Kulis 1976 Armenian Theatre Cinema Mag Turkey Armenia Vahram Papazyan Istanbul

Kulis – “The Star Siblings of Turkish Theatre: Hnatyan and Uydur Bagdasaryan” – Issue #700, February 15, 1976 – Armenian-Language Edition

Description:

Kulis was a long-running Armenian-language theatre, cinema, and arts magazine published in Istanbul. Founded in 1946 by theatre artist, writer, and publisher Hagop Ayvaz, it continued publication until 1996, documenting five decades of theatrical and cinematic history. Written primarily in Armenian, the magazine recorded the work of Armenian and Turkish theatre companies, stage productions, actors, and important figures in the performing arts, preserving a valuable record of Istanbul’s cultural life.

This issue, dated February 15, 1976, is Issue #700. Its cover highlights Hnatyan and Uydur Bagdasaryan, described as star siblings of Turkish theatre from an earlier era. The feature reflects Kulis’s interest in the performers who helped shape the history of the stage and its commitment to preserving the memory of notable theatre personalities through historical articles and biographies.

Inside, the magazine examines the development of amateur and community theatre across Armenia from 1958 onward. The article discusses regional theatre groups and performers, including Marieta Ananyan and Harutyun Movsisyan, offering insight into the growth of popular theatre movements and the people involved in them.

Another feature, “Vanishing Faces,” focuses on the celebrated actor Vahram Papazyan and his wife, Sofi Papazyan. The nostalgic biographical article explores their lives, their celebrated years in theatre and cinema, and memories associated with Venice. Together, these features document the careers of important performers and preserve recollections of an earlier generation of stage artists.

For collectors of vintage Armenian periodicals, theatre history, and Istanbul’s multicultural cultural heritage, this issue offers a valuable record of stage traditions and performers from different periods. Its cover feature on Hnatyan and Uydur Bagdasaryan, alongside articles on Armenian community theatre and the lives of Vahram and Sofi Papazyan, makes it a distinctive example of Armenian-language performing arts publishing in the 1970s.

Key Features:

• Title: Kulis

• Issue Number: Issue #700

• Publication Date: February 15, 1976

• Language: Armenian

• Founder: Hagop Ayvaz

• Publication Period: 1946–1996

• Publication Format: Theatre, cinema, and arts magazine

• Cover Feature: “The Star Siblings of Turkish Theatre: Hnatyan and Uydur Bagdasaryan”

• Main Article: The development of Armenian amateur and community theatre from 1958 onward

• Featured Theatre Artists: Marieta Ananyan; Harutyun Movsisyan

• Biographical Feature: “Vanishing Faces,” about Vahram Papazyan and Sofi Papazyan

• Main Topics: Armenian theatre; Turkish theatre history; community theatre; actor biographies; cinema and performing arts

• Historical Context: Armenian cultural and theatrical life in Istanbul and Armenia during the twentieth century

• Collector Appeal: Vintage Armenian-language theatre magazine documenting historic stage performers, community theatre movements, and the legacy of Armenian and Turkish performing arts