Bagrova P.I.

Provincial cultural life as shown in citizens’ appeals to authorities during the Khrushchev Thaw era. Pp. 47-56.

UDC 94(47).084.9

DOI 10.37724/RSU.2025.88.3.005

 

Abstract. This paper examines leisure activities of Soviet citizens living in provinces during the years when Nikita Khrushchev was in office. By analyzing letters from citizens to regional newspapers in various parts of the USSR, the author identifies the problems faced by Soviet citizens. Thus, the paper highlights poor state of libraries, cinemas, and clubs, which lacked not only books and other items necessary for proper functioning, but also the most basic necessities, such as firewood, decent premises, and furniture. In some cases, these problems were related to subjective factors (employees), while in others, letters to newspapers directly accused the leaders of collective farms and districts of failing to check the cultural provision on their territories. There were failures to provide access to fresh newspapers for Soviet citizens. The appeals also make it clear that there was lack of newspaper stalls with adequate supply of fresh newspapers and problems with delivering newspapers to citizens, as people frequently complained of inefficient post-office staff. The situation was also far from perfect with regard to the radio coverage in cities and towns: in some places radio was not totally available, in others it was constantly out of order, and there were no repair materials. According to the author’s conclusions, such problems were common throughout the Soviet Union, rather than specific to any particular region, as confirmed by appeals from regional Communist Party bodies to the CPSU Central Committee Bureau for the RSFSR regarding the provision of libraries, newspaper stalls, and radio transmission. Regional officials complain about the shortage of certain types of products and inability to supply them to the population. The author concludes that, despite the state’s concern for cultural leisure activities of its citizens, there were many problems in organizing them, and these problems were widespread throughout the Soviet Union.

 

Keywords: newspapers, libraries, clubs, cinemas, radio, USSR, accessibility for the population.

 

Bibliography

 

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