Soviet tenor Ivan Kozlovsky was very popular in the Soviet Union, especially during the 1930's and 1940's. He was the chief rival of Sergei Lemeshev for the affections of the Soviet music-loving public, (especially for the female part of that public!) and people divided into two camps, "Lemeshevists" and "Kozlovskiites." Brawling girls in the foyer of the Bolshoi were a kind of public amusement, and the Soviets no doubt appreciated any light-hearted show business distractions they could find during those dark years.

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