Voskovec & Werich during WWII - Talk by Filip Šir

"Anti-Nazi Theatre on Radio Waves: Voskovec & Werich during WWII"

The Consulate General of the Czech Republic in New York invites you to a talk by Filip Šír (National Museum in Prague) on “Anti-Nazi Theatre on Radio Waves: Unique Broadcasts by Voskovec and Werich during WWII”.

Filip Šír’s talk will explore the exile years of the legendary Czech comic duo Voskovec and Werich, who transformed satire into a strategic weapon against Nazism. The presentation will trace their transatlantic journey and reveal newly uncovered materials documenting their artistic and political activities in the United States. Particular attention will be given to their anti-Nazi radio broadcasts transmitted via shortwave from the U.S. to occupied Europe, showcasing the vital role of émigré artists in wartime resistance and transnational communication.

Filip Šír is the Head of the Digitization Department at the National Museum in Prague and a leading specialist in the preservation of audio documents. His research focuses on comprehensive solutions for audio heritage and the pioneers of the sound industry in the Czech lands and the United States, with a specific emphasis on sound sources stemming from Czech emigration to the USA.

A graduate of Information Studies and Librarianship at Charles University, Mr. Šír has extensive international experience, including prestigious internships at the Library of Congress (Packard Campus for Audio-visual Conservation), Indiana University, and the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia. He has been the principal investigator for numerous research grants, such as the "New Phonograph" project and the "History of Sound Documents in the Czech Republic and USA."

His significant contributions to the field have been recognized with several awards, including the ARSC Award for Excellence (2017) for the publication Recorded Sound in Czech Lands 1900–1946 and the INFORUM 2016 Award for the Virtual National Phonotheque. Most recently, in 2023, he received an individual research grant from the Botstiber Institute for Austrian-American Studies and a GRAMMY Museum Grant for the rescue of the earliest ethnic recordings for Czech expatriates in the USA.

Mr. Šír holds leadership positions in several international scientific organizations. He is currently a member of the Executive Board of the Early Recordings Association (ERA), a member of the Presidium of the Czech Music Council (UNESCO), and the Secretary of the Discography Committee of the International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives (IASA). He is a prolific author of monographs and certified methodologies regarding the handling and protection of historical sound carriers.

The event is organized by the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in New York.

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Host or Publisher Consulate General of the Czech Republic in New York