Historama, March 10
Published 10 March, 2010, 19:43
Russia in the American fight for independence and the first Soviet TV tower frame tonight's Historama.
First soviet TV tower starts full-time work
Today in 1939, the Shabolovka Radio and TV Broadcasting Center began transmitting on a regular basis.
See the Shabolovka tower panorama on our site
There were approximately 100 TV sets in Moscow at the time.
Shabolovka was the flagship of Soviet broadcasting until it was replaced by the much larger and better-equipped Ostankino Center in 1967.
The tower itself is also a prominent piece of Soviet architecture.
Its creator, Vladimir Shukhov – an outstanding engineer and architect – wanted to make it even taller, but Russia was then facing a steel shortage.
Russia backs US colonies
On this day in 1779 Russia declared armed neutrality towards the fight of the North American colonies for independence against Britain.
The decision was prompted by the siege of several Dutch and Russian cargo ships in the course of the fight.
Northern sea powers – Denmark, Sweden and Netherlands – soon joined Russia, thus providing actual support for the Americans and leaving Britain in isolation.
Read more on this day in Russian history in our “Russia Now” section
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