[1963 STATE VISIT OF CZECH PRESIDENT ANTONIN NOVOTNY TO THAILAND AND BURMA ]

Genre: home movie

Year Published: 1963

Format: 8mm

Description: This fascinating 8mm home movie shows images from a diplomatic visit to Asia by Czechoslovakian President Antonin Novotny. At the time his official designation was the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Czechoslovak Communist Party. It's not exactly clear what year these images were captured, but we believe it is almost certainly 1963 as he is known to have visited Thailand, Burma, Cambodia and North Vietnam in January of that year. The film starts with images of a Buddha statue at a shrine, and a monk walks past camera. At :24, Novotny signs a guest book, followed by images of bare feet and well-heeled shod feet walking on a red carpet. At :42, what appears to be a Mercedes-Benz 300d Landaulet four-door luxury tourer automobile is seen. At :53, the Shwedagon Pagoda, also known as the Golden Mountain Stupa in Yangon, Myanmar / Burma is shown. At 1:04, a snake charmer works magic with a group of snakes. At 1:25, a Czech or Russian officer parades with a snake around his neck. At 1:28, the motorcade for the President is shown on the move. At 1:44, men are seen pulling a wagon in traffic, while a VW Beetle swerves to move past them. At 1:53, an official reception in front of the Rangoon Airport, also known as the old Rangoon International Airport.. President Novotny reviews a group of soldiers. At 2:12. what appear to be Novotny's pilots pose for the camera before snapping to attention as the delegation approaches. At 2:39, a visit to a sheep farm where wool is being harvested. Novotny is shown with a group of men, unfortunately we have no information about who they might be.

Complete Record: This fascinating 8mm home movie shows images from a diplomatic visit to Asia by Czechoslovakian President Antonin Novotny. At the time his official designation was the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Czechoslovak Communist Party. It's not exactly clear what year these images were captured, but we believe it is almost certainly 1963 as he is known to have visited Thailand, Burma, Cambodia and North Vietnam in January of that year. The film starts with images of a Buddha statue at a shrine, and a monk walks past camera. At :24, Novotny signs a guest book, followed by images of bare feet and well-heeled shod feet walking on a red carpet. At :42, what appears to be a Mercedes-Benz 300d Landaulet four-door luxury tourer automobile is seen. At :53, the Shwedagon Pagoda, also known as the Golden Mountain Stupa in Yangon, Myanmar / Burma is shown. At 1:04, a snake charmer works magic with a group of snakes. At 1:25, a Czech or Russian officer parades with a snake around his neck. At 1:28, the motorcade for the President is shown on the move. At 1:44, men are seen pulling a wagon in traffic, while a VW Beetle swerves to move past them. At 1:53, an official reception in front of the Rangoon Airport, also known as the old Rangoon International Airport.. President Novotny reviews a group of soldiers. At 2:12. what appear to be Novotny's pilots pose for the camera before snapping to attention as the delegation approaches. At 2:39, a visit to a sheep farm where wool is being harvested. Novotny is shown with a group of men, unfortunately we have no information about who they might be.