KLOBOUK VE KROVI: Vybor Versu V+W (1927-1947). by Voskovec, Jiri; Werich, Jan - 1965.

Praha: Ceskoslovensky spisovatel, 1965., 1965.. Good. JIRI VOSKOVEC'S COPY, SIGNED BY HIM - Octavo, cream cloth decorated with red & black squares with a cream silk bookmark.The binding is unevenly darkened & there are 2 dents to the bottom edge of the front cover. 264 & [7] pages plus colophon. Illustrated with a full-page photographic portrait of the author. The top edges of the pages are partially darkened. Good. <p>First edition.<p>A collection of the verse of Jiri Voskovec and Jan Werich [V+W], edited with commentary by Voskovec. This is Voskovec's copy, signed by him with his initials on the title page; "J. V. June 65 / NYC / ('Signed' copy)" and with his pencil correction on page 201.<p>Number 33 in the series Klub Pratel Poezie [Poetry Club]. The text is in Czech.<p>Jiri [George] Voskovec was born Jiri Wachsmann [1905-1981]. He was a much revered Czech actor and playwright. After World War 1 Voskovec appeared with Jan Werich [1905-1980] as one of a comic duo in the tradition of Laurel and Hardy. "Together with Jaroslav Jezek, the father of Czech jazz, they moulded dadaism, circus, jazz, Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and American vaudeville into a new art form. They created a new form of intellectual political musical." - [Josef Skvorecky: "All the Bright Young Men and Women"]. Having created a sensation with their "Vest Pocket Revue" in April 1927, V + W were invited to join the Devetsil theatre group in May. In 1929 they renamed the group "Liberated Theatre" ["Osvobozene Divadlo"] and they took over every element of the productions. During the 1930s the productions of V + W became increasingly anti-fascist and their "Liberated Theatre" was eventually forced to close in 1938. The following year they fled to the United States. After World War 2 Voskovec settled permanently in the U.S. and Werich returned to Czechoslovakia. Both actors went on to have long careers in film, Voskovec appearing in 72 movies and Werich in more than 50. Four of their stage works were made into films: "Powder and Gasoline" [1931], "Your Money or Your Life" [1932], "Heave-ho" [1934], and "The World Belongs to Us" [1937]. Voskovec is known for his role as Juror #11 in "12 Angry Men".