Oldřich Dvorský

Odřich Dvorský is a living legend, a witness to history, a Boy Scout, an amateur actor, a painter, and above all, a good person.

He was born on November 8, 1929, in Janovice nad Úhlavou, where he has lived his entire life and continues to live to this day. From childhood, he had a close connection to the arts, particularly drawing and puppet theater. Together with his friends, he spent a lot of time at the local brickworks, where they played and called themselves the “Blue Arrows.” At the age of ten, he experienced the difficult period of the Nazi occupation. A German officer was quartered in their home. A few years later, he witnessed the liberation of the town by the U.S. Army in May 1945. At that time, he was already studying at the business academy in Klatovy. After the war, he became actively involved in community life and co-founded the local Junák Scout troop. He remained loyal to Scouting throughout his life, and in light of the political changes in Czechoslovakia, he helped revive its activities in both 1968 and 1991.

Oldřich Dvorský during filming in Janovice nad Úhlavou.

Mr. Dvorský’s professional life was varied. He began at the headquarters of the Chodské Pily sawmills and lived briefly in Pilsen, where he developed a fondness for the theater and cultural life. After completing his military service—during which he acted in amateur theater productions and repeatedly performed in the play *Čert a Káča*—he returned to the region. Later, he ran a drugstore in Nýrsko and also founded an apprenticeship center. Mr. Dvorský’s great passion throughout his life was the theater. From his childhood until he was nearly ninety, he was an active performer—first in puppet theater and later primarily in amateur theater, where he portrayed dozens of roles. In his later years, he also began to devote himself fully to painting, which remains his joy to this day. He enjoys painting landscapes and houses from his surroundings, but he also successfully copies famous masters from the 17th century. His passions include dramatic landscapes, naval battles, and stormy seas. Mr. Dvorský’s favorite painter is the French artist of Belgian origin, Matthieu van Plattenberg. Oldřich Dvorský has painted several smaller-scale replicas of his famous works.

Today, he is one of the oldest living residents of Janovice nad Úhlavou. He still meets with locals, talks about the history of his hometown, and, looking at old photographs, cherishes memories of the times he lived through.