Toman the Czech Schindler

Zdeněk Toman was relatively unknown to most Czechs until recently, but his remarkable tale has gained widespread recognition thanks to a film bearing his name, which was released in 2018. Zdenek Toman, often referred to as “the Czech Schindler,” led a life filled with controversy and paradoxes. He is known for his role as both...

History, PEOPLE

July 7, 2023

Albrecht von Wallenstein (Albrecht z Valdštejna)

Albrecht von Wallenstein (Albrecht z Valdštejna) hailed from an esteemed Czech noble family. Even in his youth, his passion for the military was evident. Toy soldiers held more allure for him than any other game, but only if he could assume the role of commander. As he matured, he enlisted in the army and pledged...

History

October 17, 2022

Czech Contributions to American Sciences

Today’s post is from my friend Mila Rechcígl, Jr. It is actually entitled “Czech Contributions to American Scientific and Technological Thought” and it appears as a chapter in his book, Czechs and Slovaks in America. I never cease to be amazed at the vast amount of Czech contribution to the world. I always get a...

Bohemians, PEOPLE

September 22, 2022

Divadlo Na zábradlí (Theatre at the Railing)

A Theater Beyond Boundaries In the heart of Eastern Europe, a theater emerged that defied convention, giving birth to a realm of artistic freedom and unparalleled expression. “Divadlo Na zábradlí” (Theatre at the Railing), founded in 1956, ushered in a new era of theater with a unique twist—one that transcended borders and norms. The Birth...

ENTERTAINMENT, Theater

August 13, 2022

Papa Bear George Halas and the NFL

Have you ever wondered how professional football and the NFL got started? How about the merger of the NFL with the competing American Football League? After all, it was this which helped to create the ultimate televised sporting event on fall Sundays and Monday nights, eventually boosting the value of franchises into the hundreds of millions...

Bohemians, Books, NOSTALGIA, PEOPLE

August 10, 2022

The Czech Man Who Fell from the Sky

Petr Horák was born on May 7, 1943 in Nusle (Prague) to Štěpánka and Oldřich Horák. As a young boy, Peter swam competitively and played water polo. He enjoyed skiing, riding a bike, playing table tennis, ice hockey, and soccer. At the age of ten, however, the doctor forbade Peter to partake in anymore sports...

Bohemians, ENTERTAINMENT, Movies

July 12, 2022

Czech Queen of the Steering Wheel

Today we meet a Czech woman named Eliška Junková (aka Elizabetta or Elizabeth Junek), a pioneer in the history of motor racing. Known as the “Queen of the Steering Wheel,” Junková competed during the 1920s against Europe’s top drivers, and in 1927 became the first woman ever to win a Grand Prix race. She was...

History, PEOPLE, Women

September 7, 2021

The Mašín Gang: Defiance and Valor in the Face of Oppression

The significant event of October 3, 1953, witnessed the daring border crossing of five determined young men known as the Mašín Gang, equipped with four pistols, as they ventured from Czechoslovakia into East Germany. Driven by a crucial mission, their purpose was to securely convey a classified message from a Czechoslovak general to the U.S....

Bohemians, History

September 1, 2021

Miroslava – The Mexican (Czech) Marilyn Monroe

The beautiful Miroslava Šternová, better known simply as Miroslava, was a Czechoslovak-born Mexican film actress who appeared in a total of thirty two films. She was born on February 26, 1926, and died on March 9, 1955 at the young age of 29. Born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, Miroslava Stern moved to Mexico as a child...

Bohemians, PEOPLE, Women

June 1, 2021

Jan Mikolášek: Charlatan or Healer

Jan Mikolášek (April 7, 1889 – December 29, 1973) was a Czech healer and herbalist. He grew up in a family of gardeners and then trained professionally in the field. He trained with spice maker Josefa Mühlbacherová, and he admired the Viennese professor, Valentin Zeileis from Gallspach. He studied Mattioli’s herbarium and passed the professional...

Bohemians, ENTERTAINMENT, Movies, PEOPLE

May 17, 2020

Anita Pollitzer and Women’s Right to Vote

Did you know that American women vote thanks to a Czech woman? They do. The year 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing and protecting women’s constitutional right to vote. The passage marked the largest expansion of democracy in the history of our country. Hardly anybody knows that the...

PEOPLE, Women

March 7, 2020

Paulina Porizkova and the Pink Gap Dress

Today is International Women’s Day so to celebrate today, this post is primarily for the ladies! To us Czech ‘girls’, Paulina Porizkova is one of ours… Most of us grew up with seeing her supermodel covers in the 80’s and 90’s and followed her acting career as well as that of her husband, Ric Ocasek,...

PEOPLE, Women

January 30, 2020

Meet the Most Important Czech Woman Composer

Despite her tragically brief life, Vítězslava Kaprálová, who died at the age of twenty-five, is now considered the most important female Czech woman composer of the 20th century. Her prolific output, abundant with fresh and bold ideas, passion, tenderness and youthful energy are once again coming to light. Muse (and mistress) of Bohuslav Martinů and...

ENTERTAINMENT, Music, Women

November 9, 2019

The Salvation Army in Czechoslovakia

The Salvation Army in Czechoslovakia from 1919 until 1951 was largely due to the work of Josef Korbel (Order of the Founder) and his wife, Erna. Josef Korbel was born on January 17, 1907 in Prague. He grew up in the town of Prelouc, where his father owned a factory for agricultural machinery. He attended...

History, Men, NOSTALGIA

September 30, 2019

Antonín Dvořák and His Recorded Works

Today’s post is dedicated to the memory of Antonín Dvořák, the great Bohemian composer. America and the Czech Republic (Bohemia) have a warm place in their hearts for Dvorak. Both country’s love him on account of his visit to America, the influence of the works he wrote in America, and for the splendid lesson he...

Bohemians, History, Music

September 28, 2019

Saint Wenceslas (Sv. Václav) King and Martyr

Today is the twenty-eighth day of September, the Saint Day of Saint Wenceslas or, in Czech, Svatý Václav. We recommend that you play the following video with sound for the Meditation on old Bohemian Chorale, “St. Wenceslas,” Op. 35a while you read today’s post for some ambiance. Saint Wenceslas, Duke of Bohemia, was the son...

Bohemians, History, PEOPLE