Oliver Mlakar
Encyclopedia
Oliver Mlakar is a Croatia
n television presenter, best known for hosting game shows. He was one of the most popular television personalities of Yugoslavia
and Croatia.
Mlakar was born in Ptuj
and lived in Osijek
from 1945 to 1954. He moved to Zagreb
in 1954 to study French and Italian at the University of Zagreb
and began working as an announcer
for Radio Zagreb in 1957. Mlakar became a full-time broadcaster for Television Zagreb in 1965, hosting Poziv na kviz, the first quiz show
on Yugoslav television. His most acclaimed work was as a games show host and he became known internationally for hosting Jeux Sans Frontières
in the 1970s, and Kviskoteka, a highly popular quiz show that ran from 1980 to 1995. He co-hosted the 1990 Eurovision Song Contest
held at the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall
in Zagreb (former Yugoslavia). Almost a decade later in 1999, Mlakar was still involved with Eurovision, hosting Dora
, the Croatian heat of the song contest. From 1993 to 2002, Mlakar hosted Kolo sreće, a Croatian version of Wheel of Fortune. He retired from his job at the Croatian Radiotelevision
in 2002.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n television presenter, best known for hosting game shows. He was one of the most popular television personalities of Yugoslavia
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was the Yugoslav state that existed from the abolition of the Yugoslav monarchy until it was dissolved in 1992 amid the Yugoslav Wars. It was a socialist state and a federation made up of six socialist republics: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia,...
and Croatia.
Mlakar was born in Ptuj
Ptuj
Ptuj is a city and one of 11 urban municipalities in Slovenia. Traditionally the area was part of the Lower Styria region. The municipality is now included in the Podravje statistical region...
and lived in Osijek
Osijek
Osijek is the fourth largest city in Croatia with a population of 83,496 in 2011. It is the largest city and the economic and cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia, as well as the administrative centre of Osijek-Baranja county...
from 1945 to 1954. He moved to Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
in 1954 to study French and Italian at the University of Zagreb
University of Zagreb
The University of Zagreb is the biggest Croatian university and the oldest continuously operating university in the area covering Central Europe south of Vienna and all of Southeastern Europe...
and began working as an announcer
Announcer
An announcer is a presenter who makes "announcements" in an audio medium or a physical location.-Television and other media:Some announcers work in television production , radio or filmmaking, usually providing narrations, news updates, station identification, or an introduction of a product in...
for Radio Zagreb in 1957. Mlakar became a full-time broadcaster for Television Zagreb in 1965, hosting Poziv na kviz, the first quiz show
Quiz Show
Quiz Show is a 1994 American historical drama film produced and directed by Robert Redford. Adapted by Paul Attanasio from Richard Goodwin's memoir Remembering America, the film is based upon the Twenty One quiz show scandal of the 1950s...
on Yugoslav television. His most acclaimed work was as a games show host and he became known internationally for hosting Jeux Sans Frontières
Jeux Sans Frontieres
Jeux Sans Frontières was a Europe-wide television game show.In its original conception, it was broadcast from 1965 to 1999 under the auspices of the European Broadcasting Union and featured teams from different European countries in outlandish costumes competing to complete bizarre tasks in funny...
in the 1970s, and Kviskoteka, a highly popular quiz show that ran from 1980 to 1995. He co-hosted the 1990 Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest 1990
The Eurovision Song Contest 1990, the 35th in the series, was held in Zagreb, Yugoslavia on 5 May 1990. The presenters were Helga Vlahović Brnobić and Oliver Mlakar. Toto Cutugno was the winner of this contest with the song "Insieme: 1992"...
held at the Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall
Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall
Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall is a large concert hall and convention center in Zagreb, Croatia. It is named after Vatroslav Lisinski, a 19th-century Croatian composer. The building has a big hall with 1841 seats and a small hall with 305 seats. A large lobby doubles as an exhibition...
in Zagreb (former Yugoslavia). Almost a decade later in 1999, Mlakar was still involved with Eurovision, hosting Dora
Croatia in the Eurovision Song Contest
Croatia has participated at the Eurovision Song Contest 18 times, participating every year since their debut in 1993. Together with Sweden and Malta, and the 5 countries that are for financial reasons entitled to take part every year, Croatia is one of the few countries that has not missed a...
, the Croatian heat of the song contest. From 1993 to 2002, Mlakar hosted Kolo sreće, a Croatian version of Wheel of Fortune. He retired from his job at the Croatian Radiotelevision
Croatian Radiotelevision
Croatian Radiotelevision is a Croatian public broadcasting company. It operates several radio and television channels, over a domestic transmitter network as well as satellite...
in 2002.