The South Bayview Bulldog

Nearly 43 years ago, Peter Rehak, a Toronto man, filed a story of world shaking importance despite censorship restrictions imposed by the Red Army. Rehak, a frequent vistor to South Bayview and client of Rosie’s, is seen at the right in 1962 in front of the Berlin Wall. Rehak was the correspondent in charge for the Associated Press in August 1968 when the Soviet Union decided to crush the Prague Spring reform movement of Alexander Dubček. Dubček (left) had been elected to run the puppet govermmnt in Prague in January. But his tendencies toward freedom and free markets made the Kremlin so nervous that they invaded the country with an army of tanks and Russian soldiers. Here Rehak tells the story in his own words, “I filed the bulletin from the telex room at the Alcron Hotel that is just off Wenceslas Square. It was the unofficial U.S. press headquarters in ’68. I filed the rest of the story from the U.S. embassy. It caught fire when the CIA burned some papers and the fire department refused to come because of the Soviet-imposed curfew. Fortunately, an ex-Colorado forest ranger staying there organized a fire brigade. Somewhere I have a letter from the ambassador, the late Jacob Beam, thanking me for helping to put out the fire.”

The last of the fabulous 18th century theatres in which Mozart was originally performed is in Prague. It is the Estates Theatre. Among many appearances here, Mozart personally directed and conducted the debut of Don Giovani. The theatre owes its existence today to the work of Czech Director Milos Forman (left). He directed Amadeus, the 1983 Oscar winner and made a deal with the Communist government to restore the crumbling theatre at the cost of many millions. The film was shot completely in Prague posing as Vienna, and the Estates was a central locale. Today, in two current pictures in the lower windows above, it is a superb recreation of the times. Picture on the left is taken from the Emperor’s box while on the right is the private hall to the finest boxes. Mozart was perhaps more celebrated in Prague than Vienna. Here his work was sung in the street by ordinary citizens. Get a taste of the movie Amadeus by checking our Mozart page. Forman, 79, is nearly as widely revered in Prague as Mozart.

Prague — While it was rather chilly and wet on South Bayview yesterday, the weather was great for a wedding in Prague (Oh yes, and in London too). This bride and groom were one of a number of newly-weds who came to a city square to have their pictures taken in quaint and sun-drenched surrounding.

Somewhat scholarly but still entertaining story here from the Globe and Mail about a South Leaside re-build which some local children have called the sugar cube. As explained, it follows the design philosopy of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, an early 20th Century architect.

A 30-minute disagreement on a street in Prague revealed that illegal parking requires the accused driver to plead guilty and pay the fine in order to go on his way. Left, the policeman is demanding 2000 Czech koruna to settle the fine. That’s about $125. He wants it now. The driver says he can’t pay. Soon three more cops arrive and the battle goes on. Finally, they agree to give him a ticket requiring him to pay within a set time. Tough practices over there.

Prague — Czechs are working hard and living large as they re-build their economy after the global recession of 2009. Many Homefront customers will recall the brief absence from our shelves of the excellent Bohemia wine and bar glasses. The company went under. But with new capital and connectiions around the world, the flow of Bohemia glass is moving again. Its a story re-told many times and in this small country of wéll-educated people, there is a cultural activity that frequently dazzles. The young couple above is headed to one of thee nightly performances of the Czech Symphony Orchestra in wonderful Smetana Hall (right). Below, lineup for tickets to a Swan Lake medley.