Exclusive Photos of Jerry Lewis From His Son Christopher
Jerry Lewis was one of the most beloved comedians of all time. Sadly, he passed away in 2017 but left behind a strong legacy. Now, his son Christopher Lewis released a book called Jerry Lewis on Being a Person, featuring never-before-seen photos of the star and stories from his life and career. It also features interviews with his friends and those who worked with Lewis during the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Telethons. Get your own copy of the book here.
A BIG thank you to Christopher Lewis for providing these exclusive photos and their captions to give you a sneak peek into the book.
Telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association
Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis hosted the first telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association in 1952 on one station in New York. Jerry became the National Chairman of the organization when Martin and Lewis split in 1956 and went on to raise over 2 billion dollars for MDA patient care and research until his retirement in 2010.
Love of Dogs
This photo illustrates Patti and Jerry Lewis’ love for dogs. Their English Springer Spaniel, Chipper, was the sire of these eight beautiful pups. Their home was filled with dogs, cats, birds and a variety of other pets over the years.
On the set with Sammy Davis Jr.
Sammy Davis Jr. was one of Jerry’s closest friends after meeting in 1951. In 1969, Jerry directed Sammy and Peter Lawford in Just One More Time in London. The movie set was quiet only when the camera was rolling. All other times there was continuous laughter.
Filling in for Judy Garland
Less than two weeks after the Martin and Lewis split in 1956, Jerry was relaxing in Las Vegas when he got a call from Judy Garland‘s husband Sid Luft. Judy came down with laryngitis and wanted to know if Jerry could fill in for her show that night at the New Frontier Hotel. Jerry had not done an act as a single in ten years, so he said he could only do it if Judy sat on stage with him while he performed. Jerry closed the show by singing Judy’s closing number, “Rock-A-Bye, Your Baby With a Dixie Melody.” The crowd roared with approval, and Jerry went on to record the song, which became a gold record, selling over one million copies in 1956.
Three Great Friends
Martin and Lewis first met Frank Sinatra at the Copacabana where they were performing in early 1948. They both idolized Frank and were so honored to have him at their show. They invited him up on stage to sing with them and everyone had a great time.
"To Jerry, the nicest guy in show business"
Dean Martin first met Jerry in 1945 and thought he was the nicest guy in show business. Jerry, at 19, was already known as an upstanding and polite young comic. When Dean and Jerry first performed in the same theater, Dean signed his photo to Jerry, saying, “To Jerry, the nicest guy in show business, your pal, Dean.”
Playing Paparazzo
Jerry was an avid photographer and always carried a camera. He and Frank Sinatra became friends in 1948, and Jerry spent as much time as possible with Frank. In 1972, Jerry performed with Frank and Sammy Davis Jr. as a benefit for one of Frank’s many charitable endeavors. He couldn’t resist shooting photos of Frank preparing for the performance.
'The Nutty Professor' Tour
“The Nutty Professor Personal Appearance Tour” took place from June 3rd to July 20th, 1963. It included twenty-six cities, twenty-three thousand five hundred and seventy-seven (23,577) air miles, seventy-one theaters, one hundred and thirty stage appearances, one hundred and seventy-five newspaper interviews, forty-two radio broadcasts, eighty-five television appearances, he met with President John F. Kennedy, and the governor of Nebraska, rode in a helicopter and slid down a fire pole.
Always Making People Laugh
When Jerry Lewis was being funny, he was not acting. That was him being himself. He never left home without candy paper in his back pocket so he could black out his teeth to make people laugh at a moment’s notice, usually just before shooting a photo with them. He would buy a box of candy for one of his staff and say, “You get the candy, I get the paper!”
Love of Music
Jerry never played an instrument (properly) and never read music. Yet he was always in the recording and scoring of the music for his films. He would often shoot for the day from 7 am until 6 pm and then conduct the Paramount Pictures orchestra from eight until midnight, scoring the film he had just finished. He was a perfectionist like his idol, Charlie Chaplin.
'The Day the Clown Cried'
In 1972, Jerry directed himself portraying a clown in a Nazi concentration camp called The Day the Clown Cried. The film was never completed because of fraudulent dealings by the producer, and it ended in years of court battles in numerous countries. The production occurred in Paris and Stockholm, and the hunt for the lost film has continued for over fifty years.
Directing his First Film
In 1960, Jerry directed his first film, The Bellboy. His goal was to shoot in twenty-seven days while performing in Miami. Because it took four days to be able to watch the footage shot on the first day, Jerry decided to invent a way he could direct himself on the spot. He mounted a video camera on the side of the film camera so he was able to play back the tape and watch the scene. Known as the “Video Assist,” it became the industry standard throughout the film and television industry to this day. He did not patent the system as he wanted to share it openly with other filmmakers.
Lewis and Nixon
Jerry and then Vice President Richard Nixon became friends in 1955, and he hosted a fundraising dinner for him during his presidential bid in 1960 against John F. Kennedy. President Kennedy became a friend after he asked Jerry to consult with him and Bobby Kennedy on an initiative to help physically disabled children. Jerry performed at JFK’s birthday party in Washington in 1961, and he was devastated by the news of his assassination.
Stan Laurel
Jerry and Stan Laurel became close friends in the late 1950s. Stan helped Jerry while he was writing the script for his directorial debut, The Bellboy, in late 1959. Stan was so helpful that Jerry named his character in the film Stanley and had his friend Bill Richmond play a Stan Larel-esque character in the film as an homage to the great comedian and new mentor.
Top Billing
Jerry’s star continued to rise after his split with Dean Martin in 1956, and he received top billing when he performed in December 1956 with Danny Thomas and Frank Sinatra at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas in celebration of their fourth anniversary. Danny and Jerry shared the love of helping needy families. Jerry was the National Chairman of the Muscular Dystrophy Association, and Danny founded St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in 1962.
Classic Comedy Duos
March 2021
Chuckle at television & films funniest comic duos.
Buy This Issue