B. N. Kovalev. Sergey Kaftanov: Supervising for Cultural Intelligence during the “Thaw” //
Petersburg Historical Journal, no. 1, 2026, pp. 93–106.

DOI: 10.51255/2311–603X_2026_1_93

Abstract:

Sergey Kaftanov was one of the Soviet cultural leaders for almost 10 years — from 1953 to 1962.
While working in the sphere of culture, he introduced positive changes. The works of Sergey Prokofiev and Dmitri Shostakovich were popularized. Collected works of European and American writers, “Adventure Library”, were published. The magazine “Foreign Literature” was issued since 1955. In May 1957, the Ministry of Culture separated out the Department of radio and television broadcasting. Thus, the State Committee for Radio and Television Broadcasting was formed. At this time, the role of these media increased significantly. The TV set changed from being a technical miracle and a luxury item to an attribute of everyday life in Soviet families. In May 1959, Kaftanov was appointed Chairman of the State Committee for Radio and Television under the Council of Ministers of the USSR — the main broadcasting organization of the country. In this
position, he did a lot for the technical support of these media. New television and radio programs were produced, which became a symbol of the era. Such TV programs as “Film Travel Club” (since 1960), “Health” (since 1960), “Good morning!” (since 1960), “Club of the cheerful and sharp-witted” (since 1961) were broadcasted.

Key words: Sergey Kaftanov, “Thaw”, Soviet culture, Soviet intelligentsia, Soviet radio, Soviet television.

Author:

Kovalev, Boris Nikolaevich — Dr of Sci. in History, Professor, Leading Researcher, St. Petersburg
Institute of History, Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg, Russia).
E-mail: bnkov@mail.ru
ORCID: 0000-0002-1904-1844

References:
Bikkinin, I. Zhivaya legenda Mordovii [Living Legend of Mordovia. In Russ.]. In Tatarskaya gazeta. 1998. No. 12.

Gershzon, M. M. Ottepel’. Ministerstvo kul’tury SSSR v 1953–1963 gg. [Thaw. The USSR Ministry of Culture, 1953–1963 In Russ.]. Moscow, Modest Kolerov publ., 2024. 223 p.

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