AS SEEN ON TV: JERRY LEWIS

When it comes to Labor Day, there's only one historical figure to feature in the "As Seen On TV" showcase.....

JERRY LEWIS

AS SEEN IN:
"Martin & Lewis"

AS PLAYED BY:
Sean Hayes

The TV movie ends with their break-up July 25, 1956. As for the Labor Day telethons he's hosted for the Muscular Dystrophy Associations of America, here's how they started [courtesy of Wikipedia]:

Lewis began hosting telethons to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Associations of America in 1952 after a plea from a staff member who worked on Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis' editions of the Colgate Comedy Hour. The shows first originated from a variety of locations in New York City in 1954, as local telethons seen exclusively on WABD-TV Channel 5 (later WNEW-TV, now WNYW). After Lewis conducted many 4 hour shows in the NY area to benefit the organization, the idea of a big Telethon came about. The organization (MDAA) approached Lewis to host the big event and he agreed. Organizers of the telethon chose Labor Day weekend as it was the only time available to hold the event. Many expected that the Labor Day broadcast would fail with many people out of town or away from their TVs on Labor Day weekend. Even New York City officials were skeptical that it would succeed, which made them reluctant to issue them a fund-raising permit. Nevertheless, in 1966, the first Labor Day telethon—a 19-hour affair—was so successful that Lewis had to paint a "1" on the 6-digit tote board when the final tote reached $1,002,114.

If you want to see, the "Martin & Lewis" movie, you can find it at Youtube, but I have to warn you - it's in thirteen segments. Still, here's the first part if you want to get started:



Have a great Labor Day, every-a-body! Or as we call it in the hotel biz, Monday......

BCnU!