Josma CAUSE OF DEATH suicide GRAVE LOCATION Wien: Feuerhalle Simmering, 11., Simmeringer Hauptstraße 337 (Abteilung ML, Gruppe 11, Nummer 1G) |
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Josma Selim studied singing with Viktor Heim. She appeared as a cabaret artist in Vienna at Hölle from 1909 to 1912 and from 1912 at Simplicissimus. She was a well known singer by the time she met Ralph Benatzky. Benatzky was relatively new at the cabaret scene but already successful She asked him to write a song for her but he refused. After further discussion he gave in and they started a permanent collaboration. On 15 November 1914 they married in Vienna after he had divorced his first wife Fédi Férard. Benatzky wrote many songs for her, mixing Viennese songs and France chansons. He accompanied her on the piano during their program "Heitere Muse" in the cabaret Simplicissimus in Vienna and they toured in Germany, Switzerland, Italy and England. In 1924 they moved to Berlin where they had appeared at the Deutsches Theater in 1921 and expected to make more money than in Vienna. In 1928 they gave their last performance in Vienna. Not long after Benatzky started an affair with the dancer Mela Hoffman she committed suicide. Officially it was stated she died of consequences of pneumonia. Benatzky married Hoffman in 1930. Family • Husband: Benatzky, Ralph (1914-1929, Wien) |
| Images |
 The grave of Josma Selim at the Feuerhalle Simmering in Vienna. Picture by Androom (02 Sep 2023) |
