The battle for a tourist is easy to win when the region has recognizable brands. And there will be no shortage of them if those who are engaged in the development of tourism know the history and events related to their native land, their famous countrymen and their fate, local historian and guide Vadim Viner is sure.
In 2023, the 120th anniversary of the birth of the famous native of Yekaterinburg Grigory Alexandrov, director of the films “Funny Guys”, “Circus”, “Volga-Volga”, etc. The exhibition “Grigory Alexandrov. My Era”, which took place from June 28 to September 17 in Sverdlovsk Regional Museum of Local Lore. Its visitors saw original posters of Alexandrov’s films, sketches of costumes and scenery, archival photographs and much more.
Based on the materials of the exhibition, Vadim Viner, another nominee of the “Pro!” contest of the “Know Our PRO” project, has developed an author’s walking tour dedicated to the founder of Soviet musical comedy, and now everyone who loves G. Alexandrov’s films or is interested in the history of cinema can get acquainted with the Yekaterinburg stage of the famous director’s life.
“The tour starts near the Museum of Local Lore. Next to it stood the Sibir Hotel, in the wing of which Grigory Alexandrov was born. Nearby is the temple of the Great Chrysostom, where he was baptized, as there is a corresponding metric, — says Vadim Viner, making a “virtual trip” around the city together with a Profi journalist.Travel. — Then we turn onto 8 Marta Street and walk along it to the intersection with Lenin Avenue, to where the historical building is located — the former Yekaterinburg Men’s Gymnasium of His Imperial Majesty Alexander II, where Grigory Alexandrov studied.”
Then Vadim Viner accompanies tourists along the Historical Square to the house No. 4 on Pushkin Street, where the building of the Council of Trade Unions was located (there were directing courses of the Workers’ and Peasants’ Theater, which G. Alexandrov graduated from), leads along the street. Malyshev went to the Art School (the former building of the Cheka, the amateur art club of which he directed), and then to the former V. G. Belinsky Library, which was home to the TRASH club founded by Grigory Alexandrov and Ivan Pyriev (Artists, writers, artists, musicians), which opposed “old-regime” cultural works. After that, exit to the main avenue again and walk to the Opera and Ballet Theater. It was there that Grigory Alexandrov began working when he was only 9 years old: he was a bellboy, a prop assistant, an assistant lighting designer and a costumer.
Vadim Viner is a historian by diploma and vocation: graduated from the historical Faculty of USU with a degree in archival science, has been engaged in local history for many years, founded the Center for Investigating the Circumstances of the death of family members of the Romanov house. He is a full member of the National Academy of Tourism and the Russian Geographical Society. In his opinion, Yekaterinburg is an inexhaustible storehouse of interesting facts related to the lives of famous people. And if local tourism officials had a desire to develop the city’s brands, this could significantly increase the tourist flow of curious guests to the region.
“Do you know, for example, that next year will mark the 100th anniversary of Bulat Okudzhava, whose father took part in the construction of the Uralvagonzavod, and was shot in 1937 in Yekaterinburg? And in 2025, the centenary is celebrated by Ernst Neizvestny, our compatriot, who always remembered the beloved city of his youth — Sverdlovsk, where today the only Ernst Neizvestny Museum in Russia has been created. Can you imagine how many fascinating routes can be created based on these facts?!” adds Vadim Viner.
As proof, he gives an example of the excursion route “Red Threads”, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the formation of the international Communist regiment on Ural: “We didn’t invent anything, we just took the facts as a basis: in 1918, the first Chinese volunteer battalion was formed in Alapaevsk, commanded by Zhen Fuchen. He fought on The Urals are on the side of the Bolsheviks, won a number of important victories, and the whole story is of great interest to tourists from China today. I think when the mutual visa-free regime is fully implemented, the route will be in great demand.”
About the competition
The “Pro!” contest is held within the framework of the “Know our PRO” project. Its purpose is to introduce those who create domestic tourism today. You can find the stories of all the participants who announced themselves before October 31 on the project, as well as on the Profi pages.Travel.
At the end of December, the organizers of the Know Our PRO project will choose three people who will receive additional prizes: the opportunity to present their project/company at the online exhibition “Know Our: Summer 2024” (2 invitations). One of the participants will receive the main prize — 5 days of rest for two at the Sochi Park Hotel from the tour operator Anex.
Photo: from the author’s archive
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