Karl Steinhauer (1852-1934), contemporary of a Gustav Mahler or Richard Strauss (of whom no street here reminds, not even of the waltz king Johann Strauss), was the municipal music director from 1901-1921. Alfred and Ulrich Lindemann: "As a conductor, composer and organizer, he left his mark on musical life, headed the 'Städtischer Musikverein' and had outstanding success with it. In 1903 he founded the 'Instrumentalverein', to which musicians from outside Oberhausen also joined. Under his leadership this orchestra became the most efficient in Rhineland and Westphalia."
In 1933 Steinhauer was made an honorary citizen of Oberhausen. The same year as Hindenburg, with whom he also shares the year of his death.
