Is the Jerry Lewis MDA telethon relevant anymore?

[Brian Damage]

It use to be a staple of the Labor Day Weekend. Granted, alot of it was hard to watch, but it was always enjoyable to see the stars that came out for it and seeing if Jerry got that "one dollar more" than last year.

Nowadays, people don't watch it as they use to. Maybe, because the stars he use to be able to attract like Sammy Davis Jr, Frank Sinatra, etc., have died or are past their prime. Does anybody still watch this telethon?

[catlover79]

I've never watched it myself. I am curious if they'll even still have the telethon once Jerry Lewis is gone. How many years has it been on now?

[Mr. Television]

Originally Posted by catlover79

I've never watched it myself. I am curious if they'll even still have the telethon once Jerry Lewis is gone. How many years has it been on now?

It's been going on ever since I can remember....

[Janice]

When I was younger, my parents were glued to the tv, watching the telethon. It appears to have lost its luster, which is a shame as Muscular Dystrophy is still as crippling as ever.

[Scoobiedoo30]

I have been watching The Jerry Lewis Telethron since 1983.

[Sophia's Wrinkles]

It must be doing alright because Ryan Seacrest hasn't been brought in yet.

[BarneyFife]

Originally Posted by Sophia's Wrinkles

It must be doing alright because Ryan Seacrest hasn't been brought in yet.

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by Janice

When I was younger, my parents were glued to the tv, watching the telethon. It appears to have lost its luster, which is a shame as Muscular Dystrophy is still as crippling as ever.

Very true, maybe the fact that Jerry is up there in age has something to do with it. I myself, tune in, but not like I use to. I guess, there are so many other causes that get national and worldwide attention, that muscular Dystrophy takes a back seat to them.

[Jude The Obscure]

I watch some of it, but with all the channels and stuff, it is not the attention grabber it was in the '60s,'70s and even '80s. It still brings in a lot of money for MDA, but at the same time, it makes me wonder if that same amount were given in full force to some other causes, what good could be accomplished to lesser known plights! just a thought and not a criticism (so don't jump down my throat).

[TJL]

I haven't watched in a long time. Like Janice, my Mom and Dad watched all weekend, so that's how I remember the show.

Like Brian I miss the old days when Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and other friends from Jerry's showbiz career showed up and clowned around.

Plus, with Jerry's declining health over the years, how much time is he on the air?

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Sophia's Wrinkles

It must be doing alright because Ryan Seacrest hasn't been brought in yet.

Or Regis.

[tv star collector]

According to Jerry's autobiography, Jerry Lewis in Person (1982): he
was among those who banded together in 1950 to implement a muscular
dystrophy facility. Paul Cohen opened its doors at Columbia University nine
years later. On January 4, 1964, Jerry received a letter from MDA executive
director Bob Ross, asking Jerry to host a telethon. At first, Jerry told him it
was out of the question; he was "gun-shy about going back into television."

But, of course, Jerry changed his mind. The following story clearly describes
just how strong his commitment to this cause really is ...

"I remember meeting a wheelchair manufacturer who said he couldn't bring the
price down on his chairs. He said we weren't ordering enough. I said, 'Thank
you. I'll go home tonight and pray that a lot more children will get sick so we
can order more chairs.'

"Here's the classic of all time: I'm at a meeting with the president of a major
corporation, and after spilling my guts for a good half-hour, trying to get a
contribution out of his firm, he says, 'My business is making automobiles. I'm
not in the business of working for cripples.'

"I can't believe that I really heard what he said. But I know I'm never going to
forget it.

"So I say, 'I'd like to have another meeting with you tomorrow and bring a
friend. Would it be all right?'

"He says, 'Fine.'

"I brought along a poster child; wheeled in this beautiful eight-year-old boy
and introduced him to the industrialist. 'Now, would you kindly repeat to him
what you said to me yesterday?'"

[Scoobiedoo30]

WNOL airs Jerry Lewis at 7:00 am Central Time

[Brian Damage]

Originally Posted by tv star collector

According to Jerry's autobiography, Jerry Lewis in Person (1982): he
was among those who banded together in 1950 to implement a muscular
dystrophy facility. Paul Cohen opened its doors at Columbia University nine
years later. On January 4, 1964, Jerry received a letter from MDA executive
director Bob Ross, asking Jerry to host a telethon. At first, Jerry told him it
was out of the question; he was "gun-shy about going back into television."

But, of course, Jerry changed his mind. The following story clearly describes
just how strong his commitment to this cause really is ...

"I remember meeting a wheelchair manufacturer who said he couldn't bring the
price down on his chairs. He said we weren't ordering enough. I said, 'Thank
you. I'll go home tonight and pray that a lot more children will get sick so we
can order more chairs.'

"Here's the classic of all time: I'm at a meeting with the president of a major
corporation, and after spilling my guts for a good half-hour, trying to get a
contribution out of his firm, he says, 'My business is making automobiles. I'm
not in the business of working for cripples.'

"I can't believe that I really heard what he said. But I know I'm never going to
forget it.

"So I say, 'I'd like to have another meeting with you tomorrow and bring a
friend. Would it be all right?'

"He says, 'Fine.'

"I brought along a poster child; wheeled in this beautiful eight-year-old boy
and introduced him to the industrialist. 'Now, would you kindly repeat to him
what you said to me yesterday?'"

All I can say is WOW! That was some pretty strong bits of info you posted. I always found it fascinating why he chose the MDA to do his charity work for. Thank you for sharing!!!

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by tv star collector

According to Jerry's autobiography, Jerry Lewis in Person (1982): he
was among those who banded together in 1950 to implement a muscular
dystrophy facility. Paul Cohen opened its doors at Columbia University nine
years later. On January 4, 1964, Jerry received a letter from MDA executive
director Bob Ross, asking Jerry to host a telethon. At first, Jerry told him it
was out of the question; he was "gun-shy about going back into television."

But, of course, Jerry changed his mind. The following story clearly describes
just how strong his commitment to this cause really is ...

"I remember meeting a wheelchair manufacturer who said he couldn't bring the
price down on his chairs. He said we weren't ordering enough. I said, 'Thank
you. I'll go home tonight and pray that a lot more children will get sick so we
can order more chairs.'

"Here's the classic of all time: I'm at a meeting with the president of a major
corporation, and after spilling my guts for a good half-hour, trying to get a
contribution out of his firm, he says, 'My business is making automobiles. I'm
not in the business of working for cripples.'

"I can't believe that I really heard what he said. But I know I'm never going to
forget it.

"So I say, 'I'd like to have another meeting with you tomorrow and bring a
friend. Would it be all right?'

"He says, 'Fine.'

"I brought along a poster child; wheeled in this beautiful eight-year-old boy
and introduced him to the industrialist. 'Now, would you kindly repeat to him
what you said to me yesterday?'"

Awesome! Thanks for posting this.