Ján Roháč

JÁN ROHÁČ (2012)

* 18^th June 1932, Nitrianske Pravno
† 5^th October 1980, Prague

Director, pioneer of television humour and satire. A native of Nitrianske Pravno who after graduation in Prievidza (1950) studied at the Prague Academy of Performing Arts (1955). He started as a director of Divadlo estrády a satiry (Theatre of vaudeville and satire) in Prague, then for a short time worked in the Východočeské divadlo (East Bohemian Theatre) in Pardubice (1955 – 1957). At the invitation of Jan Werich he returned to Prague, where, except for the ABC theatre he also worked in nascent television. He had a significant participation in creating Laterna Magica which received a great international success on The World Exposition EXPO ´58 in Brussels. He was principal director of the audiovisual system Kinoautomat, which attracted attention at EXPO ´67 in Montreal. During 1963 – 1968 he was a director of the legendary theatre SEMAFOR, where he worked with pairs such as Suchý – Šlitr, Šimek – Grossmann and Šimek – Sobota. During 1968 – 1980 he was an internal director of the Czechoslovak Television in Bratislava and Prague, where he excelled as a creator of television productions and in particular of large musical entertainment, cabarets and revues. With Miroslav Horníček he created the well-known Hovory H (Talks H) (1968), he often directed the pair Lasica – Satinský. His musicality has reflected in the famous musical film Kdyby tisíc klarinetů (If a thousand clarinets) (1964 – 1965) directed together with Vladimír Svitáček. Since 1977 he had great success with New Year's Eve programs with Vladimír Menšík, his singing contest Našich deväť (Our nine) (1975 – 1978) was also very known. The most outstanding contribution to television and musical poetics of the sixties a seventies were Roháč’s filmed songs that had their mini-stories and were the forerunners of today's music videos. He directed the operetta, musical slapsticks, folk fun sessions and fairy-tales films for children (Snehuliaci – Snowmen, Chrobáci – Beetles) as well. He was a master in the use of film tricks and animation. Ján Roháč became a founding figure in the field of new media, television entertainment and application of music in television.

Author of the relief: Štefan Novotný
Born 29^th September 1954, Slovinky
1970 – 1974 Secondary Artistic School student, Kremnica
He is the author of many struck medals at home and abroad.
Participates in group exhibitions organized at home and within the EU.
Working in the studio of Kremnica Mint.
He lives and works in Kremnica.