Advent Calendar Dec. 15: My Father Interviewed His Russian Immigrant Grandfather in 1963. It Was His Most Popular Radio Show, Possibly Ever

In 1963, my father interviewed by great grandfather Alexander, who came to America from Russia at the turn of the last century, landing in Savannah, Georgia.

The interview was such a hit after it was broadcast that my father wound up having to produce cassette tapes to mail out to listeners, for years and years, who insisted on hearing it again. I think he even had to hire somebody to handle all the requests. Or maybe I’m getting it wrong and they actually made a vinyl recording? In any event, it’s not lost.

I of course love it. I return to it when I really need to be transported to a reassuring place, sonically. My father’s voice, but also my great grandfather’s voice, which I never heard as he died before I was born. In his voice I can traverse landscapes, hills and valleys, places I’ve never been to.

He was unintentionally, at times, hilarious, and his love for America may bring a tear to your eyes. My favorite part is the part where he talks about the first time he laid eyes on his wife to be, my great grandmother.

His whole voice changes. It’s remarkable. He almost begins to sing.

“She was beautiiiiful. She was actually beaautiiiful.”

It’s fascinating to me to hear how men thought and behaved before all the Rockefeller engineering. Before feminism. Before all of it.

Well, I should say, how Jewish men in Tsarist Russia thought and behaved—upon meeting the woman of their dreams.

I know the lines by heart:

”I said to her, ‘I like you verrry much. Let’s get married.”

Ha!

Next line is: “So we dressed her up…”

OK, I’m giving away too much of the plot.

I hope you enjoy Grandpa Alex.