Landestheater (State Theatre), Linz

While in Linz, Adolf Hitler developed a strong passion for classical music and opera thanks to the numerous visits, together with his mother and sister, to the local theater at 31 Gumboldstrasse. Back then, the Landestheater had a rather diverse repertoire, including Mozart, Schiller, Strauss, and Wagner.

Standing room tickets were fairly cheap and the Hitlers could afford periodic visits to the shows. Adolf particularly enjoyed the oeuvre of Richard Wagner (his favorite composer) and notably the Lohengrin opera. Some of the Landestheater's performances had such a profound effect on sixteen-year-old Hitler that he, back home, would march in his room for hours afterwards, singing and bursting with emotions and ideas. At that time, young Adolf had even made some sketches of a new design for the Landestheater building.

While in the standing box, in 1905, young Hitler met his friend August Kubizek, the future musical conductor. Coevals, the two men had much in common. Kubizek’s father also approved of the new friend of his son's – describing him as mannerly and gentleman-like.

In 1938, a special commission, charged with drafting Hitler's biography for the NSDAP (Nazi Party) archives, noted that during the early 1900s most actors in the Landestheater troupe were Jews.