Abstract
This article recalls one inconsistent, yet striking personality from Czech culture of the first half of the 20th century: Karel Hašler (1879-1941), a film and theater actor, script writer, director, cabaret author, composer, and above all, a singer-songwriter, the author of several hundreds of popular Old Prague songs, some of which are sung even today. The introductory section captures Hašler's tumultuous and dramatic life, up until his dramatic death in the Mauthausen concentration camp, where he was tortured to death by the Fascists for his spontaneous resistance activities.
Attention is further devoted mainly to Hašler's songs, including their inspiration from Czech folk songs, and to some means of expression that the two sets of songs have in common. These are, for example, diminutives (hvězdičky, panenka, srdíčko...), outdated and sentimental multi-word clichés (lásky žár, švarný hoch), and similes (oči jak nebe; povedu tě z kostela / bílou jako anděla).
Hašler's texts also remind us of the development of the Czech lexicon, e.g. in the names of some professions and activities (konduktér, aktuár, hlásný), or period costumes and apparel (krinolína, pentle). The classification of Hašler's songs can be divided into love songs (sentimental and humorous), military songs, patriotic songs and political satire relating to the given period.
Emphasis is placed on Hašler's admiration of Prague, which can be seen throughout all of his texts in the form of the numerous Prague locations named, e.g. buildings, tourist sights and secluded spots.