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 the broadcasts were broadcast live. Only in 1957 began broadcasting to the European part of the Soviet Union, and from November 2, 1967, to the entire territory of the country. Those who talked to the population from a blue screen, read the news, broadcast and commented on sporting events, were the announcers of Soviet television. These were representatives of a special profession and a specially created department at the DPT, which ceased to exist in 1995.
The first Soviet television announcers - blue screen legends
The demand for the profession was formed gradually, on the best examples of the announcers of the fifties, who became idols of millions of viewers. Thanks to their talent, the requirements for future TV job applicants became clear: good diction, competent speech, appearance and ability to communicate with an audience, even if it is present invisibly. In the future, only those who pass competitive trials from three rounds, which is akin to being selected for a theater university, will be hired. Announcers of Soviet television, which were to be followed, were, first of all, Viktor Balashov and Igor Kirillov, Svetlana Zhiltsova and Anna Shilova, Valentina Leontyeva and Anna Shatilova.
Now living Viktor Balashov, born in 1924, a graduate of the Moscow Art Theater School is a model of narrative reading. After the Great Patriotic War, he began his career on the radio, where diction and sound of the voice played a very important role. He worked with the legendary Yuri Levitan. Arriving on television in 1947, before the start of the broadcast, he developed bundles as a professional singer. In his unique bass voice, he announced important news for the country, becoming the host of the Vremya program. He had the honor to report on the flight of Yuri Gagarin, to read parting words from the sick L. I. Brezhnev to the astronauts of the Soyuz-Apollon station, the first international crew. Having worked on television until 1996, Viktor Balashov is a People’s Artist of Russia.
Announcers - TV presenters
Announcers worked in various editions, and not only read the text perfectly, but also conducted various programs, forever connecting their name with their history. So, Vladimir Ukhin was the permanent presenter of the children's episodes of “Good Night, Kids”, Angelina Vovk led the final “Song of the Year” for 18 years, Yuri Nikolaev was associated with “The Morning Star”, and Svetlana Zhiltsova and Alexander Maslyakov - with that KVN that began with the song "Pick up a pencil, we begin our evening."
It is ironic that neither Alexander nor Svetlana were the first presenters of KVN, but it was they who became his symbols. The program, born from another fun program, became the only one, under the conditions of live broadcast, not subject to control by the authorities. Its closure in 1971 on a formal occasion - the Odessa team entered the game with their mustaches and beards glued on - was the end of the freedom-loving 60s.
Svetlana Zhiltsova came to television quite by accident, but this was preceded by her many years of study in the studio of artistic words at the House of Pioneers. As a student of foreign language, she was invited to television because of her knowledge of the English language. After an unexpected replacement of the sick host of the children's sports program, where she showed herself well in the 40-minute program, the girl was invited to the staff. She was distinguished by a smile and correct competent speech. In those years, the Russian language teacher watched the speech on air, from which the speakers of Soviet television received lessons. Alexander Maslyakov came to KVN in 1964, while still a student, and remained faithful to this game to this day.
Style icons
In the absence of the commercial component of television, the presenters picked their own clothes for appearance on the air. Going abroad, following the fashion and finding opportunities for acquiring high-quality materials, the Soviet television announcers were the real style icons in the USSR. Women were the first to demonstrate the beauty and practicality of krimplenny suits, modest but refined jewelry, magnificent hairstyles from recognized masters. Anna Shatilova, Angelina Vovk, Svetlana Morgunova, who are still involved in working on television, demonstrate impeccable taste and cause rave reviews in adulthood.
For decades, Valentina Leontyeva, the host of the most human program “With all my heart”, without whom no rating program on television was conceived, remained an example of femininity and beauty. People's Artist of the USSR worked until the age of 65, having undergone plastic surgery to preserve her favorite work.
Ageless Veterans
With the closure of the announcer’s department, most television veterans left their favorite jobs while continuing to work in other directions. A magnificent career was made by the inimitable Ekaterina Andreeva, a graduate of the announcer’s school in 1992, who stands out among her colleagues for her intelligence and respect for the word. But there are also representatives of the older generation, announcers of Soviet television. Men are represented by the ageless Igor Kirillov, who began his activities in the distant 57th. For 30 years he was the permanent presenter of the program "Time". Thanks to the professionalism and excellent timbre of his voice, he was entrusted with congratulating the residents of the country on the New Year, commenting on festive events from the main square of the capital, which he continues to do now, working in tandem with the unfading Anna Shatilova.
Announcers of Soviet television have become an integral part of the country's culture, a subject of pride and respect.