“Prague Zoo Appeals to Public for Assistance in Finding Lost Films to Fill in Historical Gaps”

Prague Zoo’s appeal to the public for help in finding eight lost films is a reminder of the importance of preserving cultural heritage. The search for lost films could provide valuable information about the zoo’s early days, which could fill in gaps in the zoo’s history.

The zoo’s search for historical films follows the discovery of old footage during a press conference held in February 2023, which led to the identification of Marie Charousová-Gardavská. However, the zoo’s archives suffered significant damage during floods in 2002, resulting in the loss of a substantial portion of the zoo’s historical documents.

The zoo’s director, Miroslav Bobek, stated that while 13 films were recently acquired from Vienna, there could be up to eight more films in existence. Historian Kateřina Jíšová has been researching the history of Josef Zelinka, a filmmaker who may have produced some of the lost films. Her discoveries have helped identify potential leads, such as Zelinka’s brother-in-law, Jaromír Křečan, who was a witness at their wedding and later became a renowned specialist at the dental clinic of Professor Jan Jesenský.

The zoo’s spokesperson, Filip Mašek, expressed his gratitude to the media for spreading awareness of the zoo’s search for historical films and emphasized the importance of involving the public in the search. The public’s involvement highlights the power of collaboration in preserving cultural heritage.

The search for lost films serves as a reminder of the significance of preserving historical records, particularly for institutions such as Prague Zoo that significantly impact the community. The lost films could provide valuable insights into the zoo’s early days and enrich the zoo’s historical narrative for future generations to come.

Article by Prague Forum