"Kalosha" was Sergei Yesenin’s literary cafe, located in the 2nd House of Soviets, next to the "Modern" cinema. The cafe had two halls: in the lower one they built a stage and intended it for performances by variety artists, while on the stage in the upper hall the Imagists were supposed to perform.
Ryurik Ivnev secured an appointment with the secretary of the All-Russian Central Executive Committee, Avel Safronovich Yenukidze, and obtained from him permission to use premises in the 2nd House of Soviets, next to the "Modern" cinema (now the "Metropol"). The cafe had two halls: in the lower one they built a stage and intended it for performances by variety artists. In the upper one they also set up a stage, where the Imagists were to read their poems, or actors were to declaim their works. The cafe of the "Society of Imagists" was given the name: "Kalosha". Before the opening, they put up a small white strip-poster on which Boris Erdman drew in bold letters: "Who wants to end up in a galosh, come on such-and-such a date to our 'Kalosha'."
During the first months, "Kalosha" was packed with visitors from evening until late at night. The master of ceremonies, Mikhail Garkavi, assembled an excellent lineup of variety performers. Poetry lovers were kindly disposed toward the actors reading the Imagists’ poems, especially A. B. Nikritina (A. Mariengof’s wife).
With the funds that came into the "Society" cashbox, I managed to obtain paper, get permission from Glavlit, and publish a collection of our poems.
The tenant of the "Kalosha" buffet, a certain Skoblyanov, at the instigation of the cafe administrator, began naming some dishes after us: roast beef a la Mariengof, rasstegai a la Ryurik Ivnev, Shershenevich borscht, and so on. Strangely enough, these dishes were in great demand.
Payment check 1 Kopeck 1924.
Galosha Club-Cafeteria.
