Soviet television announcers are the property of national culture

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

On March 22, 2016 Central Television celebrated its 65th anniversary. Today it is difficult to imagine that there were times when broadcasting was carried out only in two cities: Moscow and Leningrad (St. Petersburg), it was black and white, and all programs were broadcast live. It was only in 1957 that broadcasts began to the European part of the Soviet Union, and from November 2, 1967, to the entire territory of the country. Those who communicated with the population from the blue screen, read the news, broadcast and commented on sports competitions, were Soviet television announcers. They were representatives of a special profession and a specially created department at the CPT, which ceased to exist in 1995.

The first Soviet television announcers are blue screen legends

The requirement for the profession was formed gradually, on the best examples of the announcers of the fifties, who became the idols of millions of viewers. Thanks to their talent, the requirements for future job seekers on television became clear: good diction,competent speech, appearance and ability to communicate with the audience, even if it is only invisibly present. In the future, only those who pass competitive tests from three rounds will be accepted for work, which is akin to selection for a theater university. The announcers of Soviet television, who had to be equal, were, first of all, Viktor Balashov and Igor Kirillov, Svetlana Zhiltsova and Anna Shilova, Valentina Leontieva and Anna Shatilova.

The now living Viktor Balashov, born in 1924, a graduate of the Moscow Art Theater School, is an example of announcer reading. Having passed the Great Patriotic War, he began his career on the radio, where diction and the sound of his voice played a very important role. He worked together with the legendary Yuri Levitan. Coming to television in 1947, before the start of the broadcast, he developed bundles like a professional singer. With his unique bass voice, he announced important news for the country, becoming the host of the Vremya program. He had the honor to announce the flight of Yuri Gagarin, to read the parting words of Leonid Brezhnev, who fell ill, to the cosmonauts of the Soyuz-Apollo station, the first international crew. Having worked on television until 1996, Viktor Balashov is a People's Artist of Russia.

Announcers are TV presenters

The announcers worked in various editorial offices, and not only perfectly read the text, but also conducted various programs, forever linking their name with their history. So, Vladimir Ukhin was the permanent host of the children's editions of Good Night, Kids, Angelina Vovk led the final Song of the Year for 18 years, Yuri Nikolaevassociated with the "Morning Star", and Svetlana Zhiltsova and Alexander Maslyakov - with that KVN, which began with the song "Pick up a pencil, we start our evening."

It's paradoxical that neither Alexander nor Svetlana were the first hosts of KVN, but they became its symbols. The program, born from another fun program, became the only one, in the conditions of live broadcast, not subject to and not controlled by the authorities. Its closure in 1971 on a formal occasion - the Odessa team entered the game with glued mustaches and beards - was the end of the freedom-loving 60s.

Svetlana Zhiltsova got on television quite by accident, but this was preceded by many years of her studies in the art studio at the House of Pioneers. Being a student of foreign languages, she was invited to television because of her knowledge of English. After the unexpected replacement of the sick host of the children's sports program, where she performed well in the 40-minute program, the girl was invited to the staff. She was distinguished by a smile and correct literate speech. In those years, the speech on the air was watched by a teacher of the Russian language, from whom the announcers of Soviet television received lessons. Alexander Maslyakov came to KVN in 1964, while still a student, and has remained faithful to this game to this day.

Style Icons

In the absence of a commercial component of television, the presenters chose their own clothes for appearing on the air. Traveling abroad, following fashion and looking for opportunities to purchase quality materials,the real icons of style in the USSR were precisely the Soviet television announcers. Women were the first to demonstrate the beauty and practicality of crimplen suits, modest but exquisite jewelry, magnificent hairstyles from recognized masters. Anna Shatilova, Angelina Vovk, Svetlana Morgunova, still involved in television work, demonstrate impeccable taste, and in adulthood, causing rave reviews.

Valentina Leontyeva, the host of the most humane program “With all my heart”, without which not a single rating program on television was conceived, has remained a model of femininity and beauty for decades. People's Artist of the USSR worked until the age of 65, having undergone plastic surgery to keep her favorite job.

Ageless Veterans

With the closure of the announcers department, most television veterans left their favorite jobs, continuing to work in other directions. The inimitable Ekaterina Andreeva, a graduate of the announcer's school in 1992, made an excellent career, standing out among her colleagues for her intelligence and respect for the word. But there are also representatives of the older generation, Soviet television announcers. The men are represented by the ageless Igor Kirillov, who began his career back in 1957. For 30 years he was the permanent host of the Vremya program. Thanks to his professionalism and excellent timbre of voice, he was instructed to congratulate the people of the country on the New Year, commenting on festive events from the main square of the capital, which he continuesto engage in at the present time, working in tandem with the unfading Anna Shatilova.

Soviet television announcers have become an integral part of the country's culture, a source of pride and respect.