Czech Poet, Playwright and Author Jiří Mahen

In response to yesterday’s post, we’re looking at the author of Dvanáct pohádek (Twelve Fairy Tales), Jiří Mahen. Jiří Mahen was born Antonín Vančura on December 12, 1882 in Čáslav and died on May 22, 1939 of a suicide. He was a Czech poet, journalist, librarian, theater critic, novelist, playwright, essayist and director. He studied philosophy and linguistics...

Bohemians, PEOPLE

July 12, 2017

Twelve Fairy Tales Illustrated by Jiří Trnka

Today we are looking at the lovely illustrations by Jiří Trnka from the book Dvanáct pohádek (Twelve Fairy Tales) by Jiří Mahen. The book these came from was published in 1947 and has 122 pages. We have written about the work of Jiří Trnka before, when we reviewed his film Ruka (The Hand) and looked at scenes from...

Childrens Books, ENTERTAINMENT

July 10, 2017

Let’s Look at a Typical Czech Meal

Today we are looking at the typical dinner plates of Czech people. We decided to write ‘Let’s Look at a Typical Czech Meal’ because when we mention to people that we are Czech, they always ask about the food. The photographs below are taken from various Instagram accounts so please understand the descriptions and comments...

Food, LIFESTYLE

July 7, 2017

Remembering the Czechs of Masaryktown, Florida

We’ve already posted about Masaryktown and it’s dying history. The last time we were there, the Czech restaurant had become a place to get a Cuban sandwich. Except for the street names, no Czechs were anywhere to be found. Yet a few decades ago, this community was alive and well. That is why today we’re remembering...

History, NOSTALGIA

July 6, 2017

Karlsbad or Karlovy Vary at the Turn of the Century

Today we’re just sharing some images from the turn of the century in Karlovy Vary (Karlsbad) and surrounding areas. Not much time to post today, but we at least wanted to share these pretty images with you. Enjoy! Wasn’t that a grand old time? Lovely! * * * * * See All My Books on...

NOSTALGIA, Time Warp

July 3, 2017

Vintage Czech Military Motorcycle Gloves Brown Leather circa 1968

Do you ever find yourself looking through very old things and finding yourself lucky to find a treasure you feel is suited just for you? I do. The other day I happened upon these Czech military motorcycle gloves. They are a size 9, which would be a larger medium mans size. Even though they are...

NOSTALGIA, Retro Chic

July 1, 2017

Korálky – A Czech Children’s Book from Long Ago

In the late 1800’s, children did not have as much access to books as we have now. The books that did exist were filled with moral lessons. In the Czech Republic, František Doucha, (August 31, 1810 – November 3, 1884) was one of the most famous Czech literary translators and writers. Today we’re looking at the simple...

NOSTALGIA, Periodicals

June 29, 2017

Mid-Century Czech Vase by Vladislav Urban

Today we are looking at an extraordinary vintage Mid-Century Sklo Union Czech pressed clear glass vase by Rosice Glassworks. The piece was designed by Vladislav Urban in 1968, and this is pattern number 617. I located this auction today and I wanted to share. This extraordinary vase features Vladislav Urban’s hallmark formed abstract geometric patterns...

Bohemian Glass, CULTURE

June 27, 2017

Military Tank and Adrenaline Park in the Czech Republic

Boys will be boys and the bigger the boys, the larger the toys. We’ve recently discovered that for the true military aficionados and adrenaline junkies – you can actually drive a tank – yes, a TANK – in the Czech Republic. This place used to be an actual military base during the USSR occupation. Today,...

Czech Republic, PLACES

June 26, 2017

Prague Exhibition Grounds Jubilee Exhibition of 1891

The Exhibition Grounds are especially interesting, with a long tradition and an attractive location near Stromovka Park. They were built for the Jubilee Exhibition of 1891. More than 50 exhibition projects, trade fairs and a wide variety of cultural and entertainment events take place here every year. The General Global Exhibition was held in Prague...

History, NOSTALGIA

June 15, 2017

Andy Warhol Entertains the Rolling Stones at Montauk

We’ve often pondered if Andy Warhol’s origins are Slovak, Czech or Carpatho-Rusyn and we already know that regardless of his roots, that the Rolling Stones love hanging out with Czechs (especially Vaclav Havel). So today we’re sharing some lovely rare photographs of the Rolling Stones and Andy Warhol at his Montauk Church Estate in Long Island, 1975....

ENTERTAINMENT, Music

June 14, 2017

Looking at a Praga Baby: Czech Automobiles from the Past

Today we’re going back in time to Prague, which in Latin is Praga, thus the lovely “Praga” automobile. During the 1920s & 1930’s this was the car to own. All the way to 1936 when it’s popularity was surpassed by Škoda, the largest car manufacturer in then called Czechoslovakia. But this lovely automobile began before that. In...

NOSTALGIA, Retro Chic

June 12, 2017

Czech Secret Police in Prague and Their Surveillance Photographs

Today we’re looking at some amazing (private) moments in time photographed by the (communist) Czech secret police while conducting surveillance during the 1970s and 1980s. Obviously, none of these people gave their consent and most did not even know they were being followed or photographed. Most of the images were taken from under folded newspapers, in...

CULTURE, Photography

Špalíček-1947-Jiri-Trnka-The-Czech-Year-TresBohemes

June 10, 2017

Jiří Trnka and the Czech Year (aka Špalíček)

Puppet animation is a traditional Czech art form, of which Jiří Trnka became the undisputed master. Most of his movies were intended for adults and many were adaptations of literary works. Špalíček (The Czech Year), also called A Treasury of Fairy-Tales, is a 1947 stop-motion-animated feature film from Czechoslovakia. It was a defining moment for Trnka...

ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

June 9, 2017

Waldemar Matuška at His First U.S. Recording Session

I was recently asked to provide some photographs which I took back in the 1980’s for an exhibit at the Waldemar Matuška museum in the Czech Republic. And while searching for them, I came across the photographs I took of the album cover photo shoot for Teče, voda, Teče, as well as of the recording session for...

ENTERTAINMENT, Music

June 8, 2017

The 6th Annual Conference of Czech Schools in North America

This past weekend (Friday, June 2, to Sunday, June 4, 2017), we were able to attend a few sessions of the 6th Annual Conference of Czech Schools in North America. This years conference was hosted by the Czech School of Atlanta Honoring Karel Velan and the conference organizer is a division of the Czech North America Chamber...

Czech Schools, PLACES