MARTIN AND LEWIS' FINAL PERFORMANCE

THE DATE WAS JULY 25, 1956.

THE PLACE WAS THE WORLD-FAMOUS COPACABANA NIGHTCLUB IN NEW YORK CITY.

DEAN MARTIN, THE SUAVE, SMOOTH, BARITONE SINGER AND HIS HILARIOUS COMEDY PARTNER, JERRY LEWIS, WERE ABOUT TO GO ONSTAGE FOR THE 2:30 A.M. SHOW.

IT WAS TO BE THEIR LAST OF THREE SHOWS THAT NIGHT, AND ALSO THE FINAL APPEARANCE OF THE MOST POPULAR COMEDY TEAM IN THE HISTORY OF SHOW BUSINESS.

AFTER EXACTLY TEN YEARS TOGETHER AS A TEAM, THE PAIR HAD MADE 16 MOVIES (ALL 16 WERE MONEY-MAKERS), HOSTED A VERY SUCCESSFUL TV SHOW, AND WERE THE #1 NIGHTCLUB ACT IN AMERICA.

BUT WHY WOULD SUCH A HUGELY SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP POSSIBLY WANT TO SPLIT UP?

THE COMMON PERCEPTION WAS THAT "DEAN WAS LAZY", HE WANTED TO PLAY GOLF AND RELAX, AND JERRY WAS A FIERCELY-DRIVEN WORKAHOLIC, NEVER WANTING TO STOP PERFORMING.

AND THERE WAS SOME TRUTH TO THIS THEORY, BUT THE HEART OF THE MATTER WAS MUCH DEEPER.

DEAN WAS, QUITE SIMPLY, SICK AND TIRED OF BEING KNOWN AS "JUST ANOTHER STRAIGHT MAN", AND EVEN "A STOOGE" FOR HIS EXTREMELY TALENTED PARTNER.

DEAN HAD GROWN TO HATE THE MARTIN AND LEWIS FILMS, CLAIMING HE PLAYED "AN IDIOT" IN ALL OF THEM. THE PLOT WAS PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS THE SAME: DEAN SANG A SONG OR TWO AND GOT THE PRETTY GIRL, WHILE JERRY GOT ALL THE LAUGHS AND WAS USUALLY THE CENTRAL CHARACTER.

THE REVIEWS FOR BOYS' MOVIES, TV SHOWS AND NIGHTCLUB APPEARANCES WERE STARTLINGLY SIMILAR. WHILE ALL THE CRITICS RAVED OVER JERRY'S BRILLIANT COMEDY, DEAN WAS MOSTLY LOOKED UPON AS A MARGINALLY TALENTED AFTER-THOUGHT.

AND SO, AFTER WRAPPING UP FILMING ON THEIR FINAL MOVIE, HOLLYWOOD OR BUST, THE PREVIOUS JUNE, DEAN AND JERRY ANNOUNCED TO A SHOCKED PUBLIC THAT THEY WERE GOING TO SPLIT UP AND GO THEIR SEPARATE WAYS (THE RIFT, AT THE TIME, WAS SO DEEP THAT DURING THE FILMING, DEAN AND JERRY DID NOT EVEN SPEAK TO EACH OTHER. THEY WOULD FILM THEIR SCENES AND AFTER THE DIRECTOR SAID "CUT", THEY WOULD EACH WALK AWAY TO THEIR SEPARATE CAMPS).

DURING THIS LAST ENGAGEMENT AT THE COPA, A BIT OF HIDDEN ANGER POSSIBLY CAME TO THE SURFACE, AS DURING ONE OF THEIR COMEDY ROUTINES, DEAN SLAMMED HIS FOOT DOWN ON JERRY'S WITH THE FORCE OF A PILEDRIVER ("IT WAS AN ACCIDENT", CLAIMED DEAN TO THE PRESS).

POOR JERRY HAD TO PERFORM IN BEDROOM SLIPPERS FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL PERFORMANCES.

BUT NOW IT WAS TIME FOR THE END.

EVERY CELEBRITY ON SHOW BUSINESS WAS THERE - IT WAS TO BE THE BIGGEST NIGHT IN THE GLORIOUS HISTORY OF THE COPACABANA NIGHTCLUB.

BEFORE DEAN AND JERRY CAME ONSTAGE, THE BEAUTIFUL COPA SHOWGIRLS DANCED ACROSS THE STAGE IN THE INTRODUCTION ROUTINE.

JERRY NOTICED THAT THE GIRLS HAD TEARS IN THEIR EYES AND WERE CRYING AS THEY PARADED BY HIM.

JERRY, AS USUAL, CAME ONSTAGE FIRST, DID HIS COMEDY SCHTICK, AND INTRODUCED "MY PARTNER, DEAN MARTIN."

DEAN DID HIS USUAL THREE SONGS (INTERESTINGLY, THE ONLY AUDIENCE MEMBER DEAN AND JERRY CALLED UP ONSTAGE THAT NIGHT WAS THEIR MUTUAL FRIEND, SAMMY DAVIS, JR.).

THEN THE TWO TORE UP THE PLACE WITH THEIR USUAL HYSTERICAL ACT i.e., DEAN ATTEMPTING TO SING AND BEING INTERRUPTED BY JERRY, DEAN STANDING OFF TO THE SIDE WHILE JERRY MUGGED, AND DEAN PLAYING STRAIGHT MAN AND JERRY GETTING MOST OF THE LAUGHS.

UNLIKE OTHER STAGE ACTS, WHO PLAYED OUT TO THE CROWD, MARTIN AND LEWIS WERE UNIQUE, IN THAT THEY "PLAYED TO EACH OTHER".

THE TWO, AS ALWAYS, BROKE EACH OTHER UP.

"I KNEW 90% OF THE AUDIENCE WAS LOOKING AT JERRY", DEAN WAS TO LATER LAMENT ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP, BUT WHO COULD ARGUE WITH THIS KIND OF SUCCESS? - THE MONEY WAS POURING IN BY THE MILLIONS.

THE END WAS NEAR- AND MANY WOMEN (AND MEN) IN THE AUDIENCE WERE NOW OPENLY CRYING..

MORE CLOWNING, MORE SINGING, THE BOYS DID SOME IMPRESSIONS - BIG LAUGHS, BIG YOCKS FROM THE CROWD.

AND FINALLY- THE END- THE TWO SANG THE SONG PARDNERS FROM THE PREVIOUS MOVIE THEY'D APPEARED IN.

THE CROWD WENT BERSERK, APPLAUDING, WHISTLING, ROARING, STANDING.

DEAN AND JERRY WEPT OPENLY AND GAVE EACH OTHER A HUG.

JACKIE GLEASON JUMPED UP ONSTAGE AND DRAMATICALLY SAID "FOLKS, THIS CAN'T BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN!"

MORE APPLAUSE.

BUT DEAN AND JERRY SHOOK THEIR HEADS WEARILY.

THE TWO LEFT THE STAGE AND ENTERED THE ELEVATOR TOGETHER, WAVING OFF ANY OTHER PEOPLE FROM JOINING THEM. (ONE WONDERS WHAT WAS SAID ON THAT JOINT ELEVATOR RIDE TO THE BOYS' SUITES.)

JERRY CRIED HYSTERICALLY IN HIS DRESSING ROOM.

DEAN CAME IN AND THE TWO CRIED IN EACH OTHERS ARMS.

FINALLY, THEY SHOOK HANDS AND WISHED EACH OTHER LUCK.

THE GENERAL CONSENSUS WAS THAT JERRY REALLY WAS DEVASTATED BY THE SPLIT, BUT DEAN WAS ACTUALLY A BIT RELIEVED AND ANXIOUS TO MOVE ON TO A NEW, SOLO PHASE OF HIS CAREER.

THAT NIGHT, JERRY HAD TO SLEEP UNDER SEDATION.

DEAN'S WIFE WAS TO SAY THAT DEAN CAME HOME, THEY WATCHED SOME TV, AND SHE MADE THEM BOTH FRIED EGG SANDWICHES.

JERRY WOULD GO ON TO BE THE MOST POPULAR COMEDY MOVIE STAR OF THE '50'S AND THE EARLY '60'S- AND OF COURSE, HE WAS TO BE RECOGNIZED AS THE GREAT CRUSADER FOR MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY.

AND DESPITE "EVERYONE'S PREDICTIONS", DEAN MARTIN WAS TO GO TO MAKE MANY EXCELLENT MOVIES, HOST A HUGELY SUCCESSFUL TV SHOW, AND GO ON TO BECOME A GIANT STAR - FINALLY - IN HIS OWN RIGHT.

SADLY, THERE BARELY EXISTS ANY FOOTAGE OF THE LEGENDARY NIGHTCLUB ACT.

YES, THEIR WONDERFUL FILMS ARE STILL THERE- AND THEY ARE AWESOME- BUT ANYONE WHO ACTUALLY SAW DEAN AND JERRY LIVE SAY THEY WERE THE FUNNIEST STAGE ACT IN SHOW BUSINESS HISTORY.

TOGETHER, MARTIN AND LEWIS WERE A MAGICAL, POWERHOUSE ACT.

TRUE, DEAN AND JERRY WERE BOTH HAD LEGENDARY SOLO CAREERS, BUT AS WITH THE BEATLES: "THE WHOLE WAS GREATER THAN THE SUM OF IT'S PARTS."

WHY WERE MARTIN AND LEWIS SO SUCCESSFUL?

WELL, JERRY, WHEN ASKED THE SECRET OF THEIR HUGE SUCCESS, WAS ALWAYS TO GIVE THE SAME ANSWER:

"IT WAS THE LOVE WE HAD FOR EACH OTHER. YOU COULD HAVE GIVEN ANY OTHER TWO GUYS THE SAME MATERIAL AND THEY WOULDN'T HAVE MADE A NICKEL."

ALTHOUGH HE WAS A HUGE STAR AS A SINGLE, JERRY LEWIS WAS NEVER TO PERFORM AT THE COPACABANA AGAIN AFTER THE SPLIT WITH DEAN.

Comments

[dino martin peters]

Hey pallie Eddie, man what a touchin' remembrance of our Dino and the jer's last gig together...have just finished watchin' the two vols. of Martin and Lewis flicks...they are just so wonderful...I especially loves "Artists and Models"...just 'bout the most perfect movie ever...and yes, I would have to agree with the jer that what made these two so great together was the love they showed for each other....

[Marie]

So sad that there joint career didn't end amicably especially as they were the best of friends ...i suppose that's where the saying " Familiarity Breeds Contempt " comes from still never the less ...they cud hav been more mature about the whole thing and discussed it thru as they were wonderful on stage 2gether ...but i can understand Dean's side of things he was tired of being the sidekick ....glad they both went on to carry on in there careers successfully.... both talented people in their own rights .....

[SHARYN]

This made me cry, very worthy of you to write such a nice sum up of their carear together, I love them both . . . ALOT!

[Norman Meyerson]

Though Dean Martin is one of the best "saloon singers" of all time, and surprisingly an accomplished actor, had it not been for Jerry Lewis, he might never have been heard of. Jerry Lewis was 98% of the Martin & Lewis act, and it accorded Dean Martin the exposure he would not have attained on his own. Thereafter, being befriended by none other than the "Chairman of the Board", Frank Sinatra, was an added bonus.

[Jeanne Rockenbaugh]

Read Jerry's book "Dean and Me".

You won't be able to put it down.

[George Q Jessel]

Johnny Carson says hi.

Love,

Georgie Jessel

[Graham.]

Nice article. They rode together for 16 movies , and made many tv and radio programmes along the way. A great double act , who fed off each others' talent so well . But I do think it's true , that Dean was fed up with it all , and knew he could do better. Much better. And he did , and despite what the critics said , he rose to even greater heights in his own solo career.
I remember Dean once saying that two great things had happened in his life. One was meeting Jerry Lewis , and one was walking away from him .
Thanks to the wonders of recording we can still marvel at the two pallies, and let's hope they'll be remembered for many more years to come.

[Steve]

Great article.
In the end there was probably not enough scope in the partnership for all their skills and when they went solo both found new opportunities.
The concert parts of those Colgate shows demonstrates how great they must have been in a club. Dean needed someone to organise him and fire him up and Jerry needed someone calm to play off.
Hal Wallis made their movies formulaic and a negative experience for Dean and so played a major part in their downfall. He was a downer for Elvis too.
It's funny that both remembered being the one to call it quits, maybe they're both right. Martin had had enough and started missing gigs and being disinterested and becoming hard to deal with which drove Jerry nuts and made him sick with stress and they both agreed to put it aside and move on.
It's just a shame that they couldn't rekindle their friendship for so long.
Reminds me a bit of the Beatles. Just as Yoko didn't encourage John to stick with the Beatles. Jeanne Martin was known as being keen for Dean to go solo.
These guys were like rock stars of comedy. If there has been a more successful comedy team I don't know what it is.
Jerry's book Dean and Me is great. He goes to great pains to pay Dean his due credit. He also owns up to crowding Dean and not being too absorbed in his own artistic growth to notice how Dean was feeling about his role.
Left a great legacy. I wish someone had filmed a concert of them at their peak.

[SYLVIA HESS]

THERE HAS BEEN AND NEVER WILL BE AGAIN THE LIKES OF THE TEAM OF MARTIN AND LEWIS!SAW THEM AT THE PARAMOUNT-WATCHING OLD COLGATE COMEDY HOURS--STILL LAUGHING!!!

[SYLVIA HESS]

CORRECTION TO MY PREVIOUS POST -
SHOULD READ: THERE NEVER HAS BEEN AND NEVER WILL BE ANOTHER COMEDY TEAM WITH THE ABIITY TO HAVE THOUSANDS OF FANS LINED UP AROUND THE BLOCK AT THE PARAMOUNT-THE 500 CLUB-THE COPA-LIKE THE COMBINATION OF MARTIN & LEWIS. I WAS ONE OF THOSE THOUSANDS AT THE PARAMOUNT AS A TEENAGER - NOW I AM WATCHING THE OLD COLGATE COMEDY HOURS - AND STILL LAUGHING! THEY BOTH DID WELL ON THEIR OWN--BUT TOGETHER THEY WERE MAGICAL!

[SYLVIA HESS]

WORD SHOULD READ ABILITY----SORRY!!!!

[raymo]

Jerry was a meglo-maniac and Dean was getting ulcers at the just being Jerry's straight man. The best thing that ever happened was for both to go of them to go their separate ways.

[MICHAEL SPINO]

We all remember as kids watching those small tv's with the magnifying glass on the front and waiting for martin and lewis or uncle milty- probably die with these thoughts in our minds and hearts

[Nic]

Well, I'm too young to say I lived in those times or to say I even knew about them passingly as a kid. But I'm glad I was able to find them! They're shockingly different from the modern humor I'm used to. At one point, while watching their Colgate Comedy Hour, I had to stop the video from the coughing fit I got. I regret that they split up but I know it was necessary. Good article, mate!