In the old days, the Soviet Union was called "the most reading country". Adults and children drew information from books and periodicals. Mass television came to the house later. Many magazines were considered quite popular, subscriptions to them were limited or only possible with a "load" (usually with the additional name of the central newspapers). There were also such magazines, for reading of which there was a queue among relatives and acquaintances.
Favorite magazines of children and youth
"Funny Pictures" were originally intended for the smallest, who are primarily interested in funny illustrations. The short inscriptions to the pictures were distinguished by humor and wit, understandable to the baby. The first issue of "Funny Pictures" came out in 1956 and, as it turned out, attracted the attention of not only children, but also adults. Stories, poems, riddles and counting rhymes began to be published in the magazine that had become "family". The authorship was represented by remarkable Soviet artists and children's writers. At first, the publication was considered in short supply, it was not easy to subscribe to it. After a significant increase in circulation in the seventies of the last century, "Funny Pictures" became available to everyone.
Designed for an audience of children 6-12 years old literary and art magazine "Murzilka" appeared in 1924. It got its name from the name of a mischievous little forest man, the hero of popular children's books of the late 19th century. A yellow hero with a camera over his shoulder, a red beret and a scarf is the image of Murzilka, accompanying little readers since 1937. The content of the publication at all times consisted only of high-quality literature for children. Over the long years of its existence, the employees of "Murzilka" were K. Chukovsky, A. Barto, S. Mikhalkov, Y. Korinets and many other famous writers. The publication has acquired a vivid and memorable look thanks to the creative work of illustrators.
Soviet schoolchildren were very fond of the magazines "Pioneer" and "Koster", they looked impatiently into the mailbox, expecting a new issue. On the pages of these publications, works of wonderful children's authors were published: E. Uspensky, L. Kassil, A. Aleksin and others. Students could learn a lot of interesting and useful information from the publications.
Youthful love and curiosity demanded a change in periodicals. The time was coming for "Peers" and "Youth". The themes of the life and culture of young people in the West, unique for the Soviet era, and rock music were covered in Covesnik, the first youth publication that appeared in 1962. The large-circulation issue testified to the popularity of the magazine.
The numbers of Yunost were read by young people from cover to cover. The birthday of this magazine is considered 1955, the first editor-in-chief was the writer V. Kataev, then the editorial posts were occupied by B. Polevoy, A. Dementyev. A huge number of literary works by famous authors and newcomers, published on the pages of Yunost, helped the growing Soviet generation to grow up.
Adult magazines
Unable to find useful home information, advice from doctors, psychologists, and many other things of interest to people through the Internet, Soviet families subscribed to a variety of magazines. Favorite women "Rabotnitsa" and "Peasant" became popular at the dawn of Soviet power. At first, they not only taught women to manage the household, raise children, but also served to form the correct political position among the fairer sex. Among the first active authors of "Krestyanka" are Soviet activists N. Krupskaya, M. and A. Ulyanov, proletarian writers M. Gorky, S. Serafimovich and others. The "worker" appeared before 1917, because of its revolutionary orientation, it was persecuted by the censors.
In the seventies of the twentieth century, these magazines lost their political focus. Social and medical issues began to be highlighted on their pages, women received a huge amount of useful advice on home economics. The housewives accumulated whole folders of magazine clippings with a variety of culinary recipes, clothing patterns, knitting. The collected councils became the main helpers for housewives in household life.
More than one generation of Russian citizens read with interest the very popular "Ogonyok", "born" before the revolution, in 1899. At the beginning of the last century, it was the cheapest and most circulated publication. Photo reports occupied an important place on the pages. The publication, which had ceased for a short time, did not change the attitude of the people towards this popular periodical.
Under the editor A. Surkov, the Ogonyok style took shape: a mandatory portrait of a famous Soviet man on the cover, a poem, a story or a detective story with further sequel, bright color photographs. The huge masses of Soviet people could get acquainted with the world masterpieces of culture in the form of reproductions from the "tab" to the "Ogonyok". The publication had an important literary supplement for its readers, the so-called "Library". It published the best essays and stories, poems and articles. Families kept the files of a popular magazine, opinions expressed on the pages were often considered authoritative, albums were made from color illustrations, and magazine reproductions were hung on the walls.
The main satirical publication of the Soviet era was considered to be "Crocodile", which was distinguished by sharp and harsh satire. In the first years of its existence, this magazine mercilessly criticized bourgeois life, then it became a means of fighting bureaucrats, hucksters, bribery, speculators, drunkards, etc. The satirical meaning on the pages of "Crocodile" was revealed in drawings that occupy most of the publication. The authors were famous satirical writers, cartoonists. On television, the "Fitil" magazine became the "Crocodile" understudy.
The remarkable works of Shukshin and Aitmatov, Bondarev and Sholokhov, Rasputin and Granin, and many other classics of Soviet literature were published for the first time in Roman-Gazeta. Some families still keep binders of these publications. Literary magazines "Novy Mir", "Znamya", "October" were literally "hunted" in an effort to subscribe. The Seeker, who published science fiction, was of real value to Soviet readers.
Various scientific branches had their own printed publications. Popular science magazines such as "Technics for Youth", "Science and Life", "Knowledge is Power" were in demand. An informal approach to scientific discoveries aroused great interest of the readership, formed an original image of a scientist among the people.
