Czech Puppets Make a Worldwide Debut

Today’s post comes to us from an article originally written by Jacqueline Ruyak. The article appeared in the August 1996 issue of Doll World magazine. Unfortunately, I tried to search the company but to no avail. Does anyone have an update on Rezek Marionettes? Dating to medieval times, modern puppeteers keep Czech tradition alive with...

NOSTALGIA, Time Warp

November 11, 2017

Celebration of Martinmas and the Czech Goose Dinner

Today is the 11th of November – also known as St. Martin’s Day, Martinmas or the Feast of Saint Martin. It is a day in which people not only remember and honor St. Martin of Tours, but is also a day traditionally associated with the fall harvest. In the Czech Republic, it is time for...

CULTURE, Food, History, Holidays

November 10, 2017

The Indomitable Pioneer Spirit of the Creative Czechoslovaks

My Antonia, written by Willa Cather “in memory of affections old and true”, is the story of a Czech woman who embodied the pioneer spirit. Antonia represented hard work, pride, love of land, and a desire to do what was best and right – in essence, the character of the Czech pioneers who came to...

History, NOSTALGIA

October 31, 2017

An Abandoned Haunted Mansion of Nazi Torture

In the spirit of Halloween, we wanted to post something scary and sinister like an abandoned haunted mansion. Little did we know what a horrible and hideous hidden history we’d uncover when we came across the Pfaffenhof Mansion. Known as Fafák, or Veveří, the Pfaffenhof Mansion has an interesting history linking it to the SS Nazis,...

History, NOSTALGIA

October 25, 2017

Czechoslovak Armored Car from WWII Skoda Panzerwagen II Turtle

Czech Master Kits, more commonly known as CMK, has been one of the Czech Republic’s contributions to modeling since the mid-1990s. Originally it focused on the production of resin cast kits but later production expanded and a range of resin detail accessories, detail sets, and white metal accessories together with modelers’ tools and aids was...

History, NOSTALGIA

October 17, 2017

Czech AUTO Magazine Covers from 1935

Today is a quick post of old magazine covers from the year 1935. They appeared on AUTO oficielní orgán Autoklubu Republiky Československé (AUTO official body of the auto club of the Czech Republic) magazine. We love all of the classic and elegant vehicles and the motorcycles… don’t you? If you have not already subscribed to...

NOSTALGIA, Periodicals

September 17, 2017

Prague’s Underground Postal System – The Pneumatic Post

The Prague pneumatic post (Czech: Pražská potrubní pošta) is the world’s last preserved municipal pneumatic post system. Once the dream of modern technology, the very thought of sending messages and parcels zipping through miles of tubes, powered by air pressure and vacuums, most of these pneumatic dispatches have all but disappeared. Since it started in 1889,...

History, NOSTALGIA

Czech Coronation Jewels of the King and Emperor Charles IV

September 16, 2017

Czech Coronation Jewels of King and Emperor Charles IV

Today we are taking a look at the Bohemian coronation jewelry and the exhibit they had at the Hrubá Skála Chateau in Bohemian Paradise. From August 3rd to September 28th, 2017, the Hrubá Skála Chateau hosted an exhibition to mark the 670th Anniversary of the Coronation of Charles IV, the Czech king. It was a...

History, NOSTALGIA

September 12, 2017

Old Town Hall or Staroměstská Radnice Through the Years

So much has been written about this Prague landmark, I wondered how I could add to the conversation. But then I came across some old photos of Prague and it occurred to me that most people have not seen what the Old Town Hall or Staroměstská Radnice looked like until recently, and that it has...

History, NOSTALGIA

September 9, 2017

The Beat Generation In Prague – Expression Behind the Iron Curtain

The sound of beat music broke out in Prague sometime around late 1965, 1966 and 1967. During this time there was a cultural explosion unparalleled in Eastern Europe. There was a favorable political environment, after Soviet demilitarization and the release of political prisoners, culminating in the appointment of Dubček as secretary general of the Czech Communist...

ENTERTAINMENT, History, Music, NOSTALGIA

Prague-Eden-Historical-Rollercoaster-Lunapark

September 3, 2017

Eden Park Prague in 1922 – Complete with a 5 Kilometer Roller Coaster

In 1922 a new attraction opened in built in Vršovice, now a part of Prague. Known as Lunapark and Eden, it had a roller coaster that measured five kilometers in length. With its giant roller coaster looking like it comes straight out of an American film, this is what Eden looked like 90 years ago....

History, NOSTALGIA

August 27, 2017

Prague Streets Named After Czech World Travelers

Do you ever wonder how a street gets its name? Unless you have an understanding of notable people throughout Czech history, you will most likely not know that several Prague streets are named after Czech world travelers. Explores, cartographers and ethnographers who made substantial contributions on the world stage. Today we are looking at six...

History, NOSTALGIA

August 17, 2017

Czechoslovakian Handguns From 1918 to 1964

As a direct result of the first World War, the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy was divided into a number of states including the Czechoslovakian Republic which was born on Oct. 28, 1918. This was also the beginning of the Czechoslovakian small arms industry. Today we are looking at the principal models of Czechoslovakian hand guns made since...

History, NOSTALGIA

August 13, 2017

Czech Woodstock | Slovak Woodstock | Music and the Communist Regime

Amazingly, it did happen. A (Československý) Czech Woodstock or (Slovenský) Slovak Woodstock was actually called the Koncerty mladosti, or the Concert (Festival) of Youth. But this was 1976, 1977 and Czechoslovakia was under communist rule. In fact, at the time it was regarded as a satellite state of the Soviet Union. And we all know that the...

ENTERTAINMENT, Music, Time Warp

August 2, 2017

Rubezahl or Krkonoš – European Mountain Man of Legends

Today I found a vintage Czechoslovakian folk art sculpture of Rubezahl or Krkonoš – a European mountain man of legends and folklore. This hand-crafted Rubezahl is 24 inches high and approx 15 inches wide. His pipe reads Pozdrav z Krkonos, which roughly translates to “greetings from the highest mountains.” Rübezahl (Polish: Liczyrzepa, Duch Gór, Karkonosz, Rzepiór,...

History, NOSTALGIA

July 24, 2017

Memorial Day Czech Style – Liberation Festival Pilsen

We appeal to you to be vigilant and not let anyone, under any pretense to take your liberty and freedom. –American Veteran Earl Ingram, Lieutenant 2nd Infantry Division I received an email the other day which contained much of the following. It’s one of those emails that are shared from mailbox to mailbox and no...

History, NOSTALGIA