They also made many personal appearances, recording sessions and television shows together. After ten years, the two parted by making their last night club appearance at the Copacabana where they first started their team.
C. Jerry later began to direct and star in several films including the original comedy The Nutty Professor in 1963 in which Jerry plays a shy, bumbling college professor who develops a chemical formula that transforms him into a shamelessly overbearing swinger, Buddy Love. .
Transition: Throughout the next few years Lewis divided his career between acting ventures, and his own projects as actor and writer-director. .
II Main Idea: Jerry Lewis devoted much of his career in the 1970's to his humanitarian responsibilities as national chair of the Muscular Dystrophy Associations of America.
A. The first telethon, hosted by Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin was held in March 1952 in the state of New York. The first National telethon was held 1953, but did not become the Annual Labor Day Weekend telethon until 1966.
B. According to Bob Mackle, Director of Public Information at the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Jerry Lewis is MDA's "Number One Volunteer" He has never received payment for his year round efforts with MDA. No one to this day knows why this particular cause is so special to Jerry Lewis. .
C. In 1977 Jerry received the highest honor by being nominated by Congressman Les Aspin of Wisconsin for the Nobel Peace Prize for his tireless efforts in his fight for Muscular Dystrophy. In 1976, the United States Senate unanimously adopted a resolution of appreciation to him "For his outstanding contribution in the fight against muscular dystrophy.".
D. This weekend will mark the 38th Annual Labor Day Telethon. The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon is one of the nation's most watched entertainment programs. The MDA broadcast is considered the granddaddy of all Telethons. Jerry's tiresome efforts have helped to raise over two billion dollars over the past 40 something years.