Slovak National Dress Through the Centuries

Today we are looking at a book entitled Slovak National Dress Through the Centuries by Jozef Markov with introduction by Sona Kovacevicova and translated by Hedda Veselá-Stránská. The book was created under the guide of the Ethnographic Institute of the Slovak Academy of Science in Bratislavia and was published in Bratislava, Slovakia in 1955 and...

Books, ENTERTAINMENT

August 2, 2019

Jiří Šlitr – Czech Pop Music & Theatre in the 1960s

When thinking of Czech pop music and theater, there is one main person to mention in that position and that would have to be Jiří Šlitr (1924 – 1969). This mega-talent boasted a wide artistic scope – he was a composer, virtuoso pianist, singer, actor and artist. He learned to play the piano from his...

Art and Design, CULTURE, Movies, Music, Theater

July 18, 2019

Movie Scenes from Prague

Today we are looking at movie scenes from Prague. Many films and music videos choose Prague for obvious reasons, it’s beautiful, picturesque, romantic, haunting, glamorous, unique, and well… just picture perfect. Each of these videos are just a few minutes, so take a peek and enjoy your little video visit to Prague. Mission Impossible –...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

June 25, 2019

Watch This: Swingtime – StB – A False State Border Within the Republic

Imagine it… The StB – A false state border within the republic – and a fictional story of people who have crossed it. This is the theme of the the 2006 film Swingtime. It focuses on the so-called akce Kámen (Stone action), during which State Security agents deliberately mystified the citizens of the Czechoslovak Republic. Especially...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

June 16, 2019

Zem Spieva or the Earth Sings – A Czech/Slovak Magnum Opus

Zem spieva (The Earth Sings) is a 1933 Czech documentary film written and directed by Karel Plicka (in Slovak: Karol Plicka) (1894 – 1987), a Czechoslovak photographer, film director, cinematographer, folklorist, and pedagogue. He is considered a founder of Slovak film education and film making. He helped establish the genre of ethnographic film in Czechoslovakia. Following Karel Plicka’s graduation...

History, Movies, PEOPLE

Czech-Literature-Strahov_Theological_Hall-TresBohemes

June 2, 2019

Czech & Slovak Literature Through 1964

Today we are looking at Czech & Slovak literature through 1964. I write “through 1964” because the information comes from a booklet entitled Czechoslovakia by the Assembly of Captive European Nations Czechoslovak Committee. It was published in 1964 and was volume 3 in a series of nine booklets. I found their writing on literature interesting and wanted to share...

Books, ENTERTAINMENT

May 28, 2019

Journalism in Czech Blood: The Rosický’s of Omaha

If you are a lover of Everything Czech and are especially fascinated with Czechs in America, then surely you have heard of the Rosický’s of Omaha or come across A History of Czechs (Bohemians) in Nebraska. Compiled by Rose Rosicky (Růžena Rosicka) in Omaha, Nebraska in 1929. This special historical book (documents all important Czech...

Books, History, Women

May 25, 2019

Learning About the Czech Alphabet

One of our favorite Czech alphabet works were published as an “experimental textbook” that most remember as school posters entitled, Živá abeceda (pokusná učebnice) (Living Alphabet), published by the State Pedagogical Publishing House in 1954. Živá abeceda was created as a collective and featured the talents of Jarmila Hřebejková, Irena Fabianová, Anna Šimanová; illustrated by...

Childrens Books

May 20, 2019

Reminiscences of One of Antonín Dvořák’s Pupils

I must confess to being addicted in finding the most rare, forgotten, and set aside information. This very intimate reminiscence of Antonín Dvořák was written by William Arms Fisher and appeared in The Phonograph Monthly Review, Vol. 1: No. 8. May 1927. Without further ado, I’m sure you will enjoy this piece, especially if you...

Bohemians, Music

April 22, 2019

Depeche Mode Exploring Prague in 1988

Last week we wrote about the Historical Depeche Mode Concert in the CSSR . After the famous concert, Depeche Mode returned to Prague with their photographer Anton Corbijn and he took this series of beautiful photographs. Yes, Depeche Mode, back in the CSSR. The photographic style of Anton Corbijn is instantly recognizable. His images of...

LIFESTYLE, Music, Photography

April 16, 2019

Historical Depeche Mode Concert in the CSSR

The communist regime did not tolerate listening to Western music. They believed that the live concerts of imperialist artists were taboo. So how is it that on March 11, 1988 Depeche Mode was allowed to come to the Sports Hall in Prague of then-called Czechoslovakia? The Depeche Mode concert in the CSSR is one of...

ENTERTAINMENT, History, Music

April 11, 2019

Willa Cather and Her Love of Czechs

As you know, we love digging through old archives, magazines, newspapers, books. Some of these we are gifted, some we find on our own, some we search for painstakingly and others come by way of my father who’s work in an antique bazaar allows many opportunities to come across wonderful old treasures. Today we are...

Books

February 8, 2019

The Great Return by Zuzana Palovic

The Great Return by Zuzana Palovic is an inspiring and informational book which shares a unique perspective on the Central European country of Slovakia and its diverse people. It briefly explores the history of Slovakia and how it has shaped its people, going on to explore the circumstances which led some citizens of Slovakia to...

Books, ENTERTAINMENT

January 2, 2019

Listen to Bill Clinton Play Saxophone Live in Prague

As a child growing up in Arkansas, William Jefferson Clinton had a passion for music and considered it to be one of his favorite hobbies. He especially loved jazz music and favored the sound of the saxophone, so it was no surprise when he started playing and practicing daily. In school he played in the jazz ensemble,...

ENTERTAINMENT, Music

December 9, 2018

Apple Commercials Filmed in the Czech Republic

Apple seems to have a love affair with our beautiful Czech Republic, choosing it as a location for many of their holiday Apple commercials. In 2016, a 30 second spot entitled Romeo and Juliet it shows two young actors reciting Shakespeare’s dialogue for a school play. When filmed through the lenses of the iPhone 7,...

Czech Republic, ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

November 15, 2018

The Republic of Bohemia

A very rare and beautiful book from 1643 on the History of the Republic of Bohemia (the Czech Republic) has come available for sale. For a collector, this is a wonderful and very rare gift indeed. Written in Latin, it shares a mysterious and little known history of Bohemia at the time. The focus of...

Books, ENTERTAINMENT