Always wondered what happened to Donna Butterworth? It seems as though her time in the spotlight ended almost as quickly as it began. Performing with Don Ho, movies with Elvis and Jerry Lewis, TV appearances on Ronny Howard, Dean Martin and others, then POOF! She was gone. Seemed like her fame lasted maybe a year or two? What happened?
Jerry Lewis was a moron here, I never get the appeal people had for him although I cannot stand that slap stick type comedy for more than 5 minutes. And I have to admit I never liked how he portrayed the disabled as pathetic and helpless, patronizing them. I’ve met people who were on his telethons and he treated them as if they were mentally challenged when they were only physically challenged. I have a neuromuscular disease under the same umbrella of diseases similar to all the types of MD and have had idiots ask me all my life ‘Are you one of Jerry’s Kids?!!!!!!’ F*CK No! The little girl Donna is adorable and was a huge talent. She was patient here even though you can tell she was getting tired of Lewis’ lame run around. She’s great holding her own and outshines him.
One has to wonder if the team of Martin and Lewis would have lasted longer than 1956 if Jerry had not decided to go all diva and try to ease Dean out of the act? In the long run Dean Martin proved to be an all-purpose performer.
THANKS for uploading ! This ABC series had quite a history. The network poured a fortune into renovating the El Capitan theater in Hollywood into a "state of the art" broadcast center for Jerry's show. And reportedly Jerry himself was paid $8 million for 40 episodes. Ratings were not good & it was cancelled in Dec. of '63 after only 13 episodes. The ABC went on to use that broadcast center for "The Hollywood Palace", a variety show that ran from '64 to '70 (airing most of the time on Saturday nights). I recall as a youngster watching many episodes of "The Hollywood Palace", which had a different host every week.
THANKS for uploading the entire episode! I recall as a teenager watching a handful of episodes of this NBC series (which ran for two seasons: Sept of '67 to May of '69). Cool to see Sonny & Cher and Lynn Redgrave! Jerry's pilot character was used in his 1965 feature film comedy "The Family Jewels". And of course all of Jerry's fans recognize his Professor Kelp character (the wedding night sketch) from his best movie, 1963's "The Nutty Professor".
Look at Jerry by 1955 - he wasn't the skinny monkey with a crew cut anymore - he was handsome - that did not work - two handsome guys - I love Dean and I enjoy his work far far more as a solo - i loved the Dean and Jerry movies but Dean had little to do and had to feel like a side kick, a third wheel on a two wheel bike -
For me, i actually like Jerry with Dean. However, i like Dean on his own. Artistically, they were both outgrowing each other. Jerry wanted to act, write, produce, direct, edit, etc. Dean wanted to be do more records, be seen as a serious actor, and be his own man and seen as a talented individual. It run its course. 10 years is a long time to be with anyone let alone a comedy partner.
There is some tension here which is sad to see, after so many years of incredible chemistry and affection, but you still get glimmers of the bond and this was a lot of fun to watch. Jerry seemed to be trying to create it a bit more than Dean. (No judgement, just observing). That "dirty pictures" joke will never get old to me :'''D I've been watching a lot of their performances, and what I love is that some of the routines remind me of how it is when you listen to your favorite songs over and over again, or see your favorite bands live; you know the lyrics, the melody, (the punchlines) but it always gives you a thrill because it just works so well. <3
