Olga: The Last Grand Duchess (DVD)

[Louise]

The documentary was ok. It's hard to capture a persons live in 60 minutes. Especially one as filled with history as the GD. I guess I'm from the era when Massie's book was about the only information we had on the IF. So in my case, the documentart was well worth it. While it really didn't cover anything new about her life, I did enjoy hearing about the diaries, her paintings and her thoughts and recollections on the coronation of her brother. It was great to see the films and pictures. There was alot I have never seen before, and I was awestruck by the scene with the Dowager Empress and GD Olga together.

All and all, enjoyable.

Sunny and Janet, I will get copies made and have them sent to you this weekend. You won't be disappointed.

Louise

[Cathy]

Would anyone have any idea where the palace in St. Petersburg that GD Olga and her first husband (resided before the revolution) was located?
Thanks so much
Cathy

[Antonio_P.Caballer]

Hello Cathy,

They lived in the Oldenburg palace on the Sergievskaya, nº 46. The name of the street was later changed into Chaikovskaya, if i remember well. The palace had a lovely ballroom and the prince´s study was really wonderful.
This was a very fashionable street. Countess Kleinmichel lived also on this same street.

[Cathy]

Thank You Antonio - you know so much!
I'll check my map to see if I can locate it.
This will probably get off the topic of GD Olga but is there an area or street or a number of streets in St. Petersburg that was/were exclusive residences of royalty or the rich-and-famous?
Thanks so much
Cathy

[Mike]

They lived in the Oldenburg palace on the Sergievskaya, nº 46.

It became the Oldenburg palace after it was purchased by the imperial family and given to GD Olga and Duke Peter of Oldenburg as a wedding gift. Historically and till the present day the building has been known as the Baryatinsky mansion. It now belongs to the SPb Chamber of Commerce and may be seen on their website. Don't be scared of the seven Russian links at the bottom of the page: just click and view some well-restored interiors.

See also a general view of the palace from the other side of Tchaikovsky St. and the unhappy couple's coat-of-arms on the facade.

[Joanna]

OH WOW Mike that is an amazing link! Now I just have to figure out how to use Eist !!!

Joanna

[Mike]

Now I just have to figure out how to use Eist !!!

Not a simple endeavour, Joanna. Its developers were apparently guided by some "reverse usability" principle. To overcome it I've compiled a brief Survival Guide to EIST - in Russian of course. Interested?  

[Joanna]

Hi Mike !

I will adore your Survival Guide to EIST !! I will send you my email so I can babelfish!!! I have been in major stuck mode with the layers !!!!

Joanna

[Cathy]

Thanks Mike - I loved the interior pictures.
What is EIST?
Thanks
Cathy

[Mike]

EIST is a web-deployed database of Petersburg municipal property, containing maps, schemes and photos of almost all buildings within the city's historical center. It's intended for developers, realtors etc. and is not easy to understand and use.

Joanna, I got you email addresses, will send the mini-tutorial on Sunday when back in my office.

[Cathy]

Thanks Mike.
OK Joanna - I'll wait for you to learn it!!  And print for me
ly Cathy

[Imperial.Opal]

There is a documentary on Grand Duchess Olga on Australian television this week.

It is on the ABC on Thursday night - 9.30pm, 31/05/07

Its on the same time as Lost  and the Footy show in Sydney.

I know what I will be watching   

[Belochka]

Thanks for this great news.   

I rarely bother watching TV, but I will do so this Thursday evening.

Margarita 

[Bob_the_builder]

I'm assuming this means Olga Alexandrovna right? But wasn't Anastasia the last Grand Duchess to be born? When people call Olga the last grand duchess, I assume it means she must have been the last one alive?

[Belochka]

I'm assuming this means Olga Alexandrovna right? But wasn't Anastasia the last Grand Duchess to be born? When people call Olga the last grand duchess, I assume it means she must have been the last one alive?

Grand Duchess Ol'ga Alexandrovna was the last Grand Duchess of Russia who remained alive. She died in 1960 in Toronto, Canada.

Margarita