New models of cotton padded jackets for countryside workers. Photo by Valentin Khukhlayev (1953).
People of the 15 Soviet republics greet the guests of the Moscow Olympic Games (1980)
In the dining hall. Photo by Valery Usmanov (Moscow, 1977).
Anonymous asked:
It seems wild to me that Elton John was allowed to perform in USSR?
It was wild for sure! I looked it up, it's such an interesting historical event (and I do love Elton John). Some interesting facts:
- Apparently the person who invited EJ to the USSR and made it all happen was a nephew of Aleksey Kosygin (then the Premier of the USSR). Elton did want to visit the USSR and asked the embassy about it, but I'm sure that a big name would have to be involved to bypass the bureaucracy machine.
- Elton gave eight concerts in total, four in Moscow and four in Leningrad. The bulk of the tickets in Moscow were distributed among nomenklatura. There was no free sale of tickets. Some tickets were privately exchanged for luxury goods like Armenian cognac or fur coats. A small fraction of tickets was available on the black market, and the price was as high as a month's salary (100-150 roubles). In Leningrad the ticket situation was a little easier (less nomenklatura in the city), but the demand was crazy. Fans flooded the city. People signed up through designated social Soviets and queued for days (and nights) in advance to have a chance at buying a ticket.
- Elton brought 11 tonnes of equipment. Such quality of light and sound was unfamiliar to the Soviet people. He also brought along 30 journalists.
- Here's the film about EJ's visit. And here's an audio record of one of the Moscow concerts (it was released in 2019).
Testing of the Ural electronic computer produced by the Penza plant "SAM". Photo by Sigismund Kropivnitsky (Penza, USSR, 1957).
Sverdlovsky district of Moscow, postcard set (1977)
Yevpatoriya, Crimea (1930s)
Pennants were commonly used to show off your pin collection.
New Year market on Pushkin Square. Photo by Anatoly Garanin (Moscow, 1947).
Assistants of the new grocery store in Yuznoye Izmailovo E. Tsinak and I. Kondalina lay out canned goods. Photo by L. Glagolev (Moscow, Aug. 1979).
School №1 in Arzamas-16, Russia
At a hair salon. Photo by Viktor Gorkin (USSR, 1968).
Physical training school club in Galich, Russia. Photo by Mikhail Smodor (1932).
Seagulls. Photo by Georgiy Zelma (Estonia, 1970s).
Photo by Boris Ignatovich (1950s)
“Fire Cutter Serenko” by S. Grigoryev, cover art by K. Vyalov (1931)
Street volleyball in Tula, Russia (1960s)
(via Vladimir Scherbakov)