AMERICAN CZECH-SLOVAK CULTURAL CLUB HOSTS CELEBRITIES IN 2000

By Robert Petrik
North Miami, Florida
January 2003

2002: The Year in Review. The year 2002 was full of cultural activities held at the American Czech-Slovak Cultural Club. A review of the important highlights follows.

The Club continued showing Czech and Slovak films during the winter season. Babicka with screenplay by Božena Nemcová was shown in January. The Academy Award winning film Closely Watched Trains was presented in February. In April Murder Czech Style was shown. In November the recently released film Dark Blue World was well received. At the end of the year Pictures from the Old Country as well as In the Shadow of Memory – Legacies of Lidice were shown.

In February Joan McGuire Mohr came from the University of Pittsburgh to speak on The Czechoslovak Legion in Siberia (1917-1920).

The Club and the University of Miami School of Music sponsored the Brno Chamber Orchestra which performed at the University of Miami campus.

Martin Palouš, Czech Ambassador to the United States, attended a luncheon held at the Club in his honor. Everyone in attendance was able to meet and speak with him.

In March, Martin Butora, Slovak Ambassador to the United States and his wife Zora, came to the Club to officially open the Slovak Consulate for the State of Florida.

Dr. Joseph Patrouch from Florida International University spoke on The Habsburg Dynasty and the Kingdom of Bohemia.

Larry Morava, of the famous Czech country and western band KTO, played his guitar and sang songs of Old Prague, folksongs, nationalistic songs, and campfire songs.

A Ples (Dance Ball) was a great success one Saturday night in April.

Club members along with members of the American Czech & Slovak Friends in South Florida held a luncheon to honor and thank Bob Petrík for all his efforts over the past several years.

In May a Májový Ples (May Dance Ball) featured Slovak singer Marcella Molnárová who dazzled the audience as she has done on two other occasions.

In July Petr Kratochvil presented selected poetry works of Jan Neruda, a notable Czech poet and Sergij Jesenin of Russia.

In September a special dinner was held in honor of Yuri Dojc, a Slovak-Canadian photographic artist.

A benefit dance was held to raise money for the flood victims in the Czech Republic.

In October the Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre presented a performance of Czech and Slovak Tales with Strings to a large crowd of young and old.

In November a Maškarni Ples (Costume Ball) was attended by many in very creative costumes.

In December the Slovak father and son team of Jozef and Dodo Ivaška came from Austria to sing folk and popular songs in Slovak, Czech, English and Italian.

AMERICAN CZECH-SLOVAK CULTURAL CLUB HOSTS CELEBRITIES IN 2001

Robert Petrik
North Miami, Florida
December 2001

The American Czech-Slovak Cultural Club had another very successful year full of fascinating events, personalities, and entertainers. A brief summary follows.

In January, the vivacious singer Sisa Sklovska, displayed her marvelous talent, charm, and her ability to thoroughly captivate an audience. Coming from Prague, our club was the first stop on an American tour of several states.

Professor Barbara Weitz of Florida International University, lectured on Bohemian Crystal Through the Ages. She exhibited some exquisite pieces from her personal collection.

During the year a number of Czech and Slovak films were shown at the club. They included the following: The Good Soldier Švejk, its sequel Sir, Beg to Report; My Sweet Little Village, The Shop on Main Street, Kolya, Firemen’s Ball, Loves of a Blond, and Afrodita.

In February, Helene Bain Cincebeaux from Rochester, New York, lectured on A Year in the Life of Our Czech and Slovak Ancestors. In addition, she exhibited part of her extensive collection of folk dress and folk art.

In March, Bryce Belcher, an American who lives in Ceský Krumlov, spoke on Ceský Krumlov: A Town Reborn. He described the transformation of the old buildings into the beautiful town that now welcomes thousands of tourists each year.

A highly successful Veprove Hody (pork feast) attracted a large crowd of hungry eaters.

In April, Dan Baldwin, President and CEO of the National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa spoke about NCSML, A Growing National Resource.

The members of the South Florida Button Box Club entertained members on their button box accordions playing some lively Slovenian polkas and waltzes.

In June, Sisa Sklovska returned once again to wow an appreciative crowd of members and guests. Some fans came from as far away as the Orlando area of Florida.

The first annual Dožinky (A Czechoslovakian Harvest Festival) was held in October. This was an outstanding success with plenty of good Czechoslovak food and beer, dancing to live music, a raffle, face painting and a piñata for children, and a bake sale.

In December, the Slovak film director, Lubo Kocka, spoke about his award-winning film “Afrodita” which was shown and enthusiastically received by the audience.

AMERICAN CZECH-SLOVAK CULTURAL CLUB HOSTS CELEBRITIES IN 2000

Robert Petrik
North Miami, Florida
September 2000

The American Czech-Slovak Cultural Club in North Miami has witnessed an unprecedented number of entertainers and notable personalities during the year 2000.

In February, Waldemar Matuška and his wife Olga performed to an avid sellout crowd. The legendary Czech singer sang all of the many long-time Matuška favorites and then some. He truly brought down the house.

During the same weekend that Matuška performed, Dr. Ivan Dubovický, Cultural Counselor for the Embassy of the Czech Republic was in attendance. In fact, he introduced this living legend. The next day Dubovický presented an excellent lecture on the Emigration of Czech and Slovaks to the United States.

In April, Martin Bútora, Slovak Ambassador to the United States, along with his wife Zora Bútorová, attended a dinner-dance held to celebrate the inclusion of the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

In addition to Czechs and Slovaks, members of the local Hungarian and Polish communities attended the gala event.

In May, Colonel Ivan Bella, the first Slovak to have been in space, spoke about his experiences aboard the Russian MIR Space Station, his training program near Moscow and the mission itself. A few days prior to his presentation, Club President Bob Petrík and Secretary Amelia Canali accompanied Bella on a VIP tour of the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral.

In June, the Slovak singing and recording star, Marcela Molnárová, sang as part of a disco evening. She performed songs from popular American musicals in addition to selections from the latest of her four CDs entitled Láska

Later in June, Milan Markovic, the famous actor, comedian and TV personality from Bratislava tickled everyone’s funny bone. Called the Jay Leno of Slovakia, his sharp satirical wit was in top form for the evening.

In July, the Club was treated to a hilarious performance by the Czech comedian and actor, Miroslav Donutil. Donutil is the most popular comedian performing in the Czech Republic today and has quite a large following as evidenced by the many people who waited their turn to have their photograph taken with him and/or to obtain his autograph.

In August, Sisa Sklovská, star of the operatic, musical comedy, and concert stages in the Czech and Slovak Republics, sang a wide range of music from musicals to opera, pop and even gospel. The audience was dazzled by the great sound of her voice as well as her showmanship, beautiful costumes and her wonderful personality.

In November, Dr. Jan Cimický, the noted Czech psychiatrist and author provided an entertaining evening.

Also in November, Czech Ambassador Alexandr Vondra was a featured after-dinner speaker.

Again in November, Donald S. Martin, President of the Albin Polasek Foundation, spoke on the Life and Works of Albin Polasek.

In December, Professor Barbara Weitz of Florida International University lectured on Prague Café Society.