Tribute to the King of Globetrotters: Heinz Rox Schulz

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Heinz Rox Schulz, the man, the myth, the reluctant monarch of the wanderlust universe. While he never wore the crown, the venerable scribes of Der Spiegel and Die Zeit bestowed upon him the title King of Globetrotters. Imagine that! A label born not from self-aggrandisement but pure, unadulterated respect for a life lived in perpetual motion, spinning tales of serendipity like a madman on a carousel of adventure.

I have yet to learn more about this remarkable character, but as I peel back the layers of Mr. Rox’s saga, his journey began with the detritus of post-war chaos. A gymnast and acrobat by trade, he navigated the challenges of survival through a dizzying rotation of revues, nightclubs, fairs, and circus acts. Until a two-week gig in Madrid, in the early 1950s, transformed this unassuming performer into a nomad, catapulting him to Egypt, then India, and spiralling into a global whirlwind before he returned to Germany in 1955.

But home was a transient concept for Rox. Hardly dusting off his shoes, he commandeered a VW bus and embarked on a five-year escapade through the heart of South America! It was here that he stumbled upon the intoxicating embrace of photography and filmmaking, diving headfirst into the murky waters of documentary making. His cinematic exploits aired on Saarland’s regional TV—stories that eventually caught the attention of the national broadcast, ARD. By 1962, Saarland wasn’t just his home; it was where Rox earned his reputation as a freelancer for Saarländisches Fernsehen.

Every true adventurer accumulates the odd relic or two along the way—trophies from the wilderness of experience. Rox, an ace collector of life’s mementos, unveiled his remarkable collection in the historic Adventure Museum in Saarbrücken’s town hall toward the end of the ‘70s, crafting a shrine to his pilgrimages.

Then came the dark day in 2004 when the King of Globetrotters took his final bow—a gut-wrenching loss that also signalled the dimming lights of the Adventure Museum itself. To honour the twenty-year void left in our midst, the Freunde des Abenteuermuseums e.V. and VHS Regionalverband Saarbrücken are staging a special homage that will not soon be forgotten. A cinematic journey spanning 90 minutes will be unleashed, showcasing Rox’s cherished works including Allein unter Waldmenschen (Alone Among Forest Tribes) and Hello Burunni—it’s bound to be a spectacular trip down memory lane.

Attending this reverent occasion will be Heinz Zimmer, one of the last of Rox’s kindred spirits, offering the audience a deeper understanding of Heinz Rox Schulz’s extraordinary life—one intertwined with cherished animals at Ponsheimer Hof, captivating television performances, and a wealth of entertaining anecdotes and interviews.

So, gather your spirits and dive headfirst into the legacy of a bona fide globetrotter, a fiery soul whose indomitable spirit continues to fuel the fires of exploration and adventure in us all.

Where: Schlosskeller Saarbrücken

When: 13.12.2024, from 18:00

Speaker: Heinz Zimmer

Images courtesy of: Abenteuermuseum