In Memory of Award Winning Czech Director Miloš Forman

Miloš Forman, the most successful Czech-American filmmaker and scriptwriter, who lived in the US since 1968, a holder of two Oscars for the best directions, three Golden Globe awards and BAFTA prizes in the same category, died on Friday, April 13, 2018, in a hospital in Danbury, Conn. He was 86. He has been SVU...

Bohemians, ENTERTAINMENT, Movies, PEOPLE

April 25, 2018

Věra Čáslavská: The Eloquent and Graceful Gold-Medal Winning Protester

Věra Čáslavská of the Czech Republic is the only gymnast, male or female, who has ever won an Olympic gold medal for every individual event in gymnastics: all-around, vault, uneven bars, beam, and floor exercise. Čáslavská also has the distinction of holding more individual gold medals than any other gymnast in Olympic history. In fact, she...

Bohemians, PEOPLE, Women

Býchory_Chateau_aka_Castle_of_the_Stradivarius_Violin

April 23, 2018

Býchory Chateau, Castle of the Stradivarius Violin and Jan Kubelík

Near the city of Kolín lies a small village known as Býchory (only 7 km northeast). In this village, sits a unique a Neo-Gothic castle chateau estate. Today we are going to call the Býchory chateau, the castle of the Stradivarius violin because it was once owned by world famous Bohemian violinist and composer, Jan Evangelista Kubelík. Jan Kubelík was...

Bohemians, Czech Republic, ENTERTAINMENT, History, Music

April 17, 2018

The Moravian Brethren Heritage of the First Lady Barbara Pierce Bush

The former First Lady Barbara Pierce Bush, the wife of President George H. W. Bush, is the 7th generation American, who descended from the Moravian Brethren family bearing the name Demuth. Former First Lady Barbara Bush Wife of 41st President and Mother of 43rd Dies at age of 92 She was a Moravian The Demuth...

PEOPLE, Women

April 9, 2018

31 Bohemian, Moravian and Slovak Writers You Never Knew Existed

Today I am proud to introduce you to 31 Bohemian, Moravian and Slovak writers you (probably) never knew existed. I was inspired to write this based on a book entitled České Album Spisovatelé which translates to Czech Album of Writers published in 1919 in Prague. Each of these individuals were born in the late 1800s and I was...

Bohemians, History, PEOPLE

April 2, 2018

Biographical Sketch of Thomas G. Masaryk

Let’s travel back in time to 1919 and set our attention to the words of Doctor Jan Herben (in Czech) which are translated by Elsie Havlasa for the purpose of learning more about Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk. The following text is from a booklet which was written by Doctor Jan Herben and translated by Elsie Havlasa. It is entitled...

History, NOSTALGIA

March 24, 2018

Czech Animation Master Jiří Trnka Documentary

Today we are sharing a short twelve minute documentary which will educate you on the famous Czech puppet-maker, illustrator, motion-picture animator and film director. A man who some believe was better than Walt Disney at telling a tale and a man who is known as one of the Czech Republic’s greatest animators, puppeteers, illustrators and story...

Bohemians, Childrens Books, Movies, PEOPLE

March 19, 2018

Karel Kulík’s Cheerful Calendar or How Coffee Came to Prague

Karel Kulík and his cheerful calendar enjoyed popularity from 1909 onward. The Kulíkův zábavný kalendář as it was called was an advertising calendar was created by Kulík who was a wholesaler of coffee. Karel Kulík distributed his calendar to his permanent customers free of charge. (Nice marketing idea for the time!) Karel Kulík was one...

Bohemians, PEOPLE

March 16, 2018

The Czech Composer Who Married Dvořák’s Daughter

On January 4, 1874, a boy was born in the small Bohemian village of Křečovice. His name was Josef Suk. Over the years, as he grew, so would his love and his involvement in music. At a young age, Suk began his musical training under the guidance of his father, Josef Suk senior. His father...

Bohemians, PEOPLE

January 27, 2018

Kolya – A Heart Wrenching Drama

Kolya is a Czech drama released in 1996 that follows the story of Louka, (portrayed by famous Czech actor Zdenek Sverák) a former concert cellist at the Prague Philharmonic who now works playing among others at funerals where he barely makes ends meet. He agrees to marry a Russian woman who needs citizen papers in exchange for...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

January 15, 2018

Waldemar Matuška and Karel Gott Through the Years

Karel Gott and Waldemar Matuška, Waldemar Matuška and Karel Gott… What can one say in one post about these two amazing Czech icons in the musical world? Like many, I grew up listening to the music and watching the films of these two quintessentially Czech musical giants. Respectively, they are the light and dark, the...

ENTERTAINMENT, Music

January 12, 2018

Good King Wenceslas and his Descendant (Charles IV)

Today’s Guest Post about Good King Wenceslas was written by Susan Steiner Bolhouse from Michigan. We found the accompanying illustrations and the closing video and added them. Before delving into my chosen topic for today, I must first share with you a brief introduction as to my interest and fascination with this Christmas carol. Like...

Bohemians, PEOPLE

December 13, 2017

The Czech Anti-Nazi Resistance Group Known as The Three Kings

The Three Kings (Czech: Tři králové) was a famous Czech anti-nazi resistance group which was established in 1939 when Czechoslovakia was annexed by Nazi Germany. It was comprised of three members: Josef Mašín, Václav Morávek, and Josef Balabán. The code name of the group (Three Kings) was coined by the Prague Gestapo. The Three Kings...

History, NOSTALGIA

November 22, 2017

#BlankCzech for Social Good in the Czech Republic!

Guest Post by Petra Drahoňovská Throughout Central and Eastern Europe, social entrepreneurship, corporate social responsibility and venture philanthropy are increasingly embraced as innovative approaches to solving social challenges. #BlankCzech (www.blankczech.com), a new English-language campaign, aims to raise awareness, increase support, and grow opportunity for Czech social enterprises, nonprofit organizations, and charities beyond the borders of...

Bohemians, PEOPLE

November 8, 2017

Czech Bronze Plaques from the First Half of the 20th Century

Today we are looking at Czech bronze plaques from the first half of the 20th Century featuring Bohemian, Moravian and Slovak (now known as Czech) people. They are all quite rare, coming from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Searching far and wide, I could not locate any others, making them one-of-a-kind treasures, many created...

Art and Design, LIFESTYLE, Shopping

November 7, 2017

The Writings of Czech Poet Jiří Kolář

Jiří Kolář was a Czech painter (September 1914, – August 2002). He worked as carpenter and had a few other a manual jobs in his younger years but by the 1940’s, he was already a leading figure in a Surrealist group. These days he is perhaps most remembered for his beautiful collages (check out the...

Bohemians, PEOPLE