Let's take a look at some revealing photos depicting how the Soviet Union looked 50 years ago under the rule of Leonid Brezhnev.

Leonid Brezhnev meets Richard Nixon.

Vladimir Musaelyan/MAMM/MDF/TASS/russiainphoto.ru

A Labor Day demonstration banner with the text: "The USSR - a flag bearer of peace!"

Viktor Akhlomov/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

Another Labor Day demonstration with people carrying a giant portrait of Vladimir Lenin.

S. Tarashenko/russiainphoto.ru

Italian actress Gina Lollobrigida after landing at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport.

Yevgeny Khaldei/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

Moscow traffic on the 56th anniversary of the 1917 Revolution.

Valentin Khukhlayev/Lumiere gallery/russiainphoto.ru

The rise of Soviet gymnastics. Pictured below are the stars: (left to right) Olga Korbut, Lyubov Burda, Elvira Saadi and Lyubov Bogdanova.

Alexander Abaza/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

Regular citizens enjoying themselves in a beer bar.

Viktor Yershov/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

'Meteor', a Soviet river speed boat with hydrofoil, cruising along a river.

Valentin Khukhlayev/Lumiere gallery/russiainphoto.ru

A farmer's wife tending to a cow.

Viktor Yershov/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

Two women riding a ski lift on Cheget Mountain.

Sharypovy-Afanastyevy archive/russiainphoto.ru

A stylish boy catching his winter vibes in Kaluga.

Igor Gnevashev/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

A perfect illustration for the Soviet song 'Music plays on the boat'.

Igor Gnevashev/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

Retired people dancing in a Moscow park.

Dmitry Vozdvizhensky, Nina Sviridova/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

Triplets and their grandparents going for a walk.

Dmitry Vozdvizhensky, Nina Sviridova/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

Moscow teenage girls gossiping.

Dmitry Vozdvizhensky, Nina Sviridova/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

People strolling along the banks of the Neva River, Leningrad.

Vsevolod Tarasevich/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

A family scene: A father feeding his kids at home.

Vsevolod Tarasevich/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

A student studying in a library in Vyborg, Leningrad Region.

Vsevolod Tarasevich/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

What a dangerous trick! A female gymnast doing a move, with others watching in shock.

Dmitry Vozdvizhensky, Nina Sviridova/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

Girls just wanna have fun. Farmer wives hitching a ride on the back of a tractor.

Viktor Akhlomov/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

White Nights, the most romantic time in Leningrad. A couple strolling along its streets.

Viktor Akhlomov/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

Orthodox priests attending an Easter religious procession at the St. Sergius Trinity Lavra, Moscow Region.

Vladimir Sergienko/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

A builder riding a Soviet 'Muravey' ('Ant') trike on a construction site.

Viktor Yershov/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

A school girl busy with lessons.

Yury Voronov/Cherepovets Museum Union/russiainphoto.ru

Spring is here! A father strolling with his daughter.

Yury Sadovnikov/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

Students of the Moscow Institute of Railway Engineers on the construction work of the Baikal-Amur Mainline pose for a group photo.

Georgy Rozov/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

Poet Vladimir Mayakovsky's muse, Lilya Brik, signing autographs on his 80th birthday.

Lara Simonova archive/russiainphoto.ru

Poet Bella Akhmadullina performing at a fully packed Luzhniki stadium.

Viktor Akhlomov/Izvestia newspaper/russiainphoto.ru

Fishermen beginning spring fishing in the Urals.

Yevgeny Tkachenko/The Southern Urals historical museum/russiainphoto.ru

A farmer family debating amongst each other in a Chuvash village.

Viktor Yershov/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

Stylish Soviet students attending class.

Viktor Yershov/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

There was always time for romance (and there was a never ending romance for exploring everything new!).

Viktor Yershov/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru

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