Harpo Marx was undoubtedly a most outstanding comic, and I mean that he stood out among the Marx Brothers, as my previously posted entry Stalin, FDR, And Harpo Marx pointed out. But, understandably, he was not counted as Comrade Stalin’s favorite comic, as that distinction belonged to someone else: a homegrown talent, or, should I say, genius?
Arkady Isaakovich Raikin (1911-1987) was a household name in the USSR for half a century, as a towering genius of comedy and an endearing personality. Born in Riga, he lived most of his life in Leningrad, where he founded a theater of his own. Three years before his death, he moved to Moscow, where he opened the Satyricon Theater, now run by his son Konstantin Raikin. Some of his unforgettable characters and brilliant impersonations have survived in his radio and television appearances and in several movies, such as People and Mannequins (1974). In 1968 he became a People’s Artist of the USSR, the highest artistic title awarded in the Soviet Union, in 1980 he was awarded the country’s highest honor, the Lenin Prize, and in 1981 came his final recognition as a Hero of Socialist Labor.
Raikin was a master of gentle humor, found by him in everyday life, but he was also a great satirist, bravely making fun of Soviet bureaucracy, from top to bottom. Although his satire was always understated, it was even more poignant because of it, as his audiences could fill in the blanks by themselves, and they loved this kind of creative participation in Raikin’s skits and monologues. It goes without saying that satire was a tricky business in Soviet Russia, and many comics of lesser talent were not allowed what Raikin was. This is only another proof that genius in the USSR was allowed much greater extents of personal freedom than the run of the mill mediocrity.
Raikin’s recognition became universal and incontestable after Stalin ipse heard his performances and was so impressed that he invited Raikin to perform at his birthday party, where the guests were literally shocked by Raikin’s boldness, and all refrained from applauding the comic, when they saw that Stalin himself was not applauding. While everybody was stiff in tense apprehension of what was to follow, Stalin looked around bemusedly, then slowly raised a glass of wine and proposed a toast to Raikin’s best of health. After this charming entr’acte, came a roaring applause, as Stalin’s guests could let their deep emotion go, directed probably mostly toward Stalin’s grand gesture, but some of it trickling down to Raikin as well.
After this birthday party in the citadel of Soviet power, Arkady Raikin’s future career, and the extraordinary extent of artistic freedom allowed him, were positively assured.
Arkady Isaakovich Raikin (1911-1987) was a household name in the USSR for half a century, as a towering genius of comedy and an endearing personality. Born in Riga, he lived most of his life in Leningrad, where he founded a theater of his own. Three years before his death, he moved to Moscow, where he opened the Satyricon Theater, now run by his son Konstantin Raikin. Some of his unforgettable characters and brilliant impersonations have survived in his radio and television appearances and in several movies, such as People and Mannequins (1974). In 1968 he became a People’s Artist of the USSR, the highest artistic title awarded in the Soviet Union, in 1980 he was awarded the country’s highest honor, the Lenin Prize, and in 1981 came his final recognition as a Hero of Socialist Labor.
Raikin was a master of gentle humor, found by him in everyday life, but he was also a great satirist, bravely making fun of Soviet bureaucracy, from top to bottom. Although his satire was always understated, it was even more poignant because of it, as his audiences could fill in the blanks by themselves, and they loved this kind of creative participation in Raikin’s skits and monologues. It goes without saying that satire was a tricky business in Soviet Russia, and many comics of lesser talent were not allowed what Raikin was. This is only another proof that genius in the USSR was allowed much greater extents of personal freedom than the run of the mill mediocrity.
Raikin’s recognition became universal and incontestable after Stalin ipse heard his performances and was so impressed that he invited Raikin to perform at his birthday party, where the guests were literally shocked by Raikin’s boldness, and all refrained from applauding the comic, when they saw that Stalin himself was not applauding. While everybody was stiff in tense apprehension of what was to follow, Stalin looked around bemusedly, then slowly raised a glass of wine and proposed a toast to Raikin’s best of health. After this charming entr’acte, came a roaring applause, as Stalin’s guests could let their deep emotion go, directed probably mostly toward Stalin’s grand gesture, but some of it trickling down to Raikin as well.
After this birthday party in the citadel of Soviet power, Arkady Raikin’s future career, and the extraordinary extent of artistic freedom allowed him, were positively assured.
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