Tynda (Biased Notes)

THE ART AND SOCIAL LIFE

On August 8^th 1976 Tynda held the first musical arts festival.Leading artists from Moscow, Leningrad, Kazan, Tula and other cities participated in the event.The festival was called "The Lights of the Mainline: and became a usual event.

In 1989, the All-Union Greko-Roman tournament "The Mat of BAM" took place.250 athletes from 18 republics and regions participated in it.Before 1989 for 7 years the tournament was held in Blagoveschensk.

In the middle of the city, to the left of the bridge, there is "BAM" stadium.Besides various sporting events, it hosted concerts of touring groups and many other festivities.

The festivities and concerts used to gather huge crowds.The stupidest idea was to try selling tickets to those concerts.Why should someone pay if everything can be seen and heard from the bridge?Graduation ceremonies also were held here.Graduates of many schools would line up and the chiefs of the city would make nice speeches.Today the stadium is abandoned.The bleachers are deteriorating…

On March 21^st 1979, a National science conference "A Man on BAM" was held in Tynda.The problems of sociology, ecology, sanitary conditions and medicine were on the agenda.Problems with working and living conditions, spiritual development and physical health were also discussed.That's right!The issues of spiritual development were scrutinized.I can accept them discussing problems with working conditions and health -- if someone is healthy, he or she will be working.But enforcement of spiritual development from above is too much for me.

Folk theater "The Young Guard" opened its 10^th season on October 23^rd 1983 with an A. Gel'man play "Together with Everyone." It was directed by a member of the A. Bondar' railroad construction brigade Anatoly Baikov.

On June 7^th 1984, travel meeting of the Soviet of the Ministers of the USSR dedicated to BAM construction issues was held in Tynda.The meeting was led by the commission chairman, a member of the Politburo Central Committee, the first deputy of the Soviet of the Ministers Chairman, G. A. Aliev.The commission noted that the construction of BAM is being done in a timely manner, with the annual construction targets being beaten.Along with the construction, the transportation of cargo is done on the newly constructed segments of the mainline.During the meeting, concrete measures to accelerate completion of the Severomuisk and Kodarsk tunnels, locomotive and railroad car maintenance shops were outlined.On June 24^th, Tynda held a congress of frontline Komsomol squads representatives dedicated to the 10^th anniversary of 17^th VLKSM Congress squad, led by V. Lakomov and V. Muchitsyn.

Even today our city is not without its celebrities!Peter Posohin, a two-time champion of Europe and a world champion in power lifting (power triathlon) lives in Tynda.He was once offered residency in the US, but he refused.Recently he ran for major.

Also, there were UFO sightings.For example, on June 30^th 1998 at 1:36 in the morning, in the northern part of Tynda a UFO appeared.It began a fast descend and then went eastbound.About 20 people observed it.According to them, the UFO looked like a red ball at an altitude of about two thousand meters.In a few seconds 5 more objects of a smaller size joined it.Slowly descending, they disappeared on a horizon in the area of the Fevral'sk settlement.Some say, that two people saw similar UFOs at 2 in the morning on June 12^th as well.

On September 15^th 1998, Holland traveler Ralph Tayen came to Tynda on a bicycle.Soon his bike and all the equipment were stolen.According to him, during all of his world tour, that was a first.Thanks to Tynda police everything was returned to Ralph in three days and he was able to continue his journey.

On August 1^st 1998, an "ice cream day" was held in the City Park.Children were given ice cream for free.This celebration became a tradition as well as a "beer day."This year it was given a name of "The day of beer and bread."I wonder, why not "beer and fish?"

THEATER - A SCHOOL OF SHARED FEELING

I want to mention our theater!A director from Amur drama theater A. Ischenko directed the very first play.The actors were the members of the "Moscow Komsomlets" squad.The play was produced in 1974.Since 1978, Vladimir Leleka has been the director of Tynda theater.After a short recession in 1993-95, the theater makes plays for children and adults.Ticket prices are very moderate -- 5-20 rubles.On January 8^th 1999, the President of Russian Federation awarded V. Leleka with a title of "Honorary Culture Employee of Russian Federation."

The new Tynda Drama Theater is very young.The fourth season was opened in the fall of 1999.However, despite its young age, the theater has an image and a solid list of produced plays.In its repertoire one can find such productions as "Cherchez le femme!.." by Rober Tom, "The Cage" by L. Korsunsky, "The Dogs" by K. Sergienko.They stage fairytales for children with plenty of music, beautiful costumes and decorations.Currently, they offer such great fairytales as "Piglet Knok," "The Turnip," "About Emelya," "Knock - knock, who's there?"It is necessary to note that the theater accents light-hearted comedy productions and shows for children.The theater's director is Valeria Shevchenko and its chief producer is Alexey Shagilov.