Mourning for President Gottwald

Klement Gottwald’s funeral was broadcast by the radio as a quasilive broadcast that did not go according to plan. It was a moment that laid bare the weaknesses of broadcasting at the time. The script had been preapproved and was read by the announcer from the studio, but presented as if from points along the funeral procession route. However, the funeral procession proceeded very slowly, meaning that the broadcast was littered with bizarre pauses underscored by classical music. The photograph dates from the days of Gottwald’s death.