The cytoskeleton is the physical and biochemical interface for a large variety of cellular processes. Its complex regulation machinery is involved upstream and downstream in various signaling pathways. The cytoskeleton determines the mechanical properties of a cell. Thus cell elasticity could serve as parameter reflecting the behavior of the system rather than reflecting the specific properties of isolated components. We used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to perform real-time monitoring of cell elasticity unveiling cytoskeletal dynamics of living bronchial epithelial cells. Cells were indented repetitively with a frequency of 0.25 Hz and a constant loading force of 2 nN. Resulting force-deformation curves were analyzed using a linear implementation of the Hertz-Model. In resting cells we found a periodic activity of the cytoskeleton. Amplitude and frequency of this spontaneous oscillation were strongly affected by intracellular calcium. Experiments reveal that basal cell elasticity and superimposed elasticity oscillations are caused by the collective action of myosin motor proteins. We characterized the cell as a mechanically multilayered structure and followed cytoskeletal dynamics in the different layers with high time resolution. This revealed that elasticity oscillations occur primarily in the cortical actomyosin meshwork. In a second approach we indent cells (no lateral movement) and measured the force the cells exert against the indenter (colloidal probe). Elasticity oscillations were also visible in this experimental approach and, furthermore, this method allowed to quantify the energy of these oscillations. Obviously, these oscillations, driven by collective activities of the myosin motor proteins, represent a basal biomechanical activity of cells. The meaning of these oscillations as well as its effect on cell or tissue function is unclear. In conclusion, our approaches of time resolved elasticity measurement could provide deep insight into cellular dynamics in response to changes of the chemical and mechanical environment.