Figure 1.--This early color photo dated 1964 shows a group of Soviet kids playing a ring game at a new-looking appartment block in some Russian city. We think it is probably Moscow, but are not sure. Apartment blocs like this is where most Soviet urban resuidents lived. It looks as though it might be in a newly developing sector of the city. Notice that it is winter and most of the children are wearing long stockings. This appears to have been still very common in the 1960s. Russian sources report that mothers continued to dress children in long stockings with supporters for reasons of economy (stockings were cheaper than long pants) and convenience (stockings could be unfastened from garters very easily and removed without undressing). Long stockings were worn by both boys and girls, especially at the age of the children here. They look to be younger primary children. Notice the number of children wearing berets. We see both black and red berets. One of the girls may be wearing tights in this picture, but they were not commonly available yet. One boy also wears knee socks. Note in addition to berets, the use of stocking caps. Source: Image courtesy of a generous Russian contributor, George.

This early color photo dated 1964 shows a group of Soviet kids playing a ring game at a new-looking appartment block in some Russian city. We think it is probably Moscow, but are not sure. Apartment blocs like this is where most Soviet urban resuidents lived. It looks as though it might be in a newly developing sector of the city. Notice that it is winter and most of the children are wearing long stockings. This appears to have been still very common in the 1960s. Russian sources report that mothers continued to dress children in long stockings with supporters for reasons of economy (stockings were cheaper than long pants) and convenience (stockings could be unfastened from garters very easily and removed without undressing). Long stockings were worn by both boys and girls, especially at the age of the children here. They look to be younger primary children. Notice the number of children wearing berets. We see both black and red beretsr. One of the girls may be wearing tights in this picture, but they were not commonly available. One boy also wears knee socks. Note in addition to berets, the use of stocking caps. Source: Image courtesy of a generous Russian contributor, George. socks.'

Chronology

The photograph here was taken in 1964.

School Scene

This early Soviet color photo dated 1964 shows a group of primary school children playing a ring game at their school during recess. We did not realize a first that they were at school. But you can see a fence in the background and a school building at the right. Our Russian reader wrote us after sending theimhr to tell us children were playing during recess from a Moscow primary school. Notice that recess seems to be a directed activity. Recess in Ameriuca and most of Western Europe is fee time for the children. They can plsy games, but they do notvhve to. It is a non-directed part of the school day. We don't know which specific school.

Recess Activities

The ring game the children are plaaying was interesting because in America children (especially boys) do not play like that unless at parties or other times when they are being supervised by adults. A Russian reader tells us tht group games were very common in Russian cities and villages. We suspect tht Russian socilization beginning in pre-school encourages the children to cooperate and work together in groups. This probably reflects that difference. We later learned tht the children are at school. But even at school I do not recall playing games like this. At recess the boys and girls were more likely to separate. The boys might platy on the juingle jim or play kickball. The girls were more likely to sit in groups and chatter. Some might vplay games like hop skotch, jacks, or jump rope. A Russian reader tells us that recess at Soviet schools varied depnding on the teacher's arttitudes. He writes, "It depends on the particular teacher's methods. Some of them think that organized games are more useful for children, others - that children rest better when they feel free." Another reader writes, "Its a bit complicated. There is morning school and afternoon school. Pupils come for morning lessons and go home at lunch time. There possibly would be a short morning break which you call recess. In the afternoon the morning pupils might be involved in attending a specialized school for games or the arts. There would also be a fair amount of homework to do. The children attending afternoon school would have had the specialized classes in the morning and in the afternoon school type lessons. School ends about 5 o'clock. I believe there would be a short afternoon break - Recess. I think there is a staff change as well! Morning teachers and afternoon teachers. However our school operates regular classes from 8:30 to 3:00pm. The pupils arrive in the morning and stay until 3pm. We have a half hour morning break from 10: 30 to 11:00. Lunch starts at 12 noon and lessons start at 1pm. There is no afternoon break. The school I worked at in Russia started at about 8:30 am and continued until 6:00 pm. There was a 15 minute break for breakfast. Then a morning break. Lunchbreak. The next break was afternoon tea at 4:00 pm."

Apartment Complex

The school is set in what looks like a relatively new post-War appartment block in some Russian city. We think it is probably Moscow, but we are not sure. Apartment blocs like this is where most Soviet urban resuidents lived. It looks as though it might be in a newly developing sector of the city. We were not positive it was Moscoiw because the apartment buildings are fairly small. A Russian reader, wrote, "It could be Moscow or St. Petersburg or other large city like Volgograd (former Stalingrad)." Our other Russian reader has since confirmed that it is Moscow.

Season

Notice that the weather is cold and there are no leaves on the trees. It could be winter, but most likely the early Spring s there is no snow on the ground. A Russian reader tells us, "I don't think this is a winter scene. It is more soon mid-spring or late autumn." Another reader writes, "It looks to be late autumn. Put this sometime towards the end of October. If the scene is Moscow then there is snow from January through to about the first week in April. The trees look to be how they are in the fall ( autumn)."

Clothing

As the weather is still chilly, most of the children are wearing warm caps, coats, and long stockings. Long stockings appear to have been still very common in the 1960s. Russian sources report that mothers continued to dress children in long stockings with supporters for reasons of economy (stockings were cheaper than long pants) and convenience (stockings could be unfastened from garters very easily and removed without undressing). Long stockings were worn by both boys and girls, especially at the age of the children here. They are younger primary children. Notice the number of children wearing berets. We see both black and red beretsr. The girls in the orange jacket may be wearing tights in this picture, but they were not commonly available. A Russian reader writes, "Yes they do look like tights. Some parents, who visited Eastern Europe - like Czechoslovakia or Poland bought clothes their for their children like tights." One boy also wears knee socks. Note in addition to berets, the use of stocking caps. A Russian reader writes, "The children are clothed well. I think that's because they live in a big city. Resudents of big cities in USSR had an easier access to good clothes, toys, sports equipement and so on."

Color Film

We wondered how common color photography was in the Soviet Union during the 1960s. The photograph here looks to be a higher quality coilor image than we note in the Soviet Uniin during the 1950s and 60s. In America, color photography ws becoming more common, but still expensive. A Russian reader tells us, "Ordinary people had access to cameras, color film and chemicals were available in big cities in the USSR during the 60s. But the process of making a color photo was was very complex. So most of amateur photographers used black and white film.

Photograph

We are unsure if this was a family snap shot or a profession photograph of some kind. The well composed image and color film suggest it was mot likely a professional phoograph. Perhaps someonefrom the school or Ministry of education. A Russian reader tells us, "I think this photo was probably taken by a professional photographer. It isn't a family snapshot, I suppose it is a pic from some reportage." Our Russian reader who provided the image tells us that the photograph was ctaken by Dean Conger, whose name suggests the West. Maybe he was a news photographer from an American or British agency." That might also explain the high-quality color photography."

Central Planning

We are not sure to what extent beginning in 1969 that the shift from long stockings was driven by consumer demands or did central planners just stop producing long stockings. A Russuian reader tells us, " All 'Consumer demands' in the USSR were analyzed, but due to plan economics and a 5-year plans all demands could be fulfilled only in the next 5-year plan. The VIII 5-year plan finished in 1970. The IX 5-year plan began in 1971. At that time tights made in USSR totally replaced long stockings."