A few days ago, I heard that we were celebrating a terrible trio: Fat Thursday, Friday the 13th, and Valentine's Day. I disagree with this theory. I love Valentine's Day, and for this occasion, we went to the cinema on Saturday, to see a movie of course. Unfortunately, a sign at the box office in the \u201cKultura\u201d cinema saying \"ALL TICKETS SOLD OUT\" led to a change of plans. On our way back, we stopped by the History Meeting House for a moment. How delighted I was when, browsing through the album \u201cThere Was Such a Street - Marsza\u0142kowska\u201d, compiled by Mr. Pawe\u0142 Stala, I came across a photo of a beautiful postcard. <\/p>\n
The postcard shows a column of soldiers with bags on their backs. Of course, I have nothing against decent Russians, the poem \"To My Muscovite Friends\" remains one of my favorites, but I am strongly opposed to the stationing of Soviet, Russian, or any other foreign army in Warsaw. In the spring of 1877, the city was sensationalized by an investment involving the installation of several kiosks for announcements, which were actually the first advertising media in Warsaw. I'll write more about advertising in Warsaw at the end of the 19th century soon. And what connects all this with Valentine's Day? <\/p>\n Pawe\u0142 Stala, \u201cThere Was Such a Street - Marsza\u0142kowska\u201d. VEDA Publishing House, Warsaw 2013. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A few days ago, I heard that we were celebrating a terrible trio: Fat Thursday, Friday the 13th, and Valentine's Day. I disagree with this theory. I love Valentine's Day, and for this occasion, we went to the cinema on Saturday, to see a movie of course. Unfortunately, a sign at the box office in the \u201cKultura\u201d cinema saying \"ALL TICKETS SOLD OUT\" led to a change of plans. On our way back, we stopped by the History Meeting House for a moment. How delighted I was when, browsing through the album \u201cThere Was Such a Street - Marsza\u0142kowska\u201d, compiled by Mr. Pawe\u0142 Stala, I came across a photo of a beautiful postcard. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":17831,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[593],"tags":[723,1052,627],"class_list":["post-19402","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ooh-in-poland","tag-advertising-history","tag-history-en","tag-warsaw"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nThe army is not entirely well-organized, but is well-guarded by officers.
\nThe inscription in German Scene von der Raumung Warschaus (Scene from the clearing of Warsaw<\/em>) confirms my belief that these are Russians hastily leaving Warsaw.
\nThe photo was taken on August 4, 1915, and the postcard was published as propaganda during the German occupation.<\/p>\n
\nAs a side note, five years later, some of these soldiers probably tried to return to Warsaw
\nand got quite a beating.
\nBut what's important now is not what happened in 1920, but an event that took place 43 years earlier.<\/p>\n
\nI'm referring to systematic (organized) advertising, because outdoor advertising has existed as long
\nas the city has existed.
\nThe people who decided to start this business in Warsaw were Messrs. Brandel and Kruszel.
\nThe entire press of that time wrote about this event. The idea wasn't original \u2013 this type of advertising
\nhad already appeared in European cities in the first half of the 19th century.
\nThe announcement kiosks were pillars that could be rented and used to run small shops selling newspapers or cigarettes inside, while the outside featured panels with advertisements. These panels could be illuminated at night (!).
\nIn today's language: they were street furniture equipped with backlight-type advertising media.<\/p>\n
\nAnd what connects the tsarist army and announcement kiosks?
\nPlease, look carefully: behind the column of refugees, you can see a line of Warsaw residents,
\nno one is waving a handkerchief goodbye, and in the central point of the photo is precisely a kiosk
\nfor announcements.
\nI even think I can see someone shopping at the kiosk, the last chance to buy a newspaper written in Cyrillic...
\nOrdinary life in a big city, while history is happening.<\/p>\n
\nI'll be honest.
\nPure coincidence.<\/p>\n