King of Comedy, Jerry Lewis.

He's recently had yet another comeback. His live performance as Applegate in "Damn Yankees" was a hit on Broadway. It continued to be so, as he spent the next several years touring across the country. Also, Eddie Murphy's remake of Jerry's masterpiece, The Nutty Professor, was the comedy hit of summer 1996--just as the original was of summer 1963. Yes, Jerry Lewis is definitely back. But few people realize how brilliant and extensive his career has been, and how wide his influence. He's directed a dozen movies, and appeared in over fifty. There's scarcely a comedian in Hollywood today who doesn't owe a tremendous amount to him. Jerry Lewis is one of the towering figures of comedy, on stage and screen, in the entire 20th century.



Jerry Lewis was born into show business. Both his parents were vaudeville performers. He gave his first public performance at the age of five. But his career really began on July 25, 1946, when the 20-year-old Jerry teamed up for the first time with a singer by the name of Dean Martin. Martin and Lewis were an instant hit. They wowed audiences at nightclubs, on the radio, even on the infant form of TV. And especially, in the movies. By 1949, Jerry and Dean were among the biggest stars in Hollywood. It seemed like they could do no wrong. The critics may not have liked them, but the public always did. Their movies were box-office smashes, their radio performances and TV specials earned high ratings, their live shows were mobbed. Martin and Lewis made 16 feature films together before the partnership broke up in 1956.



After the breakup with Dino, Jerry continued on with his solo career. He made movies, put out records, and expanded his charity activities with the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Jerry had always been interested in the technical aspects of moviemaking, and in 1961 he made his first film as director as well as star, The Bellboy. He went on to direct such inventive and interesting movies as The Ladies' Man, The Errand Boy, and The Nutty Professor (generally regarded as his masterpiece). All of these date from the early 60s, but Jerry continued to make films throughout that decade and then again in the early 80s. I am especially fond of two of his later efforts, which are little known even to Lewis aficionados: The Big Mouth (1967), and Smorgasbord (also known as Cracking Up, 1983).

Lewis's films have many special points of interest. They are rife with inventive visual gags. They have an odd take on gender, because Jerry is never quite 'masculine' enough, in the ways that our society has traditionally defined that term. And they certainly speak to the way that inert objects seem to take on a life of their own, in a culture of mass media and massive commodification. Also worth noting are Lewis's accomplishments as a director. He was the first mainstream filmmaker since Chaplin to do it all himself: to produce, direct, write, and star in his own movies. And the form of these movies is often as elegant as the content is crude. Lewis was fond of self-reflexive gestures, for instance, long before they became the norm in Hollywood comedy. Lewis was a technical innovator in filmmaking, as well: he was the first director to use video on the set, in order to get instant feedback on every shot.



What is it, then, that Jerry Lewis contributed to show business? I wouldn't deny that his ability to cause irritation is part of what he is doing as a comedian. Even back when I was a kid, Jerry's funny voices and facial contortions had the rare power to drive my parents out of the room. What grated on them, as it still does on viewers today, was the relentless infantilism of Jerry's act. Think of a small child's short attention span, its underdeveloped motor skills, its manic hyperactivity, its lack of inner restraint, its inability to acknowledge the needs of others or to resign itself to deferred gratification. These are the very elements that make up Lewis's comic persona. His slapstick routines have none of the grace and elegance that we find in the work of Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, or for that matter Jackie Chan. Instead, Lewis wallows in klutziness. He has a very strange relation to machines and other physical objects. The slightest touch is enough to make everything go awry. The effect is always wildly disproportionate to the cause. Jerry pushes a button, and triggers an alarm clock that won't stop ringing. He pulls at a loose thread, and an entire fabric unravels. He sings a wrong note, and glass shatters everywhere. He takes a photo with a flashbulb, and night is suddenly transformed into day. I find these routines funny, but I suspect that they are also the very thing that many people find excruciating. Because they depend on a set-up in which everything is ever-so-slightly off. Lewis is a master of doing things just precisely at the wrong time. His body seems to flail about at random, triggering chain reactions of chaos in his surroundings. His personality, just like his body, has no center. Jerry is always teetering on the brink of complete disorganization.

All this is to say that Lewis's humor has a high discomfort factor. Often I laugh, but just as often it makes me nervous. That Jerry is infantile also means that he's excessive. Anything goes, without regard for norms of intelligence or taste. Even when Lewis has a good comic idea, you get the feeling he doesn't know when to stop. He pushes everything just a little too far. This excess is not an artistic mistake; it's the very point of Lewis's act. Most comedians create a sort of magical world, in which their particular brand of insanity rules. Such is the case for film comedy on nearly every level, all the way from the Three Stooges to Woody Allen. Lewis is nearly alone as an exception to this rule. His persona is never able to rearrange the world to his own liking. As a result, you don't get a sense of freedom from his films, the way you do, for instance, with the Marx Brothers or Monty Python. You never escape from that voice in the back of your mind that keeps on telling you how stupid this all is. There's always an air of shame and embarrassment to Lewis's films. The nerdy, wimpy Julius Kelp of The Nutty Professor can only escape his sense of inferiority by turning into something yet more obnoxious: the conceited bully Buddy Love. In Smorgasbord, Jerry's character is so messed up and so incompetent that he cannot even kill himself successfully. The film's a series of gags built around the fears and humiliations of an unsuccessful psychoanalytic treatment. But it is precisely this sense of discomfort, of being a square peg in a round hole, that Lewis' comedy captures so successfully.

Jerry Lewis COLLECTIBLES

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The collectibles for Mr. Lewis' long distinguished career are almost innumerable. This list will be updated regularly. A sample photo may also be available.
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8mm Films
"Scared Stiff"

"Sad Sack"

"The Big Mouth"

"Don't Give Up the Ship"

"Which Way to the Front?"


Adventures of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Comics (July/August 1952 - October 1957, 1-40)
No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 No. 4 No. 5 No. 6 No. 7 No. 8 No. 9

No.10 No.11 No.13 No.14 No.15 No.16 No.17 No.18 No.19 No.20

No.23 No.26 No.28 No.29 No.30 No.31 No.32 No.36 No.37 No.39 No.40




Adventures of Jerry Lewis Comics (11/1967 - May/June 1971, 41-124)

Lobby Cards
A set of 8 small cards for advertising the film was printed and distributed. Some are hard to find.

Coloring book

Records
Martin & Lewis - First recording
"The Money Song" (A)
"That Certain Party" (B)
Lewis solo first recording - Capitol (11/3/1949)
"Are You For Real?" (A)
"I Love A Murder Mystery" (B)
Lewis second recording - Capitol ()
"Sunday driving" (A)
"I'm A Little Busybody"(B)
Lewis third recording - Capitol (1/10/1951)
"Pa-Pa-Pa-Polka"
Lewis fourth recording - Capitol (7/10/1951)
"I Like It - I Like It" (A)
"I'll Tell A Policeman On You"(B)
Lewis fifth recording - Capitol (10/22/1951)
"Lay Something On The Table (Besides Your Elbows)" - single
Lewis sixth recording - Capitol (1/7/1952)
"North Dakota, South dakota (Illinois and Indiana Moon)"
Lewis seventh recording - Capitol (12/1952)
"I've Had A Very Merry Christmas"
Lewis eighth recording - Capitol (1/10/1953)
"The Book Was So Much Better Than The Picture"
Lewis ninth recording - Capitol (Bozo approved!)
"The Noisy Eater"
Lewis tenth recording - Capitol (5/1952)
"I Can't Carry A Tune"
"Strictly For The Birds"

"Crazy Words-Crazy Tune"

Lewis eleventh recording - Capitol (7/16/1952)
"They Go Wild, Simply Wild For Me"
"I Keep Her Picture Hanging Upside Down"

Lewis recording 12 - Capitol (1/1953)
"Y-Y-Yup!"
Lewis thirteenth recording - Capitol (5/3/1954)
"Candelabra Boogie"
"Pardners" Soundtrack
Pardners (EAP 752, 6/1956)
Me 'N' You 'N' the Moon
Buskin Beauty
The Wind, The Wind

Memories Are Made For This(BCD 15781;*=Dean & Jerry sing together)
Just For Fun
Donkey Serenade*
Here's How to Love*
Baby Obey Me
Singing A Vagabond Song*
Santa Lueia/Fiddle and Guitar Band*
Old Calliope*
Keep A Little Dream Handy*
Who's Your Little Who-Zis*
I Feel A Song Coming On*
Just One More Chance
What Have You Done For Me Lately*
Sand Domingo
Enchilada Man
That's Amore*
Every Street's A Boulevard in Old New York
Hey Punchinello*
When You Pretend (with Shirley McClaine)
Artists and Models

Lewis recording - Capitol (Decca release, 1956)
"Come Rain or Come Shine"

Hollywood or Bust (EAP806, 1/1957)
Hollywood or Bust
Let's Be Friendly
It Looks Like Love
A Day in the Country
"I'm Sittin' On Top Of The World"

"Back In Your Own Back Yard"

"Rock-a-Bye your Baby (With a Dixie Melody)" (released single, 11/1956) (Top 10 hit!)


45 - "Let Me Sing and I'll Be Happy", "It All Depends On You"

Jerry Lewis Just Sings - (Decca, 33 1/3) (Number 3 on charts!)
-Side 1
Come Rain Or Come Shine
Shine On Your Shoes
How Long Has This Been Going On
I've Got The World On A String
Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody
Bye Bye Baby
I'm Sitting On Top Of The World
Get Happy
By Myself
-side 2
Back In Your Own Backyard
Sometimes I'm Happy
Birth Of The Blues
It All Depends On You
Let Me Sing And I'm Happy
My Mammy
With These Hands
Rock-A-By False Starts
Jerry Lewis Just Sings - (Decca, LP 3 parts)*
Martin & Lewis - (Memorabilia, MLP 714)
Martin & Lewis - (Radiola, MR 1102)
Dean & Jerry - (Argon, 101)
The Caddie - (Private)
"Living It Up" Soundtrack (EAP533, 6/1954)
Money Burns a Hole In My Pocket
That's What I Like
How Do You Speak to an ANGEL?
Every Street's A Boulevard in Old New York
"Artists and Models" Soundtrack (EAP 702, 12/1955)
Imamorata
Lucky Song
You Look So Familiar
When You Pretend
"The Geisha Boy" Soundtrack
More Jerry Lewis - Jack Pleis Orchestra(Decca DL8595, 33 1/3)
-side 1
Easy To Love
You're Driving Me Crazy
I Dream Of You
Everything I Have Is Yours
Isn't It A Pity?
You Do Something To Me
-side 2
Somebody Loves Me
I'm Glad There Is You
There's A Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder
I'm Nobody's Baby
Too Late Now
I've Heard That Song Before
Big songs for little people - (Decca, 33 1/3)
Jerry Lewis Sings From the Heart - (Decca ED2556, 331/3)
Dr. Demento's Greatest Novelty Tunes for the 50's
Jerry Lewis sings for children - (Vocalion, 73781)
The Nagger - (Capitol, J 3267)
Jerry Lewis sings and tells the story of Cinderfella - (Dot, 33 1/3)
"Boeing Boeing" Soundtrack(RCA, LOC 1121 33 1/3)
"Yesterday And Other Folk-Rock Hits" by The Jerry Lewis Singers (Dot, 1965)
Jerry Sings for Alan (cardboard cut-out)
Jerry Lewis: Capitol collector's series (Re-release of songs from Capitol, 1990 CD)
Jerry Lewis Just Sings - (Re-release, CD, cassette) (1995)

RON LEE Clown sculptures
"Nutty Love" - pictured
"I Wasn't Fish'in, Honest" - to be pictured
"Mush Andole - Moch Schnell" - to be pictured
"Curtin in '5'" - to be pictured

Sheet Music

My Friend Irma
"My Friend Irma"
My Friend Irma Goes West
"Baby Obey Me!"
"I'll Always Love You"
At War With the Army
"The Navy Gets the Gravy, but the Army Gets the Beans"
"You and Your Beautiful Eyes"
Jumping Jacks
"The Big Blue Sky"
"I Can't Resist a Boy in Uniform"
Scared Stiff
"What have You Done For Me Lately"
Sailor Beware
"Never Before"
"The Sailor's Polka"
"Merci Beaucoup"
Money From Home
"The 'Be Careful' Song"
That's My Boy
"Ballin' The Jack"
The Caddy
"That's Amore"
"It's A Whistle-In Kind Of Mornin'"
"Mine to Love"
(It Takes A Lot of Likes To Make)"One Big Love"
"You're the Right One"
"Gay Continental"
Three Ring Circus
Title Song - "Three Ring Circus"
"Hey Punchinello"
Living It Up
"Money Burns A Hole In My Pocket"
"Ev'ry Street's a Boulevard"
"That's What I Like"
"Your Gonna Dance With Me Baby"
"That's What I Like"
"Champagne and Wedding Cake"
You're Never Too Young
Title Song - "You're Never Too Young"
"Face the Music"
"I Know Your Mother Loves You"
"Relax-Ay-Voo"
"Simpatico"
"Love is All That Matters"
"I Like To Hike"
Artists and Models
"Innamorata"
"You Look So Familiar"
"Bat Lady"
Pardners
"The Wind, The Wind"
"Me 'N'You 'N' The Moon"
"Buckskin Beauty"
Hollywood or Bust
"The Wild and Woolly West"
"Let's Be Friendly"
The Sad Sack
"Sad Sack"
Rock-A-Bye-Baby
"Rock-A-Bye-Your-Baby -With-A-Dixie-Melody"
"Dormi-Dormi-Dormi"
"Love Is A Lovely Thing"
"The White Virgin Of The Nile"
Cinderfella
"Somebody"
(Plain Old Me)"Let Me Be A People"
Geisha Boy
"Song From The Geisha Boy"
Family Jewels
"So Warm, My Love"
The Nutty Professor
"We've Got A World That Swings "
The Ladies' Man
"He Doesn't Know"
Lewis
"Strictly For the Birds"

Showmanship Manuals (Press Books)
Nearly all films have a companion "Press Book." Most Press books for Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis movies are very hard to find.

Advertisements
Magnavox TV 9/17/51
Auto Lite 7/23/53
Van Heusen 4/8/57
Belforte Watches - "The Errand Boy"
Chesterfield - "Sailor Beware"
Colgate Polmolive Peet - "Colgate Comedy Hour"
Kentucky Fried Chicken - "The Big Mouth"
Martin and Lewis: At the Copa!
Oldsmobile 1958 Fiesta Wagon ad
Planter's Peanuts - "The Nutty Professor"
Purolator Oil Filters - "Money From Home"
Royal Crown Cola - "The Nutty Professor"
Van Heusen Shirts - "6 Hours and 121 Jokes Later"

Miscellaneous
Ash Tray
Buttons
Balsa Wood Plane
Pen and Pencil set
Coffee Mugs
Collector Cards
1960s Cards
Cuff Links
Cups - Seven Eleven
Decals - Star Cal (2 types)
Detergent Box (50's)
Dixie Dairy- Movie Lid
4 Board Games
"High Stakes"
"Power Broker"
"Spellbound"
"Wall Street"
Drinking Glass
Glue - "Dean & Jerry's Sqeeze Glue"
Harry the Hair Handpuppet: Tie-in for "Geisha Boy"
Lighters
Money Clip
Pin
Playing Cards
Portable Radio
Postage Stamp - Ghana, Africa
Programs
Puppets
Dean Martin
Jerry Lewis
Two faced, Martin and Lewis
Jerry Lewis - Marionette
The Scarf?
Rice Crispies Box (80's)
Salt & Pepper Shakers
Shot Glass
Tape disenser - "The Secret to My Success"
Tuck Tape dispenser
Tuck Tape stand
Whiz Cloth Tape

On Available Video
My Friend Irma
The Stooge
At War With the Army
Artists and Models
Pardners
Hollywood or Bust
The Delicate Deliquent
The Geisha Boy
The Bellboy
Cinderfella
The Ladies' Man
The Nutty Professor
The Patsy
The Disorderly Orderly
The Family Jewels
Boeing Boeing
The Big Mouth
Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River
Which Way to the Front?
Hardly Working
The King of Comedy
Cracking Up (Smorgasbord
Slapstick of Another Kind
Cookie
Arizona Dreams
Funny Bones
Rock-A-Bye Baby
Who's Minding the Store?
On DVD
At War With the Army
The Nutty Professor
The King of Comedy (2001)
Arizona Dreams
Funny Bones
Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River (2003)