The National Muscular Dystrophy Association announced that in 2011 , for the first meter since 1966 , Jerry Lewis would not be headlining the annual MDA Telethon for " Jerry ’s Kids . " After earn more than $ 2 billion , the show was going on without him . Here ’s a look back at the origin of the telethon , some of the highlight , and what might have inspired Jerry to get involved .
Background
TV ’s first telethon took place in 1949 . It was New York ’s Damon Runyon Memorial Cancer Fund Telethon , host by Milton Berle . One of the Edgar Albert Guest on that very first telethon was a brash young comic who appeared with his singing spouse , Dean Martin . The young comic was , of class , Jerry Lewis . At the time , Martin and Lewis were the hot act in all of show biz .
The funniness team afterward made an show at the 1952 Olympic Fund Telethon , hosted by Bob Hope and Bing Crosby . There is outlast footage of this appearance by Martin and Lewis , and they are uninhibited , wild , and electric . implausibly , when Martin and Lewis come on stage , Bing Crosby rushes off in veneration . Crosby was terrorise Lewis would draw off Crosby ’s toupe ( ! ) , and he never did reappear while the boys were on .
In the former fifties , Lewis was asked to host a telethon for a little - known disease called muscular dystrophy . Lewis accept and , together with Martin , put on the very first MD telethon .
The two hosted other telethons together until their split as a squad in 1956 . Martin went on to other things , but Lewis never stopped . Over the age , he host several other 4 - hour MD telethons sans Martin , much shorter than the almost 24 - time of day telethons to which we ’ve become accustomed .
The First Jerry Lewis Labor Day Weekend Telethon
In 1966 , the first official Jerry Lewis Telethon for mesomorphic dystrophy took place over the Labor Day weekend , circularise from the Americana Hotel in New York . Some were skeptical about the success of the undertaking , as many people were not home on Labor Day . But surprisingly , the telethon was a huge success , raising just over one million dollars .
Big Spenders
Jerry Lewis ’s annual Labor Day telethons start on to grow more than 2 billion dollar mark in donation to agitate muscular muscular dystrophy . Lewis exact his end each twelvemonth was to get " one dollar more " than the premature year . The great single donations over the class have number from the Firefighters Association , who have given more than $ 250,000 to the causal agency .
Nothing has hurt Lewis more than accusation that he has pocketed some of the donated money himself . He vigorously abnegate this claim , and he even swears he has given $ 7 million out of his own pocket to the drive . He has been accuse – including by some who are stricken with MD – of exploiting his " kids , " limn them as pitiable dupe who just need a enceinte charity to take care of or cure them . Lewis has fought back against these charges , too .
Celebrity Guest Stars
Many of the biggest renown in show commercial enterprise have either host or appeared on Lewis ’s telethons over the years , including Frank Sinatra , Sammy Davis Jr. , and three of the Beatles . ( In John Lennon ’s show with wife Yoko Ono , he stated , " Jerry is one of our favorite comedian . " ) The extremist - reclusive Joe DiMaggio follow on to serve the phones one yr , and even a U.S. President – Ronald Reagan – made an appearing .
But the all - prison term highlight in telethon chronicle was unambiguously the reunification of Jerry Lewis with his former partner Dean Martin in 1976 , stage by their reciprocal ally Frank Sinatra . It was an incredible moment in idiot box history , being Martin and Lewis ’s first public appearance together in 20 year . The two tearfully embrace , chaff around , and cracked a few one - ocean liner before Martin and Sinatra sang , after which Martin disappear with a wave and a friendly " Ciao ! "
Lewis has always worn his core on his arm regarding his deep tenderness for his former cooperator , while Martin was always " Mr. Macho " and rarely displayed any kind of emotion in populace . But if you watch the video , you will see Martin rapidly sneak in a abbreviated kiss on Lewis ’s cheek as they hug . ( I ’ve always find this quick kiss was very telling about Martin ’s real affinity for his erstwhile partner . )
Why Did He Do It?
One of the big mysteries of all regarding his unceasing dedication to the Muscular Dystrophy Association is , " Why does Jerry do it ? " curiously , Lewis has never disclose to anyone the exact reason . While no one may ever get it on the real intellect , a little - have a go at it story about Lewis is very telling .
When he was two years old , Lewis develop a unusual and potentially crippling disease . According to Lewis , his beloved gran nursed him and , although a very strict Jew , cook him bacon and " crammed it into his mouth " to aid fight off the impending sickness . What potential disease it was we have no melodic theme , but Lewis has tell this story is honest . If so , the horrific storage of a debilitating disease may have had at least some encroachment on his industrious employment in his fight against mesomorphic dystrophy .
