House number 60 on Krasnaya Street once belonged to the wife of the governor of Penza, Mavra Vigel. In the mid-19th century, the building was slightly remodeled and rented out to the United Assembly, an all-class cultural and entertainment club. This establishment was considered one of the most liberal in the province. Here, a simple peasant could freely sit at the same table with a nobleman or a high-ranking official, such as a state councilor. Every week, the club hosted performances, musical concerts, and other events. The management tried to invite artists with unusual repertoires. For example, in March 1914, the then-budding futurist Vladimir Mayakovsky performed here, and earlier, the technical wonder of the time, the movie projector, was demonstrated. Many townspeople saw films for the first time, and for visitors from distant districts, 'moving pictures' seemed like real magic. The show was not spoiled even by what seemed to be a simple program of screenings. Viewers were shown newsreels, including such films as 'Crowd of Negroes', 'Arrival of a Train', 'The Grand Procession of His Imperial Majesty Nicholas II', 'Scene in a Dental Office', and others that seem boring by modern standards. Another part of the building was occupied by the pre-revolutionary mayor of Penza, Fyodor Shvetsov, who opened a Craft School here with a five-year term of study.