Lot #79: Rare Latvian Diaspora Media Lot: Dziesmu Spēle Eslingena VHS (2004) + Čikāgas Piecīši / Iļ

unique collection of rare Latvian diaspora musical and theatrical history. These items are historical time capsules representing the vibrant post-WWII refugee communities and their musical traditions preserved in North America. What is Included in this Lot: 1. "Dziesmu Spēle Eslingena" Original VHS Cassette (2004): A rare, full-length (121 minutes) VHS-HiFi recording of the original musical play produced for the XII Latvian Song Festival in Canada (Toronto, 2004). Produced by LATV (Latviešu Video Studija Kanādā). Made in Canada. 2. "Čikāgas Piecīši / Iļģi" Double CD Set ("Agrie gadi" / "Rāmi, rāmi") (2002): A rare archival double album compiled and published by UPE Records featuring historically significant recordings from the folklore group Iļģi and legendary diaspora band Čikāgas Piecīši. • The VHS Format: Localized, non-profit community prints on VHS from this era are incredibly scarce today. Many were lost or thrown away, making physical tapes like this a prime target for Baltic history collectors or video preservationists. • Cultural Significance: Every element of this lot is entirely written and performed in the Latvian language. This media was specifically created by and for the post-WWII Latvian exile community (trimdas latvieši) to preserve their heritage. • The Authors: The musical play "Eslingena" focuses on the daily lives and struggles of refugees in the post-WWII displaced persons (DP) camp in Eslingen, Germany. The production was co-written by the legendary Alberts Legzdiņš (founder of Čikāgas Piecīši), Andris Ritmanis, and scored by Emmy-award-winning composer Lolita Ritmane. Pickup category timeslot {A}