Fair Stories En

Kyriakos A. Pozrikidis

Publisher TIF-HELEXPO SA Production Organisation IdeART Karamanlidis Design IdeART Karamanlidis Photographs Nondas Stylianidis

Historical Archive of TIF-HELEXPO SA

Photo Archive of TIF-HELEXPO SA CTP – Printing – Binding ARION First Edition 2013

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Preface.......................................................................................................................................5 Presidents of TIF.................................................................................................................6 Board of Directors of TIF-HELEXPO SA............................................................7 Nikolaos Germanos...........................................................................................................9 The first years....................................................................................................................13 Inaugurations until the dictatorship...................................................................19 The dictatorship................................................................................................................27 The Metapolitefsi (regime change) years......................................................33 The Americans....................................................................................................................53 The Soviets...........................................................................................................................59 Acrobats and Fun Fairs................................................................................................63 Celebrities..............................................................................................................................69 Concerts..................................................................................................................................77 Space........................................................................................................................................87 Innovation..............................................................................................................................93 Television............................................................................................................................107 Cars........................................................................................................................................113 Coffee....................................................................................................................................119 Honoured countries.....................................................................................................123 The Tower...........................................................................................................................129 Thessaloniki Film Festival.......................................................................................133 Thessaloniki Song Festival.....................................................................................155

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lavery, liberation, fire, refugeeism, poverty, anguish, hope, pride, patriotism, creativity, industriousness, prosperity.

The co-reigning, co-capital, metropolis of the Balkans, mother of the poor, a martyr, myrrh-streaming, erotic city of fairs.

The shining diamond, the city institution, the driving force of development, the multiplier of the economy, the progenitor of events, the vehicle of internationalist, the job creator, the beloved fair.

Nineteen stories, true, unique, historical, exemplary, didactic, nineteen stories of the fair.

History, innovation, culture, recreation, education, all present in one institution, one idea, one organisation, one love, the love of yesterday, today and tomorrow: Thessaloniki International Fair.

Kyriakos A. Pozrikidis

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PERIOD

1926 - 1927 1928 - 1950 1951 - 1952 1952 - 1955 1956 - 1957 1957 - 1963 1964 - 1967 1967 - 1968 1968 - 1969 1969 - 1973 1973 - 1974 1974 - 1975 1975 - 1978 1978 - 1981 1981 – 1985 1985 - 1989 1989 – 1989 1989 - 1990 1990 - 1991 1991 - 1993 1993 - 1996 1996 - 1999 1999 - 2001

2001 - 2003

2003 - 2004

2004 - 2010

2010 - 2011 2010 - 2013 2010 - 2013 2013 - 2013 2013 -

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PRESIDENT

DIMITRIOS VARLAMIDIS GRIGORIOS TSITSIS CHARALAMBOS FRAGISTAS GRIGORIOS TSITSIS MIRODIS DIMITRAKOPOULOS GEORGIOS GEORGIADIS IOANNIS VELLIDIS STAVROS ANTONIADIS DIMITRIOS GOTZAMANIS CONSTANTINOS PAPADATOS STAVROS GEORGIADIS (Presiding Vice-President) NIKOLAOS ZARDINIDIS IOANNIS VELLIDIS MARKOS BOUROS ANTONIS KOURTIS VASSILIOS DOLMAS ANTONIS KOURTIS GEORGIOS ATHANASSIADIS RIGAS TSELEPOGLOU ALEXANDROS BAKATSELOS VASSILIOS KOURTESSIS ANTONIS KOURTIS GEORGIOS SORTIKOS – TIF SA VASSILIOS KOURTESSIS – HELEXPO SA VASSILIOS KOURTESSIS – TIF SA VASSILIOS KOURTESSIS – HELEXPO SA EMMANUEL TRIKOUKIS – TIF SA YIORGOS CHATZIKONSTANTINOU – HELEXPO SA DIMITRIOS BAKATSELOS – TIF SA ARISTOTELIS THOMOPOULOS – HELEXPO SA IOANNIS KONSTANTINOU – TIF SA THEODOROS SOUMBASSIS – TIF SA PARIS MAVRIDIS – HELEXPO SA THEODOROS SOUMBASSIS – TIF SA – HELEXPO ANASTASSIOS TZIKAS

F U L L N A M E

BODY – CAPACITY

Anastassios Tzikas

Chairman of the Board

Konstantinos Dimou

Vice-Chairman of the Board, Representative of the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace

Dr Kyriakos Pozrikidis

Managing Director

Panayiotis Avramopoulos

Chairman of the Municipal Council of Thessaloniki

(Member)

Emmanuel Vlachoyiannis (Member)

1st Vice-President of Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Gedeon Voulis (Member)

Financial Supervisor of the Greek International Business Association

Athanassios Drogalas (Member)

Representative of TIF employees

Michael Zorpidis (Member)

President of the Professional Chamber of Thessaloniki

Elisabeth Nikolaidou (Member)

Representative of the Greek State

Panayiotis Papadopoulos (Member)

President of the Chamber of Small and Medium-sized Industries of Thessaloniki

Ioannis Stavrou (Member)

Executive Vice-President of the Greek International Business Association

Michael Tzollas (Member)

Representative of the Region of Central Macedonia

Konstantinos Chantzaridis (Member)

President of the Traders' Association of Thessaloniki

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ikolaos Germanos was a visionary and a realist; he conceived the idea of establishing Thessaloniki International Fair, which changed the economic and social life of the city.

In the year 1925 the country was experiencing political and economic instability. Thessaloniki was trying to reorganise itself after the devastating fire of 1917 and the settlement of thousands of refugees seeking a new opportunity for a better life for themselves and their families.

Nikolaos Germanos was a scientist and a politician who envisaged new prospects and dedicated themselves to turn his vision into reality. He was born into a poor family in 1862 at the village of Vavdos in Chalkidiki. He studied at the Seminar School on the island of Chalki, at the University of Athens and at Jena Institute in Germany on a state scholarship.

When he returned to Greece, he was made Associate Professor of Zoology at the University of Athens and served as an assistant to Professor Christomanos and, later, to Professor Mitsopoulos.

He later earned a new scholarship for the University of Jena in Germany, and carried out studies at the international marine aquarium of Naples. When he returned to Greece he was appointed as a Tutor of Natural History at the Teachers’ Training School of Athens.

From 1906 to 1915 he was an Associate Professor and curator at the Physiographic Museum of the University. In 1902 using donations of expatriated Greeks, he founded the first zoological garden of Athens at Phaliron, which operated until WWI. In 1915 he

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Nikolaos Germanos and his associates

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was elected as a Member of Parliament for Thessaloniki on the anti-Venizelos ballot paper and paved the way for the founding of TIF. On 3 October 1926, he witnessed his dream becoming a reality, as the 1st Thessaloniki International Fair opened its doors.

On 8 October 1930, Nikolaos Germanos was elected Mayor of Thessaloniki. He dedicated his life to the development of the Fair and its establishment at a permanent, privately-owned location.

After the end of the 9th TIF in 1934, its founder, Nikolaos Germanos, stated: «in regard to the construction of the Fair at its new location, this project will have certainly been completed by 1936 otherwise…I shall take my own life».

In January of 1935, Nikolaos Germanos passed away. Four hours before his death, he had achieved the final concession of the plot that would house the new facilities of TIF. The telegram communicating the news of his death to his family arrived before the telegram about his success concerning TIF, which read: «Issue resolved today. I receive documents in hand tomorrow, I leave on Sunday. Germanos».

His remains were laid out at the snow-covered premises of TIF and, accompanied by the music of Papafeion, were then transported to the holy church of Aghia Sophia, where Grigorios Tsitsis, President of TIF, gave a eulogy.

After the death of Nikolaos Germanos, Achilleas Kalevras was appointed General Director of TIF. On the morning of Sunday, 11 September 1960, the Administration of TIF honoured its founder, Nikolaos Germanos, by unveiling his bust outside the entrance of the Administration building, in the presence of Augustus Theologitis, the Minister of Northern Greece , and Harikleia Germanou, the widow of the late Nikolaos Germanos. The memorial service and the speeches were made within the administration building due to a downpour of rain.

The spirit of Nikolaos Germanos remains and will remain alive as long as TIF constitutes the heart of the city.

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Benediction at the inauguration of the 1st TIF.

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he first TIF opened its doors on 3 October 1926 at the drill field of the 3rd Army Corps (Field of Mars); of its total area of 37,500 m2, the Fair covered 7,000 m2. The field was located between Stratou Avenue and Vassileos Georgiou Avenue, exactly behind the Electrical Company building, which no longer exists. The only entrance to the Fair was on Vassileos Georgiou Avenue, with a length of 15 metres and a height of 7 metres. The covered Fair areas included 9 pavilions for Greek and international participations, while there also approximately 30 independent, temporary structures for individual or group participations. According to data announced by the organising committee of TIF, there were 100,000 visitors. ‘‘Each Greek must consider it his National duty to visit our first International Fair, which truly inspires a feeling of national pride”, stated TIF entries in newspapers of the time.

After the success of the first event, the 2nd TIF grew in size, reputation and prestige. Official state participations, which numbered two at the previous event, became five, with Bulgaria and the Soviet Union, which participated in the first event, being joined

by Poland, Switzerland, Romania and Hungary. In 1929, the global economic crisis had a significant impact on the operation of the 4th TIF. 29 days after the end of the Fair, ‘Black Tuesday’, the great Dow Jones crash occurred, while the 5th event coincided with the celebration of the 100-year anniversary of the formation of the Greek state.

In 1931, TIF introduced an innovative institution: the popular day, with a cheap 5-drachma ticket, in order to attract visitors suffering from the international economic crisis. 1937 was a particularly important year because Law 661 was introduced, essentially implementing the final concession of the new premises of TIF at

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TIF at the Field of Mars.

The TIF entrance.

The Metaxa pavilion in 1938.

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TIF at the Field of Mars.

Folk dances at the TIF.

The Soviet participation in 1926.

its present-day location.

On Easter Sunday of 1939, Mussolini’s troops disembarked in Albania, with the clear intent of conquering Greece. On 1 September 1939, during the preparation of the 14th TIF, Nazi Germany had invaded Poland, but nevertheless participated in TIF with its own pavilion, in fact. The final pre-war TIF fair took place on 1940 at its new facilities, which would only be used for a year, as they suffered extensive damage during the Occupation. The 15th TIF, with 4 official state participations (Germany, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria and Turkey), was inaugurated on 22 September and ended on 22 October. A few days later, war was declared, with most exhibitors being unable to even remove their exhibits from pavilions.

On the occasion of his country’s participation in TIF, the German Consul Schönberg organised a luncheon on 22 September 1940, during which he stated that “Thessaloniki International Fair is a greatly visible symbol of the peaceful intentions of the Greek government”.

The Fair was lacklustre in terms of both visitor numbers and commercial transactions realised. Six days after the fair, Ioannis Metaxas and the Greek people refused to surrender and the Italian assault began. The pavilions and their exhibits were abandoned and ransacked by the people of Thessaloniki before they could fall into German hands.

On 11 April 1941, German troops set up camp at TIF premises, remaining there until the end of World War II. The archives of the Fair, as well as its remaining equipment and furniture, were ransacked and destroyed. The central National Production pavilion was used by the Germans as a warehouse for radio transmitters and receivers. The remaining pavilions were converted into warehouses for munitions, arms and airplane motors.

In October 1944, with defeat on the horizon, the Germans blew up their war supplies so that they wouldn’t end up in Allied hands, as well as the Fair pavilions.

After the departure of the German troops, the pavilions were repaired and utilised as warehouses by the Allied forces. They first housed the British ML resupply service and, subsequently, UNNRA. This space was used for food storage and was then converted into a parking space for the vehicles of YEKA, a public

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Exhibition stand during pre-war TIF.

The participation of the Pontus Women’s Welfare Organisation.

Metropolite Gennadios blesses the 1st TIF.

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The impressive pavilion of VOTRYS

Crowds at the inauguration of TIF.

Exhibition stands in 1930.

enterprise for state cars. YEKA departed from the Fair in 1950.

In 1949, Fair employees tried to include the reconstruction of TIF in the Marshall Plan and, following an on-site audit by the American delegation, managed to secure an amount of 2,800,000,000 drachmas for the restoration of the looted and destroyed Fair premises. From 1940 to 1950, TIF staff had mainly been seconded to the Red Cross and to other state services. As an agency, TIF operated from 1940 to 1949 in a rudimentary manner at offices on Agias Sophias Street, due to the unsafe conditions prevailing in the vicinity of TIF grounds.

In 1951, after ten years of silence, Thessaloniki International Fair began operating once again, placing Thessaloniki and Greece on the road to glory once more.

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The exhibition centre in the 1950s.

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he inauguration of TIF have been a major political and oftentimes social event since the very first Fair and to this day.

The 1st TIF event was inaugurated on October 3, 1926 by Minister of National Economy I. Drossopoulos and Minister of Agriculture G. Nakos, in the presence of General Governor of Macedonia Achilleas Kalevras; the Fair was open for two weeks. The Master of Ceremonies of TIF was its founder and first General Director, Nikolaos Germanos.

In 1927, the Fair was inaugurated at 10:00 in the morning of September 18, 1927 and the ceremony was attended by Minister of Welfare Kyrkos, Minister of National Economy Velentzas, General Governor of Macedonia Gonatas, City Mayor Vamvakas, Thessaloniki Metropolite Gennadios and, of course, General TIF Director N. Germanos. Right after the inauguration a reception was held at the Fair canteen, where champagne was served while the military band played the march “The Night is Dark on the Mountains”.

The 3rd TIF event was particularly important for the history of the institution, since the event was visited by a Greek Prime Minister for the first time. Eleftherios Venizelos was passing through Thessaloniki and stopped and toured Fair pavilions.

The Prime Minister travelled by car from the train station to the Field of Mars and people hailed and cheered him along the whole of the way there. The Prime Minister’s car stopped in front of the grand entrance to the Fair, where Venizelos was welcomed by the French Marshall Franchet d’Espèrey, who had been waiting there. The Prime Minister stated that “Thessaloniki Fair is performing a grand labour and we should be proud for it and full of hope for the future”. At the Carpet Pavilion, carpet makers presented Venizelos with a carpet as a gift and crowds followed him around the Pavilion of Industry, that of the Independent Raisin Organisation, the Tobacco Pa-

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vilion, as well as the Pavilions of Hungary and Yugoslavia.

The inauguration ceremony of the 4th TIF took place at 10 in the morning of September 14 and was attended by Minister of Education Gonatas, Minister of Justice Dingas – who officially opened the Fair, Minister of Agriculture Spyridis, General Governor of Macedonia Kannavos, city authorities and international delegation members. At the Square of the exhibition grounds there was a Π-shaped deployment of infantry and cavalry detachments, students of the Technicians’ Training School and sea scouts. The ceremony opened with the usual benediction officiated by Metropolite Gennadios, followed by President Varlamidis of the Organising Committee who welcomed visitors.

In 1931, the inauguration of the 7th TIF took place at 10:30 on September 11, in the presence of Minister-General Governor of Macedonia Gonatas, Minister of National Economy Kostopoulos, Minister of Agriculture Valalas and Minister of Welfare Apostolou, while in 1933, the inauguration ceremony took place at 11:00 in the morning of September 10. At the entrance to the Fair, men of the 50th Regiment, a detachment of the Evzonoi Battalion, scouts and sea scouts, Youth organisation members and members of the “National Union - Hellas” were deployed along central avenue. Metropolite Gennadios officiated at the Benediction ceremony, in the presence of General Governor of Macedonia Dragoumis, who officially opened the 8th TIF, General Tarsoulis, who represented the President of the Republic, Ministers Sagias and Stefanopoulos, who represented the Government and other representatives of political and military authorities.

In 1934, the Fair was inaugurated at 11 in the morning of September 9 by Prime Minister Tsaldaris, who had arrived at Thessaloniki by plane. The ceremony was attended by Minister of the Economy Pesmatzoglou, General Director of Macedonia Rallis, Deputy Minister Sagias and the Mayors of Thessaloniki, Athens and Piraeus.

In 1935, the inauguration ceremony took place at 11 in the morning of September 8 in the presence of General Governor of Macedonia Veroiopoulos, Minister of National Economy Kartalis and Deputy Minister of National Economy Korozos. The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Turkish Deputy Minister of Trade. At the entrance to the field of Mars, the Evzonoi Sentry of the Model Battalion was deployed as an honorary detachment. Metropolite Gennadios officiated at the Benediction ceremony, while, immediately afterwards, TIF President Tsitsis invited both officials and the public to hold a

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minute of silence in the memory of the founder of Thessaloniki International Fair, N. Germanos. Then Kalevras, the new General Director of TIF, delivered a speech, followed by Mayor of Thessaloniki Manos, the General Governor and the Minister of National Economy.

A month before the Fair opened (August 4, 1936), Ioannis Metaxas came to power as a dictator. The Fair was opened for the first time by a member of the royal family, Crown Prince Paul; the ceremony was attended by Dictator Metaxas. At 10:00 am on September 6, the Crown Prince arrived by plane at Sedes airport, along with the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Press, Tourism and Welfare. The School of Artillery reserve officers were there to welcome them with a band and the officials entered a car that took them to the city, where they were received with enthusiasm. At the Fair entrance there were army detachments deployed. After the Benediction ceremony, TIF President Tsitsis delivered a speech, followed by General Director A. Kalevras and the Mayor of the city, who expressed his gratitude for the interest shown for the Fair by the King and the Government. Then Dictator I. Metaxas took the floor and stated that “Thessaloniki International Fair is an exceptionally peaceful project, promoting friendly relations between peoples, honouring those who inspired it and those who continue the good work”. Finally, the Crown Prince “In the name of His Majesty the King” declared “the eleventh event of Thessaloniki International Fair open”. During his tour of the Fair, Prince Paul sampled some wine at “Ioannis Boutaris” Pavilion.

On the morning of September 5, 1937, the Governmental Aircraft landed at Sedes Airfield carrying Deputy Minister for Press and Tourism Nikoloudis and Navy Minister Papavassileiou.

Navy Chief Sakellariou accompanied them. Thessaloniki Mayor Merkouriou welcomed government representatives at the entrance to the city along with Macedonia General Governor Kyrimis. They were taken to the special platform constructed in front of the White Tower, where the Crown Prince disembarked.

The Bishop of Olympus officiated at the Benediction ceremony of the 12th TIF event.

On the occasion of the 14th TIF, the city was decorated with flags and files of Phalanx men and women played hymns celebrating the cause of August 4 along Thessaloniki streets.

Along the central TIF Avenue, an infantry company was deployed and a phalanx of EON Men, while the Sentry and Thessaloniki Municipality Band played patriotic marches. The inauguration ceremony took place in the presence of Crown Prince

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Former King Constantine and Anne-Marie at the inauguration of TIF. On the left, the President of TIF, Mr. Ioannis Vellidis.

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Paul and Princess Fredericka. At 10:30 King George II arrived at TIF and went to the State Pavilion, where the inauguration ceremony was to take place.

The opening of the 16th TIF event, the first post-War Fair, took place at 10:30 on the morning of September 16 in the presence of King Paul and Queen Fredericka and Ministers of Industry Kassimatis, Commerce Glavanis, Agriculture Terzoglou, Labour Bakatselos, Northern Greece Stergiopoulos, General Staff Chief Gregoropoulos and other officials. Thessaloniki Metropolite Panteleimon officiated at the Benediction and TIF President Prof. Fragistas took the floor and said, among other things: “The Fair was revived and reflects the progress achieved by the country in the economic sector, thanks to the undefeated vivacity of its people and generous aid by the American Nation�.

The inauguration of the 1954 Fair took place at 6:30 pm on September 4; the event was officially opened by the President of the Government Alexandros Papagos. It was the first time after the war that the Fair was opened by the Prime Minister and the ceremony was attended by Ministers of National Defence Kanellopoulos, Finance Papagiannis, Trade Papaligouras, Agriculture Levantis, Public Works Karamanlis, the Minister (General Governor) of Northern Greece Stratos, Commercial Navy Voyatzis, Minister without portfolio Tsouderos and Minister attached to the Prime Minister, who was later to become Prime Minister, Rallis.

Prime Minister Constantinos Karamanlis arrived for the inauguration ceremony of the 1956 Fair at the White Tower wharf on a warship at 6:30 pm on September 1, accompanied by Minister of Trade Papaligouras and Minister without portfolio Kassimatis. They went to the Society of Macedonian Studies and arrived at TIF at 7:10 pm. The inauguration ceremony took place at the square outside the Pavilion of Agricultural Production and Thessaloniki Metropolite Panteleimon officiated at the Benediction.

In 1957, the inauguration ceremony took place at 7:30 pm on August 31. The Fair was officially opened by Prime Minister C. Karamanlis, in the presence of Cabinet members, at the square outside the Pavilion of National Agricultural Production. When Prime Minister C. Karamanlis was received at the Pavilion of China, fire crackers were lit in accordance with the Chinese traditional custom.

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Constantinos Karamanlis would inaugurate all the coming TIF events until 1962 as Prime Minister. In 1963, the opening ceremony of the 28th TIF was attended by President of the Government Pipinelis, Minister of Coordination Arliotis, Minister of the Interior Panayiotopoulos, Minister of Transport Potamianos, Minister of Education Stratos, Minister of Public Works Markakis, Minister of Agriculture Bernaris, Minister of Industry Drossopoulos, former Prime Minister Gonatas, Deputy Foreign Minister for Trade of West Germany Reinhart, several deputy ministers and ambassadors from the US and Yugoslavia. Due to bad weather the opening ceremony was rescheduled and held at the TIF boardroom, instead of on the outdoor platform that had been constructed specifically for that purpose.

Georgios Papandreou inaugurated TIF for the first time on September 5 at 12:45pm, landing on an Olympic airline plane at Mikra airport; He stayed at “Mediterranean” Hotel. At 7:00pm he arrived for the official opening of the 29th event by H. M. King Constantinos. Apart from the Prime Minister, many other ministers and deputy ministers attended the inauguration ceremony. For the first time the opening was held in the unfinished, yet imposing, Indoor Gym of Palais des Sports, and was watched by 25,000 people who had already filled the premises two hours before the event. Finally, the King announced over the microphone, “I declare the opening of the 29th Thessaloniki International Fair. I would also like to say that all of us are thinking of the Greeks of Cyprus. Furthermore, I would like to tell you that on Monday I will depart to bring back Princess Anna Maria to Greece permanently”. It should be noted that two Ministers who attended the opening of the 29th TIF event were to later inaugurate the Fair themselves as Prime Ministers: Minister of Finance Constantinos Mitsotakis and Alternate Minister of Coordination Andreas Papandreou.

The opening of the 30th TIF was held in the evening of Saturday, September 4, 1965 on the 2nd floor of the Administration building, with a limited number of guests. The reason was that the organizers wanted to avoid any political episodes.

According to a Palace announcement, “The King expressed his sorrow as, due to many and various obligations he could not attend Thessaloniki International Fair, while at the same time expressing his wishes for its success and growth”. His sorrow was also expressed by President of the outvoted Government Tsirimokos, “as it will not be possible to attend the inauguration of the TIF event”.

In 1966, the 31st TIF was inaugurated on the evening of September 3 by King Constantine and Queen Anna Maria, at the

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Palais des Sports. It was the first time the Queen attended a TIF inauguration. The royal couple arrived at Thessaloniki by air at 7 pm. Also present at the inauguration were Government President Stefanopoulos, Ministers of Coordination Mitsotakis, of Trade Kothris, of Industry Glavanis, of Labour Bakatselos, of Finance Melas, of Justice Stefanakis, Minister without portfolio Manousis, many Deputy-ministers and other officials. The inauguration began at 7:30 pm with the Benediction ceremony, which was officiated by Thessaloniki Metropolite Panteleimon.

From 1967 and for the next seven years, the Fair would be inaugurated by the Junta government of Georgios Papadopoulos.

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Inauguration of TIF at Alexandrion Sports Hall, 1967.

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eing aware of products promoted and of the sense of responsibility to make our ultimate goal come true, using the opportunity of Thessaloniki International Fair, which is and will remain the arena of competition between us and what we expect of us and us and other nations. This is the present and future of our country, Greece. Here, in Thessaloniki International Fair”, stated Dictator George Papadopoulos, who came to power after the coup d’état on April 21, 1967. The armed forces participated in TIF for the first time, and their pavilion’s central theme was “The armed forces serving the nation and the people”. The pavilion, on the second floor of the Pavilion of Nations, had three sections: the first one was about fulfilling the military mission, the second about the involvement of the armed forces in the country’s growth and the third included images of the 7 historic times Greece said “NO”, from the invasion by Persia to the guerrilla war. Minister of Northern Greece Patilis, Deputy-Minister of National Security Zoitakis, American Deputy-Minister of the Military Davin McGiffert, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Lemnitzer and others attended the pavilion’s inauguration.

The inauguration of the 32nd TIF event took place at the Alexandreion Sports Mansion, the then official name for the Palais des Sports, at 7:30 pm on September 2. Prime Minister Kollias, Vice-President Spantidakis, Minister by the Prime Minister Papadopoulos and almost all members of the National Government were present. The Benediction ceremony was officiated

by Archbishop of Athens and Greece Ieronimos. The President of the Government then declared the 32nd TIF event officially open. At 10:00 pm TIF Administration held the formal dinner at the Officers’ Club, and at 10:15 pm there was a fireworks display.

The Pan-Hellenic Confederation of Farmers’ Cooperatives Union had a special catalogue of participants printed for the 33rd TIF event in 1968, its motto being “Each for all and all for

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each”; on the front cover was George Papadopoulos’ statement “Farmers are the nation’s soul”. Group participation for textile companies was also organised over an exhibition area of 500 m2. During the Fair, a major event titled “Military Virtue” was organised at Kaftantzogleion stadium, attended by 40,000 spectators; the theme had to do with crushing “communistguerrillas”. In 1968, the TIF gates opened for the first time at the time of the inauguration ceremony. The inauguration took place at the Palais des Sports and the ceremony was led by President of the Government George Papadopoulos and attended by 2nd Vice-President Patilis, Ministers of Coordination Makarezos, of Northern Greece Vallis, of Commerce Tsellos, of Justice Kyriakopoulos, of Finance Androutsopoulos and of Industry, Kypraios. The Benediction ceremony was officiated by Thessaloniki Metropolite Leonidas. Immediately afterwards, the audience at the Palais des Sports sang in unison the Church hymn “Ti ypermacho” (Unto the defender) and TIF President D. Gotzamanis addressed the crowd. G. Papadopoulos made a political speech before declaring the 33rd TIF event officially open. At 9:00 pm a formal dinner was held in honour of the Prime Minister at Thessaloniki Officers’ Club. G. Papadopoulos said that “elections would take place in Greece only once public life had recovered”. The “Feast of Light”, organised by the Naval Administration of the North Aegean was also organised that evening, while fireworks were launched from the White Tower. “The Fair grounds are to be moved to Kalochorion or nearer Finikas district”, wrote Macedonia Newspaper on September 16, 1968. A committee chaired by Minister of Coordination Makarezos announced an international contest, on the recommendation of the TIF Board of Directors.

In view of the 34th TIF inauguration in 1969, a naval squadron of the fleet sailed into the Thermaikos Gulf. There was a reception for city authorities and other dignitaries on “Pyrpolitis” vessel. The TIF was inaugurated by Dictator George Papadopoulos on the evening of Saturday, September 6, 1969, in the presence of the 1st and 2nd Vice-Presidents of the Government, Pattakos and Patillis, respectively. G. Papadopoulos arrived at Thessaloniki by air, accompanied by Head of the Armed Forces Angelis. They arrived at the TIF Gate at 7:00 pm and proceeded along the central avenue towards the Palais des Sports on foot. The Benediction ceremony was officiated by Thessaloniki Metropolite Leonidas, and immediately afterwards the floor was given to newly appointed TIF President Constantinos Papadatos, who was followed by the Prime Minister who declared the 34th TIF event officially open. On the same evening, at 9:00 pm, the usual reception was held at the Officers’ Club, where G. Papadopoulos said that “the leap towards a modern

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state cannot be made through a parliament. This ought to be comprehended by all Greeks and all those who appear to be our grand, interested friends.” At 8:30 pm there was a fireworks display from the White Tower platform.

In 1970, the inauguration took place on Saturday, August 29, at the Palais des Sports. The Benediction ceremony was officiated by Thessaloniki Metropolite Leonidas, and immediately afterwards the floor went to TIF President Papadatos, followed

by Minister of Co-ordination Makarezos, who represented the Junta Government. The exhibition was opened by 1st Vice President of the Government S. Patttakos. At 8:30 pm there was a spectacular fireworks display at the White Tower, and then TIF Administration held the formal dinner at Thessaloniki Officers’ Club.

The inauguration of the 36th TIF event in 1971 took place at 7:30 pm, on Saturday, August 29 at the Palais des Sports. The Fair was officially opened by Dictator Georgios Papadopoulos.

Thessaloniki Metropolite Leonidas officiated at the Benediction ceremony. Immediately afterwards, TIF President Papadatos addressed the audience and referred to the significance and role of the Fair for the economic growth of the country.

Then Prime Minister G. Papadopoulos declared the 36th TIF event officially open. On the same evening, a formal dinner was held to honour the Prime Minister at the Officers’ Club of Thessaloniki. In his speech, G. Papadopoulos said that “it would be a long way to election time” and announced that certificates of social convictions would be abolished. On the following day, at 9:30 am, the Prime Minister visited the International Pavilions, while a government team under Makarezos visited various Greek and international pavilions. At the Bulgarian Pavilion, G. Papadopoulos was presented with a series of Ancient Classical works, which included Homer’s Iliad. On the day the 36th TIF event was inaugurated, “ELEANA”, the largest Greek ferryboat of the time, was destroyed by fire in the Adriatic Sea with dozens of fatalities. On September 12 the news arrived at the Soviet Pavilion about the death of Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev at the age of 77; he had died of a heart attack at the Kremlin Hospital.

The inauguration ceremony of the 1972 TIF was held at 7 pm on September 2, attended by Junta Prime Minister Georgios Papadopoulos at the Palais des Sports. Thessaloniki Metropolite Leonidas officiated at the Benediction and TIF President Papadatos addressed the audience. Then the 37th event was declared open by the Prime Minister. The formal dinner to honour the Prime Minister was held at 9:00 pm at Macedonia Pal-

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Stylianos Pattakos at TIF.

Dictator G. Papadopoulos during a visit to TIF.

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Song Festival during the dictatorship.

ace Hotel and not at the Officers’ Club. The flag at the Pavilion of Israel was flying at half-mast, following the criminal attack against 11 hostages at Munich Olympics. As a result of the events in Munich, the Administration of the pavilion cancelled the reception scheduled to take place on September 19 at the pavilion on the occasion of Israel’s National Holiday. The flag flew at half-mast at the German Pavilion as well.

In 1973, the inauguration took place at 7:00 pm on September 1 at the Palais des Sports. Thessaloniki Metropolite Leonidas officiated at the Benediction and TIF Deputy President, acting as Chairman, addressed the audience immediately afterwards.

The 38th TIF event was declared officially open by Government Vice-President Makarezos. G. Papadopoulos, as President of the Hellenic Republic, sent a message to TIF Administration wishing all the best for the event. At 8:30 pm there was an impressive firework display at the White Tower platform. On the same evening, at 9:00 pm, TIF Administration held a formal dinner at Macedonia Palace Hotel; the key-note speaker was the other Vice-President of the Government, S. Pattakos. This would be the final year that the Junta Government inaugurated Thessaloniki International Fair.

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Constantinos Karamanlis at the inauguration of TIF.

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he Junta had collapsed, Karamanlis had returned and TIF was ready to welcome the Metapolitefsi. The inauguration of the 39th TIF event in 1974 took place at 7:30 in the evening of August 31 at the Palais des Sports, with the enthusiastic crowd participation, in the presence of Prime Minister Constantinos Karamanlis. The ceremony was attended by, among others, Government Vice-President and Foreign Minister Mavros, Minister of Coordination X. Zolotas and Minister of Trade A. Kanellopoulos. Thessaloniki Metropolite Panteleimon officiated at the Benediction and immediately afterwards the new TIF President Nikolaos Zardinidis addressed the audience followed by the Minister of Trade Kanellopoulos.

Prime Minister Constantinos Karamanlis then addressed the people and, instead of making a speech, he said: “I declare this first post-liberation event of Thessaloniki International Fair officially open”. The reception in honour of the Prime Minister was offered by TIF Administration at Macedonia Palace Hotel.

An hour and a half before the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Constantinos Karamanlis spoke from Macedonia Palace to an enthusiastic crowd of 300,000 people. Visiting the Pavilion of Cyprus after the sad events of that summer was a pilgrimage for Thessalonians. Two days after the TIF inauguration, on September 3, 1974, Andreas Papandreou founded the Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement Party and declared its principles. On September 21, Thessaloniki was the first city in the Balkans to have an outdoor cinema where people entered in their cars, called “HELLAS DRIVE-IN”, near the airport. The first film screened was “Magnum 44”, starring Clint Eastwood.

The year 1975 marked 50 years of TIF history. It was the first event when the Fair lasted two rather than three weeks.

This was the announcement by TIF: “The 40th Thessaloniki International Fair event lasted only two weeks, which, judged

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on the basis of current innovative measures applied, might be considered to be a bold initiative. Despite intense protests coming from various sides, the venture was successful and proved to be justified”.

It was with formality and wide public participation that the inauguration of the 40th TIF event was held at 7:30 pm on August 31, 1975 at the Palais des Sports, where Prime Minister Constantinos Karamanlis declared the event officially open. Thessaloniki Metropolite Panteleimon officiated at the Benediction and new TIF President Ioannis Vellidis addressed the audience, followed by Minister of Northern Greece Nikos Martis and Minister of Trade I. Varvitsiotis. The Prime Minister said in his speech: “Thessaloniki International Fair and this city provide an opportune time and place to declare that democratic Hellas is entering a new, creative phase in its efforts”; he also announced the famous 5-year programme for the Republic.

The year 1976 marked the 10th TIF event declared officially open by Constantinos Karamanlis as Prime Minister. The inauguration ceremony started at 8:00 pm on September 5 at the Palais des Sports. Thessaloniki Metropolite Panteleimon officiated at the Benediction and then TIF President I. Vellidis addressed the public, followed by Minister of Northern Greece N. Martis and Minister of Trade I. Varvitsiotis. At 12:15 pm the following day, the Prime Minister visited the pavilions of PASEGES (Pan-Hellenic Confederation of Farmers’ Cooperatives Union), Greek Small Industry and Cyprus. The comment Karamanlis wrote on the Visitors’ Book of the Pavilion of Greek Small Industry was: “good – can be better”.

The year 1977 was another landmark for Thessaloniki International Fair, since it changed from a Legal Entity of Public Law into a Société Anonyme under mark designation “HELEXPO – TIF SA”. The inauguration of the 42nd TIF event was held at 7:30 pm of September 4, at the Palais des Sports. Thessaloniki Metropolite Panteleimon officiated at the Benediction and then TIF President I. Vellidis addressed the audience, followed

by Minister of Trade I. Varvitsiotis and Minister of Northern Greece N. Martis. Finally, the 42nd TIF event was declared officially open by Minister of Coordination P. Papaligouras. Prime Minister C. Karamanlis did not attend the TIF inauguration due to an “acute attack of lumbago”, according to the official announcement. Political gossip at the time spoke of an orthopaedic accident during a game of golf.

The inauguration of the 43rd TIF event in 1978 took place only

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two and a half months after the destructive earthquake of Thessaloniki. TIF Administration managed to implement the imposing plan of the Fair operation, not only in order to repair earthquake damage but also in order to create new exhibition premises. The construction of the 4,600 m2 exhibition building (Pavilion 13) was concluded in time, built in a record time of 90 days. Pavilion 13 is the largest one on TIF grounds even today.

It was the personal wish of Prime Minister Constantinos Karamanlis not to have a public welcome organized for his arrival in Thessaloniki. The inauguration of the Fair took place outside the Palais des Sports, where a special platform for officials had been constructed. The ceremony was attended by Ministers of Coordination Mitsotakis, Industry Evert, and Public Works Zardinidis.

In 1980, the inauguration was held at 7:30 pm on September 7 at the Palais des Sports and the event was declared officially open by President of the Republic Constantinos Karamanlis.

The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Georgios Rallis, Speaker of the Parliament D. Papaspyrou, President of the Cypriot Parliament Michaelidis, numerous ministers and other officials. On the same evening, TIF Administration offered a formal dinner to honour Prime Minister Rallis, who delivered a speech of economic content. A reception to honour President of the Republic Constantinos Karamanlis ensued.

In 1981, the 46th TIF event took place in an unstable political climate. On September 15, the day on which the Fair began operating, the government of Georgios Rallis resigned, elections were announced and the campaign period began. The inauguration of the 46th TIF event took place on September 13 at Palais des Sports, in the presence of the Prime Minister, Mr. G. Rallis, and a group of Ministers. Thessaloniki Metropolite Panteleimon officiated at the Benediction. Immediately after that, the President of TIF, Mr. M. Bouros, delivered a speech, followed by the Minister for Trade, Mr. A. Kalantzakos, and the Minister for Northern Greece, Mr. N. Martis. While inaugurating the 46th TIF, the President of the Republic, Mr. Constantinos Karamanlis, stated: “I have been observing the growth of this Fair from the day of its founding and I have been inaugurating it in person since 1956, with the exception of the 10 years I was away from my homeland, ten years that were painful both for me and for Greece�.

The 47th TIF was inaugurated on September 12, 1982, at 6.30 pm, at Palais Des Sports. Due to being mildly indisposed, the President of the Republic, Mr. Constantinos Karamanlis, could not travel from Athens and the Fair was thus inaugurated for

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Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou at TIF.

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the first time by the Prime Minister, Mr. Andreas Papandreou, whom the people of Thessaloniki warmly welcomed. Thessaloniki Metropolite Panteleimon officiated at the Benediction.

Immediately after that, the new President of TIF, Mr. Antonis Kourtis, delivered a speech, followed by the Minister for Northern Greece, Mr. Vassilis Intzes. The Minister of National Economy, Mr. Gerassimos Arsenis, decided to not give a speech during the inauguration, as the President of the Republic was not present.

The 48th TIF was inaugurated on September 11, 1983, at 6.30 pm, at Palais Des Sports. Thessaloniki Metropolite Panteleimon officiated at the Benediction. The Prime Minister, Mr. Andreas Papandreou, inaugurated the 48th TIF in the presence of 12 Ministers, 8 Deputy Ministers, the President of TIF, Mr. A. Kourtis, and numerous officials and a large crowd. That evening, the Administration of TIF held a formal dinner in honour of the Prime Minister at “Makedonia Palace” Hotel. The following day, the Prime Minister visited the pavilions of TIF and was greeted with adulation by visitors to the Fair.

In 1984, the 49th TIF event was inaugurated on September 1 once again at Palais Des Sports by the Prime Minister, Mr. Andreas Papandreou. In his speech, the Prime Minister spoke about the prospects of the Greek economy, the goals of the government and the game rules of private initiative. On Saturday, September 1, the day of inauguration of the 49th TIF event, Constantinos Mitsotakis was elected as leader of the New Democracy party with 70 votes, as opposed to 40 votes for the other candidate, Mr. Constantinos Stefanopoulos. On September 2, the first Sunday of the 49th TIF, the great actor Manos Katrakis passed away at “Alexandra” Hospital.

The 26th World Chess Olympiad was organized during the same year at Thessaloniki International Fair facilities from November 18 to December 5 by TIF, the Greek Chess Federation and the Municipality of Thessaloniki, under the auspices of the Deputy Ministry for Youth.

The inauguration of the 50th TIF event took place on August 31 at Palais des Sports. The Fair was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Mr. Andreas Papandreou, in the presence of a large government delegation. Also present at the inauguration ceremony was the President of UFI, Mr. Herold. During the ceremony, Thessaloniki Metropolite Panteleimon presented the Supreme Medal of the Apostolic Church of Thessaloniki to the Prime Minister and to the President of TIF, Mr. Antonis Kourtis.

That evening, the Administration of TIF held a formal dinner

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in honour of the Prime Minister at “Makedonia Palace” Hotel, followed by a large reception at the Governor’s Hall gardens for the 50th anniversary of TIF. It should be noted that this was the first time the Governor’s Hall allowed the use of its premises for a TIF reception. The following day, the Prime Minister visited the exhibition areas.

In 1986, the 51st TIF event was inaugurated on Saturday, September 6, by the Prime Minister, Mr. Andreas Papandreou, at Palais Des Sports. During the inauguration ceremony, a symbolic crystal composition was presented by the Vice-President of the “Beyond War” organisation, Mr. Robert Alley, to the Prime Minister.

The inauguration of the 1987 event was held on the afternoon of September 5 at Palais Des Sport. TIF was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Mr. Andreas Papandreou, in the presence of a large Governmental delegation, foreign Ministers and diplomatic representatives from 26 countries. The Prime Minister arrived in Thessaloniki by military airplane, while the city was decked with green banners to welcome him. Thessaloniki Metropolite Panteleimon officiated at the Benediction. Immediately after that, the President of TIF, Mr. Vassilis Dolmas, delivered a speech, followed by the Minister for Northern Greece, Mr. Stelios Papathemelis. The formal dinner held by TIF in honour of the Prime Minister at “Makedonia Palace” Hotel was attended by, among others, Ministers from Egypt, Yugoslavia, Cyprus and Bulgaria. During his speech, the Prime Minister announced a 20% reduction in income tax, a 10% increase in salaries and rent subsidies.

The 53rd TIF event took a decisive step in the direction of the modernization and enhancement of its commercial and export character, reducing its term of duration from 15 to 10 days.

The Fair was inaugurated at Palais Des Sports by the VicePresident of the Government, Mr. Agamemnon Koutsiogiorgas, instead of the Prime Minister, Mr. Andreas Papandreou, who was in London for medical reasons. During the arrival of the Governmental delegation at “MAKEDONIA” airport, there was no formal or public reception. The inauguration ceremony was attended by the other Vice-President of the Government, Mr. I. Charalambopoulos, as well as 25 Ministers and Deputy Ministers. Thessaloniki Metropolite Panteleimon officiated at the Benediction. Immediately after that, the President of TIF, Mr. Vassilios Dolmas, delivered a speech, followed by the Minister for Northern Greece, Mr. Stelios Papathemelis. Mr. Koutsogiorgas inaugurated the 53rd TIF event with a substantive, rather than formal, address. The main slogan chanted by the audience

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at Palais Des Sports was one wishing the leader of the government to return healthy. The text of Prime Minister’s speech to be delivered during the formal dinner held in his honour by the administration of TIF at “Makedonia Palace” Hotel was read by the Minister of National Economy, Mr. P. Roumeliotis.

In 1989, the 54th TIF event was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Mr. Tzanis Tzanetakis, as head of the coalition government of the New Democracy and Synaspismos parties, in the presence of a large Governmental delegation. The inauguration was attended by the Leader of New Democracy, Mr. Constantinos Mitsotakis. After the Benediction, the new President of HELEXPO – TIF, Mr. Yiorgos Athanassiadis, gave a speech.

The 54th TIF event took place during the election campaign.

On September 11, during the operation of TIF, a report ascribing responsibility to Andreas Papandreou for telephone interceptions was filed. An intra-church conflict was almost caused before the inauguration of TIF. Thessaloniki Metropolite Panteleimon, who had been delivering the message of Ecumenical Patriarch Demetrius for numerous years at the inauguration, lost his privilege to do so this year. Outside the Palais Des Sports, before the inauguration ceremony began, he had a loud argument with the representative of the Patriarch Metropolite of Philadelphia Bartholomew, who had been sent to deliver the message of the Ecumenical Patriarch. Ministers present at the scene had to intervene to calm the two men down. The situation was defused after Thessaloniki Metropolite Panteleimon left the venue and chose not to attend the formal dinner that evening.

In 1990, the 55th TIF was inaugurated at 7.00 pm on September 8 at Palais Des Sports, in the presence of Ministers, diplomatic representatives of numerous countries, MPs and a large audience. The Fair was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Mr. Constantinos Mitsotakis, who established a self-sufficient government just after the government of national unity of Mr. Xenophon Zolotas. The formal dinner in honour of the Prime Minister was held by the administration of TIF at “Makedonia Palace” Hotel and the customary reception was held at the Governor’s Hall.

The following year, the 56th TIF event was inaugurated at 7 pm on September 7 at Palais Des Sports. Thessaloniki Metropolite Panteleimon officiated at the Benediction. Immediately after that, the new President of HELEXPO-TIF, Mr. Alexandros Bakatselos, delivered a speech. The Prime Minister, Mr. Constantinos Mitsotakis, in the presence of large governmental delegation and representatives of diplomatic delegations,

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Prime Minister Constantinos Mitsotakis at TIF.

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announced years of economic austerity from the podium of TIF before inaugurating the Fair. That evening, at 9 pm, the administration of TIF held the formal dinner in honour of the Prime Minister, followed by the customary TIF reception at the Governor’s Hall at 10 pm. The following day, during the Press Conference at Remvi restaurant, the Prime Minister stated that “there are no established rights or inflexible expenses in the budget. Everything becomes flexible when you cannot afford to pay”.

The 57th TIF was another landmark in the history of the institution, as the Prime Minister, Mr. Constantinos Mitsotakis, laid the foundations for “I. Vellidis” Multi-Use Exhibition Centre on September 13, 1992. The Fair was inaugurated on Saturday, September 12, at the Palais Des Sports, by the Prime Minister, Mr. Constantinos Mitsotakis, during major demonstrations by the public and private sector. On Sunday, September 27, 1992, the bust of Nikolaos Germanos was unveiled in Vavdos, Halkidiki, by the President of HELEXPO-TIF, Mr. Alexandros Bakatselos, in the presence of officials and the granddaughter of the founder of TIF, Ms. Lola Vassilikioti.

In 1994, the 59th TIF event was once again inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Andreas Papandreou, at the impressive new congress centre named “I. Vellidis”, constructed in record time.

The inauguration was held on a Friday for the first time.

TIF celebrated its sixtieth anniversary in 1995 and the inauguration of Fair took place among celebrations and exceptionally strict security on Friday, September 8, at “I. Vellidis” Congress Centre. The 60th TIF was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Andreas Papandreou while demonstrations took place outside the Congress Centre. Speaking from the podium of the 60th TIF event, the Prime Minister developed the social policy of his Government. The following day, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mr. Constantinos Simitis, resigned. In his letter of resignation, he cited Andreas Papandreou’s reference to the ascription of liabilities for the shipyards case and the general policy of his Ministry as a reason. The 1st Congress of Hellenes Abroad was held at facilities of Helexpo – TIF, under the organisational care of the company, from 29 November to 8 December 1995. The Congress took place with the participation of 275 representatives of tertiary organisations of Hellenism from around the world.

The 61st TIF event in 1996 was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Mr. Constantinos Simitis, at “I. Vellidis” Congress Centre on Friday, 6 September, at 8 pm. Thessaloniki Metropolite Pan-

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ÂŤI. VellidisÂť Congress Centre.

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teleimon officiated at the Benediction. Immediately after that, the President of HELEXPO-TIF, Mr. Antonis Kourtis, delivered a speech, repeating a phrase uttered by the then Thessaloniki Metropolite while inaugurating the first TIF on 3 October 1926, describing the Fair as “a work recreating the global market of Byzantine Thessaloniki”. As the President stated, the Metropolite’s wish came true. The inauguration was attended by the Premier of South Australia, Mr. Brown, and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Miltiades Evert. Mr. Constantinos Simitis returned to Thessaloniki as Prime Minister after the death of Andreas Papandreou on June 23, 1996, to inaugurate the 61st TIF for the first time, during his election campaign.

In 1998, TIF was inaugurated for the second time by Constantinos Simitis at “I. Vellidis” Congress Centre. That day, in Lausanne, Greece was awarded the organisation of the 2004 Olympic Games, following votes by the 109 members of the International Olympic Committee. The Prime Minister arrived at the Congress Centre ten minutes after schedule, in order to be informed of the voting result before his speech. Thessaloniki Metropolite Panteleimon officiated at the Benediction. Immediately after that, the President of HELEXPO-TIF, Mr. Antonis Kourtis, delivered a speech, followed by the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace, Mr. Fillipos Petsalnikos; both speakers expressed their joy regarding the result of the voting The 63rd TIF event was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Mr. Constantinos Simitis, at “I. Vellidis” Congress Centre on September 4 pm. The Prime Minister defended the national currency devaluation policy in his speech and announced that Helexpo – TIF would thenceforth be under the supervision of the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace.

The year 1999 was marked by historical changes for the national exhibition agency. The 64th Thessaloniki International Fair was the first held after the institutional change to the company, through which the company “HELEXPO TIF S.A.” that had been founded in 1977 was replaced by two new companies, “TIF SA” and “Hellenic Exhibitions – HELEXPO SA”.

According to Law 2687/99, “TIF SA” took over all real estate property of the agency and “HELEXPO – Hellenic Exhibitions SA” undertook the organisation of events. With fans of ARIS Athletic Club demonstrating outside “I. Vellidis” Congress Centre, non-appointed teachers demonstrating at White Tower square with 350 former employees of “Balkan Export”, the 64th TIF was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Mr. Constantinos Simitis, on September 3. The Ministerial delegation arrived by tourist bus, rather than limousines. During the inauguration

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Prime Minister Costas Simitis at the inauguration of TIF.

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ceremony of the 64th TIF, the Prime Minister, Mr. Constantinos Simitis, announced the intention of the Greek state to organize the World EXPO in Thessaloniki.

In 2000, TIF celebrated its 75th anniversary and thus organized an exhibition of documents titled “75 Years of Thessaloniki International Fair, the TIF of the world, of Greece, of Thessaloniki”. A landmark event in the institution’s history was the opening of the Exhibition and Congress Centre (ESKA) in Maroussi, Attica on 1 January 2000. The building, with a total covered area of 21,500 m2, was constructed on an 11,800 m2 plot. The budget of the project came to 5.5 billion drachmas and was financed 50% by the European community, 25% by state subsidies and 25% by own funds of TIF. The operation of the centre was inaugurated by hosting the “COMDEX Greece 2000” exhibition of IT and telecommunications systems by the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce. The 65th TIF was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Mr. Constantinos Simitis, at “I. Vellidis” Congress Centre. Greece had already entered the Eurozone and the Prime Minister described his vision for the 2000-2010 decade during his speech at TIF. The customary TIF reception was held at the Port of Thessaloniki for the first time, rather than the Governor’s Hall. The reception was complemented by exhibitions, fireworks and anchored ships with live bands performing on them. TIF was visited by the Primate of the Church of Greece, his Beatitude the Archbishop Christodoulos, for the first time.

The 66th TIF in 2001 was the last TIF event where transactions were carried out with drachmas. On February 1 of the following year, the President and Secretary General of the International Exhibition Bureau (BIE) visited Thessaloniki in order to examine the intentions of the city to submit a bid for hosting the EXPO 2008 World Fair.

Pavilion 6 was reconstructed in 2003, in view of the hosting of the European Summit in Thessaloniki at the exhibition centre.

The historical Pavilion, also known as the Pavilion of Nations, was constructed in 1954 by architect Evangelos Tripodakis.

The reconstruction study, prepared by architect Petros Makridis, was implemented by “Domotechniki” construction firm.

The 68th TIF event was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, Mr. Constantinos Simitis at “I. Vellidis” Congress Centre on Friday, September 5. The Metropolis of Thessaloniki had no primate, as the election of a new Metropolite, following the death of his Beatitude Panteleimon, had not yet taken place. The Church of Greece was represented by its supreme leader, His Beatitude Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, who ex-

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Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis at the inauguration of TIF.

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changed a warm greeting with the Prime Minister, despite the dispute between Church and State concerning the listing of people’s religious belief on new identification cards.

The trademark of the 69th TIF was a multi-coloured top and its slogan was “The world revolves around TIF”. A giant top was placed in Aristotelous Square. The newly elected Prime Minister, Mr. Kostas Karamanlis, inaugurated the 69th TIF event on September 10 during a climate of euphoria, thanks to the successful organisation of the Olympic Games and the winning of the European Football Championship. His Beatitude Christodoulos, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, and Thessaloniki Metropolite Anthimos officiated at the Benediction. Immediately after that, the President of TIF, Mr. Dimitrios Bakatselos, delivered a speech, followed by the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace, Mr. Nikolaos Tsiartsionis. That evening, the Prime Minister inaugurated the exhibition titled “Identity Issues” at the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art. The customary reception in honour of exhibitors was held in the gardens of the 3rd Army Corps. On September 11, the administration of TIF held the formal dinner in honour of the Prime Minister. That day, the Chinook helicopter transporting Patriarch Peter VII of Alexandria to Karyes, Mount Athos, crashed.

As a sign of mourning, the menu of the formal dinner was not served and all the food was donated to foundations in Thessaloniki. On December 16 of the same year, it was announced in Paris that Thessaloniki was not awarded the hosting of the EXPO World Fair. During the first round of the secret ballot of BIE member-states, Thessaloniki received 12 votes, while the other candidates, Trieste and Saragossa, received 35 votes and 47 votes, respectively, qualifying for the second round. The organisation of the 2008 EXPO World Fair was finally awarded to Saragossa, which received 57 votes, as compared to 41 of Trieste.

The symbol of the 70th TIF was a hot-air balloon and its slogan was “around the world in ten days”. In order to promote and advertise the Fair, hot-air balloons were placed in six cities around Greece, starting with Syntagma Square in Athens and Aristotelous Square in Thessaloniki, as well as the YMCA Gate of TIF, and ending with the central square of Larissa, Patras and the port of Piraeus. The Prime Minister, Mr. Kostas Karamanlis, inaugurated the 70th TIF event on Friday, September 9, at “I. Vellidis” Congress Centre. The administration of TIF held the formal dinner in honour of the Prime Minister on September 10 at the Congress Centre. The Prime Minister began his speech in a humorous way, requesting that if any members of the audience had brought protest banners, they should un-

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furl them now and not interrupt his speech later on. At the invitation of then Minister of Macedonia-Thrace, Mr. Nikolaos Tsiartsionis and the President of TIF, Mr. Dimitrios Bakatselos, two hours before the official inauguration of the Fair, during a closed meeting, renowned Spanish architect S. Calatrava presented his vision for the recreation of the exhibition centre of Thessaloniki and the surrounding area. The exceptional plan by Mr. Calatrava was met by enormous opposition, which managed to freeze the implementation of the study.

With the slogan “Visit tomorrow” and with a mascot named “Inno” (from innovation), the 71st TIF opened its gates with the central theme of innovation. The Prime Minister, Mr. Kostas Karamanlis, inaugurated the 71st TIF event on Friday, September 8, at “I. Vellidis” Congress Centre. Thessaloniki Metropolite Anthimos officiated at the Benediction. Immediately after that, the President of TIF, Mr. Dimitrios Bakatselos, delivered a speech. After the freezing of the Calatrava proposal, the President stated “we want a new exhibition centre right now” at the inauguration.

The central slogan of the 72nd TIF was “one world, one market”. It should be noted that this was the first time in history when elections coincided with the operation of TIF. The Fair was inaugurated for the first time on the morning of Saturday, at 9:30 pm, by the Prime Minister, Mr. Constantinos Karamanlis, at the renovated hall of the Board of Directors of Helexpo.

The Prime Minister delivered his official speech at 20:00, instead of the formal dinner that TIF usually held in his honour.

The formal dinner did not take place as a sign of mourning for the victims of the fires and the ecological disasters that devastated Euboea and the Peloponnese. The stand of the Greek National Tourism Organisation featured three wax figures of Eleftherios Venizelos, Constantinos Karamanlis and Andreas Papandreou from the Madame Tussauds collection.

The central slogan of the 73rd TIF was “600,000 Eyes On You” and was dedicated to the environment. During the Fair, 140 conferences and events were held. In the year 2008, the institution of the honoured country was revived. The Prime Minister, Mr. Kostas Karamanlis, inaugurated the 73rd TIF on Saturday, September 6, at “I. Vellidis” Congress Centre. Thessaloniki Metropolite Anthimos officiated at the Benediction, which took place the morning of that day at the meeting room of the Board of Directors of Helexpo. After brief addresses by the President of TIF, Mr. Dimitrios Bakatselos, and the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace, Mr. Margaritis Tzimas, the Prime Minister gave a political speech on economic issues. During

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his speech, he announced the construction of a new exhibition and conference centre, with the simultaneous conversion of the existing site into a Metropolitan Park. The customary dinner in honour of the Prime Minister was not held, following the latter’s request.

The 2009 Fair introduced two new institutions, the “Honoured Prefecture” and the “Honoured City”, which were Chios and Larissa, respectively, at this year’s event. The Prefectural Government of Chios organized events themed around Chios ouzo, mastic and shipping, while Larissa presented a workshop for creating a commemorative gift bearing the logo of the 2013 Mediterranean Games.

In 2010, the inauguration of the 75th TIF took place on Saturday, September 11, at “I. Vellidis” Congress Centre at 8 pm. After a brief address by the President of TIF, Mr. I. Konstandinou, the Prime Minister, Mr. Georgios Papandreou, gave a political speech, inaugurating the 75th Thessaloniki International Fair.

That morning, Thessaloniki Metropolite Anthimos officiated at the Benediction of the Fair, which took place in the foyer of the Fair administration building for the first time. Immediately after that, the Prime Minister was informed by the administrations of TIF and Helexpo about the Fair and visited the exhibition areas. At the end of his tour of the Pavilions, the Prime Minister placed the first stick, orange in colour, in the interactive sculpture placed at the southern gate of the Fair. The following day, the Prime Minister gave the customary Press Conference at “I. Vellidis” Congress Centre.

The inauguration of the 76th TIF event in 2011 took place in a climate marked by the memorandum and the financial crisis and in the absence of the Prime Minister, Georgios Papandreou. The event was inaugurated by the Minister of Development, Competitiveness and Shipping, Mr. Michalis Chryssochoidis.

MPs and agency representatives did not attend the ceremony.

Thessaloniki Metropolite Anthimos officiated at the Benediction and referred to the state and political leadership of the country by name, underlining the need for unity. Although he did not inaugurate the 76th TIF, the Prime Minister gave a speech at “I. Vellidis” Congress Centre on Saturday, September 10. The customary Press Conference of the Prime Minister took place outside Fair premises, at Warehouse C on Pier A of Thessaloniki Port. The fear of demonstrations and information of the security forces led the Prime Minister to avoid the Fair and to select areas that could easily be policed. In view of the Prime Minister’s visit, there were over 5,000 police officers throughout the city.

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Prime Minister Antonis Samaras at the 78th TIF.

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The inauguration ceremony of the 77th TIF event in 2012 was an austere affair, with a short speech by the Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras, who visited Thessaloniki for the inauguration of TIF during crucial meetings on the course of the Greek economy. The Prime Minister gave a short but substantial address to the representatives of the political scene, local authorities and the production sector. Due to budget cuts, no dinners or receptions were held, nor was the Press Conference. Finally, according to instructions issued by the Prime Minister himself, there were no Ministerial visits within the framework of the Fair.

The long-standing demand for the unification of the two companies was satisfied through a law adopted by the Greek parliament following the initiative of the Minister of MacedoniaThrace, Mr. Theodoros Karaoglou, in January 2013. The now single company with the corporate name TIF-HELEXPO SA undertook the organisation of the 78th TIF, with the central theme of innovation and technology. The event was inaugurated on the morning of September 7 at CORONA Congress Hall by the Prime Minister, Mr. Antonis Samaras. The 78th event marked the ÂŤrebootÂť of the historic institution, as its scale in terms of quantity and quality justified the choices of the company administration.

The history of TIF is glorious and historically important; we are certain that its future will correspond to its value.

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The Pavilion of Nations with the participation of the USA.

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merican participants dominated the Fair after World War II. During its first year of post-war operation, in 1951, the Intelligence Service of the Administration of Economic Cooperation, attached to the American Mission in Greece participated in its own pavilion. Its aim was to screen films, hand out printed material and organize music concerts so as to present its work in Greece. During the Fair there were 91 shows featuring 63 films, which were watched by 138,300 spectators. Around 500,000 leaflets were distributed and 18 meetings of representatives of the productive forces were organized. On the walls of the pavilion and around the cinema theatre, with a capacity of 500 seats, there were photographs of reconstruction works and photographs depicting the growth of the Greek economy. On September 29, the Chief of the Marshall Plan Greek mission Roger Lapham addressed representatives of industrialists, workers and farmers at the American theatre within TIF grounds.

The following year, 1952, there was a mobile NATO exhibition, covering 1,200 m2 at the south part of the exhibition centre. This exhibition premises comprised a huge tent surrounded by 4 special trailer carriages. The aim of the participation was to present the will of the member states of the Atlantic Community for peace, freedom and independence. At the entrance to the pavilion there was a big sign that read: “Greece in the Atlantic Treaty”.

In 1954, the American Pavilion featured a homage show of nuclear power products, where scientists could use a “magic hand” and perform experiments from afar avoiding direct contact with radioactivity. At the same pavilion a fully operational kitchen had been installed and there was a closed TV circuit in operation: it was the

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first time visitors could see themselves on a TV screen. It should be noted that the first closed circuit TV system was presented at Berlin Olympics in 1936.

At the USA pavilion in 1955, there was a display of material goods used by the American people in their everyday lives; the life of American farmers was presented at miniature model farms. There were also tables of statistics and graphs depicting the dynamism of American industry showing the progress of America in nuclear science and the use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes. Another impressive exhibit was a television set used for teaching purposes, so that an operation could be presented to students outside the operating theatre in minute detail.

At the 1,500 m2 of the outdoor premises of the American pavilion, next to the “Farmer’s Home”, which cost 1,500 dollars, there was a cow and some piglets brought from the American Farm School.

On September 4 the American “Labour Day” was celebrated at the pavilion. Responsible for the USA Pavilion operation was the American Department of Trade. In his message on the occasion of the 21st TIF event, USA President Dwight Eisenhower said:“... by characterising our exhibits as ‘The Fruits of Liberty’, we recognise in gratitude what we owe Greece for the gift of Democracy”.

The following year, 1957, the participation of the USA was once again the largest; theirs was a specially constructed pavilion with a metal frame and a plastic roof using “Geodesic Dom” materials. At the entrance to the pavilion there was a sign that read: “Free economy and modern technical progress at the service of humanity”. Exhibits included mainly consumer goods for daily use aiming at presenting the high standards of American daily life.

There were also exhibits of solar power and household heating systems. Another exhibit was the “magic home”, where every kind of automation operated by voice command.

In 1959, the USA constructed a pavilion of 5,000 m2. Instead of the conventional presentation of exhibits, they opted for the “Thematic Concept”, with a homage show to the lifestyle of American citizens. The thematic fields presented were tourism, sports, gardening, poultry breeding and recreation.

At the American Pavilion, “General Electric” Company presented a lighting bulb, the intensity of which was one quarter that of the

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sun. At the same pavilion there was a reconstruction of the main street of an American town, with its typical shops.

In 1960, there was a homage show dedicated to Greek physician G. Papanikolaou and his anti-cancer research, while new achievements in the sector of constructing and using artificial limps for the handicapped were also on show. Indeed, 32-year-old Jerry Leavy, who was handicapped, presented the application of orthopaedic solutions for everyday use: he could make up for his lost fingers by replacing them with special hooks at the end of his prosthetic arms and hands. There was also a world premiere at the 25th TIF event of the American stamp encouraging the public to “hire the handicapped”: 500 such stamps were handed out every day at the pavilion. In his message, US President Eisenhower extended “greetings to all those present at the inauguration of the Silver Jubilee event of Thessaloniki International Fair. The people of Greece can be proud of the fame and honour this International Fair has achieved in the last 25 years”.

September 7, 1971 was the “Day of Medicine” for the American Pavilion. Organisers had invited around 1,000 physicians and medical visitors so they might get to know better American health sector products.

Among companies participating in the American Pavilion were giants like “Douglas”, “Boeing” and “Lockheed”. The last one presented the first systems for moving airplanes on the ground.

The theme of the American Pavilion in 1976 was “200 years of American Technology” and focused on the sectors of Electronic computers and electronic technology.

In 1977, the USA Pavilion covered 1,300 m2 of indoor area and had 51 company participants. In his message, US President Jimmy Carter noted: “Your country’s Fair, the Fair of Thessaloniki, has become famous for its sound organisation and symbolises the role of Greece in international trade”. Great interest was aroused by the Exhibition of “Measures and Measurements in the United States”, organised by the Information Service of the USA. The absence of the official state participation of the USA in 1979 was interpreted by political observers and market stakeholders as the position of the American economic diplomacy vis-à-vis the

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Inauguration of the American pavilion.

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intensive reorientation of Greece and its exports towards socialist countries.

On September 11, news of the terrorist strike against the USA had a chilling effect on the business climate at TIF. The American pavilion closed for three days and re-opened with increased security measures. The leader of the opposition, Mr. Kostas Karamanlis, was trapped in Boston due to the prohibition of flights after the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York and could not visit TIF. In 2006, the USA pavilion was inaugurated by the Ambassador, Mr. Charles Ries, following an event dedicated to the memory of the victims of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina.

The year 2008 marked the last time that the USA would participate in the Fair. The 73rd TIF broke with tradition, as, for the first time after many years, the USA did not participate in the Fair through the American-Hellenic Chamber, giving decreased commercial interest of the Fair as a reason. Since then, TIF has been looking forward to the return of the impressive American pavilions.

American Film at TIF.

The Pavilion of Nations.

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The participation of the USSR at Pavilion 3.

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here were two official state participants at the 1st Thessaloniki International Fair, those of Bulgaria and the Soviet Union, the latter of which would play a significant role in the internationalisation and growth of the Fair.

In 1926, a venue had been prepared within the Soviet Union Pavilion where the state exporting trust of Ukraine presented live animals.

“Believe me, sir; I have no intention of flattering you or petting your national pride or the committee. Yet, I have seen various exhibitions, in which I participated in the same capacity, i.e. as a delegate of the Commerce Commissariat of the Russian People. I have visited the Expositions in Lyon, Stockholm, Riga, Lemberg, and Danzig. What I have seen here, this miracle of speed and creativity, I have not seen anywhere else. Your robustness and energy can be used well for actions at any level” was the statement by Evsei Stainsapir on October 2, 1926 in the special edition of “TO FOS” Newspaper. At the Pavilion of the Soviet Union there was a bronze baby head, symbolising the “Octobrists” and “Octobristes”, i.e. the boys and girls born in the month of October, the historic month of the Soviet revolution.

In 1930, the Soviets organised an exceptional participation, presenting yarns and food products, including gourmet items, such as fish, caviar and fish roe. At the entrance to the Soviet pavilion there was a huge photograph of Lenin along with the famous “Rezinotrest” galoshes of the time.

The first post-war participation of the Soviets took place in 1954, when they organised the largest international participa-

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The participation of the USSR .

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tion, deployed over an area of 3,000 m2 and occupying six halls at the new Pavilion of Nations. At the entrance to the Pavilion there were huge gold-plated hammer & sickle symbols. It was estimated that Russian exhibits weighed more than 600 tonnes.

In 1956, there was an incident concerning the Soviet participation that required the intervention of the President of TIF to stop the situation from elevating. The USSR Ambassador Sergeyev visited the President of TIF to complain, because at a private pavilion within the Fair grounds they were distributing books with propaganda content against the Soviet Union. TIF President assured the Ambassador that the pavilion in question would be closed “because the Fair was apolitical”.

In 1965, it was at the Soviet Pavilion that the “Zorki 10” camera was presented for the first time, as well as the “Lada” film camera, which had been awarded gold medals at Leipzig Fair in 1965.

In 1972, at the USSR Pavilion, an incredible collection of watches was presented. Among other exhibits there was a pioneering device for non-invasive kidney stones lithotripsy, which was considered revolutionary at the time. This medical device was to stay in Greece after its presentation at TIF and it was the first device of this type to be used in our country. Equally pioneering was a medical laser device which was used for eye surgery and retinal reattachment. In 1976, the Soviets presented medicines against cancer of the duodenum and the stomach.

The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was dissolved in 1991 with the collapse of real socialism and thenceforth there were no participations from the Commonwealth of Independent States in TIF.

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The fun fair at the 35th TIF.

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ver since the 1st Fair, acrobatics, magicians and fun fairs served as the main elements of recreation at TIF. Since 1926, Nikolaos Germanos had made sure that the exhibition space, the Field of Mars, included recreation areas that would attract visitors and keep them at the Fair. Many Greek and foreign stuntmen gave performances during the Fair that drew the interest of crowds.

Visitors to the 1930 TIF were aghast at the acrobat who rode his bicycle with a girl on his back, along a high wire that was 50 metres long and stretched 20 metres above ground. Another attraction of TIF was the mechanical man who talked with visitors and the famous “ANGLO – PARK” from Budapest with its electric cars. Finally, at a nightclub within TIF premises, visitors were entertained daily by the famous maestro Bianco and his orchestra from Athens.

A great attraction at the 6th Fair in 1931 was the Fun Fair, where the “Ring of Death” was first presented by Billy Ward and his wife Marjorie. Another impressive attraction was the “grand rue”, a kind of flight simulation, the “house of laughter”, the well-known distorting mirrors hall, as well as the ride on the “dancing carpet”, similar to the present-day “baking tin” ride.

There were three accidents at the Fun Fair during the Fair. A soldier flew off the swings and fell on S. Liagouris, an employee of the Union of Farmers’ Cooperatives. In a similar manner a sailor fell onto a visitor from Veroia and a thirteen-year-old girl from Florina.

For the entertainment of visitors in 1935, there were various spectacles, while drama troupes performed every afternoon and

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The fun fair in the 1970s.

Dangerous stunts performed by stuntmen at TIF.

The impressive machine at the OTE Tower.

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Dancing on the Walls.

The wheel at the 1960 Fair.

The fun fair in the 1950s.

evening. Entertainment culminated in the show by the “Troupe of Dwarfs” from Budapest. An acrobatic attraction was the “Motorcycle Death Ride”.

In 1937, there was a Viennese carousel at the Fun Fair with wooden horses, small cars, swings, etc. and there were stands selling candy and various treats. There was a tiny pool with deep blue water where plastic ducks were swimming and clients had to throw a ring over their neck. Three rings cost five drachmas and the prizes to be won were sweets and chocolates. A major attraction was the flying horse with the beautiful Amazon and the rotating motorcycle show called “Looping the loop” with the famous rider Sir Rigging from New York. In 1938, the grand spectacle at the 13th TIF event was the ‘human cannonball’.

Recreation remained a key component of TIF after the war. In 1951, the Fun Fair featured wheels with rotating baskets for the children, with a raging paper bull hanging from a string above them.

In 1954, the “Flying Dutchman” took spectators’ breath away with his dangerous acrobatics at a height of thirty metres.

The major attraction at the 1957 TIF was the “burning torch”, a number executed by a three-member acrobatic team: one of the members set afire was ejected from a height of 30 metres and fell into a 3x3 metre burning pond. On September 8, there was a performance by the world acclaimed diving acrobatic team “Trio Roy Fransen”.

Before the inauguration ceremony in 1958, the well-known “Four Aces - Acroteam” presented a spectacular show above the grounds of the Fair, while the acrobatic attraction at the 24th TIF event in 1959 was the Belgian group “Devils”.

The attraction of the 25th TIF event in 1960 was the acrobatic group “White Demons” with their swinging bicycles.

An attraction at the 26th TIF event in 1961 was the German ”Zugspitz” acrobatics group, with very popular numbers, such as double tightrope walking, riding a motorcycle on a wire tightrope, tightrope walking blindfolded, a comic acrobatics show called “Braga and Muller” and dance acrobatics. Every evening, visitors were entertained with music performed by the band of “Aristoteles” Foundation. The attraction par excellence of the 1962 TIF was the acrobatic show “Demons of the Sky”.

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Flying acrobats at TIF.

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The great attraction of the 1964 Fair was the acrobatics group “Flying Leotaris”, while younger visitors were entertained by the “Greek Marionettes” troupe. The main attraction at the 1965 TIF event was the “Traube Troupe” acrobatics Group.

Such dangerous acrobatics were no stranger to accidents. In 1966, a trainee acrobat shot off from the “Barrel of Death” during her rehearsal within the Fun Fair and landed at the steps of the building across the road. She escaped with only a slight concussion.

In 1967, the acrobats’ ensemble “Bugler” performed daily along the central avenue of TIF grounds, while in 1968, was a spectacular show at the Fun Fair, the magnificent “GOLIATH”. Goliath had come from Paris, and it was a 22-metre long whale weighing 69 tonnes, caught in 1954. A renowned attraction was also the acrobat group “Los Hermanos Show” with daily performances. One of the attractions at the 1969 TIF was the famous acrobatic group “Alvino Stei”.

The 1970s were dominated by musical events, while Fun Fairs became gradually less popular in the 1980s. An effort was made to revive dangerous acrobatics at TIF in 2005, when the Fair’s programme of satellite evens included the show by French stuntman Patrick Bournier and his associates, who performed daredevil stunts with trucks and flaming cars and motorcycles on 3rd September Street. Between the stunt shows, cheerleaders entertained the audience with choreographed dancing.

Acrobatics and Fun Fairs were absent for a few years, but remained alive in the hearts of Thessalonians. Thus, visitors to the 78th TIF responded warmly when they saw a tightrope strung between pavilion 7 and the OTE Tower, with three acrobats and a motorcycle performing daring numbers without a safety net, astounding onlookers. Another spectacular sight was the duet with acrobatic dancing on walls, an amazing tightrope performance with musical accompaniment.

The heart of TIF is commercial, but spectacles and adrenaline have always contributed to the success of the institution.

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Eleftherios Venizelos at TIF in 1928.

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part from an economic and political event, the Fair was also an outstanding social and recreational event. This dimension of the Fair enabled it to be visited by individuals belonging not only to the political and economic sphere, starting with Eleftherios Venizelos himself in 1928, but also by intellectuals, literary figures and showbiz stars from Greece and abroad.

Before the war, Prime Ministers, kings and prominent artists would attend the annual ‘appointment’ in Thessaloniki. However, the Fair was mainly inundated by famous stars in the 1960s and 70s.

American officials during these decades stood out among honoured visitors. In 1957, the Fair was visited by the American Deputy Minister of Trade Louis Rothschild, while on September 17, Director of the Exhibition Bureau of the USA Ministry of Trade Harrison stated that “this is an excellent exhibition and, upon my departure, I conclude that it is of a higher class and among the best exhibitions held on their own accord. It definitely serves the promotion of trade and technological progress”.

In 1962, the 27th TIF was visited by US Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, accompanied by his wife and daughter. At the official opening of the pavilion, the Vice President of the U.S.A., at the push of a button, lit the symbolic “Flame of Liberty” at the top of a 13-meter tower.

One of the most important events of the 28th TIF in 1963 was the first ever participation by the European Economic Community. EEC Vice-President Robert Margolen visited Thessaloniki and the Community Pavilion accompanied by EEC officials and

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Corinna Tsopei and Bobbi Johnson.

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journalists. Director General for Press and Information of the EEC Jacques Rene Pampier delivered a speech at the Chamber of Commerce & Industry of the city on “The EEC and the Greek accession to it”. There were also visits by Italian Deputy Minister for Trade Trabucci, British Deputy Minister for Trade Allan Green, Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister for Trade Ivan Butinov, Mayor of Frankfurt Bockermann and U.S.A. former Minister of Finance under the Truman Administration, John Schneider.

In 1964, the 29th TIF was visited by Minister of Finance Ayandho of the Central African Republic, Deputy Foreign Ministers for Trade of Italy G. Messeri and Bulgaria I. Golomeev and Peter von Siemens, Vice President of the German company of the same name and the great grandson of its founder.

TIF Guests for the Film Festival in 1964 were Miss Universe Koula (Corinna) Tsopei and Miss U.S.A. Bobbi Johnson.

In 1968, TIF organised the “1st TIF Hairdressing Cup Contest” at the Palais des Sports. Mr. Alain Grignon, President of the French Association of Artistic Hairdressers arrived from Paris to launch the new Haute Couture Française fashion line.

The 1972 Fair was visited by, among others, NATO Commander-in-Chief General Goodpaster, Deputy Ministers of External Trade of Hungary Tordai and of Bulgaria Lukanov, Minister of Planning and Financial Affairs of Liberia G. Breit, and Minister without portfolio from the same country H. Andrews.

In 1975, the Fair was visited by, among others, Vice President of the EEC Commission Carlo Scarascia Mugnozza, Bulgarian Minister of External Trade Ivan Dedev and Deputy Foreign Minister of Hungary Gyula Kovats.

Research and quality control of medicines, the efficiency of the German Pharmaceutical Industry and the results of related studies was the topic of the 600 m2 West Germany Pavilion.

Present at the Fair was West German Pharmaceutical Industry Association President Tiefenbacher. The same year, Robert Blassee, Vice-President of “Airbus Industries”, presented the “Airbus A300” Model, the newest and smallest of new generation high seating capacity aircraft, at the Fair. The Fair was visited by, among others, Iraq Minister of Trade Hassan Ali, Hungarian Deputy Minister for Heavy Industry Adam Yuhas, Romanian Deputy Minister of Trade Cicerone Gorunescu, Bulgarian Deputy Minister of External Trade Bajcecarav and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Prince Sadrunadin Aga Han.

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Manos Hadjidakis at TIF.

Rita Hayworth at TIF.

Zozo Sapountzaki at TIF.

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Klaus Kinski at TIF.

Anthony Quinn at TIF.

Nana Mouskouri at TIF.

In 1982, the President of the European Parliament, Mr. Dankert, inaugurated the EP’s pavilion, in the presence of Ministers Charalambopoulos, Koutsoyiorgas and Skoularikis.

The inauguration of the 1995 TIF event was attended by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Glafcos Clerides, who was accompanied by three Cypriot Ministers, the Premier of the state of Victoria Mr. Jeff Kenneth, the Senator for South Australia, Mr. Julian Stefani, representing the Premier of the State, and the Russian Foreign Minister, Mr. Andrey Kozyrev, who participated in a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister and his then-counterpart, Mr. Karolos Papoulias.

The 66th TIF event welcomed 295,950 visitors, including Olympic Medallists Pyrros Dimas, Kostas Kenderis, Katerina Thanou, Anastassia Kelessidou, Voula Patoulidou and Federal coach Christos Tzekos.

In 2003, within the framework of a homage event, a daymeeting titled “New technologies in education” was held. Mr. Charles Handy, management guru and Professor at the London Business School, gave a particularly important speech titled “The future of enterprises, employment and education”.

“Fashion Forward”, the thematic homage to fashion that was held in Pavilion 10 in 2004, featured live fashion shows by renowned designers. Catwalk models included Katia Zygouli, Evelina Papandoniou and Star Hellas 2004, Valia Kakouti. Twenty stunning candidates of the Serbia-Montenegro beauty contest who participated in the fashion shows attracted the public’s attention.

In 2006, Ms. Zeluyka Rivera, 18-year-old Miss Universe from Puerto Rico, visited the 71st TIF and attended the 1st “Balkan Beauty Ambassador 2006” International Beauty Contest, organized within the framework of “Fashion Forward”.

Visitors to the 2009 TIF event included the Vice-President of the Trump Organisation group, Mr. Sutton Wheeler, who expressed the interest of the group in investing in the Greek real estate market.

In 2013, Australia participated once more in the 78th TIF and the city of Thessaloniki welcomed the President of the Victorian Legislative Council, Mr. Bruce Atkinson, the Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, Mr. Ken Smith, as well as five Australian MPs. The 78th TIF was also visited by Rhode Island

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The royal couple at TIF.

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State Senator Leonidas Raptakis.

The list of celebrities visiting TIF remains open and will remain as such as long as Thessalonians safeguard this jewel of the city.

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The Palais des Sports at full capacity.

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ince the very first Thessaloniki International Fair, recreation was a main component of the event’s success.

Stars of the era sang every night at a special area that TIF named “Cabaret”. Over the loudspeakers at Fair grounds, the grand top-of-the-pops of the time, “Barba-Yiannis kanatas” by Epitropakis was broadcast. At the same time and on the occasion of the Fair, renowned bands would travel to Thessaloniki, hoping to secure TIF exhibitors and visitors as customers. The intensity of entertainment events at the Fair increased during post-war Fairs, when top stars of the Greek and international scene performed, mainly at the Palais Des Sports.

Events ranged from classical music, such as the concert given by the renowned “Julliard String” string quartet at the 23rd TIF in 1958, to the Band of the 17th Air Force of the United States, which arrived in Thessaloniki from Tripoli in Libya, and the concert given by the 103-member Philharmonic of Minneapolis at the Royal Theatre on September 10 of the same year. At the same time, the tradition of performances by popular troupes and groups at Thessaloniki nightclubs during the Fair was created. At “PANORAMA”, Vassilis Tsitsanis and Yota Lydia entertained the patrons, while at “CHORTATZIDES” Stelios Kazantzidis and Marinella performed popular songs. At “HAWAII” the singer was Tonis Maroudas and at “PALLAS” there was a show by Chiotis, Linda and Souli Sabah. The following year, the patrons of “HAWAII” night club were entertained

by Rena Vlachopoulou.

The 1960s began with a bang, with the King of the Cha-

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Thanos Kalliris.

Nana Mouskouri.

Elena Paparizou.

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The American Army band.

Vassilis Papakonstantinou

Michalis Chatziyiannis

cha-cha Sotis Sidiropoulos singing at “HAWAII”, while Tonis Maroudas and - for a few nights only - Nana Mouskouri appeared at “LUXEMVURGO”; Stelios Kazantzidis and Marinella appeared at “PANORAMA”.

The following year, 1961, at “ASTERIA” night club, Grigoris Bithikotsis performed his songs for the duration of the TIF event, while at “PALLAS” night club featured Tonis Maroudas and Zozo Sapountzaki. The following year, at the open-air night club “LUXEMBURG” there was a show by Egyptian singer Nadia Gamal along with Jovanna, while at “MELTEMIA” (former “ASTERIA”) night club, Manolis Chiotis was performing with Mary Linda.

In 1963, continuing the tradition of music bands coming up to Thessaloniki for the duration of the fair, the “LUXEMBURG” nightclub presented Jimmis Makoulis, Yiannis Voyiatzis and Jenny Vanou and “ASTERIA” night club featured Stelios Kazantzidis with Marinella and Maya Melaya.

In 1964, a concert was held at the crown jewel of the Fair, the Palais des Sports, by the popular youth band of the times “Forminx”. On September 29, at the Palais des Sports, a concert was held by Yiannis Voyiatzis, Jenny Vanou and Jimmis Makoulis; tickets were sold at 10, 15 and 20 drachmas.

In 1965, for the duration of TIF Nadia Constantopoulou sang with Takis Morakis and Errica and Margarita Broyer at “LUXEMBURG” night club, while Michalis Menidiatis performed at “KALAMITSA”. The legendary Vassilis Tsitsanis with Rita Sakellariou were at “KALAMAKI”, while Grigoris Bithikotsis performed at “ASTERIA” night club.

In 1966, on the occasion of the TIF event, the famous “Saratoga” band of the 6th U.S. Fleet performed concerts at the Palais des Sports, while the “Opera Negra” performed “The Trumpets of the Lord”.

In 1967, a concert was given at the same venue by the famous French singer Charles Aznavour, while the following year, TIF organised two appearances of French singers Sylvie Vartan and Johnny Hallyday, on September 7 and 8, who also visited the Fair. Tickets to the concert cost 30, 50, 80 and 150 drachmas. On September 15 and 16 there was a Greek popular music concert at the Palais des

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Vlassis Bonatsos.

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Sports paying tribute to Sophia Vembo for her 35-year career in music. The conductor was composer Stavros Xarchakos and the performers were G. Bithikotsis, V. Moscholiou and G. Kalantzis.

French singer Dalida gave a sold-out concert on September 13, 1969 at the Palais des Sports and on the following day TIF visitors enjoyed the internationally acclaimed Greek artist, Vicky Leandros.

The satellite events of the 1971 TIF included three excellent performances by the Central Africa Folk Ballet at the Palais des Sports. On September 11 and 12 there was a concert at the same venue by a famous British DISCO – POP band of the time called MARMELADE. In 1972, the famous Italian pop singer Patty Bravo gave two concerts at the Palais des Sports. Her song “La Bambola” was at the top of the pops at the time. Tickets cost 20, 50 and 80 drachmas.

On September 8 and 9, 1973, two concerts had been scheduled by the famous Greek singer Demis Roussos at the Palais des Sports. Due to overwhelming demand, a third concert was also given on September 10. In the first part of the programme, supporting singers included Michalis Violaris, Maro Dimitriou, Elpida, Soula Kopsini, Nelly Manou, Millie, Xanthi Perraki and Phryne. Nikos Mastorakis was the master of ceremonies.

There was a wealth of parallel artistic events organised during the 40th TIF event in 1975. On September 3 and 4, at the Palais des Sports, two concerts by composer Stavros Xarchakos were held, with the participation of singers N. Xylouris, D. Galani, N. Dimitratos and V. Stavros. On September 11 and 12, at the same venue, spectators enjoyed the “ROCK OPERA – TROJAN WAR” with the participation of the following artists: Dakis, Elpida, Robert Williams, Kostas Tournas, Yorgos Moutsios, Yorgos Polychroniadis, Vlassis Bonatsos, Bessie Argyraki, etc.

On September 5, 1976, at the Palais des Sports, TIF Administration organised a concert with Yiannis Parios, Litsa Diamanti and Dimitris Kontolazos in aid of the Foundation for the Welfare and Rehabilitation of Handicapped Children of Thessaloniki. Parallel cultural events scheduled to be held during the 41st TIF event included four perfor-

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MAD North Stage Event by TIF - HELEXPO..

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mances by the famous Chinese Ballet of Shanghai at the Palais des Sports; however, due to Mao Zedong’s death on September 9, 1976, these were cancelled. Finally, after the end of China’s official mourning period, TIF secured three performances by the Ballet troupe given on two days.

In 1977, TIF organised at the Palais des Sports a concert of works by composer Yorgos Hatzinassios with the participation of Kostas Venetsianos, Vicky Moscholiou, Dimitra Galani and Eurovision participants Paschalis, Robert, Marianna and Bessie, who had caused a sensation with their song “Solfege Lesson”. Tickets cost 80 and 100 drachmas and were also valid admission tickets to the Fair.

On September 13, 1980, as part of the TIF parallel event programme, a concert was given by the famous rock star Ian Gillan, a former member of “Deep Purple”.

The programme of satellite entertainment and artistic events at the 63rd TIF in 1988 was particularly rich. On September 7 & 9, popular band “Aroma Caribe” gave two concerts featuring Latin and jazz rhythms. On September 10, Lakis Papadopoulos sang at TIF. On September 11, Christos Nikolopoulos, Dimitris Bassis and Athina Morali performed their hits. The same year, the 1st “GAIA” Festival was held from September 17 to 20, aiming at establishing the event and the city as a musical crossroads of three continents. Performers at “GAIA” included Nina Simone, Caesarea Evora, Anastasia, Pyx Lax and others.

The cultural satellite events of the 65th TIF in 2000 began with a major concert by Alkistis Protopsalti at the Palais Des Sports and ended with the spectacular show titled “Maria Farantouri Performs Songs by Greek Composers”, which the artist had also performed at EXPO 2000 in Hanover.

On Sunday, September 9, 2001, internationally renowned singer Mercedes Sosa performed at Earth Theatre during a concert held within the framework of TIF. The 67th TIF held in 2002 featured numerous satellite events. On September 6, 8, 10 and 13, performances of Beethoven’s “Fidelio” were staged by Thessaloniki chamber opera in the interior courtyard of Eptapyrgion. On September 13, a concert by Latvian Marija Naumova, who won the 2001 Eurovision Song Contest, was held at Aristotelous

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Eleftheria Arvanitaki.

MAD North Stage Event by TIF HELEXPO.

MAD North Stage Event by TIF - HELEXPO.

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Eleonora Zouganeli.

Alkistis Protopsalti.

Square.

In 2005, were concerts held during “Music Events”, with the participation of Greek artists such as Nikos Portokaloglou, Panos Kiamos, Keti Garbi, Paschalis Terzis and Peggy Zina.

On the final day of the Fair, a concert by Tolis Voskopoulos was held. During the concert, the renowned singer was honoured by the Municipality of Thessaloniki.

In 2010, “Disc Festival” began with a concert by Myronas Stratis and Filippos Pliatsikas. A stage was erected in the exhibition area under the YMCA arch, where visitors were entertained by renowned singers such as Glykeria, Lavrentis Macheritsas, Onirama and Eleonora Zouganeli. On Saturday, September 18, a concert was held at the Palais Des Sports by Charoula Alexiou, joined by Martha Frintzila.

The following year, concerts were given by the band Melisses and Ivi Adamou, Eleftheria Arvanitaki, Kostis Maraveyas with Panos Mouzourakis, Lavrentis Machairitsas with Yiannis Zouganelis and Dimitris Starovas, Alcibiades Constantopoulos and Zina Arvanitidi, Christos Nikolopoulos with Gerassimos Andreatos, Melina Aslanidou and Yiota Nega, as well as Vassilis Papakonstantinou.

At the 78th TIF in 2013, HELEXPO initiated an important partnership with MAD, a youth-oriented television station, and organised the first festival named “MAD North Stage Event by HELEXPO”, with nine concerts featuring artists such as Elena Paparizou, Peggy Zina, Giorgos Mazonakis, Onirama, Stan, Nikos Makropoulos and Michalis Chatziyiannis. The Festival found tremendous appeal among Thessaloniki youth and is expected to be a repeat success.

Concerts and musical events have always been and will remain a component of the DNA of TIF.

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Soviet astronauts at TIF.

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uring the late 1950s and early 1960s, TIF was intensely characterised by space. The great superpowers of the world, America and the Soviet Union, were engaged in fierce competition during the Cold War in regard to the space performance of their countries and dominance beyond the limits of our planet.

It began in 1959, when the USSR Pavilion covered the whole of the Pavilion of Nations; three actual size replicas of “Sputnik” rockets and inter-planetary rockets were presented, as well as a molecular accelerator, the biggest in the world at that time.

In another sector there was a special show of USSR achievements in the sector of nuclear power and its use for peaceful purposes. In 1961, the Soviets had replica watches, identical to those worn by astronaut Gagarin during his spaceflight, on sale.

The USSR, after a 3- year absence, returned to TIF in 1965 with a new impressive pavilion covering 2,795 m2. It was the USSR’s 5th participation and its pavilion featured 21 organizations exhibiting mainly industrial and technical exhibits, while there was also a special section dedicated to space exploration.

At the space sector of the pavilion, visitors could also admire a replica of the “Sputnik – Vostok” spacecraft, with the last level of the propulsion rocket. This type of spacecraft had been used for triumphant flights by Yuri Gagarin and five other Soviet astronauts. Visitors could also admire a replica of the part of “Vostok” spacecraft that had landed, as well as a replica of the “ELEKTRON” space system, which consisted of two science stations which were launched by a powerful rocket at significantly different orbits on satellites.

The Americans could not be respond during the same year. The presence of the U.S.A. in a covered outdoor area of 1,200 m2

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The USSR pavilion .

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and an outdoor space of 300 m2 had a clearly commercial orientation. At the entrance to the pavilion there was a picture of space research, while inside the pavilion there was a replica of satellite “SYNKOM 2”.

In 1963, the U.S.A. participated in the Pavilion of the Nations and one of their exhibits that attracted visitors’ attention was the cockpit of spacecraft “Sigma 7” in which astronaut Walter Schirra completed an orbit of the Earth on October 3, 1962.

On September 20, 1965, American Astronauts Gordon Cooper and Charles Conrad, who had travelled to space in the “Gemini” spacecraft, visited the 30th TIF event. At a special ceremony they were honoured by Thessaloniki Mayor Tsiros and then visited the Fair. On a stage that had been set up outside the American pavilion, US Consul Hamilton introduced the astronauts. A Gemini replica was presented to TIF Vice President E. Kardassiadis. During his visit to the American Pavilion, Colonel Cooper stated: “We are proud that the word ‘astronaut’ is Greek”.

Soviet astronauts Pavel Belyaev and Alexei Leonov, accompanied by Ig. Milovidov, the secretary of the Soviet Delegation at the Astronaut Convention in Athens, visited the Fair on the morning of September 20, 1965, and were welcomed by TIF President I. Vellidis in the Board meeting room. Colonel Belyaev said: “Greek mythology was useful to us as a source of courage and strength in our trans-planetary flight”. They then visited the Tobacco Pavilion and the pavilions of Poland and Hungary.

In 1970, there was a special wing in the USA Pavilion dedicated to American efforts to conquer space and the American success of landing a manned spaceship on the moon. Amongst exhibits there were scale-models of the “Saturn” rockets, the spaceship, the lunar module and space food. The most impressive exhibit of all, though, was the sample of moon rock collected by “Apollo 11” in the “Sea of Tranquillity”, in July 1969. During the celebration of the Day of America on September 7, astronaut Thomas Stanford, who had made three flights into space as a crew member of “Twin 6-A”, “Twin 9-A” and “Apollo 10”, was the guest of honour.

Astronaut Stanford said that “In 1973, the USA will install a space platform in space, orbiting around the Earth”. The American astronaut presented a copy of a picture from his flight to the moon, picturing the sun rising on Earth, to the TIF President as a gift and received, in return, a handmade writing instrument from the era of the Greek Liberation Revolution. Finally, Stan-

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Sigma 7 at the US pavilion.

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ford was the first and only astronaut to visit OTE tower.

The space age of the Fair ended in the 1970s and was replaced by innovative technologies and cutting-edge products.

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A robot at TIF.

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ew innovative products and services were always among the most prominent features of Thessaloniki International Fair. Companies and agencies presented products for the first time in Greece which were both innovative and, oftentimes, inventive.

It began during the very first TIF, in 1926, at the Pavilion of E. Christodoulou’s “Pasteur” Pharmaceutical Company, where a radical treatment for syphilis using Greek bismuth (salibsmol) and a treatment for rheumatism with rheumatol were presented.

The following year, radio-telephones were presented at the Hungarian pavilion, on which visitors could listen to traditional Hungarian music. In 1929, the Fair was lit using only bulbs manufactured by the Greek Company “Phos”.

At the 6th TIF in 1931, besides the classic exhibits promoted every year by the “Austrian Tobacco Monopoly”, e.g. cigarettes, cigars and tobacco, denicotinised tobacco was also on display by the “Denicotinising Plant of Augustus Falk” from Vienna.

In 1932, the TIF lottery, similar to present-day scratch-it cards, was another innovation at the 7th TIF. Lots had been drawn before the tickets were sold, so buyers had to reveal their numbers to see if they were winners.

For the first time in 1934, TIF undertook exhibition actions abroad; namely, in co-operation with Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce & Industry, under the auspices of the Greek Government, a mobile exhibition, similar to a present-day road show, was organised presenting Greek products in Yugoslavia. The same year, the Austrian-Hellenic Company first presented ciga-

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rettes without or with a low content of nicotine (the well-known lights), which, however, found no response among consumers.

In 1935, the German company “Telefunken” presented world reception radios, while at the Italian Pavilion the first air-conditioning device was on display. In 1936, the first three masks to be worn in the case of chemical war were displayed at the Fair.

The major attraction of the first post-war Fair in 1951 was the “Philips” Magic Garden, which had been transferred to Thessaloniki from London Festival. With a combination of light and darkness and the help of ultraviolet beams, various artificial flowers in exotic colours were made to appear. It was at the 16th TIF event that the Greek patented hydraulic vacuum brake by “Olympia” Company was presented for the first time.

Great interest was aroused among visitors to the 1953 TIF by the pioneering system of microscopes presented at the Fair, through which one could watch the movement of animal spermatozoa.

In 1954, the American Pavilion featured a homage show of nuclear power products, where scientists could use a “magic hand” and perform experiments from afar avoiding direct contact with radioactivity. At the same pavilion a fully operational kitchen had been installed and there was a closed TV circuit in operation: it was the first time visitors could see themselves on a TV screen. It should be noted that the first closed circuit TV system was presented at Berlin Olympics in 1936.

In 1955, at the East German Pavilion, it was the first time in Greece that a power loom was presented for manufacturing knitwear by “KETTEN STUHL” Company. Another premiere for Greece was the small 50Χ70 offset press. At the 20th TIF event visitors were mechanically recorded for the first time; there were a total of 1,245,578 visitors.

During the same year, at the USA Pavilion a radioactive cobalt device was presented, which radiated beams for therapeutic purposes, equivalent to those of an ordinary X-ray machine, in the order of 3 million Volts. The official state participant of East Germany organised a Hygiene show under the organisational care of Dresden Hygiene Museum. An impressive exhibit was the glass effigy of an actual size woman where lights demonstrated the function of the internal organs of the human body, combined with the provision of enlightening information.

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The PPC (Public Power Corporation) Pavilion presented the ideal future farm house, foreseen to be operating after the provinces electrification plan was completed. A two-storey stone house was built, surrounded by a wall; in the yard there were a vegetable garden and a stable housing a horse and a donkey. Next to them there was a cow and her calf. Milking was performed with the help of electricity. In the hen pen there were electric hatching devices. In the centre of the yard there was a pond with ducks and geese, while the water was renewed using an electric pump.

The same year, at the entrance to the Czechoslovakian Pavilion there was a display of automobiles made by “SKODA”, presenting the well-known 1200 model and a new model, namely the 440, which cost 50,000 drachmas. There were also the famous “JAWA” motorcycles and “KOVO” presented the new hunting rifles, while “Tesla” promoted the latest radio models. Visitors were impressed by the unbreakable sunglasses sold at the pavilion at 15 drachmas a piece; one could crumble the frame and the glasses remained intact. It was also the first time a train that could carry 40 passengers toured TIF grounds.

In 1957, the PPC Pavilion was reconstructed and for the first time there were dimmer switches on display, as well as the largest lighting bulb of 50,000 watts and 0,90 cm in height, which cost 2,000 dollars. The same year, the “General Electric” company presented a device which used electromagnetic waves to lift copper and aluminium discs into the air.

In 1957, at the American Pavilion, for the first time in Europe, a chicken was roasted using solar power. The chicken had been hatched at the agricultural sector of the American Pavilion and raised and slaughtered for this purpose. The electrical cooker was part of the thematic homage to solar power, which was presented at the Pavilion along with the heating system using solar power.

In 1958, the PPC Pavilion was one of the most impressive ones and had been constructed under the supervision of civil engineer Kazazis. More than 500 lighting fixtures had been installed.

Within the pavilion “Stroboscope” devices were presented, which, through an automatic touch system, activated and deactivated electric and electronic appliances with the use of photocells. An electronic musical instrument was also presented, which produced all natural sounds as well as sounds never heard before. The electronic musical instrument was operated by artist Yakovlev.

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Exhibition of original innovative products.

Computerisation and informatics.

Sight and Sound at a special exhibition at TIF.

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A robot at TIF.

Cutting-edge technology at TIF.

Presentation of new products.

In 1959, after the Fair, a very powerful microscope, an exhibit at the Polish Pavilion, was presented as a gift to Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.

In 1960, at its 600m2 pavilion, “SIEMENS” presented its new ESK technology telephone exchange centre, while Georgios Kritheris, a Greek-American, presented an electronic cooker operating with short waves (microwaves).

Nine foot refrigerators and 7,500 calorie heaters were the new products presented by “ESKIMO” at the 1961 Fair. The PPC Pavilion was dominated by a lighting fixture on a 32-meter mast.

Visitors were also equally impressed by the prototype nuclear reactor that operating and built at actual size, as well as by the impressive water jets featuring alternating lighting combinations. There was great commotion at the Japanese Pavilion where visitors gathered in crowds to admire the “KAMOME” domestic washing machine, which washed with compressed air and was on sale for 1200 drachmas.

In 1963, at the British Pavilion there was a “Scottish Bar” which offered scotch whiskey made by 8 major Scottish whiskey houses. At that same pavilion, the rubbish disposal unit was presented for the first time (liquidizing rubbish in the sink) and the first car theft prevention device ever seen in Greece. In its Pavilion the PPC presented a replica of “Telstar” satellites, which carried a message that could be transmitted by remote control; the message could be received and transcribed on an automated typewriter.

In 1964, OTE presented the first automatic telephone devices at its pavilion. The PPC pavilion was dedicated to peaceful applications of nuclear power. In the covered outdoor premises of the Company a huge model of Kremasta project was exhibited; that was the largest technical project in Greece.

In 1965, at the “IZOLA” Company Pavilion, great sensation was caused by an air conditioning device. “SABA” displayed the only tape recorder-radio “SABAMOBIL” that could be installed in a car, but could also be used at home and run on regular current or used anywhere and run on 1.5 V batteries.

In 1966, at the Greek Sugar Industry Pavilion, for the first time in Greece, a new product, “golden syrup” was exhibited, which didn’t crystallise and kept sweets moist.

In 1967, “ALPHA” Brewery presented its new product, “FALKON”

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Telecommunications technologies.

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beer, and “TSAOUSOGLOU” Company presented, for the first time ever, plasticised/laminated tubular furniture, used for equipping tourist businesses, hospital units as well as schools.

In 1968, the theme of the West Germany Pavilion was “Television and Radio” and there were daily screenings and related lectures. A system of revolving disks demonstrating strobe energy, as used in the precise adjustment of the speed of rotation in high quality juke boxes, caused much excitement.

In 1970, the PPC had installed a television channel at its pavilion and broadcast for the first time a television signal within TIF grounds. In 1962, the PPC built the first television transmitter in Greece. At the 35th TIF event, in conjunction with the company “AEG – Telefunken”, they presented colour television for the first time, while at its pavilion, the Commercial Bank installed the first visual phone in Greece. At the Italian pavilion a special intercom installation allowed one to see the face of those who rang the bell at the building entrance. An announcement made by the Italian delegation said that “...the installation operates independently of the home telephone, and, as a result, any failure of the latter does not affect the former”.

In 1973, at the Greek Small Industry Pavilion, “Cara Cabo” Company presented the “Hermes” telephone answering device, every part of which had been manufactured in Greece. The PPC Pavilion presented the innovative application of night rates for electricity consumption in Greece.

In 1974, “PITSOS” Company presented the first fully automatic washing machine with twelve washing programmes, two of which were biological, at the Fair. The theme at the PPC Pavilion was “Cheap electricity at night time rates and electricity generated from the sun”. At the pavilion garden there was a complex coaxial mirror system generating electricity, which had been in operation since 1971 at the experimental electricity generating station of “Democritus” Nuclear Research Centre.

In 1984, exhibits at the United States pavilion, titled “Medicine Today” and organized by the Intelligence Agency of the USA, included a cane activated by laser beams, warning vision-impaired persons of obstacles that may appear in their way, an incubator that monitored the vital signs of newborns and a computer that could diagnose coronary artery conditions.

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Modern dentistry equipment.

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The first 50 card-operated telephones in Greece operated in Thessaloniki, with 30 installed at TIF premises and 20 at “MAKEDONIA” airport.

The official exhibitors’ catalogue was issued in electronic format (diskette) for the first time in 1994, while in 1997, HELEXPO-TIF acquired its own hub on the World Wide Web, at www.helexpo.gr.

In 1999, the sector of metal participated in Pavilion 13, where electrical discharge machining, a revolutionary method for processing steel, was presented for the first time, featuring a machine being exhibited for the second time in Europe, immediately after the Paris Fair. Another Greek first was the presentation of a lathe, with a concrete polymer base rather than a conventional steel one, that that could accelerate the production of large quantities in significantly less time.

Outstanding participants in the 2005 TIF included Japan, which presented “Aibo”, an intelligent robot dog created by Sony, the Foundation of Research and Technology that presented a robotfootball player, the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, which presented the “Thetis” submersible, and the Foundation of the Hellenic World, where visitors were provided with special stereoscopic glasses and could choose a path to travel, created by 3D digital graphics. The 70th TIF also featured the presentation of water-cooling systems for computers, which kept the processing unit at a stable temperature of 18 degrees Celsius. OTE constructed a virtual house, utilizing all ADSL technologies, with the theme “our future home”.

In 2006, Democritus University presented the first motorcycle in Greece to run on ethanol rather than gasoline, while the University of Ioannina presented “carditis”, a system for the three-dimensional reconstruction of coronary vessels and cardiovascular diagnosis, aiming at early diagnosis and treatment of coronary diseases.

EKETA, the Centre for Research & Technology Hellas, presented a simulator of driving conditions under the influence of alcohol at various stage of inebriation, while the Ministry of Education presented the touch-screen blackboard, which required no chalk or erasers. The General Secretariat for Research and Technology presented a hydrogen-fuelled car, operational biomedicine systems, bio-fuel production technologies, micro-devices recording vital signs and bio-parameters, and many other innovative products. Hellenic Vehicle Industry S.A. presented the new battle tank of the Greek army, “Leopard 2 Hel”, manufactured in

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Surgical technology.

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Greece in cooperation with the Germany company KMW. Finally, “Smart Eyes”, a navigation system for vision- and hearing-impaired people, was presented at the pavilion of Cosmote.

In 2008, Vodafone presented the Apple iPhone 3G for the first time in Greece at TIF, while the Athens News Agency – Macedonian Press Agency presented the first online television programme and the first online television channel. Visitors to the Fair were the first in Greece to see new car models, such as the Corvette C06 and the Alfa Romeo MITO, as well as three impressive robotic systems, a robot tour guide, a humanoid robot and a robotic head. The interest of visitors was instantly attracted to the extraordinary single-seat vehicle of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh), designed and constructed by a group of students of the mechanical engineering faculty of the Polytechnic School. The original single-seat F1 vehicle of AT&T Williams was presented at the stand of the Royal Bank of Scotland.

The AUTh research committee presented “Pandora”, a rescue robot able to climb ruins, search and locate survivors trapped within them and notify rescue crews of their precise location.

OTE manufactured a “climatically neutral” stand, mostly from recyclable materials, equipped with a 1kW photovoltaic power system. It was calculated that its footprint (construction and lighting of the stand, use of machinery, etc) would come to approximately 200 tonnes of carbon dioxide, but OTE purchased “positive emissions”, in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol, making a payment to a major international climate protection project.

An electronic hydrometer capable of recording indications of water loss at a distance of 400 meters was presented for the first time at the 2009 Fair. Other interesting attractions included a new product containing sea-plant nanoparticles, able to protect the hulls of ships from parasite attacks.

The main slogan of the 75th TIF in 2010 was “Innovation and Green Development”. Within the framework of this homage, the green gate of TIF was constructed at the Waterfall Gate, with the placement of 20,000 plants on special rigging. A bioclimatic house open to visitors and environmentally friendly electrical – energy bikes were also presented. The green city lighting, designed by Ross Lovegrove for the Artemide company and operating by using solar collectors, was presented for the first time in Greece between the Palais Des Sports and the YMCA Gate.

The “solar tree” collected energy during the day by using photovoltaic panels and would illuminate the area around it at night.

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The first Apple iPhone 3G presentation.

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In 2011, the note of innovation was given by R2D2, the famous robot from George Lucas’ ‘Star Wars’, at Pavilion 13. The Fair featured 15 robot constructions, as well as a public solar charger for mobile phones and iPods. The spider-robot invented by D. Apostolidis, with a weight of 4.5 kilograms that could move like a spider and recognise people, colours and objects was presented for the first time. There was also a flower robot, which featured three sensors and could react when in proximity with humans, two fish robots equipped with cameras and a robot vehicle with GPS. An AUTh research team presented an integrated digital system for the management of all archaeological excavation data with the use of GPS technology combined with 3D photogrammetry. Visitors the 76th TIF could also create their own earthquake using the educational seismometer that could record any noise or strike and present it on a screen via a digitiser. Finally, the Long Lasting Memories (LLM) technological platform presented by the AUTh research committee included a number of protocols to prevent dementia and memory problems.

The 78th TIF in 2013 was dedicated to technology and innovation. An entire pavilion was given up to the programmers of Google (Google Developers Group), who, directly linked with programmers around the world, discussed and developed applications, while CERN, the international scientific research centre, informed Fair visitors of the experiments it is carrying out and scientific developments.

Innovation has always been a spearhead product of the Fair and remains now more than ever a crucial factor for TIF and the future of the institution.

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«The PHILIPS hour».

T

h e history of Greek television began in 1951 with the

adoption of Law 1663, which stipulated the founding and operation of radio and television stations by the Armed Forces – a provision abolished 15 years later – as well as the operation of the Armed Forces news Service (YENED), which would be competent for the installation and operation of radio and television stations. Following the adoption of the aforementioned law, many efforts were made to operate a television station, but Greeks viewed television for the first time at the 1960 TIF. The PPC Pavilion at the 1960 TIF was particularly impressive and was divided into three parts: the first one presented a complete 30 kW hydroelectric power plant; the second one presented a nuclear electric plant by “Électricité Francaise”, while the third part housed the historic television station.

Manos Iatridis, the Head of Information of the Public Relations Department of PPC was the person who had suggested to Kostas Triantafyllidis, Directorate of General Affairs of PPC, that an Experimental Television Station broadcasting to the broader region should be installed at the company’s pavilion at the 25th Thessaloniki International Fair. On September 3 the station transmitted the first pilot signal in Greece. After the proposal was accepted, great efforts were made to secure the appropriate machinery. Finally, with the contribution of Philips, the station was set up and began broadcasting at 8 in the evening of September 3, 1960, broadcasting an experimental programme on a closed television circuit. The PPC television transmitter had a capacity of 500 W and covered an area of 45km around Thessaloniki. Prime Minister Constantinos Karamanlis officially set in operation the first Television Station, through which he addressed a brief message to the public, which, however, could only be seen and heard by Fair visitors. The programme was

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relayed over 70 receiver sets within TIF grounds and 30 receiver sets outsider Fair premises. The setup and operation of the first Greek television station took place thanks to the exceptional work of Yiannis Kessisoglou, Vassilis Goulianos, Yiannis Gionis, Tassos Frangopoulos, Andreas Kopelis, Kostas Balafas, K. Maniatis, the Dutch technician Αrend Woudsma, and others. In terms of programming, the individual responsible was the journalist Vassilis Kazantzis, assisted by Nicky Yakovlev, Mary Lo, Alkis Steas, Yiorgos Economidis, Rallou Manou, Jack Knight and the first Greek television presenter, Elsa Papastergiou. The first complete Greek television programme broadcast thanks to machinery offered by Philips, the National Technical University of Athens, ‘Alexandra’ Maternity Clinic and the television station of the American Base in Heraklion, Crete. Certain devices were constructed, using various parts, by Michail Psalidas, who, a few years later, would set up the television station of EIRT with the help of other colleagues.

During the twenty two days of operation of the PPC television station at the 25th TIF, its programmes featured Greek ministers, MPs, giants of the Arts and Letters, as well as many musical and dance troupes. The first broadcasts of Greek television also featured advertisements and shows advertising offers. This took place under the care of Alkis Steas, an individual greatly involved with the Festival and the Fair, who presented the first television phone-in game, offered by “Matsangou” tobacco industry. Advertisements shown during that era included ads by “Pavlidou Chocolate Makers”, “Kleenex” and “MinaidisFotiadis” wool mill. Unfortunately, after the Fair ended, the PPC television station did not remain in operation, despite requests by financial and cultural stakeholders in Thessaloniki. The station was dismantled and part of it was transported to Athens.

However, everyone had become convinced of our country’s need to gain a television network and thus the government began seriously examining the issue. Interest had also been shown by the publishers Christos Lambrakis and Eleni Vlachou, each of whom cooperated with foreign television networks.

In 1962, PPC installed a rudimentary television station at its building in Athens at 28 Halkokondyli Street. The antenna of the transmitter was placed on the rooftop and its range covered a large portion of Athens. There were no live shows included in the programme, which mostly consisted of comedies, such as Laurel & Hardy or The Three Stooges, and various documentaries. The PPC television station in Athens was short-lived, ceasing its broadcast after the intense reactions of the heads of the National Radio Foundation (EIR), which, under Decree 54/15.6.1945, had the exclusive right to produce and broadcast

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television programming. Greek viewers would remain without even a rudimentary television station until September 1964, when crews of Italian and Danish television arrived in Athens to broadcast the wedding of former king Constantine and AnneMarie. A small transmitter and antenna were installed on Mt. Lycabettus, from where the royal wedding was broadcast to television receivers within a range of 8 kilometres.

A concerted, systematic effort to create the first television station in the country took place five years later by the National Radio Foundation, which began trial broadcasts in late 1965 from the radio booths of Zappeion Hall and the OTE building on 3rd September Street.

In the afternoon of 23 February 1966, at 18.30, EIR announcer Eleni Kypreou inaugurated the first Greek television show, introducing the new medium to the Athenians (numbering just 1,500 in those days) waiting in front of their receivers: “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Starting today, EIR is introducing a number of experimental television broadcasts…”. For two hours, viewers had the opportunity to watch a brief news bulletin, the show “Greeting, My Lady”, documentaries and a short film. Greek television had finally been born.

Television continued to be a dominant exhibit at TIF. In 1966, the first colour television station was presented for the first time in Greece at the US pavilion, where visitors could watch live programming, featuring young talented dancers and singers, either at the glass display cases of the broadcast booth or at one of the eight receivers set up throughout the pavilion.

In 1965, the East Germany pavilion featured a fully functioning TV studio. The Japanese presented the smallest television receiver, a portable sound recorder and advanced transistor types.

In 1969, the same year EIR began regularly broadcasting its programme, it directly linked to the Eurovision circuit to broadcast the moon landing and walk of the crew of Apollo 12 on the moon. “Miss Hellas”, Miss Rena Lorandou, was at “CENTURY HELLAS”, Pavilion 4, presenting the company’s new television model with handmade circuitry.

In 1970, the National Radio-television Foundation was renamed the National Foundation of Radio and Television (EIRT). In 1975, after the Regime Change, EIRT was renamed Hellenic Radio – Television (ERT), for the purpose of “informing, educating and entertaining the Greek people”.

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New models presented by the PHILIPS company.

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In 2011, ERT3 participated in the 76th TIF with its own premises covering an area of 180 m2, featuring an exhibition space and a radio and television production studio. The pavilion offered a nostalgic trip throughout the city’s history and giant screens showed small documentaries titled “Fragments of History”.

The history of Greek television has been linked with Thessaloniki International Fair; after all, TIF has always been a privileged space for the presentation of new innovations and technologies.

Television equipment.

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The legendary Czech SKODA cars.

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rom the very first Fair, cars were a great attraction for visitors and the Press. At the same time, dealerships took advantage of the enormous crowds and found the best medium for the promotion of their companies.

The dynamic participation of the automobile sector began at the 1st TIF in 1926. The American Company “HUDSON ESSEX” participated with three models through its representative. The models had been on display at the Paris and London Exhibitions and would be available in the Greek market in the beginning of 1927. The most luxurious model cost 2,100 USA dollars.

In 1927, the General Representative of Chrysler Automobile Company, Petros Kyrkinis, presented the company’s new models at TIF, namely models 80, 70, 62 and 52 Imperial. In 1929, the new six-cylinder model of Dodge Brothers Six automobile with hydraulic brakes and jointless body was first launched, at the privately owned pavilion of the importing company “Char.

Bogdis Automobile SA”. At another pavilion the new Greater HUDSON model was exhibited in both the four-seat and open two-seater versions.

After the war, the first car premiere in Greece took place in 1954, when “Armstrong Siddeley Motors” presented its new, luxurious four-seat model for the first time in Greece. “Land Rover” presented two new jeeps and the new Ariel motorcycle series. “A star will shine at Thessaloniki International Fair” was the advertising slogan of Mercedes Benz during that TIF event.

The dominant presence in the 1,000 m2 Italian Pavilion was Fiat.

Indeed, during the Royal visit to TIF, Queen Fredericka had her photograph taken in one of the new company models.

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The new TOYOTA models.

The CITROEN «frog».

The legendary Canadian DKW.

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Novel sports car.

The Greek PONY.

FIAT at the Italian pavilion.

In 1956, at the entrance to the Czechoslovakian Pavilion there was a display of automobiles made by “SKODA”, presenting the well-known 1200 model and a new model, namely the 440, which cost 50,000 drachmas. There were also the famous “JAWA” motorcycles.

At the 23rd TIF in 1958, the Soviet automobile industry “Volga” presented its new model with a radio and a heating system, while exhibits at the Czechoslovakian Pavilion included the new “Roadster cabriole sports SKODA 450”.

In 1960, the Bavarian company “BMW” presented at its pavilion the “mini” 700 Coupe Model, which was offered at a special Fair price of 57,000 drachmas, while PANHARD was selling the impressive PL17 at a mere 15,000 drachmas.

In 1962, TIF organised the first systematic presentation of the automobile sector on the top floor of Pavilion 2, covering a total area of 2700 m2. There were 19 manufacturers exhibiting a total of 38 vehicle types from 28 factories operating in 10 different countries. “PEUGEOT” was selling its 404 Grand Tourisme new models and the 404 Lux limousine model, for the duration of the Fair, at 79,000 drachmas, down from the original 85,000 drachmas. It was at this exhibition that the small agricultural vehicle “FARMOBILE” and the electric bus (trolley) by “VIAMAX” were first presented.

In 1964, the “AMPHICAR” Company presented an amphibious vehicle that was both a boat and a car, while displays at East Germany Pavilion included the new “Trabant” and “Wartburg” automobile models and “MZ” motorcycles.

The Automobile Salon was organized in 1965 at an area of 7000 m2 in the basement Hall of Palais des Sports: 32 delegations presented automobiles manufactured at 74 factories in 15 countries; there were 85 models of 105 different types. “Attica” passenger cars, which were produced in Greece, enjoyed a special promotion campaign. The “Moskowitz” company presented the new 408 model with a hydraulic uncoupling system, while “Traktorexport” presented the new Belarus T40 type of tractor with an air-cooled engine and hydraulic steering.

In 1966, the Greek automobile company “ATTICA” participated in the “Salon des Autos”, at the Palais des Sports, with 3 models. One of these was a summer release, with a soft top that could be removed and placed on the beach, just like the wicker chairs of the standard car. At the same pavilion, “North-Hellas”

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The new FORD models in 1952.

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presented the new FIAT 124.

In 1968, at TIF’s Automobile Salon, “Iliopouloi Brothers” presented the new MOSKVITCH EUTA. The car presented by the Greek motor industry “ALTA” with a Heinkel 10 horsepower engine was, in effect, a three-wheeled car with extra features such as heating, 4 speeds and the capacity to reverse, capable of covering 500 km without refilling, etc., and it was offered at the price of 39,500 drachmas. That was also the first worldwide presentation of the new “EICHER” tractor, by “Grigoriadis Brothers”.

The automobile exhibition entitled “Salon d’ Auto” attracted the interest of many visitors to the 1970 TIF, where 42 types of cars from 14 countries were presented, among them the CITROEN GS 1,200cc model with its hydro-elastic suspension being exhibited for the first time. n 1971, CITROEN presented the new “D-SUPER” and “PALLAS Injection Electronique” models as well as the impressive “CITROEN MASERATI SM”, for the first time in Greece; only two such cars had been scheduled for sale in our country. 1972 saw the Pan-Hellenic premiere for the new FIAT 132 which could be ordered with the option of two different motors and an automatic gear box. The Austrian Pavilion was widely promoted, because during the Fair the foundations were laid for the “STAYER HELLAS” Industrial Plant to be constructed in Thessaloniki Industrial Area.

In 1975, at the Soviet pavilion the interest of visitors was attracted by the legendary “MAMIDAKIS LADA 1300”, which had come 10th in the general rating of the “ACROPOLIS 1975” rally.

The same company, and only for the duration of the Fair, offered its new ZAZ 968A Model at the price of 120,000 drachmas instead of the regular market price of 137,500 drachmas. For the duration of the 1976 TIF event, “LADA” offered its “special 1200” Model at the discount price of 19,000 drachmas.

In the 1980s, sector-specific auto exhibitions began being organised in Europe, with interest of the car sector participating in TIF waning as a result. TIF tried to organise AUTOMOTO, a sector exhibition, but the oil crisis and the more general economic crisis were catalytic factors that resulted in the automobile industry not being represented at Greek automobile salons any longer.

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TIF in the 1960s.

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offee has always been one of the most popular exhibits at TIF. The volume of coffee consumption at the cafés of each Fair, the love of Greeks for their favourite beverage and the increased demand since the early 20th century for coffee consumption led coffee companies to participate in every Fair, with impressive pavilions that often won awards for their taste and functionality.

A historic Greek coffee company, “Loumidis”, received top distinction at the 4th TIF event in 1929 and kept on receiving awards and prices at the 1930, 1931, 1932, 1936 and 1938 TIF events. In 1928, Loumidis Brothers had opened their third shop – their first in Thessaloniki – on the corner of St. Minas and Eleftheriou Venizelou Streets.

In 1931, “Loumidis Brothers” launched new varieties of Brazilian coffee. Coffee was not only presented by Greek companies, but also by foreign companies and repatriated exhibitors. For example, in 1964, among the official exhibitors of Australia was the Coffee Company of a Greek emigrant, Andronikos, while in 1969 the Brazilian participation had been organised by the “Coffee Institute”. Even in 2008, when Italy was the honoured country at TIF, one of the most popular exhibits was espresso, the delightful Italian coffee.

However, the great coffee revolution took place at TIF with the invention of frappé coffee. At the 1957 TIF, “Dritsas” company, which represented Nestle in Greece, participated in the Fair to promote a chocolate beverage for children. The beverage was prepared by instantly mixing the powder with milk and shaking it in a shaker. At the time, Nescafe was already being sold in Greece, but there was no use for its cold preparation. One of the salespersons at the pavilion, Dimitrios Vakondios, thought of using the shake to prepare cold coffee. His idea was rewarded by

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Greek industry at the Pavilion of Nations with the historic «FLOKAS coffee».

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the results. The foam was so rich that Mr. Vakondios’ suit was stained from the coffees. That was the first time in history that frappé was made. Despite its French name (frappé meaning shaken), this was a tremendous Greek innovation that was unprecedented and took place at TIF. By the late 1950s, frappé coffee had become a fashion and could be seen in Greek films of the era, being seen as modern and youthful. Frappé was not as successful in Europe as it was in Greece, but it became popular in certain countries around the world, such as Thailand and Malaysia. Since 1957, the frappé market grew rapidly and despite the introduction of new types of cold coffee, such as freddo, its consumption is prevalent, particularly in the summer.

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ver since the first event, Thessaloniki International Fair has been an international event, with the 1st TIF taking place with the official participation of Bulgaria and the Soviet Union. During the next events, the number of official foreign participations kept increasing and interest was so great that in the late 1950s and throughout the 1960s, the organisers dedicated one day of each TIF dedicated to each country participating in the Fair. In fact, during certain events where there were more official state participations than Fair days, TIF dedicated each day to two countries, separating its morning from its afternoon operation.

This system waned in the 1980s and 1990s, until 1998, when the then President of TIF, Mr. Antonis Kourtis, decided to introduce the institution of the honoured country for the entire duration of the Fair. The choice of TIF that year was the People’s Republic of China, which organised an impressive participation with a wealth of satellite events.

Apart from drawing commercial interest, the pavilion of the honoured country featured Chinese artists entertaining visitors to TIF. The Chinese pavilion was among those visited by the Prime Minister, Mr. Constantinos Simitis. However, the honoured country stole the show with the famous acrobatic ballet of China, which performed twice, once at the Palais Des Sports and once at Aristotelous Square. The Fair featured outdoors pavilions named “Paradise in China”, staffed by experts giving gourmet lessons with Chinese cuisine specialties. At Aristotelous Square, the traditional Chinese celebration of the halfmoon was held, filling the waterfront with colourful lanterns.

Aware of the dramatic conditions in which 220 million Chinese were living due to flooding, Helexpo – TIF decided to symbolically provide aid, opening an account at the National Bank and depositing 500,000 drachmas, while calling upon exhibitors,

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Serbia as the honoured country in 2011.

India as the honoured country in 2005.

Italy as the honoured country in 2008.

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Italian events.

Italian events.

India as the honoured country in 2005.

visitors and local authorities to contribute.

Following the People’s Republic of China, the United States of America was the second country in the history of TIF to be named as the “honoured country” of the event. The American participation covered all of Pavilion 12. Within the framework of events of the honoured country, an Andy Warhol retrospective titled “Figment: The Life and Work of Andy Warhol” was held.

Other events included baseball and softball exhibition games held at the YMCA gate and an American gastronomy festival. An important event held was “Modern Odysseys: Greek-American Artists of the 20th Century”. Various concerts attracted the interest of visitors, such as those held on the stage set up in front of the Palais Des Sports, featuring the Stigma Swing Dixie Band, country dancing, the 25-member band of the Sixth Fleet, as well as a concert by famous model and soul, disco and Latin singer Yvette Jarvis. Other events included a homage titled “20th Century American Cinema: Legendary Dream Landmarks” and concerts by the renowned Carnegie Hall Jazz Band from New York at Thessaloniki Concert Hall. Young visitors were entertained by the living cartoons of Warner Brothers.

The honoured country of the 67th TIF in 2002 was France, which covered 1,800 m2 in Pavilion 10 and 63 French companies presented products and services. Numerous cultural and entertainment events were held during the Fair, including exhibitions by one of the finest acrobatic fleets of the world, Patrouille de France. Over 2,500 persons participated in “expogame”, a major game hosted at the exhibition area of SOPEXA (Organisation for the Promotion of French Agricultural Products), the prizes being a trip to Eurodisney. The Parisian Café de Paris was created as an area for rest and gourmet tasting. Other specially created areas included an area for children’s recreation, for fashion shows and for the exhibition of products, mainly by Dior. The Prime Minister, Mr. Constantinos Simitis, inaugurated the French Pavilion on Sunday, September 8. From September 6 to 12, a homage to French cinema titled “Aspects of Modern French Cinema” was organized in cooperation with the Film Festival.

The honoured country at the 73rd TIF in 2008 was Italy. The satellite events organized by the Italian participation in cooperation with Helexpo included fashion shows by renowned Italian designers, the appearance of “Spandieratori“, medieval flagspinners from Toscany, who, accompanied by the Philharmonic of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, traversed Tsimiski Street and performed at Aristotelous Square, and Venetian gondolas in Thermaikos Gulf. A football match was held at Kaftatzoglion

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Stadium between the Italian national team that won the World Cup in 1982 and the veteran footballers of Iraklis FC. The bestknown players of the Italian team were Antognoni, Altobelli and Rizzitelli. The homage to Italian Fashion included creations by G. Armani, Laura Biagiotti, Roberto Cavalli, Dolce & Gabbana, Ferragammo, Valentino, Ferre, Gucci and others. “Never before have so many Italian firms and groups been concentrated at TIF and we are very happy to see them here”, stated the Italian Ambassador, Mr. Gianpaolo Scarante.

The honoured country at the 74th TIF in 2009 was India. Within the framework of celebrations for the honoured country, Helexpo constructed a series of artificial elephants, including the largest in the world, a 14x9 sculpture with a 4.5m-long trunk.

Before the opening of the Fair, smaller elephants were placed in the central squares of Athens, Piraeus and Larissa. In honour of TIF, the Film Festival participated in the events by organizing a homage to Indian cinema, screening 7 films at Olympion cinema.

The honoured country of the 75th TIF in 2010 was Hungary, which participated with 44 enterprises, taking up 26 stands over 350 m2 of indoor space and 100 m2 of outdoor space at Pavilion 6.

The honoured country organized numerous satellite events under the title “Flavours and Colours from the Birthplace of Liszt”. Horseback archers of the Kassai Centaurs team greatly impressed visitors to the Fair. At “Emilius Riadis” Hall, violin virtuoso Adam Banda gave a recital of classical and traditional music, while the Folk Dance Troup of the Hungarian city of Debrecen performed folk dances outside the Palais Des Sports. The Hungarian restaurant Gerbaud organised a gastronomy festival at “Makedonia Palace” Hotel from September 17 to 19. A film dedicated to the life of Ferenc Puskás was also shown. On Sunday, September 12, a music and dance show with theatrical elements from Greek, Hungarian and Latin American music was staged by Athina Papadimitriou, a Hungarian actress and singer with Greek origins.

“Forever Together” was the slogan of Serbia, the Honoured Country of 2011 that participated with 40 enterprises and organised numerous satellite events.

These included a colloquium on investments in Serbia, business round-tables and a workshop on franchising issues. The most impressive of the Serbian exhibits was the Strawberry Tree that

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was created by Miloť Milisavljević and received an award from the European Commission.

Satellite events organised by China.

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The OTE Tower.

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drink among the stars with a view of the city. How can anyone go around the city in 45 minutes and see everything from the city walls to Peraia? After a decade of immobility, the Fair Tower or OTE Tower is once again revolving. The tower, characterised as a sculpture by its architect, Alexandros Anastassiadis, was completed in 1970. TIF ceded a 435 m2 plot to OTE, on which OTE would erect the tower at its own expense.

According to the agreement, the tower would be amortized 30 years after its construction, i.e. on 29 March 2000, at which time it would be delivered for use by TIF. TIF initially objected to this agreement, but after the intervention of the Ministry of Northern Greece, which has since been abolished, it accepted the 25-year lease. In order to convince TIF, OTE was forced to cede 50% of its gross revenue from the cafeteria and to accept a lease four times higher than that of the other private pavilions on TIF premises. Its construction began in 1969 and was underway throughout the 34th TIF, with the tower rising to a height of 65 metres (a building of 43.20m and a metal antenna of 21.80m) covering an area of 377 m2.

At its top, the Tower would feature a cafeteria with a capacity of 160 and a rotating floor that would revolve every 15-20 minutes. Visitors to the 34th TIF saw an 8.4m-tall tower. The central idea of the architect was to combine imaginary vertical and inverted cones to bestow intensity, dynamism and balance upon the project.

The new impressive architectural addition to Thessaloniki International Fair was completed in 1970. A joint TIF and OTE television channel operated on the 5th floor of the tower, and transmitted throughout the TIF, with live broadcasts of artistic events from the Palais des Sports. The tower had a lift which served 180 people an hour, and entry was secured by priority

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The OTE Tower, an emblem of Thessaloniki.

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cards. In the tower, OTE presented their new projects concerning the future of telecommunications, thematically identified as mobile telephony and phonorama (telephone – television).

Electronic music composer T. Antoniou composed his work “Telecommunications 1970” commissioned by OTE. The composition was heard from the loud speakers on the 2nd floor of OTE Tower.

In 1971, the central theme of OTE’s participation was “submarine connections” and a series of photographs and tables on the issue were exhibited on the entire 1st floor of the OTE Tower. On the 5th floor of the Tower there was a television transmitter hall, which broadcast a programme made especially for TIF. The Tower welcomed a large number of visitors in 1972. Among other things, the services of the Organisation in the sector of automated international and long-distance calls were presented. There was a 4-hour TV programme relayed from the Tower ΟΤΕ Station and TIF. In 1974, visitors to OTE Tower were impressed by the scale models of “Thermopylai” satellite stations and the demonstration of satellite communication around the globe.

On 1 July 1987, a private agreement was signed between TIF and OTE, ratifying the initial agreement, while on 28 June 2000, a new private agreement was signed, wherein TIF and OTE agreed on a 12-year lease, which would end on 31 March 2012.

TIF and OTE renewed the lease for another 12 years and the cooperation between the two organisations is continuing harmoniously.

Over the years, the Tower began suffering wear and tear and thus TIF and OTE decided on its radical renovation.

At the 71st TIF in 2006, the fourth revolving floor of the renovated OTE tower was once again open to the public and in full operation.

The Tower is not just a piece of the Fair – it is a piece of Thessaloniki. Apart from the White Tower, our city has another monumental construction that serves as a symbol for the city and for TIF: the OTE Tower.

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Kostas Kazakos, Jenny Karezi at Thessaloniki Film Festival.

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h e year 1960 was when the Greek Cinema Week, which evolved into the Greek Film Festival, was established.

The idea was suggested by Linos Politis and Pavlos Zannas, in charge of TECHNI Macedonian Art Society, and immediately adopted by TIF. The first judges’ committee included, among others, Stratis Myrivilis, Katina Paxinou and Ioannis Vellidis, while the festival was attended by Aliki Vougiouklaki, Jenny Karezi, Maro Kondou and tens of other celebrities. First male prize went to D. Horn, while the first female prize went to A. Vougiouklaki for her role in the film “Mantalena”. The unforgettable M. Hadjidakis received the prize for the music score of the film “To potami” (The River). An award was presented to Roussos Koundouros for his documentary “Thessaloniki International Fair”. At the award presenting ceremony, the presenter Giorgos Economidis auctioned a dance with Aliki Vougiouklaki the proceeds of which would be given to the Municipal foundling hospital of Thessaloniki. Ship-owner Nomicos was the highest bidder with the sum of 30,000 drachmas.

After the great success of the first Greek Film week, TIF proceeded with the 2nd event in 1961, which was equally successful. Expenses for the event were exclusively borne by TIF, while four of the ten awards were sponsored by the Municipality of Thessaloniki, city agencies and the PPC. Screenings were carried out throughout the week at “Olympion” cinema theatre.

In the afternoons international films were shown, while Greek films were screened in the evenings and repeated the next day at a matinee show. The Chairman of the Film Festival Committee was author and Academy member Ilias Venezis, while outstanding figures in the audience were Stratis Myrivilis, Alekos Sakellarios, and Mikis Theodorakis. Best Actor and Best Actress awards went to Dimitris Horn and Irene Papa, respectively. The famous producer Philopoemon Finos of “Finos Films” withdrew his film “O Katiforos” from the Festival, because it had been

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Petros Fyssoun with Xenia Kalogeropoulou.

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scheduled to be screened on a Thursday instead of on a Saturday or Sunday, as was his wish.

The “Greek Cinema Week” was held for the third time from 17 to 23 September 1962. The film “Electra”, its director Michalis Kakoyiannis, Irene Papa and Titos Vandis were awarded the first prizes of the Festival.

During the 28th TIF event in 1963, the “4th Greek Film Week” was organized at “Olympion” cinema theatre; Member of the Academy Ilias Venezis chaired the Judges’ Committee and the event was attended by famous actors, such as Costas Voutsas, Martha Karayianni, Costas Hadjichristos and others. The first prize of the festival was awarded to N. Koundouros for his film “Mikres Aphrodites” (Young Aphrodites), while best male actor and best female actress prizes were awarded to Petros Fyssoun and Ilya Lyvikou, respectively.

In 1964, the 5th Greek Film Week or Festival, as it was by now known, was held at the Macedonian Studies Society Building and it was officially opened by Minister of Industry Zigdis. First prize that year was awarded to the film “Diogmos” (Persecution) produced by James Paris and starring Petros Fyssoun and Xenia Kalogeropoulou. TIF Guests for the Festival were Miss Universe Koula (Corinna) Tsopei and Miss U.S.A. Bobbi Johnson.

The 6th Greek Film Week started on September 20, 1965 and was completed on the 29th of the same month in at the building of the Macedonian Studies Society. “PHILIPS” equipment was now used for all screenings. Among those attending the festival were Katina Paxinou, Alexis Minotis, Despo Diamantidou, Ilia Lyvikou, Elena Nathanael, Ellie Fotiou, Manos Katrakis, Alexandra Ladikou, Kakia Analyti, Petros Fyssoun and others. The Best Male Actor award was presented to Nikos Kourkoulos for his performance in the film “Oi Adistaktoi” (The Unscrupulous) and Best Female Actress to Ellie Fotiou for the film “Epistrofi” (Return).

In 1966, the 7th Film Week was renamed the Film Festival. Concurrently with the Greek Film Festival, from 14 to 21 September, the International Film Festival was also held. In its context, and under the organising care of the Greek Film Archives, a historical review of the great actor Buster Keaton was presented.

Among the 11-member Film Festival committee were Philopoemen Finos, Gregoris Gregoriou, Ioannis Tsarouchis, Ellie Lampeti, and others. The famous English actress Susannah York, as well as French actors Maurice Pauli and Genevieve Grant and

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Yiannis Voglis and Anny Loberg in the renowned film ÂŤGirls in the SunÂť.

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the Swedish Brigitte Nielsen attended. The best feature film prize was awarded to “Xehasmenoi Iroes” (Forgotten Heroes)

by N. Gardelis and T. Paris, while the awards for leading male and female actors were awarded to Yorgos Fountas and Voula Zoumboulaki, respectively. Actress Vera Krouska was voted “Miss Festival 1966”, in the new tradition organised by TIF in conjunction with “THESSALONIKI” Newspaper.

The 8th Film Festival took place from 18 to 24 September, 1967 at the building of the Society for Macedonian Studies. The awards for lead male and female actors were awarded to Yorgos Foundas for his role in the film “Pyretos stin asfalto” (Road Fever) and Perry Poravou for her role in the film “Silhouettes”, which won the prize for best artistic film.

The 9th Greek Film Festival took place from September 16 to 22, 1968 at the building of the Society for Macedonian studies. That was the year of the famous film “Koritsia ston Ilio” (Girls in the sun) starring G. Voglis and Anny Lomberg; the film shared 1st prize with the film “Parenthesis”. The 1st prize for lead male and female actors went to Kostas Prekas and Elena Nathanael for their roles in “Sta synora tis prodosias” (Bordering Betrayal), and in “Randevou me mia agnosti” (Meeting with a stranger), respectively. The film music score prize went to Stavros Xarchakos for his music for the film “Koritsia ston Ilio” (Girls in the sun).

The 10th Film Festival took place from September 29 to October 6, 1969 and was attended by famous Italian actress Rossella Bergamonti attended. The film “Koritsi tou 17” (The girl of ‘17) received five awards and James Paris’ “OCHI” (NO) received two. 1st prize for lead male actor was awarded to the legendary Lambros Konstantaras for his role in the film “O Blofatzis” (The Bluffer) and for lead female actor to Sophia Roumbou for her role in “Koritsi tou 17” (The girl of ‘17).

The 11th Film Festival was held from 21 to 27 September, 1970 at the building of the Society for Macedonian Studies.

That year, the festival was recognised by the Association of International Producers, and the way was paved for the next Festival to become international. Present at the Festival was the famous director Henri Verneuil. First prize went to the film “Anaparastassi” (Reconstruction), by Theo Angelopoulos, and first prize for lead male actor was awarded to Nikos Kourkoulos for his role in the film “Astrapoyiannos”.

In 1971, the Film Festival was held from 20 to 26 September.

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ÂŤTi Ekanes ston Polemo Thanassi?Âť with Thanassis Vengos.

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The prize for best feature film went to “Ti ekanes ston polemo Thanassi” (What did you do during the war, Thanassis?) by Dinos Katsouridis. Prizes also went to the films “Papaflessas” and “Ekeino to kalokairi” (That summer). First male role prize went to Thanassis Vengos.

The year 1972 marked the first time that the Greek Film Festival, at its 13th event, was organized after the TIF event ended, from September 25 to October 1. Best Feature Film Prize was awarded to Pantelis Voulgaris for “To Proxenio tis Annas” (Anna’s Matchmaking), while 1st male role prize went to Thanassis Vengos for his performance in “Thanassi, pare t’ oplo sou” (Thanassis, get your gun) and 1st female role to Anna Vagena for her performance in “To Proxenio tis Annas” (Anna’s Matchmaking).

The art prize at the 14th Film Festival in 1973 was awarded to the film “Lavete theseis” (On your mark) by Thodoros Marangos, while the best production prize went to the film “Enas iroas me to mnemoscopio” (Hero through the Mnemoscope) by Yorgos Filis.

The 3rd International Film Festival was held from September 30 to October 6, 1974; during the event, there was a programme of Latin American film screening, while at “Alexandros” cinema theatre there was a programme of “Children’s Films”. The Festival was attended by, among others, Ugo Tognacci, the Taviani Brothers and Antonis Samarakis. The 15th Greek Film Festival was held from 23 to 29 September at the building of the Society of Macedonian Studies. Jules Dassin and Melina Mercouri were there. The best feature film prize was shared between two films, namely “Kierion” and “Model”.

The 4th International Film Festival was moved from the autumn to the summer and was held from 23 to 29 June, 1975, with the participation of 26 countries. The16th Greek Film Festival was held from 22 to 28 September at the building of the Society of Macedonian Studies; Prof. Manolis Andronikos chaired the Judges’ Committee. The prize for best feature film went to Thodoros Angelopoulos for “O Thiassos” (The Troupe), while first male role prize went to Vangelis Kazan and best female role prize to Eva Kotamanidou for their performances at the same film.

During the 1976 Film Festival, an event to pay tribute to Philopoemen Finos was held. The Judges’ Committee, chaired by the unforgettable Melina Mercouri, awarded 1st Prize to Feature Film “Happy Day” by Pantelis Voulgaris.

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Melina Mercouri and Jules Dassin at Olympion.

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In 1977, the Film Festival was held from 3 to 9 October at Radio City Cinema Theatre. The Anti-Festival Movement organised by cinematography unions attracted more attention than the Festival itself. The First Prize of the Anti-Festival went to Pavlos Tassios’ Film “To vary peponi” (A tough guy).

At the 7th International Film Festival in 1978, a total of 19 feature films were screened along with 46 short films. Celebrities like Leslie Caron, Myriam Bru, Jon Voight and Horst Buchholz had been invited and watched the films. Besides the contest part, there was a homage show dedicated to the great American director Stanley Kubrick, during which seven of his films were screened. In the Greek part of the Festival, the film “1922”

by Nikos Koundouros had the honour to receive most prizes by the Judges’ Committee. Furthermore, the Festival paid tribute to French actress Leslie Caron by presenting her with a prize for her contribution to the cinema at the Auditorium of the Society for Macedonian Studies. While the Film Festival was in progress, on September 29, at 5:30 am, Pope John Paul I died from a heart attack.

A total of 19 feature films and 49 short films from 30 countries participated at the 8th International Film Festival in 1979.

On September 26, 27 and 28, the “International Women Cinematographers’ Symposium” was held in Thessaloniki. A guest of honour at the Film Festival, invited by TIF Administration, was Cannes Festival Prize Winner actress Sally Field.

The best feature film prize was awarded to the film “Anatoliki Periphereia” (Eastern District) by Nikos Vafeas. There was a tragic event during the meeting of the Judges’ Committee of the 20th Greek Film Festival at Macedonia Palace Hotel: the Chairman of the Committee, Vassos Falireas, acclaimed sculptor and member of the Academy, died from a heart attack.

A total of 74 short and feature films were screened at the 9th International Film Festival, held from 22 to 28 September, 1980.

Festival Films were attended by famous Polish director Andrei Vaida and the famous actress Joan Fontaine. A total of 10 feature films contested in the Greek Film Festival along with 32 short films. The film “Parangelia” (Special Request) by Pavlos Tassios received most prizes along with “Megalexandros” (Alexander the Great) by Thodoros Angelopoulos.

The 22nd Film Festival held in 1981 was the first to be organized by the Ministry of Culture. A total of 140 films participated in the International Film Festival, held from September 28 to October 4. TIF invited actors Trevor Howard, Anthony Quinn and Charles Bronson to attend the Film Festival.

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«Rembetiko» by Costas Ferris.

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The 23rd Film Festival was held from October 4 to 10, 1982, and was the first organized during the tenure of Melina Mercouri as Minister of Culture. The Chairman of the Judges’ Committee was Manos Katrakis. The best film award was presented to “Angel” by Giorgos Katakouzinos, while the first male prize was presented to Angelos Maniatis for his performance in the aforesaid film. The first female prize was shared by Eva Kotamanidou and Olia Lazaridou.

The 24th Greek Film Festival was held from October 3 to 9, 1983, with new regulations abolishing monetary prizes. The best film award was shared by “Revanche” by Nikos Vergitsis and “Rembetiko” by Kostas Ferris. A special award was presented to Stavros Xarchakos for the music of the film “Rembetiko” and for his overall contribution to music. Finally, a homage was held for two recently deceased leading figures of show business, Elli Lambeti and Lambros Liaropoulos.

Many of the events of the 25th Film Festival held in 1984 took place in Pavilions 8 and 12 of the exhibition centre. The Festival began with the movie “Voyage to Cythera” by Theo Angelopoulos, which won the FIPRESCI Prize and the Award for Best Screenplay at the Cannes Film Festival. The Best Film Prize was awarded to the film “Loufa ke Parallagi” (Loafing and Camouflage) by Nikos Perakis.

The 26th Film Festival was held from September 30 to October 6, 1985. The award ceremony was attended by Irene Papas, who was welcomed by the President of the Judges’ Committee, Mr. Theo Angelopoulos. The best film prize was awarded to “Petrina Hronia” (Stone Years) by Pandelis Voulgaris. The 1st female prize was shared by Themis Bazaka and Pemi Zouni, while the 1st male prize was awarded to Takis Moschos.

The 27th Film Festival was held after the adoption of a bill on cinema, which, essentially, marginalized TIF and caused tension between the administration and the new Organising Committee. The best film prize was awarded to “Caravan Serai” by Tassos Psaras and “Knock-out” by Pavlos Tassios. The 1st Male Prize was awarded to Yiorgos Kimoulis and the 1st Female Prize to Eleonora Stathopoulou.

During the 28th Film Festival, a homage to Michelangelo Antonioni was organized, in cooperation with the Bologna Cinematheque. During the awards ceremony, the President of the Judges’ Committee, Nikos Koundouros, began his speech with a slogan, the name of the film “Doxobus”, to appease the audi-

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DAG Films.

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ence in the balcony. The best film prize was shared by the films “Theophilo” by Lakis Papastathis and “Ta Pedia Tis Chelidonas” (The Children of the Swallow) by Costas Vrettakos.

The 29th Film Festival was held from October 3 to 9, 1988, the opening film being “Landscape in the Mist” by Theo Angelopoulos, which won awards in Venice. The best film prize was shared by “In the Shadow of Fear” by Giorgos Karypidis and “Invincible Lovers” by Stavros Tsiolis.

The 30th Film Festival was held from October 2 to 8, 1989.

This year, the three main prizes, best film, best director and best screenplay, were not awarded. On the day after the Festival ended, Klearchos Konitsiotis passed away in his room at “Makedonia Palace” Hotel.

The 31st Film Festival held in 1990 took place under the tenure of Mr. Tzanis Tzannetakis as Minister of Culture. The best film prize was awarded to Stavros Tsiolis for the film “Erotas Sti Churmadia” (Love Under the Date-Tree).

The 32nd Film Festival was held from September 30 to October 6, 1991, with the President of HELEXPO-TIF, Mr. Alexandros Bakatselos, as President of the Organising Committee, and Mr. Theo Angelopoulos as President of the Judges’ Committee. By decision of the organizers, evening dress was required for the award ceremonies of the festival, while Lakis Lazopoulos was the master of ceremonies at the closing ceremony. The Judges’ Committee made the unprecedented decision of not awarding the prizes for best film, director, screenplay, editing, sound recording, make-up and documentary.

The 33rd Film Festival held in 1992 was a landmark in the history of the institution, marking its internationalization. The best film prize was rename to the Golden Alexander, created by sculptor Pavlos Kuyumtzis. The best film prize of the Greek contest programme was awarded to the film “Byron, Ballad for a Demon” by Nikos Koundouros.

The 34th Film Festival was held from November 5 to 14, 1993, the opening film being “Never on Sunday” by Jules Dassin. The opening ceremony was dedicated to Federico Fellini, who had passed away recently. The Golden Alexander was awarded to the film “From the Snow” by Sotiris Goritsas.

The 35th Film Festival held in 1994 was dominated by renowned Japanese director Nagisa Oshima, whose work was

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Dimos Starenios and Georges Sari.

Yiorgos Fountas and Maro Kontou.

Petros Fyssoun

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Elli Fotiou.

Yiorgos Fountas.

Phaedon Georgitsis and Anna Fonsou.

shown during a retrospective homage. The Golden Alexander was awarded to the film “The Days” by Wang Xiaoshuai, while the best film prize in the Greek competition part was awarded “End of an Era” by Antonis Kokkinos.

The 36th Film Festival held in 1995 was the last to be hosted at the Society of Macedonian Studies. The Silver Alexander was awarded to “Little Sister” by Robert Jan Westdijk, which was also nominated for an Oscar. The Golden Alexander was awarded to “Postman” by He Jianjun.

The 37th Film Festival held in 1996 featured the first screenings of 3D films. Georges Corraface, future President of the Festival, received a prize for his performance in the film “The Slaughter of the Cock”. The Golden Alexander was awarded to Udayan Prasad for the film “Brothers in Trouble”.

In 1997, the 38th Film Festival returned to Olympion Cinema, which had hosted the first four events. The programme began with the film “The Full Monty”, which was nominated for an Oscar. The Golden Alexander was awarded to the film “Road to Nhill” by Sue Brooks. The 1st Female Prize of the Greek competition part was shared by Irene Igglesi and Jasmin Tabatabai and was dedicated to the memory of Aliki Vougiouklaki.

Theo Angelopoulos was appointed as the new President of the 39th Film Festival held in 1998. The Minister of Culture, Mr. Evangelos Venizelos, inaugurated the Festival with a recorded message, due to being absent abroad. The Golden Alexander was awarded to Yoichiro Takahashi for the film “Fishes in August”.

The 40th Film Festival was held from November 12 to 21, 1999 at the renovated Port warehouses. The sparkling Catherine Deneuve was the guest of honour of the Festival. The Golden Alexander was awarded to Zhang Yang for the film “Shower”.

The 41st Film Festival began with Theodoros Pangalos as Minister of Culture and ended with Evangelos Venizelos as Minister of Culture. The inauguration was attended by the Prime Minister, Mr. Constantinos Simitis, who was accompanied by his wife, Daphne. The guest of honour at the Festival was Harvey Keitel, while a homage event to Theo Angelopoulos was held.

The Golden Alexander was awarded to “Last Resort” by Pawel Pawlikowski.

In 2001, the American diva Faye Dunaway visited Thessaloniki

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Snapshot from the pier of the city port.

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to attend the 42nd Film Festival. The Golden Alexander was awarded to the film “Tirana Year Zero” by Fatmir Koçi.

The 43rd Film Festival held in 2002 honoured the contribution of Pantelis Voulgaris to cinema with a retrospective homage to his work. The Golden Alexander was shared by “Woman of Water” by Hidenori Sugimori and “Blissfully Yours” by Apichatpong Weerasethakul.

The film “A Touch of Spice” was shown during the Greek programme of the 44th Film Festival in 2003 and became a major success. The Golden Alexander was awarded to “The Last Train” by Aleksei German.

The Golden Alexander of the 45th Film Festival in 2004 was awarded to the Iranian film “Bitter Dream” by Mohsen Amiryousefi, which also won the audience prize.

In 2005, Georges Corraface was appointed as the new President of the 46th Film Festival, which was held during the tenure of the Prime Minister, Mr. Constantinos Karamanlis, as Minister of Culture. The guest of honour at the Festival was Francis Ford Coppola, director of the legendary film “Apocalypse Now”.

The Golden Alexander was awarded to the film “Someone Else’s Happiness” by Fien Troch.

Mr. Karolos Papoulias was the first President of the Republic to visit the Film Festival during its 47th event in 2006. The film “Loafing and Camouflage: Sirens in the Aegean” proved very popular during the Greek programme. The Golden Alexander was awarded the film “Family Ties” by Kim Tae-Yong.

John Malkovich was among the guests of the 48th Film Festival, held from November 16 to 25, 2007. The Golden Alexander was awarded to Chinese director Cai Shangjun for the film “The Red Awn”.

Theo Angelopoulos’ film “The Dust of Time”, starring Willem Dafoe, was screened for the first time at the 49th Film Festival.

Guests of honour included Emir Kusturica and Oliver Stone. The Golden Alexander was awarded to Iranian director Abdolreza Kahani for the film “Over There”.

In 2009, the Golden Alexander was awarded to the film “Ajami”, which also won the best screenplay prize and the audience prize at the anniversary 50th Thessaloniki Film Festival; the film was

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The National Theatre of Northern Greece at full capacity.

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also nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar.

The 51st Thessaloniki Film Festival was held from December 3 to 12, 2010 and ended with the awarding of the Golden Alexander to the film “Periferic” by Bogdan George Apetri.

During the 52nd Thessaloniki Film Festival, held from 4 to 13 November 2011, the Golden Alexander award for best film was presented to the film “Twilight Portrait” by Angelina Nikonova, while the special Judges’ Committee awards, the Silver and Bronze Alexander, were presented to the films “Eighty Letters”

by Vaclav Kadrnka and “Porfirio” by Alejander Landes, respectively.

The 53rd Thessaloniki Film Festival ended on Saturday, 10 November 2012, at the closing ceremony held at “Olympion”, which was at full capacity.

The Golden Alexander, presented in the memory of Theo Angelopoulos, was awarded to the film “A Hijacking” by Tobias Lindholm. The award was presented by Theo Angelopoulos’ life partner and producer of most of his films, Mrs. Phoebe Economopoulou-Angelopoulou.

The Silver Alexander, the special Judges’ Committee prize, was awarded to the film “Mold” by Ali Aydin, while the Bronze Alexander, the special prize for originality and innovation, was awarded to the film “Epilogue” by Amir Manor.

The 54th Thessaloniki Film Festival was held from 1 to 10 November 2013. Out of a total of 150 films from 54 countries, the grand prize of the event, the Golden Alexander, which was presented in the memory of Theo Angelopoulos, was awarded to the film “The Golden Cage” by Diego Quemada-Diez. The Silver Alexander, the special Judges’ Committee prize, was awarded to the film “Suzanne” by Katell Quillevere, while the Bronze Alexander, the special prize for originality and innovation, was awarded to the film “Bad Hair” by Mariana Rondon.

Despite the economic crisis, which has greatly impacted culture in Greece, the Festival continues to be a trailblazer, standing out amongst the most important film festivals in Europe.

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Voting during the 1982 Song Festival

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n October 3, 1959 at the “King George” Hotel in Athens, a ball was held, organised by the Union of the Radio Station Personnel; this was transmitted live on the radio and marked the birth of the Greek Song Festival. The one and only Nana Mouskouri received 1st and 2nd Prize for the songs “Kapou yparchei i agapi mou” (Somewhere my love), by unforgettable Manos Hadjidakis and “Xero kapoio asteri” (I know a star) by Mimis Plessas and Kostas Pretenderis. The 3rd prize went to a singer who was to become the legend of the Festival, Yiannis Voyatzis for the song “Esena” (You).

The 2nd Greek Song Festival was held at the “Athinaia” night club, near Faliron Horse Racing Grounds, in 1960. The programme was presented by Maria Kalouta and Dinos Iliopoulos.

First prize went once again to the one and only Nana Mouskouri for Manos Hadjidakis’ song “Kyparissaki” (Young Cypress tree).

In 1961, the 3rd Greek Song Festival was organized once again by the National Radio Institute at “Athinea” night club. First prize went to Mary Linda for the song “Apagogi” (Abduction).

In 1962, for the first time, TIF, in cooperation with the Greek Music Company, organized an event that was to become an institution in Thessaloniki. The “Greek Song Festival” was renamed to “Light Greek Music Festival” and was transferred to Thessaloniki. More than 10,000 people enjoyed the first event on the 12th and 14th of September at the YMCA stadium. Tickets cost 15, 30 and 50 drachmas, and there was a 40-member orchestra. The first prize went to the song “Oi Alyssides” (The Chains) by composer Costas Giannidis and lyricist Stelios Christophides, performed by Caitie Belinda. Other participants in the 1st Song Festival were Yiannis Voyiatzis, Jenny Vanou and Zoe Kouroukli. On the occasion of the award ceremony a dance was organized in the Officers’ Club; invitations cost 100 drachmas.

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On September 11, 12, and 13, 1963, at the YMCA stadium, the 5th Light Greek Song Festival took place, the 2nd to be held in Thessaloniki, presented for the first time by Alkis Steas.

Among contestants were Jenny Vanou, Zoitsa Kouroukli, Yiannis Voyiatzis, Terris Chryssos, Nini Zacha, and Nadia Constantopoulou. Song auditions were held at the Royal Theatre. Artists performed 22 compositions on three nights, until Yiannis Voyiatzis was declared the winner with the song “Petaxe ena pouli” (A bird flew).

The 3rd Light Song Festival was well-established, having being held for the 3rd time in Thessaloniki, and 25,000 audience members attended the three concerts at the new Palais des Sports, for the first time, on September 16, 17 and 18, 1964. First prize was awarded to Nadia Constantopoulou for her performance of the song “Poios” (Who?) by composer Takis Morakis.

In 1965, the Greek Light Song Festival was held on September 16 and 17 at the Palais des Sports, in cooperation with the National Radio Institute. First prize was awarded to the song “Itan Megali i Nyxta” (It Was a Long Night) composed by Notis Mavroudis with lyrics by Yiannis Kakoulides, performed by Soula Birbili. The great Greek composer Manos Hadjidakis also participated in the Judges’ Committee.

The 5th Song Festival took place on September 7, 8 and 9, 1966 at the Palais des Sports, which was bursting at the seams from the crowds. A member of the 15-member Judges’ Committee was the unforgettable war singer Sophia Vembo. Among contestants were Angela Zilia, Popi Asteriadou, Kaiti Chomata, Cleo Denardou and Litsa Sakellariou. A 6,000 strong audience gave a standing ovation to the Thessaloniki-born composer and songwriter, George Mavromoustakis, for his song “Panigyri”, which was awarded 1st prize, and was sung by Mary Alexopoulou and Cleo Denardou.

During the 1967 Fair, the 6th Greek Song Festival also took place at the Palais des Sports. The unforgettable Alekos Sakkelarios was a member of the Judges’ Committee. 1st Prize was awarded to the song “Kalosorisses Erota” (Welcome, love), composed by Mouzakis with lyrics by Fermanoglou, which was performed by Sotos Panagopoulos and Angela Zilia. A representative of the 3rd Army Corps participated in the Song Festival Organising Committee.

On September 11, 12 and 13, 1968, the 7th Greek Song Festival took place at the Palais des Sports. The 1st prize was awarded

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to Tonis Stratis and Christiana Douvi, for the song “To kalokairi ekeino” (That summer), performed by Nikos Antoniou and Tonis Stratis. Award for artistic interpretation went to Cleo Denardou and Nikos Antoniou.

On September 17, 18 and 19, 1969, the 8th Greek Song Festival took place at the Palais des Sports. Among contestants that year were Tonis Vavatsikos, Terris Chrysos, Nini Zacha, Angela Zilia, Cleo Denardou, Giannis Vogiatzis, Litsa Sakellariou, Paschalis Arvanitides and Popi Asteriadou. First prize was awarded to Alekos Spathis’ song “To pikro parapono” (Bitter complaint), performed by Panos Kokkinos and Tonis Stratis, while the second award went to the song “Ekeini” (She), written by Tolis Voskopoulos and performed by Giannis Vogiatzis and Panos Kokkinos.

The 9th Song Festival took place on September 9, 10 and 11, 1970. That year the Greek Institute of Radio and Television had live connections with Greek cities where residents could vote for the best songs alongside the audience at the Palais des Sports.

The first prize was awarded to the song written by Tolis Voskopoulos and Ilia Lymperopoulou, “Aderfia mou, alites, poulia” (Birds, my wandering brothers), performed by Giannis Vogiatzis.

The 10th Song Festival was held at the Palais des Sports on September 8, 9 and 10, 1971. First Prize went to the song “Palio kanoni” (Old Cannon) by Yorgos Mavromoustakis, sung by Yiannis Petropoulos.

The 11th Greek Song Festival was held on September 20, 21 and 22, 1972 at the Palais des Sports. Among judges were Freddy Germanos, Yorgos Katsaros and Alekos Sakellarios. Songs contesting that year included: “Xanthi, Agapimeni Panagia” (Blond, Beloved Madonna), sung by Tolis Voskopoulos and “Gyrna Pisso Apostoli” (Come back, Apostolis), sung by Michalis Violaris. Among audience members was the impressive Zoe Laskari. First prize went to Doros Georgiadis for the song “An imoun ploussios” (If I were a rich man).

The first prize of the 1973 Song Festival went to Dimitris Kontolazos for the song “Barbalias” (Uncle Lias), by composer Petros Zervas and lyricist Dimitris Karastathis. The “Charms” Band won second place was the song “Na meinoume panta paedia” (May we stay children forever).

The 13th Greek Song Festival was held on September 19, 20 and 21, 1974 at the Palais des Sports, and the Chairman of

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Yiannis Voyatzis.

Alkis Steas

Doros Georgiadis.

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Tolis Voskopoulos.

Presentation of an award to Vassilis Tsitsanis by Ninos Zardinidis.

Dimitris Mitropanos.

the Judges’ Committee was the great Greek composer Manos Hadjidakis. The Festival was co-presented by Alkis Steas and Aemilia Ypsilanti. First Prize went to Tonis Vavatsikos for his legendary song “Poios na xerei sto vlemma tou piso ti kryvei o Theos gia mas” (Who knows what might be in store for us behind God’s eyes). Songs that caused sensation were “Ase me na fygo” (Let me go) sung by Aleka Kanellidou and “Choris dekara” (Peniless) sung by Eleni Vitali. During the Festival, honorary distinction awards were presented to Tonis Maroudas and Vassilis Tsitsanis.

On September 18, 19 and 20, 1975, at the Palais des Sports, the 14th Song Festival was organised in the presence of Mallorca Festival President Augusto Alguero and President of the Tourism Organisation of San Remo (organiser of the well-known festival) Bruno. Alkis Seas attended the Festival as a member of the audience. Presenters were Tonia Kaziani and Yorgos Tzortzis.

First prize went to Robert Williams and Bessie Argyraki for the song “San ena oneiro” (Like a Dream). During the Festival, TIF paid tribute to Yiannis Spartakos and Manolis Chiotis for their overall contribution to Greek music.

The 15th Song Festival in 1976 was again presented by Alkis Steas, while two songs shared first position and split the prize money of 1st and 2nd Prizes. The songs were “Hilies fores” (A Thousand Times), sung by Kostis Christou and “Aspra Poulia” (White Birds), sung by Maria Douraki. The Yugoslavian Group “Sacha Subota” performed on the final night of the Song Festival.

The 16th Song Festival was held on September 15 and 16, 1977, at the Palais des Sports. Before the show began, TIF Vice-President G. Athanassiadis announced the sad news of Maria Callas’ death and a moment’s silence was observed. Maria Callas died at the age of 53 from a heart attack. After the songs were presented and until the results of the contest were announced, the audience was entertained by the songs of popular Belgian singer Art Sullivan. First Prize was awarded to Doros Georgiadis for his song “As kanoume apopse mian archi” (Let’s make a start tonight), sung by Anna Vissi. Singer Yorgos Koinoussis announced on stage that he would offer the Money Prize of 70,000 drachmas awarded to him by the National Radio Institute for being the most popular performer at the Song Festival in aid of Panorama Preventorium “Agios Dimitrios”.

The 1978 Song Festival was held at “RADIO CITY” cinema theatre that year, because the Palais des Sports was being repaired after the earthquake damage it had suffered. First Prize went to

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the song “Etouti tin ora as ginoume ena” (Let us become one) composed by Yiannis Petritsis with lyrics by Sophy Pappa, who also performed the song. The audience elected Tonis Vavatsikos as the most popular singer. Among contestants were Jovanna Frangouli and Lia Vissi.

The 18th Song Festival was held on September 20 and 21, 1979, at the Palais des Sports. First Prize went to the song “An kateveis Christe” (If you come down to Earth, Christ) sung by Yorgos Polychroniadis. During the Festival, an honorary plaque was presented to Mimis Traiforos, the husband of unforgettable Sophia Vembo, paying tribute to the social, artistic and national work of his wife. On the second evening of the Festival, on the occasion of the “Year of the Child”, the audience enjoyed Children’s Folk Dance groups. For the first time at the Song Festival light effects were used to enhance the stage set.

In 1980, the 19th Song Festival was held from 18 to 19 September at the Palais des Sports. Contestants included Gina Speliotopoulou, Eleni Dimou, Yiannis Voyatzis, Antypas, Michalis Violaris, and Angela Dimitriou. First Prize went to the song “Tis giagias ta paramythia” (Grandma’s Tales) composed by Spyros Ioannidis with lyrics by Gina Speliotopoulou, who also performed the song.

The 20th Song Festival was held on September 24 to 25, 1981 at the theatre of the Society of Macedonian Studies. During this event, the inimitable Alkis Steas was honoured for his contributions to the Festival. The presenter at the 24rd event was Maria Aliferi. The 1st Prize was awarded to Eleni Dimou for the song “Mia Agapi San ki Afti” (A Love Like This).

The 21st Song Festival was held on September 23-24, 1982, returning after two years to Palais Des Sports. The presenters were Philarete Komnenou and Kosmas Zacharof. This year’s festival had no winner. The qualification committee deemed that only 7 songs, of the 283 submitted, met the conditions for participation. Through its own intervention, the administration of TIF qualified another 4 songs, with 11 songs being presented to the audience, but with no competitive process taking place.

Singers participating in the event included Sofia Vossou.

In 1983, the 22nd Song Festival was held on September 22-23 at Palais Des Sports. The presenter was Eleni Kiskira and the 1st Prize was awarded to Petros Karalis for a song by Vassilis Tserelis titled “Ilie Mou” (My Sun). The contestants included Efi Sarri.

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In 1984, The Song Festival was held at Theatro Dassous (Forest Theatre) on September 13-14. This year, there was no audience voting for the best song, which was selected by decision of the judges’ committee. Eight renowned artists presented the event, including Dimitra Galani, Magarita Zorbala and Thanos Mikroutsikos. The 1st Prize was awarded to Sofia Vossou for the song “Chameni Isorropia” (Lost Balance).

The 24th Greek Song Festival was held on September 12 and 13, 1985 at the theatre hall of the Society of Macedonian Studies and not at the Forest Theatre, as originally planned, due to poor weather conditions. As part of the satellite events of the Festival, concerts were held by M. Mitsias on the first night and L. Papadopoulos on the second. The 1st Prize was shared by the songs “Melancholikes Kyriakes” (Melancholy Sundays) and “Elafaki Mou” (My Little Deer), performed by Christos Dakos and Fotini Vazou, respectively. Contestants at the 27th Song Festival included Anastassia Moutsatsou.

Mako Georgiadou presented the 25th Song Festival, organized on September 11 and 12, 1986 at the theatre of the Society of Macedonian Studies. Christina Maragozi performed “Pende ke Tetarto” (A Quarter Past Five), but the 1st Prize was awarded to Nikos Moraitopoulos, who song “Saloniki Mou” (My Salonica) with Timoleon Moraitopoulos.

The 26th Song Festival was not held during TIF for the first time. Instead, it was held on October 15 and 16, 1987 at the National Theatre of Northern Greece (former Royal Theatre).

The Festival was moved due to the organisation of the first “ECHORAMA” exhibition, during which major international artists appeared, such as Spandau Ballet, the Stranglers, Pet Shop Boys, the Communards, and others. That year, committees from the 54 Prefectures of Greece voted on the songs. The 1st Prize was awarded to Yiannis Gardelis for the song “Kalinichta sto Pedi” (Goodnight to the Kid). On the final evening of the Festival, the audience enjoyed a concert by Mariza Koch.

Kostas Rigopoulos, an exceptional actor, was the presenter at the 27th Song Festival, held on October 13 and 14, 1988 at the National Theatre of Northern Greece. The 1st Prize was awarded to the song “Erotiko Syblegma” (Erotic Complex), performed by Matoula and Athina Lambrou. Within the framework of the Festival, a special homage to traditional folksongs was organized.

Journalist Dimitris Konstandaras presented the 28th Song Festi-

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The Song Festival at Palais des Sports.

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val, held on October 12 and 13, 1989 at the National Theatre of Northern Greece. This year, the Festival did not receive as large an audience response as past events. Among the proposals for its upgrade and return to past glory was its physical return to Palais Des Sports, after the necessary investments for sound specifications. The 1st Prize was awarded to Eleni Michalopoulou for the song “Miroloi” (Dirge), while the “Best Performance Prize” was awarded to Manolis Lidakis.

In 1990, a major effort took place to upgrade the Song Festival. The President of TIF, Mr. Yiorgos Athanassiadis, referred to this endeavour during nearly every public statement he made.

The main changes made included holding the Festival during the Fair (September 15 and 16) at its most popular venue, the Palais Des Sports, with the return of the “soul” of the Festival, Alkis Steas, as presenter, accompanied by Ms. Eleni Konstandinou, presenter on Thessaloniki Municipal Television. The orchestra was increased to 34 from 18 musicians, while the qualifying committee included representatives of artists’ unions and record companies. TIF also instituted a top monetary prize of 1,200,000 drachmas. Eurydice performed the song “Psila ta Cheria” (Hands Up) by Yiorgos Theofanous and Dimitris Kokkotas performed “Charamata – Nyktomata” (From Dawn to Dusk), but the 1st Prize was awarded to the song “Monaxia” (Loneliness) by Yiannis Dimitras, with lyrics by Yiorgos Pias and music by Kostas Prentas. On the first night of the Festival, Pitsa Papadopoulou, Angelos Dionyssiou and the Athinaiki Kompania group performed hits by Apostolos Kaldaras, while the second night was dedicated to Alekos Sakellarios, with the unique Aleka Kanellidou performing.

The President of TIF, Mr. Alexandros Bakatselos, chose the incandescent Zoe Laskari as Alkis Steas’ co-presenter at the 33rd Song Festival, which was held on September 14 and 15, 1991 at Palais Des Sports. The 30th Festival was the only event in the history of the institution broadcast on live television by a private network, ANT1, rather than state television. In an effort to raise public interest, HELEXPO-TIF organized both a Greek Song Festival and a Festival featuring songs from EEC countries and Cyprus. On the first evening, a concert dedicated to Yiannis Spanos was held, with performers such as Stefanos Korkolis, Katerina Kouka and Yiorgos Mezinas. A contestant in ripped jeans and a white t-shirt attracted the interest of the audience and the committee. Sakis Rouvas, taking his first steps in show business, sang “Parta” (Take It), which later became a great success. The 1st Prize was awarded to Anthi Tatsiouli for her song “Erotiko” (Love Song). On the first evening of the Song Festival, a minor earthquake upset the audience at the Palais Des Sports. Zoe

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Al Bano and Romina Power.

Costas Karras and Nora Valsami.

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Laskari, an impressive presenter with a great sense of humour, calmed the audience down and the event continued normally.

Due to intense stomach pain on the international evening of the Festival, Zoe Laskari was bed-ridden and could not attend the event. The inimitable Alkis Steas had no problem presenting the programme on his own.

“Macedonia is Greek” was the slogan of 1,000,000 people who flooded Aristotelous Square on 14 February 1992, marking the beginning of the 31st Song Festival. The song “I Makedonia Ine Elliniki” (Macedonia Is Greek), which did not participate in the contest, by composer Panayiotis Papachatzis and lyricist Dimitris Kartsolis, was performed by Demosthenes Koumaridis (Douvis). The presenters of the Festival, which was held at the Palais Des Sports on September 19 and 20, were actors Kostas Karras and Nora Valsami. Alkis Steas attended the event, seated in the front row. The 1st Prize, accompanied by a monetary prize of 2,000,000 drachmas, was awarded to the song “Dakrizo” (I Weep), performed by Dimitris Nezeritis. Among the contestants was Andonis Remos, a great singer who would later become renowned. The first evening ended with a song homage to the 70 years since the Asia Minor Disaster, performed by the unique Glykeria. During the Song Festival of EEC countries and Cyprus, a concert featuring famous Italian singers Al Bano and Romina Power was held.

Famous director Andreas Voutsinas undertook the direction of the 32nd Song Festival, held on September 18 and 19, 1993 at the Palais Des Sports, for the first time, with Andreas Mikroutsikos as the presenter of the event. The 1st Prize was awarded to “Apopse Argisa” (I Was Late Tonight), performed by Dinos Vrettos and Georgia Psoma. A homage to Stavros Kuyumtzis was held on the first evening, with performers including Emilia Kuyumtzi, Andreas Karakotas and Manolis Chatzimanolis. The audience of the international part of the Festival were literally brought to their feet by renowned singer Salvatore Adamo.

The 36th Song Festival was held at “I. Vellidis” Congress Centre on September 17 and 18, 1994. The entire event was dedicated to the unforgettable Melina Mercouri, who passed away on 6 March 1994. The presenter was Andreas Mikroutsikos for the second consecutive year, while the 1st Prize was awarded to the song “To Mistiko” (The Secret), performed by Katerina Siabada and Kostas Michaelidis. A concert by Mimis Plessas took place on the first evening, featuring singers Andris Konstandinou, Dakis, Eleni Antoniadou, Yiannous Koutras and Nikos Kritikos. On the second evening, renowned Spanish musician Paco de Lucia amazed the audience with flamenco music.

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Alkis Steas

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The 34th Song Festival was held at the Palais Des Sports on September 16 and 17, 1995. The presenters were Alexis Kostalas and Daphne Bokota, who had once participated in the Event as a contestant. A concert by Marios Takos was held on the first evening, with the inimitable Dimitris Mitropanos as a performer, while the audience were enthralled on the second evening

by Christos Nikolopoulos, Katerina Kouka and Michalis Demetriadis. The 1st Prize was awarded to the song “Dakrismeno Feggari” (Weeping Moon), performed by Soula Stavrou. At the 5th European Union – Cyprus – Malta Song Festival, renowned singer Georges Moustaki stole the show, entertaining the audience during the song voting procedure.

In 1996, the 35th Song Festival was held on September 14 at the Palais Des Sports and was presented by Ms. Daphne Bokota. The 1st Prize was awarded to Vassilis Tsirelis and Petros Karalis for the song “Thessaloniki”. Concerts were held by Tania Tsanaklidou and Kostas Makedonas, while Antonis Vardis and Eleni Dimou entertained their audience with songs during the satellite events of the European Festival.

The 36th Song Festival was held on September 13 and 14, 1997 at the Palais Des Sports, having lost the glamour of past events.

The administration of Helexpo-TIF decided not to hold the European Union – Malta – Cyprus Festival. Daphne Bokota, the presenter of the Festival, put on her best performance, while Stavros Kuyumtzis and Yiannis Spanos enchanted the audience of the Palais Des Sports, no longer packed to capacity. The 1st Prize was awarded to the song “San Paramithi Elliniko” (Like a Greek Fairytale) by Despina Aslanidou and Yiorgos Tsandilas, performed by Nikos Karayiannis. This was the final Song Festival, an institution with illustrious history that showcased hundreds of new talents.

Two years later, on 8 March 1999, the inimitable Alkis Steas, standard-bearer of the Thessaloniki Song Festival, a unique human being and talented presenter, passed away.

In 2005, after eight years of silence, TIF revived the historic Greek Song Festival. On October 6 and 9, at PAOK Basketball Stadium, TIF and ERT organized the 1st new Festival. The 1st Prize was awarded to “Xeno Rouho” (Someone Else’s Clothes), performed by Stavroula Arvanitopoulou. The event was presented by Jacques Stefanou and Margarita Mitilineou. On the first evening, a concert was held by Dimitra Galani, Hero and Yiorgis Christodoulou, while Yiannis Vogatzis and Yiovanna gave a retrospective concert of songs from the old Festival. Numerous renowned artists supported the institution in this new endeavour,

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Mimis Plessas at the revived Song Festival with the Maggira sisters.

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participating in the second evening of the event. These artists included Loudovikos ton Anogion, Dimitra Galani, Stelios Dionyssiou, Tania Tsanaklidou, Stefanos Korkolis, Manolis Famellos, Lavrentis Macheritsas, Filippos Pliatsikas, Andonis and Yiannis Vardis, and others. A homage to the great composer Stavros Kuyumtzis, curated by Dionyssis Savvopoulos and Lina Nikolakopoulou, was also held.

The 2nd revived Song Festival, or 38th in the history of the institution, was held on November 1 and 3, 2006 at the PAOK Basketball Stadium in Pilea. The stars of the show “Loafing and Camouflage”, Yiannis Tsimistelis, Orfeas Avgoustidis, Alexandros Balourdos and Emmanuela (Jenny Theona), presented the competing songs on the two evenings of the event. The winners were voted on by the artists’ committee and the public by televoting and SMS. A concert by Dimitris Mitropanos was held on the second evening, followed by a concert by Michalis Chatziyiannis on the second evening. The 1st Prize was awarded to the song “Tis Arnis to Nero” (The Water of Refusal), performed

by Stavros Siolas. Renowned singer Myronas Stratis won third place with the song “Ti Zitas” (What Do You Want).

The 39th Song Festival was held on November 1 and 3, 2007 at the PAOK Basketball Stadium. The presenters were the brilliant Maggira sisters. The 1st Prize was awarded by the Minister of Macedonia-Thrace, Mr. Margaritis Tzimas, to the hip-hop song “Agapi” (Love) by Komis X and Vassiliki Alexiou. From the stage of the event, the Minister announced his decision by which the Ministry of Thrace would become the third co-organiser of the Festival, along with ERT and TIF. A homage to the legendary Yiorgos Zambetas was held on the first evening, followed by a concert by Filippos Pliatsikas on the second.

The revived 40th Song Festival was once again held at PAOK Basketball Stadium on October 9 and 11, 2008 and proved very successful. The co-organisers of the event were TIF, ERT and, for the first time, the Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace. The presenter of the event was Yiannis Zouganelis. The 1st Prize was awarded to the song “Fantastic Tango”, performed by Alexandros Goudas. A concert by Mimis Plessas titled “Ef’ Olis Tis Ilis” was held on the first evening, featuring many memorable hits by the composer, performed by Zoitsa Kouroukli, Yiannis Kotsiras and Rallia Christidou. On the second evening, the audience, which included the President of the European People’s Party, Mr. Joseph Daul, were entertained by Lavrendis Macheritsas, joined

by Vassilis Kazoulis, Babis Stokas, Dimitris Starovas, Andonis Mitzelos and the band Kitrina Podilata.

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The Song Festival at the PAOK Basketball Stadium.

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The economic crisis and the reluctance to support the institution due to lack of the necessary funds forced TIF to suspend the organisation of the Song Festival until further notice. The people of Thessaloniki and of Greece, hoping for better days, are looking forward to the rebirth of the city and, with it, the rebirth of the most historic musical institution of the country: the Thessaloniki Song Festival.

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