Valentina Leontyeva
Encyclopedia
Valentina Mikhaylovna Leontyeva ' onMouseout='HidePop("88731")' href="/topics/Ulyanovsk">Ulyanovsk
) was a famous anchor on Soviet TV. She was one of the first television presenters in the Soviet Union
.
Leontyeva survived the Siege of Leningrad
, which claimed the life of her father. After a brief stint at the Mendeleyev Institute, she attended the Vakhtangov Theatre School in Moscow. In 1948, she joined a theatre in Tambov
.
As a TV anchor, she became famous for her deeply-felt manner of presentation. Among her most popular shows was "Ot Vsei Dushi" ("From the Bottom of My Heart"), which has been praised for its honesty and emotional depth. She toured 54 cities of the Soviet Union with a stage version of the show. She was also the host of the Goluboy ogonyok ("Blue Light"), a New Year
's Eve variety show, and Spokoinoi Nochi, Malyshi
("Good Night, Little Ones"), a daily program for children. In 1975, Leontyeva was awarded the USSR State Prize
.
In the 1980s, she hosted V gostyakh u skazki ("Visit to Fairy Tales"), a children's show, and became popularly known as simply "Aunt Valya" . Her popularity led to her being awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR
(1982), the highest honor that could be bestowed on a television presenter. On March 12, 2004 the Federation Council of Russia
presented to her the medal "For Contributions", revived from the 19th century.
After her retirement from Channel One
in 1991, Valentina Leontyeva lived with her sister in the Ulyanovsk Oblast
up until her death.
There is a statue of her more than 2m in height on the Goncharov street in Ulyanovsk
opened on August 1, 2008 in the garden of the Ulyanovskiy Regional Muppets Theater which was recently named after Leontyeva.
Ulyanovsk
Ulyanovsk The city is the birthplace of Vladimir Lenin , for whom it is named.-History:Simbirsk was founded in 1648 by the boyar Bogdan Khitrovo. The fort of "Simbirsk" was strategically placed on a hill on the Western bank of the Volga River...
) was a famous anchor on Soviet TV. She was one of the first television presenters in the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
.
Leontyeva survived the Siege of Leningrad
Siege of Leningrad
The Siege of Leningrad, also known as the Leningrad Blockade was a prolonged military operation resulting from the failure of the German Army Group North to capture Leningrad, now known as Saint Petersburg, in the Eastern Front theatre of World War II. It started on 8 September 1941, when the last...
, which claimed the life of her father. After a brief stint at the Mendeleyev Institute, she attended the Vakhtangov Theatre School in Moscow. In 1948, she joined a theatre in Tambov
Tambov
Tambov is a city and the administrative center of Tambov Oblast, Russia, located at the confluence of the Tsna and Studenets Rivers southeast of Moscow...
.
As a TV anchor, she became famous for her deeply-felt manner of presentation. Among her most popular shows was "Ot Vsei Dushi" ("From the Bottom of My Heart"), which has been praised for its honesty and emotional depth. She toured 54 cities of the Soviet Union with a stage version of the show. She was also the host of the Goluboy ogonyok ("Blue Light"), a New Year
New Year
The New Year is the day that marks the time of the beginning of a new calendar year, and is the day on which the year count of the specific calendar used is incremented. For many cultures, the event is celebrated in some manner....
's Eve variety show, and Spokoinoi Nochi, Malyshi
Spokoinoi Nochi, Malyshi
Spokoynoy nochi, malyshi! is a long-running Russian language children's television program. Continuously aired since 1964 , it now airs on the Rossiya 1 TV channel....
("Good Night, Little Ones"), a daily program for children. In 1975, Leontyeva was awarded the USSR State Prize
USSR State Prize
The USSR State Prize was the Soviet Union's state honour. It was established on September 9, 1966. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the prize was followed up by the State Prize of the Russian Federation....
.
In the 1980s, she hosted V gostyakh u skazki ("Visit to Fairy Tales"), a children's show, and became popularly known as simply "Aunt Valya" . Her popularity led to her being awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR, also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to citizens of the Soviet Union.- Nomenclature and significance :...
(1982), the highest honor that could be bestowed on a television presenter. On March 12, 2004 the Federation Council of Russia
Federation Council of Russia
Federation Council of Russia ) is the upper house of the Federal Assembly of Russia , according to the 1993 Constitution of the Russian Federation...
presented to her the medal "For Contributions", revived from the 19th century.
After her retirement from Channel One
Channel One (Russia)
Channel One is the first television channel to broadcast in the Soviet Union. The channel was renamed Ostankino Channel 1 in 1991, after the Soviet Union broke up and the Russian SFSR became the Russian Federation. According to a recent government publication, the Russian government controls 51%...
in 1991, Valentina Leontyeva lived with her sister in the Ulyanovsk Oblast
Ulyanovsk Oblast
Ulyanovsk Oblast is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the Volga Federal District. Its administrative center is the city of Ulyanovsk...
up until her death.
There is a statue of her more than 2m in height on the Goncharov street in Ulyanovsk
Ulyanovsk
Ulyanovsk The city is the birthplace of Vladimir Lenin , for whom it is named.-History:Simbirsk was founded in 1648 by the boyar Bogdan Khitrovo. The fort of "Simbirsk" was strategically placed on a hill on the Western bank of the Volga River...
opened on August 1, 2008 in the garden of the Ulyanovskiy Regional Muppets Theater which was recently named after Leontyeva.