The celebration was held on Monday, 28th October 1968 at 19.30, in the Smetana Hall in Municipal House. The name of the event was rather symbolically called A Nation unto Itself. The Nation hadn’t yet recovered from the occupation of the “fraternal” Soviet army and their “temporary” sojourn through the Czech lands. The patriotic spirit amongst the people, although less visible, prevailed and encouraged the organisers of the event to decide to employ highly recognized and distinguished performers such as: Leopolda Dostálová, Jarmila Kronbauerová, Eva Vrchlická, Rudolf Deyl, Eduard Kohout and Jiří Steimar. The event was hosted by Zora Jiráková and Josef Rajchl.
As all these names are probably unfamiliar for today’s younger generation, let’s have a closer look at the people behind them. The National Theatre actress, Leopolda Dostálová, was 89 years old when she performed in the Municipal House event in 1968. Even at this respectable age she played in the Za branou Theatre portraying the comical character of a retired teacher in Cinemautomat. Perhaps you remember the scene when she set fire to the house for the sheer hell of it and then to repeatedly slide down the fire sheet.
Two other guests of the event enjoyed their final performance. The National Theatre member Jarmila Kronbauerová, then 75 years old, died just nine days later, on 6th November 1968. Jiří Steimar, Jiřina Steimarová’s father of Jiří Kodet and grandfather of Evelyn Steimarová, died of a malignant tumour on 16th November 1968. Paradoxically, he was to receive recognition as a merited artist that day.
The following year after the ceremony on 18th July 1969 another one of the performers died. Eva Vrchlická was an actress, translator, dramatist and was Jaroslav Vrchlický’s daughter; she also wrote a memoir titled Youth Years with Vrchlický.
Rudolf Deyl was, along with Eduard Kohout, also a member of the National Theatre ensemble. At that time, he was in mourning due to the sudden death of his son, also called Rudolf Deyl. The Deyls were of the “old school” type of gentlemen. Deyl senior was often seen at the Chuchle horseracing track wearing a flamboyant suit with a gold watch and chain.
Eduard Kohout was known by his colleagues as the Prince from Kampa and was often referred to as the lyrical poet of Czech theatre. He excelled most in Shakespearean dramas.
The host of the event Zora Jiráková, was a strikingly beautiful woman and attracted the attention of her fellow colleagues. She was married to Vaclav Lohniský and later lived with Josef Větrovec for seven years. They met in Plzeň’s theatre. She also performed in Jiří Wolker’s Theatre, sadly this year she passed away at the age 85 years old.
Unfortunately, we didn’t manage to get any information about Jiráková’s partner of the event Josef Rajchl. Would any of his contemporaries let us know?