As a movie critic with a special affinity for action-packed comedies and heartwarming tales of camaraderie, I must say that this year’s 43rd annual Miracle on 1st Street Turkey Giveaway and Tree Lighting Ceremony was a true spectacle to behold. The sight of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Arnold, two cinematic titans who shared the screen in the iconic film “True Lies,” joining forces once again, brought back fond memories for fans like me.
Once more, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Arnold shared the festive spirit, distributing food to local families in Los Angeles during the 43rd annual Miracle on 1st Street Turkey Giveaway and Tree Lighting Ceremony. Having previously worked together in the movie True Lies (1994), these two reunited for this special occasion, joining forces over the Thanksgiving holiday to lend a hand.
Apart from providing 1,000 delicious birds, Miracle on 1st Street also handed out bags filled with fruits, vegetables, potatoes, and tortillas. For three decades, Arnold Schwarzenegger has participated in this annual turkey distribution event. Reflecting on the first time he volunteered for this unique occasion, Schwarzenegger shared his memories during an interview with the Boyle Heights Beat.
“I had such a great time. It made me feel so good, that every year since then, I’ve been doing this. To me, it’s a great, great pleasure to donate the turkeys again… because I know this whole season is about sharing. I love America and America greeted me, as an immigrant, with open arms.”
On November 26, Tuesday, the remarkable event known as “The Miracle on 1st Street” unfolded at the Hollenbeck Youth Center in Boyles Heights, Los Angeles. People began gathering from as early as 2 a.m., eagerly waiting to claim a turkey. A local resident named Manuel Padilla showed up at 8:30 a.m., only to discover that a long queue had already formed for him to join. Padilla humorously commented on the situation.
As a humble moviegoer, I find myself compelled by an elderly matron’s request. She wields the power, and has dispatched me on a quest: to retrieve the elusive centerpiece of our festive feast – the succulent turkey.
Tom Arnold Likened the Event to a Certain Superstar’s Concert
It’s fitting that, as True Lies marked its 30th anniversary in July, stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Arnold reunited at the Miracle on 1st Street Turkey Giveaway and Tree Lighting Ceremony. Given the large crowd, Arnold, who played Schwarzenegger’s partner in the movie, likened the event to a Taylor Swift concert during an interview. In the same conversation, Arnold made this comparison.
Upon arrival, I turned to my daughter and remarked, “This seems like a Taylor Swift concert. The crowd is stretching down the block. It’s invigorating. It’s rewarding to be part of something like this for so long. We always have a great time here, and we’re grateful to the Hollenbeck community.
Fans of Schwarzenegger are aware that the bodybuilder moved from Austria to build a reputation in Hollywood, which he certainly achieved. However, upon his arrival in the U.S., the star of “The Terminator,” “Kindergarten Cop,” and “Twins” was unfamiliar with the concept of Thanksgiving. In addition, during an interview with the Boyle Heights Beat, the A-lister admitted that he had no idea what Thanksgiving meant at the time.
In 1968, when I first arrived in America, I had no idea about Thanksgiving. Instead, folks from the gym surprised me at my vacant apartment with bedding, utensils, dishes, food, and a radio. The kindness of Americans was truly astounding. Those moments will forever be etched in my memory. Since then, for more than three decades, I’ve been visiting the Hollenbeck Center to distribute turkeys and making donations.
As a devoted cinephile, I found myself among the jubilant crowd at Roosevelt High School, where cheerleaders, hosts, and numerous volunteers teamed up with none other than Schwarzenegger and Arnold to spread festive joy. It was an unforgettable moment when Schwarzenegger playfully put a turkey in a fellow Los Angeles resident’s shopping cart, followed by his iconic utterance, “Hasta la vista, baby,” that had us all grinning ear-to-ear.
In the past, Schwarzenegger and Arnold have teamed up for a heartwarming cause – distributing toys in Boyle Heights during Christmas. This year, they were photographed with one of the turkeys they worked on at their Thanksgiving event, reminiscent of their iconic characters, Harry and Gib from a beloved film that unfortunately never had a sequel.
If you haven’t watched director James Cameron’s movie “True Lies” yet, or if you’d like to revisit it, I’m happy to tell you that as of now, you can stream the action-comedy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis on both Hulu and Disney+. Enjoy!
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2024-11-30 01:33