Amerikai Magyar Szó, 1989. január-június (43. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)
1989-02-23 / 8. szám
Thursday, Feb. 23. 1989. AMERIKAI MAGYAR SZO 11. HUNGARIAN TELEVISION Hungarian Television is a highly effective medium. Nearly 40 percent of its transmission time consists of programmes acquires from abroad. It maintains regular contact with over 80 countries and with over 30 of them it has bilateral agreements. Last year Hungarian Television took over a total of more than 30,000 minutes of programme time live from the televisions of socialist countries, and transmitted to them 27,000 minutes. From televison companies jn capitalist countries Hungarian TV received live over 43,000 minutes of programmes, and offered over 28,000 minutes of its own telecasts. In the exchange of recorded programmes over 10,000 minutes were taken over from the socialist countries, and over 11,000 minutes were made available to them. As part of the commercial exchange of programmes, the socialist countries bought over 6,000 minutes of programme time and Hungarian TV purchased from them over 4,000 minutes. From TV companies in capitalist countries Hungary took over 44,000 minutes of programme time on a commercial basis but sold only 6,000 minutes to them. The latter figures are already a striking example of the disproportion in the flow of information that exists between Hungary and the capitalist countries. While Hungary took over from capitalist countries 4,240 news events, their newsreels wanted only 54 news events from Hungary. From the socialist countries Hungarian Television received 569 reports and reported in exchange on 446 events in Hungary. A growing number of camera teams shoot TV plays and documentaries in Hungary. In 1984 Hungarian TV received 129 such teams (more than double the figure for 1979), assisted them in making their arrangements and made available technical facilities. Such groups may travel unrestricted throughout the country and may bring in all the technical equipment they need for their work. Hungarian viewers like to see political discussions and interviews on the screen whether they are about home affairs or foreign affairs. Hungarian TV's "International Studio" has been found impressive in many parts of the world. In this programme well-known statesmen, politicians and political commentators from both socialist and capitalist coutries argue before the camera eye, giving Hungarian viewers excellent opportunity to meet interesting personalities and learn about a great variety of views on world affairs. The domestic debate entitled "Sixty-Six", whose 66 invited guests vote on the spot whether each accepts the answers given to the questions by the personality interviewed, is well liked. "Forum" is another very popular programme; in it eminent political figures and journalists answer • questions phoned in to the studio.. As to the interviews made by Hungarian television reporters, they include just about every important statesman in the world. Heads of state and prime ministers, outstanding scientists and cultural personalities from socialist, developing and advanced capitalist countries alike answer questions in these interviews right in the living rooms of Hungarian viewers. Ákos Dutka (1881-1972) At evening, from St.Gellért’s peak, I gaze Upon the hundred towers of Budapest, A.nd every time, with ever marvelling eyes, Caress anew the city I love best. Seven slender bridges stretch their seven embraces As I your hundred-mansioned streets survey, And glimpse your island’s thousand secret places And tower-topped János Hill’s eternity. Across those bridges, off brisk streets I catch The rumbles of the Magyar Babylon; Eyes caught by twinkling lamplit banks, I watch The Danube’s fleeting shadows floating on. Mine and how many others’ joys and pangs Swathe this charmed city’s haunts and hidden places? Mine and what millions’ kisses, tears and songs, Defeats and silent battles leave their traces. St.Gellért’s peak, your mansions and your halls Witness a wonder that is ever new: That I, as evening after evening falls, Watch you, indulge my lc’ e for you. Translated by Brian McLean Corvina Kiadó is the name of Hungary's publisher of general-interest books in foreign languages. They are finely produced and carefully edited, and those on the arts, history, landscape, architecture and cookery of Hungary are sought after. The name, aptly, is taken from the decorated codices known as Corvinas, found in the library of King Matthias Corvinus (1458-1490). Here are a few of the current Corvina Kiadó bestsellers. Guides and photograph albums "Budapest” (foreword by Póter Dobéi) András Hász, “Hungary” Ferenc Kollin, "Greetings from Old Budapest” György Kapocsy, "The Hungarian Puszta” Benő Borzsák and Miklós Nagy, “Hunting and Angling in Hungary” Art books Klára Garas, “The Budapest Museum of Fine Arts” Győző Sikota, “Herend — The Art of Hungarian Porcelain" Fiction Géza Gárdonyi, “Slave of the Huns” “Today. Anthology of Contemporary Hungarian Literature” Religious works András Szebeni and László Lukács, "Blessed Are Those Who Dwell in Your House — Religious Orders in Hungary” Fairy tales Gyula Illyés and Elek Benedek, “The Prince and His Magic Horse" Gyula Illyés and Elek Benedek, “The Tree that Reached the Sky" Gastronomic books Zoltán Halász, “The Little Book of Hungarian Paprika” József Katona, “A Guide to Hungarian Wines" István Lázár, “King of Wines — Wine of Kings (The Little Book of Tokaj Wines)" Károly Gundel, “Gundel’s Hungarian Cookbook” Wbat sight than a mounted hussar could be grander ? Windows Hing wide as he comes at a canter; See his horse prance, Hashing sword, suit vermilion, Head proud and high when be spies a civilian! (Folksong) The Hungarian HUSSAR What are Hungarian men like? By popular repute they are mustached, handsome, stout, temperamental and proud. Just like the jaunty hussars of old. The Hungarian hussars became a symbol of Hungarian manhood, and a household word in Europe. Who were the hussars? The original Latin word cursor (meaning a runner)^ became hursar in South Slav. So the first hussars were South Slav light cavalry, not Hungarian, organized by King Matthias of Hungary into a regiment when they joined his service in 1480. (Matthias was the first commander in modern Europe to recruit light cavalry.) Hardly half a century passed, and the hussars had become Hungarians. They remained so during the 150 years of Turkish oc- cupation.The Turks, who would not admit anyone to be braver than themselves, publicly announced in the 16th c that were but two brave nations in the world: the Turks and the Magyars. The combat between the two nations developed the abilities of the Hungarian hussars. What were the hussar characteristics? The fighting tactic of the hussars was speed. (They were unhampered by heavy armor.) They excelled in close combat, surprise attacks, ambushes and unexpected maneuvers. Their arms were the curved sabre (later the broadsword;) the pike and the pointed dagger. Subsequently they took to firearms. The first regiments of hussar regulars were formed after the recapture of Buda in 1688. They wore identical uniforms and carried identical arms. In the European theatres of war, the Hungarian hussars were respected. Legends grew up of their heroism, and their uniforms influenced men's fashions. Hussars - today? Hungarian folk artists have faithfully preserved the hussar myth. At any craft fair you can buy honeycake hussars, spirits in hussar-shaped bottles and hussars carved in wood. Hungarian folksongs have immortalized the daring of the hussars, and one characteristic Hungarian folk dance is the old recruiting dance, the "verbunk" ("Werbung" means recruiting in German .) On special occasions enterprising young men like to revive the hussar life of old. 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