Source: Pavel Dvořák/eXtra.cz/Herminapress/koláž
transformation
Discoland Sylvie was a phenomenon in the nineties. In the company founded by the controversial businessman Ivan Jonák, politicians, moneylenders, dealers, but also stars of Czech show business met. The wildest parties took place here. What does the famous discotheque look like today? This was discovered by eXtra.cz photographers.
Discoland stirred up controversy
Discoland Sylvie was one of the most legendary businesses in the nineties. However, the disco already caused the same controversies at that time as its owner Ivan Jonák, who served 18 years for ordering the murder of his wife Ludvika. Former moneylenders, as well as MPs and ministers and show business stars met there.
You could experience almost anything in this house in the nineties. The people of Prague loved the club and A-class celebrities like Karel Gott came here to enjoy the parties. There was no shortage of beautiful women, whom Jonák loved. On the other side, there was also a kitchen that produced the most delicate delicacies.
Millions in overnight earnings
The attendance was incredible in just one night. As Jonák himself admitted in his book Sex, disco and revolutionthe company was able to earn him more than a million crowns per night. Visitors loved his penchant for extravagant pieces, and it was no problem to come across a bear, a giant boa constrictor or a snake that the businessman kept in his bathtub.
“Often the girl would put the guest down and urinate while he was dressed and run off to wash. Even if the guest looked as if he had peed himself, none of them ever got angry. The girls came up with different diversions. Maybe they inserted a flashing plastic ring with a diode into their vagina before the performance. When she then undressed, spread her legs, her whole body flashed visibly,” Jonák colorfully described in his publication.
Unrecognizable business
Not only concerts of legendary celebrities and spectacular shows took place here, but also criminal stories were written here, over which the mind still stands. Right in front of the club, an unknown man allegedly committed an assassination attempt on Jonák, who shot the controversial businessman through the jaw. The incident took place shortly after Jonák was supposed to have ordered the murder of his wife.
After Jonák went to serve his sentence in prison, the building fell into disrepair and its popularity gradually declined, and some of the equipment was even stolen. After the “father of Discoland” was released in 2014, he tried to restore the operation of the company, but was unsuccessful. He did not have enough resources and all his attempts ended in failure. He died only two years later.
Today, you wouldn’t know how eXtra.cz photographers captured the famous disco, where a lot took place. Part of it was demolished and converted into housing units. The site is still undergoing final construction works and a banner is hanging on the building offering people to contact them if they are interested in renting. Judging by the photos, there are several apartment units, some of which also have a balcony.
