Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon Memories - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Retro4Life · 09-04-2017, 07:34 PM

Hard not to think of this given Mr. Lewis' recent passing.

I think there's a certain generation that really connects with the nostalgia of the telethon, and I think it's the kids who grew up in the 1970s. It was on in the 1960s but it didn't really explode into the national consciousness and hit all the markets until the 70s. And yes, it was on into the 80s and 90s and beyond but sometime in the 90s or so it got cut down and never really had the same stature.

But in the 70s, everybody watched the telethon. Most of the kids I knew tried at one point or another to stay up all night watching. My friend Brian and I fell asleep at 4:30 one year, but then made it the whole way through the next, I think it was 1977.

All the local small towns had places where you could call in and/or donate. Fire stations were a big part of the MDA team, with their boots and fishbowls. Local radio and television stations would interrupt their normal (sometimes network!) programming to showcase Jerry and his kids. Everybody watched the "stars come out", and the tote board changes.

Celebrities would attend the local telethons. One year I talked with Al Molinaro on the telephone, and the next I spoke with Harvey Vernon from "Carter Country." Both were very kind gentlemen and were very patient with a 11 and 12 year old kid.

I always came away feeling real empathy for the kids and their plight, and also feeling that I had done something good by donating. Whatever you think about Jerry, and I know there is a lot of criticism, I honestly think his heart was in the right place with all of this. He really seemed to love and care about those kids and adults with this terrible disease.

Anybody else have similar memories?

howilu · 09-05-2017, 08:32 AM

Two memories stand out. The local portions of the MDA Telethon that featured local talent and the tote board showing how much money has been pledge as well as stories of individuals who have muscular dystrophy. Also, Jerry Lewis singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" at the end of the show. It's a telethon staple.

Retro4Life · 09-05-2017, 06:17 PM

I have to say I am really surprised by the lack of replies here. And no, it's not an ego thing where I'm upset because nobody noticed me flailing my arms around (LOL); it's just that I honestly thought more people would have some memories of a major television event that occurred nationwide for about five decades.

Hey, you never know, right?

siblis · 09-19-2017, 06:17 AM

I remember when Sinatra reunited him with Dean Martin on the MDA.

KurtfromPitts · 09-20-2017, 10:58 AM

The local portions where I always got to see personalities from local radio stations were always the highlight for me.

Babalu · 09-22-2017, 10:39 AM

I volunteered for the telethon for years and still do for other MDA events. I remember all the big stars making appearances and Ed McMahon predicting what the total would be hours before the telethon ended. The one memory I have from when I was a kid that not everyone would remember was when Joe Namath came on and threw a pass to that year's poster child, which he caught.

09-04-2017, 07:34 PM	#1
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon Memories Hard not to think of this given Mr. Lewis' recent passing. I think there's a certain generation that really connects with the nostalgia of the telethon, and I think it's the kids who grew up in the 1970s. It was on in the 1960s but it didn't really explode into the national consciousness and hit all the markets until the 70s. And yes, it was on into the 80s and 90s and beyond but sometime in the 90s or so it got cut down and never really had the same stature. But in the 70s, everybody watched the telethon. Most of the kids I knew tried at one point or another to stay up all night watching. My friend Brian and I fell asleep at 4:30 one year, but then made it the whole way through the next, I think it was 1977. All the local small towns had places where you could call in and/or donate. Fire stations were a big part of the MDA team, with their boots and fishbowls. Local radio and television stations would interrupt their normal (sometimes network!) programming to showcase Jerry and his kids. Everybody watched the "stars come out", and the tote board changes. Celebrities would attend the local telethons. One year I talked with Al Molinaro on the telephone, and the next I spoke with Harvey Vernon from "Carter Country." Both were very kind gentlemen and were very patient with a 11 and 12 year old kid. I always came away feeling real empathy for the kids and their plight, and also feeling that I had done something good by donating. Whatever you think about Jerry, and I know there is a lot of criticism, I honestly think his heart was in the right place with all of this. He really seemed to love and care about those kids and adults with this terrible disease. Anybody else have similar memories?
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

09-22-2017, 10:39 AM	#6
Babalu Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 22, 2014 Posts: 4,779	I volunteered for the telethon for years and still do for other MDA events. I remember all the big stars making appearances and Ed McMahon predicting what the total would be hours before the telethon ended. The one memory I have from when I was a kid that not everyone would remember was when Joe Namath came on and threw a pass to that year's poster child, which he caught.
	__________________ . I just nailed Mrs. Trumbull

09-05-2017, 08:32 AM	#2
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,961	Two memories stand out. The local portions of the MDA Telethon that featured local talent and the tote board showing how much money has been pledge as well as stories of individuals who have muscular dystrophy. Also, Jerry Lewis singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" at the end of the show. It's a telethon staple.

09-05-2017, 06:17 PM	#3
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	I have to say I am really surprised by the lack of replies here. And no, it's not an ego thing where I'm upset because nobody noticed me flailing my arms around (LOL); it's just that I honestly thought more people would have some memories of a major television event that occurred nationwide for about five decades. Hey, you never know, right?

09-19-2017, 06:17 AM	#4
siblis Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 06, 2001 Posts: 1,189	I remember when Sinatra reunited him with Dean Martin on the MDA.

09-20-2017, 10:58 AM	#5
KurtfromPitts Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 10, 2006 Location: Carnegie PA Posts: 1,534	The local portions where I always got to see personalities from local radio stations were always the highlight for me.