Tassilo's Twist-A-Thon

Tassilo's Twist-A-Thon

Tassilo Vysibla was older than the rest of us kids staying at grandma's apartment in Vienna.  He was a crazy teenager. 

Bianca's apartment at Reuschachstraße 3 has a long, straight hallway with arched ceilings, all the way from the front door, past the bedrooms, living room and dining room to the kitchen.  Perfect for playing "Ambulance."

Bianca's apartment has a long hallway.

For some reason there was a cabinet with wheels and doors, and us little kids would all pile in and Tassilo would push us fast up and down the long hallway shouting "Tü-Tah!," "Tü-Tah!" like the emergency vehicles in Vienna.  This happened only when Grandma "Mami-Omi" wasn't home.

In 1963, at age 23 Tassilo entered an all night "Twist-A-Thon" dance contest in Vienna.  After about eight hours of non-stop twisting, Tassilo took home first prize.  

Dancing the Twist, Berlin 17 May 1964
[Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-C0517-0010-005,_Berlin,_Deutschlandtreffen,_tanzende_Jugendliche]

The Twist was a worldwide craze in the mid-1960's.  Chubby Checker (Let's Twist Again), Elvis (Jailhouse Rock), Beatles (Twist and Shout), Isley Brothers (Do The Twist), Supremes (Baby-Love), Manfred Mann (Do Wah Diddy Diddy), Dave Clark 5 (Glad All Over).

February 1962 Billboard Hits

Much later when we were grown up,  Tassilo drove me home late at night after some drinks.  He hit at least 120 km/h racing down the deserted cobblestone streets of downtown Vienna.  I feared for my life.  He was very proud of his dark green Alfa Romeo.

I last saw Tassilo in Vienna, 2019.  Tassilo passed away on February 7, 2025.  

Albert and Tassilo Vysibla
Perchtoldsdorf, Vienna, August 30, 2019

Tassilo was the son of Dr. Camilo Vysibla and Nora Colnago. If you have any more stories or memories of Tassilo, please send them to me - I'll add them to this Blog.

Al Kordesch