In 1922, on February 26, celebrations were held in honor of the hundredth anniversary of the publication of the first newspaper in the Latvian language, “Latviešu Avīžu”. An exhibition devoted to the history of Latvian periodicals was opened in the city’s Art Museum, a festive act with a concert was held at the Latvian National Opera, and the celebrations ended with the Press Ball at the Officers’ Club. Since the first Press Ball was a success, bringing joy to both organizers and participants, it was decided to hold it every year. Press balls were held in Latvia until 1938.
The press balls were organized on an ambitious scale – the rooms were specially decorated, inviting the best artists, publications dedicated to the ball were prepared and printed (for example, “Press Balls Vēstnesis”, “Preses Balles Spogulis”, etc.), donations were collected for the lottery, opera soloists and actors were invited to perform.
The press balls were well attended. The audience included not only journalists and writers, but also the president, ministers, diplomats, industrialists, civil servants and many others.
The periodicals of the time also reported on the Press Balls, memories, photographs and various memorabilia from the Press Balls were also stored in museum collections. These are now evidence of how quickly Latvian society in the 20s-30s of the 20th century. learned aristocratic manners, tastes and lifestyle.
The exhibition at the Jānis Akuraters Museum provides an insight into the proceedings of the Press Ball in photographs, drawings and series, presents some poems dedicated to the Press Ball, and also reveals the stories of the Jānis Akuraters family related to the Press Ball. The exhibition also displays the dress in which actress Guna Zariņa was seen in the multi-series movie “Emīlija. Queen of the Latvian Press” in the view of the Press Ball.
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