Remember when Labor Day was Jerry Lewis Day? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Yong Fang · 09-05-2016, 06:46 AM

As a child in the 1970's, I remember the Jerry Lewis Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy. This show was on from in my Central Time Zone from like 10:30 PM Sunday until 5:30 PM Monday. To my generation, Labor Day was Jerry Lewis.

As a kid, the show sort of sucked. Remember this was the 1970's and basically we had three entertainment channels (ABC, NBC and CBS) and PBS. So just not that much on, but that damn telethon. I lived in Memphis where it was still hot from summer (Labor Day is scheduled wrong, basically we kids were in school for a week and then three days off, I would change it to the first week in October, but off the subject) and it was too warm to go out and there was no internet or computer in the 1970's, and like I said, precious else to watch. So Jerry's Kids were basically background noise

It had Jerry Lewis, Ed McMahon and seemingly an endless stream of over the hill Las Vegas hacks and Catskills washouts. There were some cool people who showed up, but yikes, it was cheesy. Made me wonder even as a kid how such an old man like Jerry Lewis and Ed McMahon could stay up for something like 20 hours without illegal stimulants. Jerry was born in 1926, so he was over 50 when this was on, and frankly it is amazing to me that the man is still alive, because he smoked a lot, and was a drinker. Also, he had a painful injury from doing a pratfall during a number at the Sands Hotel back around 1965. But this was his thing, so there was probably a lot of mental and probably physical preperation for it.

McDonalds was a big sponsor of this. I remember one year our city's local amusement park was open all night for Jerry's Kids. Also, the local CBS affiliate got into the act, with remote feeds from the TV anchors, who more or less had to give up their Labor Day to do this.

There was a tote board on the set and about every hour, Jerry would roust the crowd and yell "Tiffany" (or Tippany or something) then a new set of numbers would roll up and Jerry would go crazy and the audience would go wild. Now, was this the same audience for 20 hours was to be seen.

The Jerry Lewis in the end would sing a signature song, which was emotional and would cry and we would cry with him (or just be happy that the show was almost ending and we can have our CBS affiliate back). The end.

Dean Martin made a surprise appearance one year around 1976, introduced by Frank Sinatra. Dean and Jerry were a big act in the 1950's but broke up, and the two did not speak to each other for a long time. Sinatra couldnt get out of the way. Never understood Sinatra. Seemed like a big jerk to me. Dino has always come across as a pretty good guy. But this thing was very "old school" so not rock n' roll acts here.

But now Labor Day is not Jerry Lewis day, and even if it were, there are a hundred different channels, so Jerry didnt hold the TV hostage for a day out of the year. Jerry quit or was fired from MDA, and now the telethon is basically a several hour show in some no name casino in Las Vegas.

But them were the days. Do you remember the telethon? Fondly or not?

howilu · 09-05-2016, 10:20 AM

I worked the phone bank for the Minneapolis portion of the Jerry Lewis Telethon for many years and to me, it was a Labor Day staple. Jerry Lewis, Ed McMahon, Casey Kasem and many other celebrities were on from Sunday night to Monday afternoon helping raise money for Muscular Dystrophy.

I remember Lewis leading the band during some parts of the show and his signature closing song "You'll Never Walk Alone." It's a shame the telethon is gone. It was also a sign that summer is winding down.

Bonniegirl · 09-05-2016, 12:23 PM

Yes. I thought Jerry Lewis was a cool funny guy from The nutty professor and Cinder fella and such.

But as a kid didn't appreciate or get into the Labor day telethon at all! Depressing, reminded me of summer ending and school starting!

tvfan25 · 09-05-2016, 02:06 PM

I loved watching the Jerry Lewis Telethon. I never watched it all, but anytime I would turn the TV on, I'd check it out to see who was performing. I also liked watching my local TV station break in and show local people coming into the station with donations. It was on a few years ago. But they only had it on for an hour, I think. Now it's completely gone. I remember one year, me and my cousin had a lemonade stand to raise money for Jerry's Kids.

Nordy · 09-05-2016, 06:03 PM

I used to watch it non stop for however long I could to stay up growing up. Since it was usually on my birthday weekend because my birthday is September 2 I could do that. I always loved they when they did they pledge money timpani part. Just seeing Jerry's eyes when the money kept rolling in made me give money to the cause at least $20 every year.

Mace Dolex · 09-09-2016, 04:50 PM

I so totally forgot there was no telethon this year, I never saw Jerry's telethon in the past in fact as a kid I didn't even know he was a celebrity and did movies prior to the yearly telethon.

king of comedy · 09-09-2016, 05:20 PM

When was the last time there was one? It must have been over 20 years.

Regulus · 09-09-2016, 07:44 PM

I believe the final Telethon (Which lasted only five hours) was in 2014.

I remember when this telethon RULED over all other fund-raisers. NONE of the others would raise at least half the money the MDA did each year...

Until 1988, when ANOTHER telethon, (The Children's Miracle Network) hosted by Marie Osmond and Merlin Oleson, raised about a megabuck MORE than Jerry's did. For the next decade both telethons ran neck to neck and slugged it out for supremacy, and it was fun to see which one raised more moola than the other.

But as we entered the 21st Century Jerry's telethon seemed to fall back, until it ended for good in 2014.

Pixie Tink · 09-12-2016, 10:42 AM

Yes I do and I miss it actually. When I was really young I would vow to stay up the entire time and watch it but that never happened. I know it would have never been the same without Jerry Lewis being the host, but deep down inside I'd hope another celeb. would have taken over.

TVCool · 09-12-2016, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pixie Tink

Yes I do and I miss it actually. When I was really young I would vow to stay up the entire time and watch it but that never happened. I know it would have never been the same without Jerry Lewis being the host, but deep down inside I'd hope another celeb. would have taken over.

This telethon signaled that summer vacation is over and school was back in season.

tooltime1987 · 10-16-2016, 07:07 PM

We watched the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon on ABC 40 WGGB Springfield, MA and Fox 61 WTIC Hartford, CT.

09-05-2016, 06:46 AM	#1
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,073	Remember when Labor Day was Jerry Lewis Day? As a child in the 1970's, I remember the Jerry Lewis Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy. This show was on from in my Central Time Zone from like 10:30 PM Sunday until 5:30 PM Monday. To my generation, Labor Day was Jerry Lewis. As a kid, the show sort of sucked. Remember this was the 1970's and basically we had three entertainment channels (ABC, NBC and CBS) and PBS. So just not that much on, but that damn telethon. I lived in Memphis where it was still hot from summer (Labor Day is scheduled wrong, basically we kids were in school for a week and then three days off, I would change it to the first week in October, but off the subject) and it was too warm to go out and there was no internet or computer in the 1970's, and like I said, precious else to watch. So Jerry's Kids were basically background noise It had Jerry Lewis, Ed McMahon and seemingly an endless stream of over the hill Las Vegas hacks and Catskills washouts. There were some cool people who showed up, but yikes, it was cheesy. Made me wonder even as a kid how such an old man like Jerry Lewis and Ed McMahon could stay up for something like 20 hours without illegal stimulants. Jerry was born in 1926, so he was over 50 when this was on, and frankly it is amazing to me that the man is still alive, because he smoked a lot, and was a drinker. Also, he had a painful injury from doing a pratfall during a number at the Sands Hotel back around 1965. But this was his thing, so there was probably a lot of mental and probably physical preperation for it. McDonalds was a big sponsor of this. I remember one year our city's local amusement park was open all night for Jerry's Kids. Also, the local CBS affiliate got into the act, with remote feeds from the TV anchors, who more or less had to give up their Labor Day to do this. There was a tote board on the set and about every hour, Jerry would roust the crowd and yell "Tiffany" (or Tippany or something) then a new set of numbers would roll up and Jerry would go crazy and the audience would go wild. Now, was this the same audience for 20 hours was to be seen. The Jerry Lewis in the end would sing a signature song, which was emotional and would cry and we would cry with him (or just be happy that the show was almost ending and we can have our CBS affiliate back). The end. Dean Martin made a surprise appearance one year around 1976, introduced by Frank Sinatra. Dean and Jerry were a big act in the 1950's but broke up, and the two did not speak to each other for a long time. Sinatra couldnt get out of the way. Never understood Sinatra. Seemed like a big jerk to me. Dino has always come across as a pretty good guy. But this thing was very "old school" so not rock n' roll acts here. But now Labor Day is not Jerry Lewis day, and even if it were, there are a hundred different channels, so Jerry didnt hold the TV hostage for a day out of the year. Jerry quit or was fired from MDA, and now the telethon is basically a several hour show in some no name casino in Las Vegas. But them were the days. Do you remember the telethon? Fondly or not?

09-05-2016, 06:03 PM	#5
Nordy Gilmore Guy and Proud of it!! Senior Member Join Date: Nov 14, 2012 Location: Rockford, IL Posts: 2,590	I used to watch it non stop for however long I could to stay up growing up. Since it was usually on my birthday weekend because my birthday is September 2 I could do that. I always loved they when they did they pledge money timpani part. Just seeing Jerry's eyes when the money kept rolling in made me give money to the cause at least $20 every year.
	__________________ "If eating cake is wrong, I don't want to be right." —Lorelai Gilmore

09-09-2016, 07:44 PM	#8
Regulus Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 07, 2011 Location: Port Orange, Florida Avatar - Poiuyt Posts: 3,374	Thanks for the memories I believe the final Telethon (Which lasted only five hours) was in 2014. I remember when this telethon RULED over all other fund-raisers. NONE of the others would raise at least half the money the MDA did each year... Until 1988, when ANOTHER telethon, (The Children's Miracle Network) hosted by Marie Osmond and Merlin Oleson, raised about a megabuck MORE than Jerry's did. For the next decade both telethons ran neck to neck and slugged it out for supremacy, and it was fun to see which one raised more moola than the other. But as we entered the 21st Century Jerry's telethon seemed to fall back, until it ended for good in 2014.
	__________________ Grail Shows: *Doc Elliot, Owen Marshall-Counselor of Law, Here's Boomer, Three for the Road, Holmes and YoYo* Bucket List Shows: *Hot Wheels, Skyhawks, Run Joe Run, Westwood*

10-16-2016, 07:07 PM	#11
tooltime1987 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 03, 2013 Location: Easthampton,MA Posts: 559	We watched the Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon on ABC 40 WGGB Springfield, MA and Fox 61 WTIC Hartford, CT.
	__________________ Max Passa

09-05-2016, 10:20 AM	#2
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,964	I worked the phone bank for the Minneapolis portion of the Jerry Lewis Telethon for many years and to me, it was a Labor Day staple. Jerry Lewis, Ed McMahon, Casey Kasem and many other celebrities were on from Sunday night to Monday afternoon helping raise money for Muscular Dystrophy. I remember Lewis leading the band during some parts of the show and his signature closing song "You'll Never Walk Alone." It's a shame the telethon is gone. It was also a sign that summer is winding down.

09-05-2016, 12:23 PM	#3
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 65,972	Yes. I thought Jerry Lewis was a cool funny guy from The nutty professor and Cinder fella and such. But as a kid didn't appreciate or get into the Labor day telethon at all! Depressing, reminded me of summer ending and school starting!

09-05-2016, 02:06 PM	#4
tvfan25 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 10, 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 634	I loved watching the Jerry Lewis Telethon. I never watched it all, but anytime I would turn the TV on, I'd check it out to see who was performing. I also liked watching my local TV station break in and show local people coming into the station with donations. It was on a few years ago. But they only had it on for an hour, I think. Now it's completely gone. I remember one year, me and my cousin had a lemonade stand to raise money for Jerry's Kids.

09-09-2016, 04:50 PM	#6
Mace Dolex Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 12, 2013 Posts: 2,670	I so totally forgot there was no telethon this year, I never saw Jerry's telethon in the past in fact as a kid I didn't even know he was a celebrity and did movies prior to the yearly telethon.

09-09-2016, 05:20 PM	#7
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	When was the last time there was one? It must have been over 20 years.

09-12-2016, 10:42 AM	#9
Pixie Tink Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 12, 2016 Location: Grundy, Va. Posts: 5	Yes I do and I miss it actually. When I was really young I would vow to stay up the entire time and watch it but that never happened. I know it would have never been the same without Jerry Lewis being the host, but deep down inside I'd hope another celeb. would have taken over.