Hans Wurst, originally created as a coarse-comic character in German improvisational comedy, quickly became a symbol of bawdy theatrical fun. For many critics, this was synonymous with a devaluation of the quality of German comedy, which is why calls for its abolition emerged from various quarters as early as the 18th century. By the end of the 18th century, Joseph von Sonnenfels emerged as a central figure in the so-called Hans Wurst controversy. Karl von Görner summarizes the origin and development of the Hans Wurst character and explains the role von Sonnenfels played in the ban on improvisational comedies imposed by Emperor Joseph II. This is a carefully edited reprint of the original edition from 1884.