SVORTO - Key Persons

Bedřich Smeták (1870-1960) with his wife Marií Smetákovou nee Maredovou (1881-1959). The left photograph shows the "Salon of Handmade Shoes" run by Mr Bedřich Smeták (1870-1960) on Wenceslas Square No 55 (today No. 47), above the Yalta Hotel. The photograph is dated 14 September 1937, i.e. the day when former Czechoslovak president T. G. Masaryk died. The man at the front holds a newspaper with this sad news on the front page. Right: company postcard. After 1948, under the restrictions imposed by the regime he only ran a shoe repair shop and sold used shoes. He was not able to produce new shows owing to the material rationing system. At that time, all preference was given to state-owned enterprises. In 1956 he was forced to move to away, based on a decision of the Municipal People's Committee, and in a shop at Růžová 10 (former Prague 3), he earned an extra CZK 180 per month in addition to his pension, from the age of 89 till his death. The tradition was resumed by his son Josef Smeták (1902-1975), shown in the photograph above with his wife Anna Smetáková, nee Minářová (1913-1991).