Posted on 09/03/2007 6:10:50 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Showman Jerry Lewis sets a goal for his annual Labor Day Telethon to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association of $1 more than the previous year. He met that mark, plus almost $3 million on Monday.
"We did it. We did it. I got my buck more. And more. We can go shopping," a jubilant Lewis said as the tote board topped $63.7 million for his 42nd telethon. Last year's record was $61 million.
As in the past, the International Association of Fire Fighters anchored the donations from local fill-the-boot drives with $25.2 million, eclipsing last year's $23.5 million.
"Whoa, whoa firefighters. They're all my heroes - every firefighter you see," Lewis said.
Harold Schaitberger, the union's general president, replied, "Jerry, you care about them and we care about you. We'll be with you every year."
Lewis, who has conquered both age and illness to anchor every telethon for more than half of his 81 years, showed no signs of slowing as he pled for pledges at this year's show. While he spent many of the final hours of the 21 1/2-hour show behind a desk, his forays on stage to greet guests were spry and witty.
"We'll be here every year as long as I'm breathing in and out," Lewis said.
The telecast has raised $1.46 billion to fight the disease since it began in 1966 on a single television station in New York City. This year's telecast was carried by 190 stations in the United States and Canada and carried worldwide on the Internet.
The broadcast returned to Lewis' home town of Las Vegas last year after 11 years in Los Angeles.
"We're back in Vegas!'" he said. "It's the best location we could ask for to send out MDA's message of hope."
81 years old????? I knew he was old, but that old?
I remember my grandmother sitting up for the entire thing and giving thousands over the duration.
Jerry looked a lot more like himself, not bloated as the last few times due to the medications he was taking. Congrats Jerry! You’ve done well.
do that for 42 years and that could add up to a chunk of change. 8-] God Bless Granny.
Jerry Lewis was born in Newark, New Jersey on March 16, 1926. Jerry got his first taste as a comic when, at the age of five, he began appearing in his parents' comedy routine as they performed on the Borscht Belt circuit.
Success eluded him until 1946 when he met another struggling performer, a good-looking Italian singer named Dean Martin. Each performed separate acts but frequently appeared on the same bill. One night they decided to abandon their regular material and team up to perform an impromptu routine that brought the house down. By 1950, they were America's number one comedy team.
In addition to their wildly popular nightclub act, Martin and Lewis appeared in such films as My Friend Irma (1949), The Caddy (1953) and Artists and Models (1955). In 1956, after a decade of tremendous success, the duo decided to split up.
She and my grandfather did it for many years that I can remember. They used to compete with other local donors.
I know, he seems to keep looking better and better each year. I say this every year but really, he looks like a 60-year-old out there instead of a man near death. Huge improvement.
Glad to see Jerry is looking better these days.
The Cash or the Cure.
He did look a lot better this year. I was glad to see it. He use to keep a boat at a marina in San Diego and I met him once. Really a nice, unassuming man. He does good work for MD. I believe he has raised over one billion dollars total now.
$1.46 billion is a lot of money. Have they actually made any progress on curing this thing?
God Bless the Firefighters.....25mil per year! You gotta love ‘em
I remember sitting in front of the TV 42 years ago to watch the very first Jerry Lewis MDA telethon. Thought it would be a one time event. not so.
Jerry has done a load of good for his kids. God bless`em!
Unless they dyed his eyebrows, it looks like he still has natural hair color!
Although I wouldn’t put it past a make-up artist to do that...
Remember a few years ago, he gave his personal opinion that “women aren’t funny”. He wasn’t being mean, it was just his own little view he was stating... The MSM flamed him for it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.