Czechoslovak-American Puppetry [Paperback]

William Keyes, Milan Knizak Vit Horejs (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1994

For fify years, a troupe of antique marionettes were confined to a dusty closet at Jan Hus Church in the heart of New York City's Czech and Slovak neighborhood. In 1984, Vit Horejs brought his puppet show of Czech Fairy Tales there. When he found the hidden trove, he felt he had his work cut out for him: he had to bring the puppets back to the stage and he had to discover their history. The first task resulted in the creation of the Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre, which has since performed traditional and not-so-traditional marionette performances in twenty seven states, in Europe and in Asia. This book is the result of years of detective work on the second task. In addition to the lead historical essay about hundred and fifty years of Czech-American puppetry, the book contains William Keyes essay "'We Were-And We Shakk Be:' Puppetry and Czecho-Slovak Politics, 1860-1990," focusing mostly on Milan Getting, a SLovak-American and puppeteer who worked ! tirelessly for the creation, recognition and preservation of Czechoslovakia in the first half of out century. The book is complemented by Milan Knizak's essay "The Marionette Proud and Dignified" devoted to overall history of Czech puppetry and individual puppet carvers. Twenty-four color and twenty black-and-white photographs.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Vit Horejs was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, where he grew up on a hearty diet on folk tales and puppet theatre. He published a number of original stories and poems in his native country before he moved to the United States in 1979. His first English-language book "Twelve Iron Sandals and Other Czechoslovak Tales, was chosen as one of the best children's books of the year by the New York Public Library. As a professional storyteller, puppeteer and artistic director of the Czechoslovak-American Marionette Theatre, he has performed at the Lincoln Center, Jim Henson Inernational Festival of Puppet Theatre, the Smithsonian, and countless festivals, theatres, schools and Indian reservations in twenty seven states as well as Europe and Asia and in Woody Allen's film "Don't Drink the Water." He currently resides in New York City, a proud father of Sarazina Joy, a firstgrader.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: GOH Productions (September 1, 1994)
• ISBN-10: 1886406006
• ISBN-13: 978-1886406001
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,126,912 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #61 in Books > History > Europe > Slovakia

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Small but Wonderful Book, April 21, 2001

By 

Steven P. Galante (Wellesley, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Czechoslovak-American Puppetry (Paperback)

This is a wonderful LITTLE book that conveys the wonder of Czech puppetry as experienced by the Czech community in the U.S. But, it IS little: just six inches by six inches, and only 80 pages in length. What the book lacks in size, though, it makes up for in three lovingly written essays and 42 exquisite photos, 24 of them in color. If you love Czech puppetry, or want to understand its wonder and beauty, this book delivers.