I consider myself incredibly lucky! Throughout the years, I've had the thrilling experience of brushing shoulders with a wide array of celebrities. I've met renowned musicians, iconic actors, influential politicians, and brilliant writers.
One of the most surreal moments?
I once received a congratulatory phone call from President Ronald Reagan himself! And if that wasn’t wild enough, Lily and I just now had the chance to meet Ronald Reagan’s official presidential comedian.
Can you believe it? America, what a country! What an incredible ride!
Yes, we met Yakov.
Yes, we did!
The very same Yakov Smirnoff who once famously said, - America, what a country!
And now I can say, - Yakov Smirnoff, what a guy!
He came to America about the same time we did. He walked the same first steps speaking pigeon English, as we did. And he became an American citizen on the 4th of July, 1986, on the very same day we did!
He was in New York City and we were in San Antonio, Texas, but we were united with one love and respect for the country that had adopted us, asking nothing in return.
America, what a country!
I fondly remember the late '80s when I mail-ordered Yakov’s first book, eagerly absorbing every joke and weaving them into my own stories that I used to tell our friends. Often, I’d lose track of which ones were his and which were mine, but it all felt like a joyful blend of laughter and tears of happiness.
Fast forward nearly half a century, and Lily and I found ourselves in Branson, Missouri, where Yakov Smirnoff had been sharing his wit and humor in his special 2000-seat theatre for over 30 years. To my surprise, I learned that he now performed only occasionally, and we were fortunate enough to be in town on one of those special days.
As we secured our tickets, I felt a mix of anticipation and nostalgia, knowing this moment held so much personal history. Despite our uncertain expectations, I sensed that this experience might bring back a flood of memories and warmth.
The theatre was a bit remote from Branson’s entertainment area and we drove to the parking lot just a few minutes before the show started.
To my surprise the large parking lot was full and we parked very far from the entrance. We rushed into the theatre and a lady in the box office called us by the names.
- How do you know our names, - I asked wondering
- You are the last two tickets I got left, - she explained.
- Wow, what a personal touch, - I said.
The house was full. Usher took us to our seats, and the show began.
OMG, it wasn't just a comedy hour, as I unknowingly was expecting.
It was a two-one-hour-long variety show separated by a 20-minute intermission that also was full of fun and entertainment.
There was a dancing group, another comedian-ventriloquist with talking puppets, music, and fireworks on stage surrounding the Statue of Liberty, that at one point unexpectedly came alive, and of course, there was Yakov himself presenting his story and his very honest message, - Let's make America laugh again!
And what a show it was!
He made us laugh, and he made us cry, and he made us laugh again and again. His humor was incredibly clear. His jokes language was remarkably clean. No sleazy suggestions, no profanities. Just clear and understandable commonsensical smart humor. And he made every person in the theater love his neighbor and our country even more than before because we all live in America. And America is a great country.
This little man in a big furry russian hat lets everyone recognize that this love and respect for the neighbor is something special that lets us melt into one pot to be as one people, under one God, indivisible from sea to shining sea.
Yakov used a lot of multimedia during his show. On the different screens, we saw an old photograph of him and his parents before and after the immigration. We saw a photo of an old lady, an owner of their first little apartment in New York City who organized a used household donation drive among the neighbors to help a new American family. Yakov remembered they got a waffle iron and not knowing what it was his mom ruined Yakov’s favorite pants. I smiled with the tears in my eyes. When we came to America nobody gave us a waffle iron, therefore my pants were safe…
During Reagan's presidency, Yakov served as an official adviser for presidential speechwriters on the American-Russian relationship. Yakov earned a Master's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a Doctorate of psychology from Pepperdine University. What a guy!
At one point during the show, a photo of smiling Presidents Reagan and Gorbachev appeared on the left side of the stage while the gloomy faces of Presidents Biden and Putin showed up on the opposite side. Yakov didn't say anything, but I could tell that everyone in the theater asked themselves the very same question, - How did we get here???
- What a great show! - said the lady sitting next to me, - we are coming to see him for the third time!
- Yes it is! - I agreed standing in applause. - America, what a country! - I added.
I learned something that I had never known before. Yakov Pokhis, Smirnoff is his stage name, back in Ukraine was an art teacher. He is actually a very interesting artist. On the days following 9/11, he painted an inspirational pointillist-style piece where each brush stroke represented the soul of the lost victim of the attacks. He named it “Americas Heart”.
Just before the first anniversary of the attacks, he paid US$100,000 for his painting to be transformed into a large mural. Its dimensions were 200 feet by 135 feet (61 m by 41 m). He got permission from New York’s Mayor for installation. Sixty volunteers erected the mural on a damaged skyscraper overlooking the ruins of the World Trade Center. The mural wasn't signed. Yakov chose to remain anonymous. Although he signed it, but not with his name.
He signed it with this phrase: "The human spirit is not measured by the size of the act but by the size of the heart."
I think Lily and I saw that mural during one of our many visits to the Big Apple.
The mural remained there until November 2003, when it was removed because of storm damage.
Yakov salvaged the damaged mural. He cut it into thousands of small pieces, framed it in combination with his art pieces, and continued to sell it for the benefit of the 9/11 survivors who require special care. All proceeds from the sale went to charity.
During the intermission, we purchased his book, a DVD of his best performance, even though I do not have a DVD player anymore, and a poster of the famous New York mural. And yes, it was a 50% OFF. America, what a country!
After the show, we lined up in a queue to get Yakov’s autograph. He was very good about signing his books and posters people purchased.
The line was going fast, but just on one person before us some lady told Yakov something and he stopped signing.
- Not on us! - I wondered. He can't stop now!
Yakov apologized.
I was ready to be disappointed.
But Yakov explained. There was a large group of elderly people who were brought to the show by a huge tour bus. The bus was about to leave and Yakov wanted to thank these folk for visiting. He ran outside. He got to the bus and he shook hands with everyone showing his gratitude.
What a guy!
He came back to continue autographing.
Finally, it was my turn.
I rolled out a poster and asked it to be signed.
- Your show was incredible. - I said. - You make me laugh and you make me cry and you make me laugh again. And for that, I want to tell you a very big “Spasibo!”
(“Spasibo” is Thank you in russian.)
Yakov shuddered not expecting to hear the russian language.
- Where did you come from? - He wandered in russian.
I told him in a few words how our story is very similar to his and articulated our delight and appreciation for his show and everything he has done in his endless pursuit “ to make America laugh again”.
As Yakov was signing a poster that I bought I asked him to write also inside the book cover his famous phrase: “ Make America laugh again!”
He was excited after more than two hours in character. His hands were a bit shaky.
As he was writing he stumbled on the letter “c” in America.
- You know I'm a most horrible speller - he said.
- You have to see my writing! - I replied and we laughed together.
We talked for a few minutes while other people were patiently waiting for Yakov’s autograph.
I suddenly realized that I was taking everybody's time. Yakov and I shook hands one more time.
As Lily and I walked toward the exit, I turned around and looked at Yakov one more time. He was smiling, making jokes and giving autographs. A little man in a funny russian furry hat with a big smile. All of his image generated kindness.
I suddenly realized how great this man really is.
He came all the way from Russia and dedicated his life to telling others through laughter that the most important thing in life is to love your neighbor as yourself because we all live in a great country called America.
I realized that and surprisingly to myself mumbled in Yiddish -
“…a kleynem rusishen amerikaner mit a groysn eydishn harts”- a little Russian-American with a big Yiddish heart. “…a groysn dank”- a big thanks, Spasibo, - I said quietly.
We spent a little more time admiring Yakov’s artwork displayed on the theatre walls. As we walked back toward the car that was parked far from the entrance I remembered something from the summer of 1980.
Lily, I, and our three-year-old son, lived in an immigrant hostel in Rome, Italy awaiting our destiny. We just left Soviet Russia, as Latvia was a part of it, not knowing how our lives would turn.
One day we went on an excursion to the old synagogue. I noticed Hebrew writing over the ark and asked for a russian translation, as I didn't know any English yet.
“ Love your neighbor as yourself “ - they told me. - It’s written in all Jewish places of worship as it is a fundamental principle in Judaism, and is a mitzvah, or commandment, in the Torah.
That was an incredible revelation to me, as we came from a Russian Socialistic Society where that principle was replaced by covet and jealousy.
As we returned to our hostel I asked one lady who was an English teacher in Russia, how to say “neighbor” in English.
- Is that all you need to know? - she laughed me in the face. - there is more about that language than that word.
- I need that word, please - I asked, it is very important to me.
She wrote that word on the piece of paper and I have carried it with me daily. It was a very complicated word to memorize and it took me a while to learn.
But when we eventually came to America, I already knew how I would live my life, because America is a great country where that principle is universal.
It seems that Yakov had a similar experience when he arrived in our new country with his parents. It was a journey filled with challenges and hopes.
What an incredible person he is, and how fortunate we are to call America our home!
And I say, - America, what a country!
Alex M ©️2024
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