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| Image: auctionet.com (altered) |
Seen in FBDO
Members of the Rheinischer Verein Elferrat are best seen at 00:38:41 in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off during the opening seconds of the Sears Tower Skydeck scene. Two men in unique hats are seen on the opposite side of the screen as Ferris, Cameron and Sloane first step up onto the rail to lean against the glass.
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| Image: Paramount Pictures |
Description
The traditional festive season in Germany, Switzerland and Austria is known as Karneval. It is typically celebrated with parades, elaborate costumes and parties. Some have compared it to a Mardi Gras type celebration.
The year 1890 saw the founding of the Rheinischer Verein – a group promoting German heritage through various means such as Karneval. The Rheinischer Verein has a longstanding presence in the Chicago area and would certainly have been a part of the Von Steuben Day Parade held on September 28, 1985 – the setting for the FBDO parade scene.
Within the Rheinischer Verein is a “council of elders” known as the Elferrat. This group assists in annual Karneval celebrations and is traditionally comprised of eleven individuals. Members of the Elferrat wear matching festive costumes and decorative hats reflecting the official colors of the Rheinischer Verein.
Comparing the headwear of the men viewing Chicago from the skydeck in FBDO with images found online, the closest match is that worn by the Elferrat.
