The segment from a Degl film production company newsreel captures the 50th anniversary celebrations of laying of the cornerstone of the National Theatre. The celebrations took place on 16-18 May 1918 in Prague, with the participation of representatives of all Slavic nations of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The first shots show the festively decorated building of the National Theatre. In the next part, the camera observes the events taking place in the upper part of Wenceslas Square. The staircase and the ramp of the National Museum, where the opening ceremony took place (specifically in its Pantheon), are filled with young people in national folk costumes. Shots of the crowded square. Cultural and political figures, such as poets Adolf Heyduk and Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav, writer Alois Jirásek and the head of the National Theatre Opera Karel Kovařovic, are leaving the building of the National Museum. This is followed by the symbolic ceremonial removal of politician Karel Kramář from the building. Afterwards, the Slovenian writer and mayor of Ljubljana Ivan Tavčar is seen leaving the building, as well as Czech actors Eduard Vojan, Marie Hübnerová, Leopolda Dostalová, Marie Laudová-Hořicová, Karel Želenský, writers Ignát Herrmann, František Herites and Jan Herben with his wife Bronislava, poet Bohdan Kaminský, politicians Alois Rašín, František Soukup, Gustav Habrman, Václav Klofáč and other notable national figures.
Segment from Český zvukový týdeník Aktualita (Czech Aktualita Sound Newsreel) issue no. 1A from 1944 was shot during a Christmas exhibition organised by the Board of Trustees for the Education of Youth and held in the hall of the Black Rose Palace in Na Příkopě Street in Prague from 18 to 22 December. The exhibition included a display of the 500 prettiest toys made as part of the Sewing Dolls initiative. Girls made 59,000 dolls, out of which 44,000 went to the children of the labourers working in the Reich and 15,000 to the children of the German soldiers fighting on the front. The exhibition was toured by Minister of Education and People´s Enlightenment and Chairman of the Board Emanuel Moravec and General Secretary of the Board František Teuner.
Segment from Český zvukový týdeník Aktualita (Czech Aktualita Sound Newsreel) issue no. 38A from 1943 contains footage from the Days of Czech Youth event organised by the Board of Trustees for the Education of Youth from 11 to 12 September. A concert of three brass bands, led by Miloš Kuba, and the Kühn Children´s Choir was held on Peace Square at 5 pm on 11 September. A procession of the Board´s members set out from Peace Square and continued through the streets of Prague. The event culminated with a track and field championship at Strahov Stadium where the winners of district rounds competed against each other. The spectators were welcomed by General Secretary of the Board František Teuner. The programme included a dance performance by girls in folk costumes. The event concluded with a speech by Minister of Education and People´s Enlightenment and Chairman of the Board Emanuel Moravec, followed by a solemn oath "to the Führer and to the Fatherland".
The segment shows the Bakulův ústav pro výchovu životem a prací (Bakula Institute for Education through Life and Work) in Prague's Smíchov district. The first-ever film footage of the physically disabled writer František Filip, known as the Handless Frantík. František Bakula conducting his choir Bakula's Little Singers (Bakulovi zpěváčci).
Segment from Český zvukový týdeník Aktualita (Czech Aktualita Sound Newsreel) issue no. 10A from 1943 captures a two-week training course organised by the Board of Trustees for the Education of Youth for mandatory youth service instructors in Moravian Slovakia, which was held in Luhačovice at the turn of February and March. The final exercise was attended by Moravian Provincial Vice-President Karel Schwabe and General Secretary of the Board František Teuner.
Unedited film footage taken in Prague in 1918 during the first months of Czechoslovakia´s independence. Soldiers march across Svatopluk Čech Bridge. A festive parade on Old Town Square. Crowds cheering at the Main Railway Station. A gathering by the statue of St Wenceslaus in the upper part of Wenceslaus Square is attended by Dr. Josef Scheiner. A military oath ceremony of officers and a military parade on Old Town Square on 8 November. Josef Svatopluk Machar in front of the building of the Provincial War Office in Sněmovní Street in Lesser Town. The event is attended by politicians František Staněk, Václav Klofáč and Karel Kramář, who returned from Geneva on 4 November. Karel Kramář and Gustav Habrmann, followed by Václav Klofáč and František Staněk, speak from a train window. Footage from the arrival of President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk at the Main Railway Station. General Otakar Husák is also present. Distribution of weapons to members of the new military forces at the Military Headquarters on Slavonic Island. A military oath attended by František Staněk and Antonín Kalina. The return of soldiers of the Austro-Hungarian army. Large parades along Wenceslaus Square and Old Town Square.
Unedited film footage from the first days of the Czechoslovak Republic shot in Prague in autumn 1918. Images from a demonstration in front of the Czech National Bank. Footage from the military oath ceremony of the newly established army held on Old Town Square on 8 November. Soldiers are lined up wearing Austro-Hungarian army uniforms. The oath ceremony is attended by politicians Karel Kramář, František Staněk and Václav Klofáč. Shots of Karel Kramář, Gustav Habrman, Václav Klofáč and František Staněk in a window of the train on which they returned to their country from the Geneva negotiations on 4 November. A view of Star Summer Palace (Schloss Stern), where a public gathering took place on 8 November, the anniversary of the Battle of White Mountain. The covering of the statue of Marshal Radecký on Lesser Town Square. Removal of the Austrian Eagle from the façade of the Hybernia House. The tearing down of symbols of the Austrian monarchy. The despatching a military train carrying soldiers who are to take action against separatist attempts in the border regions of the country. Karel Kramář in a Praga car driving through the streets of Prague. A shot of Karel Kramář in front of the Main Railway Station.
Unedited film footage from the first days of the Czechoslovak Republic shot in Prague in autumn 1918. Footage from a festive parade with destroyed Austrian symbols on Wenceslaus Square. A parade on Charles Bridge with banners reading "Socialist Nation", "Long Live the Czech Republic", and other slogans. Footage from a public gathering on White Mountain on 8 November 1918 to mark the anniversary of the famous battle. The participants carry small flags and banners with signs reading "Hus´s People" and "Separation of Church and State". A view of a gathering in the third courtyard of Prague Castle. Footage from a military celebration on Old Town Square with the damaged Marian Column. Politicians Václav Klofáč, Gustav Habrman and František Udržal at the Jan Hus Memorial. Josef Svatopluk Machar delivers a speech in front of the Provincial War Office in Sněmovní Street in Lesser Town. František Staněk, Václav Klofáč, Alois Rašín and Karel Kramář emerge from the building. Footage from a ceremonial gathering on Wenceslaus Square. A view of the decorated Zlatá husa (Golden Goose) Hotel. A parade of people in folk costumes carrying a banner reading "Long Live the Socialist Republic". Politicians František Tomášek and Josef Scheiner deliver speeches in front of the Statue of St Wenceslaus. Footage from a gathering on Old Town Square. People paint over German signs. People speak from the roof of a tram.
Segment from Český zvukový týdeník Aktualita (Czech Aktualita Sound Newsreel) issue no. 29A from 1944 was shot during the Week of Czech Youth event organised by the Board of Trustees for the Education of Youth and held from 1 to 9 July. The programme included a concert held on Old Town Square on 8 July. The orchestra and choir consisted of several hundred young musicians and singers. Minister of Education and People´s Enlightenment and Chairman of the Board Emanuel Moravec and Deputy Mayor Joseph Pfitzner watched the event from the balcony of the Old Town Hall. The Board of Trustees´ youth set out from the square in a parade through the streets of Prague. The following day, a sports afternoon took place at Strahov Stadium. Guests of honour included Prime Minister Jaroslav Krejčí and the General Secretary of the Board František Teuner. Emanuel Moravec spoke to the participants. The programme included women´s floor exercises, track and field races and women in stylised costumes dancing to folk songs. The event was concluded with the athletes and audience paying homage to Adolf Hitler.