Actors and Actresses
Funded by a group which included August Geringer of Chicago, 24 Bohemian actors and actresses arrived in the United States in March of 1893. They put on performances in a number of USA locations. Some would leave before the end of the year. Most would stay and become part of "Ludvikovo Divadlo", the first permanent Czech Theater Group based in the new Thalia Building in Chicago's Pilsen District.
The book "Pamatnik Ludvikovy Divadelni Spolecnosti Na Oslavu desiteleteho trvani staleho ceskeho divadla v Chicagu, 1893 - 1903 (Monument to Ludvík's Theater Company to celebrate ten years of permanent Czech theater in Chicago, 1893-1903) contained information on those who stayed. The book also included photo pages of some of those actors and actresses. They are presented below.
Left: Frantisek Ludvik, actor, director, manager of the Ludvikovo Divadlo until his death in 1910. His wife Ludmila and son Frantisek would also be part of the theater group.
Zenske Listy (Liste), wholly owned and operated by women, based in Chicago, published numerous articles on Ludvikovo Divadlo. On April 24, 1913, they published the above image of the troupe just arrived from Bohemia.
Zenske Listy (Liste), on the same day, April 24, 1913 published the above image of the troupe as they were in 1913. Original director and manager, Mr. Frantisek Ludvik Sr. had died in 1910.
A = Bohumila Ludvik
B = Eliska Novakova
A = Jan Karel Splavec
B = Frantisek Horlivy
A = Otilie Splavec
(Stropnicka)
B = Kristina Horlivy
A = Frantisek Lescinsky
B = Betty Kozlansky
A = Bela Lescinsky
(Pacaltova)
B = Frank Ludvik Jr.
A = Alois Klapka
A = Marie Kastner Klapka
A = Elisa Jesenska
A = Bozena Krikava Kolar
A = Jindrich (Henry) Weidner (Veidner)
Working with the names of the actors / actresses on the group photos, many lived the remainder of their lives in Chicago, and are interred in the Bohemian National Cemetery of Chicago.
Find A Grave – Ludvikovo Divadlo Members
138631327 Frantisek Ludvik 1843 - 1910 – Actor, Director, Manager
247562025 Bohumila Novotny Ludvik 1855 - 1932 – Actress, Director, Manager
188595546 Olga Ludvik Bezdek 1889 – 1922 Actress
143363253 Frantisek Skaloud 1866 – 1906 – Theater tailor
268745701 Olga Klier Skaloud 1868 – 1897 – Actress
267274554 Albie “Albina” Parattova Lescinsky 1871 – 1949 – Actress
267274433 Frank Lescinsky 1865 – 1938 Actor
267274753 Alois Kapla 1863 – 1941 – Actor
267274883 Mary Kastner Klapka 1871 – 1929 – Wife of Alois
267274801 Rose Klapka 1870 – 1948 – Wife of Alois
267666490 Ladislav Dvorak 1888 – 1943 Actor (later salesman)
267275131 Frank Horlivy 1868 – 1932 - Actor
267275155 Christine Hrncira Horlivy 1883 – 1940 – Actress
267316251 Fanuse Fink Lhotska 1887 – 1915
267275247Betty Kozlansky 1858 – 1930 – Actress
247189966 Jan Karel Splavec 1855 - 1917 – Actor
268703921 Henry Weidner (Veidner) 1874 – 1958 - Actor
108415294 Bozena Krikavova Kolar 1872 - 1908 - Actress
