Cultural Life, which has Become an Integral Part of the History of Šiauliai

During the years of independence, Šiauliai immediately hastened to organize cultural communities, societies and clubs of like-minded people. The old organizations revived, new ones appeared and life came to the boil in Šiauliai. In 1920, ‘Varpas’ Society renewed its activities. A little later, it was joined by Gubernia Workers’ Club ‘Švietimasis’ (1921), the Society of Music Lovers (1926) and many others. In 1930, there were over 50 different organisations engaged in cultural and educational activities in the city, among which were ‘Kultūra’ company, the Cultural-Education Society, the Ethnographic Society, ‘Putpelė’ Society, the Free Thinkers’ Ethical Cultural Society, the Lithuanian Society of Esperantists and for liberation of Vilnius, the Lithuanian Teetotallers’ Union and others. One of the most prominent of these organizations was the liberal ‘Kultūra’ company, founded in 1920, by such prominent activists as Peliksas Bugailiškis, Kazimieras Venclauskis, Antanas Povylius, Vladimiras Zubovas, etc., the main activity of which was publishing of books and magazines. Throughout its lifetime from 1921 till 1927, the organisation issued books of 140 titles in the edition of 621200 copies. From 1923, for eighteen years, the organization was publishing the monthly magazine ‘Kultūra’ (the edition of 2000-2800 copies). Such cultural figures as Vincas Krėvė, Petras Cvirka, Kazys Boruta, Kostas Korsakas would contribute to writing of texts for this magazine. In addition to publishing, this organization also carried out considerable cultural and educational work. It organized and established over 250 cultural clubs in the whole Lithuania, uniting 3000 members. They would mostly become the cultural centres of the settlements and vicinities in which they functioned. Congresses of all clubs would take place in the central office of ‘Kultūra’ company; i.e., in Šiauliai. In 1925, company leaders took over the cinema hall of the People’s House, but left its old name. There was a place for meetings, the library with a reading room, the cinema ‘Kapitol’. Later, the People’s House also housed an amateur theatre, directed by the famous director Borisas Dauguvietis, while the production of operas and operettas was directed by composer Mikas Petrauskas. The aim of this theatre was not only to present entertainment performances to Šiauliai inhabitants but also to lay the foundations for the professional theatre and creative troupe in Šiauliai. In 1931, the first professional city theatre was created: Šiauliai division of Kaunas State Theatre. The theatre troupe staged performances and played in ‘Kapitol’ cinema, which was not suitable for that but at that time nothing more suitable was available. During the four years spent in Šiauliai, the theatre troupe played over 550 performances. In 1936, the entire institution was transferred to Klaipėda. After the loss of Klaipėda region, the theatre returned to its home town and having received permanent premises suitable for performances, did not move to any other place.

It can be stated that Šiauliai had only one artist in the interwar period but who it was. Gerardas Bagdonavičius was a painter by his profession but he was everywhere. He was one of the pioneers of exlibris in Lithuania and a proclaimer of Lithuanian variant of this form of art in the world. He painted the architectural images of Šiauliai and other cities and also illustrated various publications of that time, printed in the city. Having debuted at the exhibition in 1923, six years later, he travelled around the world’s largest cities and took part in competitions where he won awards. Often he got actively involved in the activities of the Ethnographic Society, but he also managed to try out the actor’s bread and butter. When he moved to the Russian Empire during the World War I, he played over 50 roles in the cinema and became probably the first Lithuanian film actor. He also became a photographer, viewing photography not as a craft but rather as another form of art. However, he was most dedicated for the pedagogical activity: he taught children to draw, paint and educated more than one child, who later became prominent Lithuanian artists: one of the most famous Lithuanian graphic artists, medal maker and Šiauliai resident Petras Repšys, who called him his great inspiration, painter Antanas Gudaitis, stained-glass artist Jonas Janulis, production designer Juozas Jankus, graphic artist Marcė Katiliūtė. He was a very active public representative, whom one could easily spot in the city rushing, carrying a brush or other painting tools; therefore, the nickname Penzeliukas (a small brush) stuck to him so much that even in these times many people call him namely this way. The house, designed by him with the help of architect Karolis Reisonas, still now reminds the city of the unique talent who once lived here.

The Cultural-Education Society was set up as a kind of a side project of ‘Kultūra’ company to continue its activity after it encountered financial difficulties and pressure from the institutions of central authorities. Most of ‘Kultūra’ actors were involved in its activities, including Jackus Sondeckis, Peliksas Bugailiškis, musician Juozas Naujalis. The Society continued publishing activities, initiated by ‘Kultūra’ company and led Povilas Višinskis People’s University.

The activities of the Ethnographic Society included arrangement of various ethnographic expeditions, collecting ethnographic exhibits and ethnographic materials, aimed to know the history, culture and nature of the native land. This society was led by P. Bugailiškis. The organization published the journal ‘Gimtasai kraštas’, which published articles on folklore, archaeology, ethnography and museology. In order to have a place for preservation of its activity results and collected valuable exhibits,   the Society took over Šiauliai ‘Aušra’ Museum, founded in 1923, from Šiauliai county municipality. One of the main initiators and founders of the Museum was P. Bugailiškis himself. Joint activities of both organizations included organised expeditions (exhibits collected during the expeditions together with recorded photo impressions of expeditions were later presented in the exhibitions organized by the Museum), as well as collection of ethnographic material, cultural heritage and heritage protection and preservation. The ‘Aušra’ Museum itself, in addition to its direct function to protect and demonstrate cultural values to the public, also did research work, which would supplement the empirical data and theoretical material collected during ethnographic expeditions. The Museum maintained close relationships and prepared joint projects with the State Archaeological Commission, M. Čiurlionis Gallery and used modern forms of exposition display. Thanks to the employees of the Museum and the Ethnographic Society, the Museum rapidly became renowned in the country and for several years it was the largest and the most famous museum in Lithuania.

There were several printing houses in Šiauliai. In 1919, B. Fridman’s printing house was founded. After the change of the owner, it changed its name to ‘Lietpress’, and still later, in 1932, it went to ‘Viltis’ Society and once again changed its name to ‘Viltis’; after a few years it was transferred to Kaunas. The establishment of this first interwar printing house was followed by the establishment of other three, the operation of which was much more stable, because their owners were not changing so often, and all of them remained in Šiauliai until they closed: in 1920, Salomas Savičius’s and Boruchas Šumkauskas’s printing house, later renamed to ‘Grafika’; in 1923, ‘Titnagas’ printing house, founded in Jonas Šliūpas’s house; Maizeniusas’s printing house ‘Spauda’, which operated still in Tsarist Russia, reconstructed its premises and continued its activities. The main activity area of these institutions was publication of periodicals. Book publishing matters belonged to ‘Kultūra’ company, ‘Viltis’ and Cultural-Education Societies and Šiauliai Union of Consumer Companies. Sometimes books were published by private persons, such as J. Šliūpas, who published his works in his private ‘Titangas’ printing house. The peculiarities of periodical press came to prominence. In the beginning; i.e., in 1919-1928, the left-wing press prevailed in public; while since 1928, the right-wing national and Catholic press, showing political approaches of President Antanas Smetona and the direction of the state.

The establishment of ‘Putpelė’ Society was mainly initiated by the then actor and later one of the most famous and talented Lithuanian film directors Juozas Miltinis, Česlovas Liutikas, Kazimieras Venclauskis’s daughter Danutė Venclauskaitė and Peliksas Bugailiškis. The majority of the founders were members of the Ethnographic Society. ‘Putpelė’ Society established a male orchestra under the direction of composer Bronius Jonušas, which in the length of time became the orchestra touring around the whole of Lithuania.

Another organization established in Šiauliai, which became a phenomenon that rapidly gained popularity in the whole Lithuania, was The Freethinkers’ Ethical Culture Society  founded by J. Šliūpas and like-minded people, which in 1930, moved to Kaunas, leaving its division in Šiauliai. From the very beginning, the Freethinkers were known as a group fighting with the official public opinion and inveterate dogmas: they sought to introduce the civil registry system, to separate the school and the church from the state, to spread liberal views, free from military policy and fascism propaganda, when these phenomena began to strengthen and come to prominence throughout all of Europe.

During the interwar period, many cinemas were established because Šiauliai people liked going to the cinema a lot. Only in 1927-1928, cinemas ‘Lyra’, ‘Mars’ and ‘Rekord’ were opened; a year later, ‘Kapitol’; still a year later, ‘Triumf’ and ‘Palas’ (formerly ‘Spindulys’). In 1929-1930, in total there were 7 cinemas in the city and county. In 1932, the most up-to-date establishment of this kind ‘Skendit Palace’ with a 500-seat hall was opened in Šiauliai. The cinema of the People’s House and ‘Kapitol’ cinema were the most popular and were constantly competing.

Renginys Šiaulių Parodos aikštėje

Renginys Šiaulių Parodos aikštėje.

Šiaulių dramos teatro pastatas

Šiaulių dramos teatro pastatas.

Šiaulių Aušros muziejaus pastatas Aušros alėjos gatvėje

Šiaulių Aušros muziejaus pastatas Aušros alėjos gatvėje.

Ch. Frenkelio vila

Ch. Frenkelio vila.

31
Jan
2018

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