Jürgen Walter

A story about massive robbery from the safe of German railways set in 1946.

Pensioner Erich Zarling loves two things: his daughter Ulrike and his dog sports club, of which he is chairman. But this position is in danger, so he wants to make himself indispensable with a daring move: He wants to build a sports clubhouse. He has come up with a curious idea to raise the funds: the sale of thirty state-owned trees from Berlin's Puschkinallee. His daughter Ulrike, who loves to sing and dance, is a chambermaid at the "Stadt Berlin" hotel. And against her father's wishes, she dreams of the boards that mean the world. A guest, the pop singer Balter, hires her as a replacement for his absent partner at the "Night of the Celebrities". He promises her more, but disappoints her. Father Zarling comforts her and they sing the "Rose Song" together in his tricked-out sportsman's home.

The show was meant to compete with those on West German television. To this end it was fairly successful even attracting a following in parts of West Germany which could receive Eastern TV. Its production values were high. Apart from song and dance numbers and appearances from East German celebrities, almost every broadcast featured well-known stars from the west, often after their popularity had peaked in their home countries.