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A truly historic classical music performance: In 1958, at the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union hosted an international Tchaikovsky compeition for pianists. It was supposed to showcase the superiority of Soviet culture. To the surprise of the hosts, a 23-year-old Texan named Van Cliburn emerged as the superstar of the event. Cliburn mesmerized the crowds, the television audience, and the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra with his technical and artistic brilliance. Here is the last four minutes of Cliburn's final performance of the event--Rachmaninoff's 3rd Concerto. Look at the reaction from the audience and the orchestra members. The applause lasted for about eight minutes. Everyone knew who the outstanding pianist of the competition was! This created quite a dilemma for the organizers: a Soviet citizen was expected to win--not an American. Soviet Premier Nikita Khruschev was hastily telephoned to make the final decision. To his credit Khruschev settled the matter quickly and fairly: "Was he the best? Yes? Then give him the prize!" Cliburn became a beloved figure in Russia until his death in 2013.
Tags:
Van
Cliburn
pianist
1958
Tchaikovsky
competition
Moscow
Added: 21st January 2014
Views: 3027
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Posted By: Lava1964 |

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God Bless the 29 sailors who perished that cold stormy November day May they rest in peace There bodies were never recovered
Tags:
Let
them
rest
in
peace
Added: 6th October 2007
Views: 3486
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Posted By: Marty6697 |

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A picture has emerged apparently showing Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in his former days as a KGB officer.The 20-year old photo depicts two world leaders - US President Ronald Reagan and the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev - in Moscow.
But, according to the man who took the photo, it also captures Mr Putin disguised as a tourist.
Pete Souza, now President Obama's official photographer, captured the moment when he worked for President Reagan during the political thaw that soon ended the Cold War.
Mr Reagan took a stroll around Red Square accompanied by the Russian leader, who then introduced him to a group of tourists.
In an interview, Mr Souza recounted being surprised at the "pointed" questions these supposed tourists asked the US leader.
Tags:
Undercover
Putin
Met
President
Reagan
KGB
Cold
War
Added: 19th March 2009
Views: 1832
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Posted By: Old Fart |

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CBS had an immediate winner on its hands when it reintroduced TV audiences to Match Game in 1973. Gene Rayburn had hosted a more formal version of the game show in the 1960s, but it was never a big hit. However, the fun, free-wheeling 1970s version on CBS caught the fancy of viewers by the millions with its moderately risque questions in which TINKLE or BOOBS might be proffered as matches to the show's fill-in-the-blank format. Airing weekdays at 4:30 p.m., Match Game drew a wide variety of viewers from housewives to students getting home from school and everything in between. Although Rayburn was again the emcee, Richard Dawson, whose last major TV gig was his role as Corporal Peter Newkirk on Hogan's Heroes from 1965 to 1971, quickly became the show's centerpiece. Seated in the center of the bottom tier, he routinely engaged in witty and humorous banter with Gene and the contestants--and he was consistently the best player on the six-person panel. Match Game was the number-one daytime show in from 1973 until 1976. It was finally usurped by Family Feud, another game based on matching answers that was hosted by...Richard Dawson! His engaging manner absolutely shone in Family Feud. As Family Feud soared in popularity, Dawson became less interested in being a Match Game panelist. Still, Dawson was the clearly best player and would most often be selected by knowledgeable contestants when they were playing for the Super-Match jackpot question. In a candid interview long after Match Game went off the air, fellow regular panelist Brett Somers said she and Charles Nelson Reilly disliked Dawson because of his aloof personality to the point of them silently hoping he would not match the contestant. (Dawson, a non-drinker, did not socialize with the other five panelists during their boisterous lunch breaks where booze flowed freely.) In 1978, CBS expanded its afternoon soap operas to full hours and moved Match Game to a morning time slot. It was a horrendous blunder. The after-school crowd and working people could no longer watch the show. Moreover, a new gimmick--the star wheel-- was introduced. It randomized which celebrity would be used for the jackpot question. Dawson saw the star wheel as a personal slight and his mood on the show noticeably soured. His friendly banter with Gene virtually disappeared. Sensing Dawson was unhappy with Match Game, the show's producers asked if he wanted out of his contract. Dawson said yes. His final appearance on the daytime version of Match Game was episode #1285. He was shown in the opening montage holding a sign that said, "Fare thee well." At the episode's end, Gene made no announcement pertaining to Richard's impending departure--even after he was conspicuously not listed among the celebrity panelists who would be appearing on the following week's shows. Dawson left the studio without saying goodbye to anyone. He and Gene Rayburn never spoke again. Dawson coldly stated years later, "I moved on to greener pastures." Beset by declining ratings, Match Game was cancelled by CBS in 1979, although the syndicated Match Game PM ran until 1982. Rayburn died in 1999. Dawson died in 2012.
Tags:
Match
Game
Richard
Dawson
unhappy
departure
Added: 6th July 2017
Views: 6268
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Posted By: Lava1964 |

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Where do you go with all that snow? I sure hope all of you living north of us will be safe and warm through the recent storms. This song was recorded March 17, 1949..won an Oscar that year after being sung in 'Neptune's Daughter'.
Tags:
baby
its
cold
outside
dinah
shore
neptunes
daughter
Added: 13th December 2007
Views: 2044
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Posted By: Babs64 |

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Until this song was released in 1985, Heart wrote most of their own songs. That year they signed with Columbia Records and got help from some experienced songwriters. This was written by Bernie Taupin, who was also Elton John's lyricist, and Martin Page. The song was first offered to Stevie Nicks, who turned it down. Nancy Wilson had a nasty cold when she recorded her vocals. The producer liked the raspiness in her voice, so they kept it.
Tags:
heart
these
dreams
80s
music
Added: 18th December 2007
Views: 2307
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Posted By: Babs64 |

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A 1951 Civil Defense procedure film aimed at Cold War-era elementary school students in the 50's. The only thing they didn't tell us was the absolute truth..
Tags:
civil
defense
film
cold
war
era
Added: 3rd January 2008
Views: 2024
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Posted By: Naomi |

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My favourite scene from one of the many great movies that Ernst Lubitsch directed. One of the reasons why I love all films!
Greta Garbo plays this tough, cold, extremely serious Russian who ends up being a lovely, shiny, funny woman, full of love and full of life. Starring beautiful Greta Garbo and the great Melvyn Douglas.
Tags:
ernst
lubitsch
greta
garbo
ninotchka
comedy
classic
movie
moments
Added: 6th January 2008
Views: 2954
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Posted By: Naomi |

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