In Brno-Řečkovice, witnesses unveiled a two-meter monument to the well-known Brno strongman and recessionist Frant Kocourek. The boy died 30 years ago, on July 7, 1991. He was 44 years old. His family and friends came to remember the Brno “gladiator”.
Witnesses still remember what the native of Řečkovice did, either thanks to his muscles or his sense of humor. Notable performances included pulling a railroad car in your teeth or breaking a boulder on your chest, hanging only behind your heels and head. Another time, Kocourek was lying on a fakir’s board, with an anvil on his chest and his partner pounding on it with a heavy hammer. One of the highlights was a number in which Kocourek, lying under a wooden board, was run over by a car.
The memorial is the work of his then assistant František Kocman and architect Zdeněk Sendler. “He was a wonderful friend, I never had a better one. A man who helped, without telling him, who was able to please. It was something wonderful in his company. ” Kocman told ČTK. He stated that he worked as an assistant to Kocourek for about 18 years. He rode with him after the performances, drove him, and it was he who drove him to the performances.
New memorial.
His friend, the actor, also came to remember the strong man Kocourek Miroslav Donutil. He told ČTK that he did not remember the exact date when they met. “Everyone in Brno knew Franta, so of course I also knew him from his strong performances. We definitely became friends with his arrival at the Goose on a String Theater, where he started rehearsing various plays with us. On the occasion of the Commedia dell arte rehearsal, we traveled around the world together. And we always slept in our sexiest room number 325. And because Franta was a trained calligrapher, he wrote on all the doors of every room in the world. The cleaners cleaned up 11, 12, and suddenly 325 and Franta was overjoyed to be able to imitate the numbers perfectly. “ said Donutil.
He stated that the unveiled memorial commemorates a personality who has exceeded the significance of Brno. “A man like Franta is missing here today and would be badly needed here.” said Donutil.
Other acquaintances and friends of Kocourek also came to remember him. For example, musicologist Miloš Štědroň or members of the band Prometheus, which accompanied Kocourka at performances.
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