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.
The first, retrospective part of this segment consists of archival images of actor and theatre director Karel Vávra cast in the role of the investigating judge in Dostoevsky´s Crime and Punishment and in a civilian photo. The second part captures the actor´s funeral in Prague on 14 April 1931. The coffin containing the body of the deceased is carried out of the building of the Vinohrady Theatre in Prague. The segment includes two overhead shots showing the large funeral procession on Peace Square.
The first, retrospective part of this segment of Československý filmový týdeník (Czechoslovak Newsreel) 1932 No. 33 captures actress Marie Hübnerová in the garden of actress Andula Sedláčková´s house in Černošice. First, Hübnerová sits at a table, smoking, and walks in the garden and then she sits at a table with actor Hugo Haas, holding Andula Sedláčková´s daughter Marcelka on her lap. This is followed by images of Hugo Haas and Anna Sedláčková taking a boat ride.The second part of the segment captures the funeral of Marie Hübnerová held in Prague on 8 August 1931. The coffin containing the body of the late actress is carried out of the building of the National Theatre. The funeral procession makes its way along the Masaryk Embankment, up Resslova Street and stops in front of the building of the Vinohrady Theatre on Peace Square.
A segment from the Elektajournal Production Company captures the funeral of composer Leoš Janáček held in Brno on 18 August 1928. The coffin with the deceased is loaded onto the hearse in front of the Mahen Theatre. The widow, Zdenka Janáčková, walks behind the horse-drawn carriage. The funeral procession, which includes many representatives of the Sokols, ends at Brno Central Cemetery. The ceremony continues with a mass and the interment of the coffin in the grave.
Segment of the Český zvukový týdeník Aktualita (Czech Aktualita Sound Newsreel) 1939 No. 28B captures the funeral of opera singer Otakar Mařák held in Prague on 7 July 1939. The coffin with the late singer is carried out of the National Theater. The funeral procession sets out across Peace Square to Olšany Cemetery, where the coffin with the remains of the deceased is interred in a grave.
Segment from the weekly Deglův žurnál (Degl´s Journal) 1930 No. 7 captures the funeral of opera singer Ema Destinnová in Prague on 3 February 1930. The coffin with the deceased is carried out of the Pantheon of the National Museum. The funeral procession with inscriptions of the artist´s most famous roles pauses by the National Theatre. The procession continues along the Vltava Embankment to Vyšehrad. The segment concludes with footage of the funeral ceremony at Vyšehrad Cemetery.
The segment captures the funeral of theatre director František Neumann held in Brno on 27 February 1929. The coffin is carried out of the building of the Mahen Theatre and loaded onto a horse-drawn hearse. The funeral procession moves along the streets of Brno towards the railway station, where the coffin is placed in a special funeral carriage. The train leaves for Prostějov, Neumann´s final resting place. The footage includes two versions of the film capturing the same event.
Segment from the weekly Deglův žurnál (Degl´s Journal) 1928 No. 15 captures the funeral of the theatre actor Vendelín Budil held in Pilsen on 29 March 1928. The coffin is carried out of the Church of St. Bartholomew on Republic Square. The funeral procession makes its way through the city, stopping in front of the Tyl Theatre, where mourners deliver their speeches. Footage of the speech given by actor Alois Charvát (silent). The mourners include the late actor´s wife Krescencie Budilová and actors Jiří Steimar, Anna Steimarová and Rudolf Deyl Sr. Mourners arrive at the cemetery. The funeral ceremony will continue with the interment of the remains of the late Vendelín Budil in the family tomb at Olšany Cemetery in Prague.
The segment captures the funeral of writer Alois Jirásek held in Prague on 16 March 1930. Crowds stream to the Pantheon of the National Museum, where the coffin containing the late writer´s remains is displayed. A car carrying President Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk arrives at the National Museum. In the upper part of Wenceslaus Square, a monumental cenotaph is erected and passed by a number of commemorative processions, Sokols, soldiers, legionnaires, and members of political parties and various associations. Officials of the Czechoslovak Sokol Society carry the coffin with the deceased from the Pantheon of the National Museum. University dignitaries and distinguished Czech writers walk behind the coffin. The event is also attended by the guard of honour of the Vysoké Mýto 30th Infantry Regiment of Alois Jirásek. Prominent politicians present at the ceremony. The segment concludes with a view of the urn containing the writer´s remains in a car heading to the late writer´s final resting place in his native Hronov.