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PEOPLE & ARTSWednesday 3 January 2018
Polka, Ponzi and prison: Jack
Black stars in new biopic
In a Jan. 22, 2017 photo, Jan Lewandowski, right, better known By MICHAEL RUBINKAM His Orchestra.” bit more in restitution,” he
as Jan Lewan, embraces actor and comedian Jack Black at Associated Press Lewandowski, who defect- said. “I want to perform.”
the premiere of “The Polka King” at the Sundance Film Festival Jan Lewandowski built a ed from communist Poland Some of his victims aren’t
in Park City, Utah. “polka empire” from his in the 1970s and became a exactly thrilled about a
base in Hazleton, Penn- U.S. citizen, branched out comeback or the movie.
Associated Press sylvania, only to watch it with a travel business that Eleanore Ciuba, 87, of Gal-
crumble after his arrest on took fans on tours of Po- loway, New Jersey, and her
fraud charges. land and other countries; late husband lost tens of
Lewandowski’s rise and fall a gift shop and mail-order thousands of dollars to Le-
is played for laughs in “The catalog; and his own TV wandowski. She has never
Polka King,” starring Jack and radio shows. forgiven him, calling the
Black as the flamboyant To fund his ventures, he be- disgraced bandleader a
Polish emigre who attract- gan selling promissory notes “dirty rotten bastard” who
ed legions of polka fans — to his ardent fans, many of doesn’t deserve the atten-
and fleeced some of them them elderly, using money tion.
as he tried desperately to from new investors to pay “I don’t know who would
keep his business enterpris- off old investors to whom be interested in that kind
es afloat. The movie com- he had promised huge re- of a movie, to tell you the
edy premieres Jan. 12 on turns. It was a classic Ponzi truth, about dealing and
Netflix. scheme. stealing from people,” said
Now living quietly in Florida, Lewandowski said he Ciuba, who recalls get-
the 76-year-old is thrilled didn’t set out to cheat any- ting a single, tiny restitution
about Black’s portrayal, body. But he acknowledg- check.
warts and all. Lewandowski es he hurt people who had Lewandowski said he’s sor-
said he spent hours with the placed their trust in him. ry for the people who lost
actor and comedian, tell- “I don’t hide. I did wrong,” money. Ever upbeat, he
ing him his life’s story and he said. shrugs off his critics.
working with him on his Pol- Prosecutors said he de- “They don’t want to see
ish accent. frauded about 400 inves- me happy,” he said, “but I
“I heard myself when he tors in more than 20 states. am happy right now.”
was talking,” Lewandowski A federal judge who sen- And he’s hoping “The Polka
said by phone from West tenced him to prison called King” will give the genre it-
Palm Beach. “I’m telling his conduct “despicable.” self a boost.
you, in moments, I’m won- More than eight years after “The ones who care
dering if it’s me or him. ... his release, Lewandowski about the polka are old,
Jack Black portrayed me in is retired and doesn’t per- and they’re not danc-
a fantastic way.” form much anymore. He ing any more,” he said.
The Grammy-nominated lives off Social Security and “Now we need a younger
bandleader and crooner gives the occasional piano generation.”q
better known as Jan Lewan lesson, barely making a
(yahn leh-VAHN’) served dent in his court-ordered
five years in prison after restitution of nearly $5 mil-
pleading guilty to bilking in- lion — a judgment he has
vestors. little chance of satisfying.
An exuberant performer “The Polka King,” based
costumed in sequins, Le- on a 2009 documentary
wandowski and his polka about Lewandowski, could
band were popular on the boost his profile if not fat-
festival circuit throughout ten his wallet. (He said he
the 1980s and ‘90s. They wasn’t a paid consultant,
played scores of shows a though the producers took
year from Florida to New care of his travel expens-
York, enjoying a long run at es.) Lewandowski said he’s
Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic in talks with an Atlantic City
City. Critical acclaim came casino, which he declined
by way of a 1995 Grammy to name, about a reunion
nomination for best polka concert with his band.
album for “Jan Lewan and “I’d be able to pay a little
budgetaruba@setarnet.aw
