Entertainment infrastructure in the Black Sea province as a reflection of socio-cultural requests of the regional community (late XIX - early XX century)

The article discusses the formation of entertainment infrastructure in the cities of the Black Sea province in the late 19th - early 20th century. in close connection with the development of the recreational function of the region. The dependence of the process of creation and activity of leisure establishments on the sociocultural demands and needs of the regional community is shown. The characteristic of natural geographic, socio-economic, demographic and other factors influencing the organization of various forms of recreation, both visitors and local residents, is given. The authors conclude that entertainment for members of regional society was one of the ways to overcome the feeling of alienation and isolation from the outside world. The focus of the article is on the consideration of cinemas and circuses, which in the pre-revolutionary period in Russia were the most popular entertainment establishments and attracted the largest number of viewers. The study provides detailed statistical information about cinemas in Novorossiysk and other cities of the Black Sea province, assesses their material base, characterizes the genre variety of the repertoire. Also highlights the specifics of organizing circus performances, and other leisure activities. It justifies the conclusion that the extensive network of entertainment establishments that developed in the Black Sea cities in the pre-revolutionary period served the sociocultural requests of both the local population and the visiting resort community, and their activity became one of the factors shaping a specific urban lifestyle that is brighter and more dynamic than weekdays Russian village. According to the authors, the spread among various social groups of citizens of various forms of leisure was a reflection of the democratization of society