Towards the end of the 1990 MDA Telethon, Jerry Lewis paid tribute to his friend Sammy Davis Jr., who had died earlier that year. A poignant moment with touching heartfelt words from Jerry before and after.
It took Jerry a lot of courage to show how much he loved Sammy in a live TV show. It couldn't be otherwise. That's why Jerry's father called him Mr. Neon because he could never hide his emotions. Good bless you Jerry. I love you.
That was one heck of a tribute to a wonderful human being. I think Jerry’s words were powerful, the best possible for a powerful, talented entertainer. We are all better for their existence.
@@hrebec97 okay really??? Wonderful human being? Better for his existence? He was a rapist who left most of his kids out of his will and wouldnt even let them go to his funeral, because they tried to help their mother to get away from his abuse
There will NEVER ever be another singer, dancer, artist, tap impresario or performer like Mr Sammy Davis Jr. Mr Davis you are and will ALWAYS be sadly missed by me. Sweet dreams, Sir. :(
Sometime in January of 2019 there is a documentary on Sammy Davis that will be on PBS look for it. Support it and check it out. It's about time someone remembers this unbelievably talented individual who broke so many racial barriers down for so many..
This says a lot about both men, very emotional but shows the depth of their friendship. If you could leave this world knowing you had that affect on even just one person, you would know your life meant something.
I was a long time MDA telethon volunteer and the phone response that was generated after this piece aired was historic.This aired during the 3pm hour eastern time.I volunteered in Detroit and the momentum never stopped for those last three hours of that telethon.Detroits final total in 1990 was over 2 million dollars.
This was aired at about 3pm Eastern Time on that Labor Day afternoon.I used to volunteer for the Telethon and the phones at our pledge center went absolutely off the hook after this segment had ended.A very memorable moment.
Nice to hear from a volunteer I too was a volunteer on the west coast but with my work on Telethon I never saw much of the show since I was busy in other areas of the prodcution so I loved seeing this for the first time and hearing from you that phones rang off the hook.
No better tribute speech ever in hollywood then this one. Why? because it truly was heart felt & Jerry really meant every word he said here. Like he said he watched it for the first time to have it do to him like it was meant to do.
Sammy was one of the greatest multi- gifted and talented musicians and entertainers of the Century. My wife and I got to see him perform at the Valley Forge Music Fair around 1983 near Philadelphia. It was the greatest Show hands down, that I have ever seen in my entire life. He tapped, danced like Michael Jackson and James Brown, did his vocal imitations, and sang over twenty five songs for us. He exhausted himself, but gave his all at every performance for his fans.
SuperPat88 That whole generation of wonderful entertainers are now gone, and sadly we will never see their like again. It is a much more cheerless world today without them, but some of us still have our memories of the fun and laughter they brought us...
Sammy was the #1 CLASS ACT ENTERTAINER OF ALL-TIME & he was my FAVORATE entertainer cant beleave more than 20 years has passed since he passed, was watching this Telethon show in 1990 seen this tribute that Jerry did when it aired and it brought me to tears, there is nobody today who can even try to even shine Sammy's shoes, true real entertainment like the great Sammy Davis Jr is also gone forever!! :(
Sammy could act, do comedy , played several instruments, great dancer , oh and of course SING, diminutive in size but large in heart and talent, I love ya Sammy
The best of the best,now and forever.No one has and will ever come close to such an entertainer.In person,Amazing!i was fortunate to see him live at the Copa.No one can compare o you.
Sammy passed away in May of 1990 as I know because my grandma passed away in june. this makes me cry because we just lot 2 great performers Jerry Lewis and Glen Campbell. R.I.P JERRY LEWIS, GLEN CAMPBELL AND SAMMY
WHAT AN AWESOME! heartfelt tribute ! you HAVE to respect a man who brought to the table THAT much talent ! ... and overcame a LOT of trials and hinderances along the way.
With tears in my eyes❤...Thank you Jerry for being such a Great friend to Sammy. It's nice to know he was loved by so many...He was born to entertain...to make us smile and feel happy.
My love for Sammy knows no bounds. I miss him more than I can say. His likes will never be seen again. Saw him at Westbury Music fair back in the early 70's. What a great memory. A time gone by, Sammy, Frank, and Dean. Now the Telethon with out Jerry. Man, I'm sorry its just so sad. Thanks for posting this video.
there will never another jerry or sammy you can tell they had such great respect for each other i like seeing them together may god bless you both in heaven
I have seen this dozens of times in the past and 3x today. .It makes you think how lucky we were to Witness one of the greatest entertainers ever. He gave 100% at all times and never asked for anything in return. RIP Mr. Sammy Davis Jr.
I was watching this when it aired & it was such a tearful moment, Sammy Davis Jr. was my favorite & it was so heartbreaking to hear he passed & given the fact I watched the telethon since the early 70's I seen all the great times with Sammy on the show so yes it was hard to watch this emotional tribute that Jerry Lewis done & 2020 marks 30 years since!
The tribute to Sammy is a million times more moving than what Jerry did to Dean (who NEVER showed up on the Telethon after 1976 despite Jerry inviting him to the 1977 one) and the standing ovation given to Sammy is it was amazing...
George Schlatter was the Senior Producer, Sam Atchley and myself (Ken Hatley) were also Producers for all of the Music and Musical Acts. The MDA wanted to start targeting twelve year olds and up to get them initiated to the MDA. We brought ion all of the hot rock and Pop groups at the time. George Schlatter told us, that when Seduction came on, all he could see was Blue Hair and white knuckles gripping the rail at the Ed McMahon theater (These were the Board members who asked that we produce this portion with the hot acts that would get the kids attention. So, we gave it to them :-) It was so funny when George called over laughing his butt off, in a hearty laugh that only George could project.. George Schlatter was one of the finest gentlemen I have ever worked with, as was his whole crew, Dinette Herman, Gary Necessary, Bruce Valach, and many others. Jerry Lewis was as nice as he could be. I had heard horror stories about having to work with him, but it was no problem, he was happy with our work, and spent time talking with us when I told him my favorite movie of his as a kid, and one that really moved me, was the Juvenile Delinquent. He was surprised, and also stated he felt very strongly about that movie also, and that it was one fo the most inspiring he had done.
RIP Jerry Lewis. I enjoyed watching you all these years leading the Annual MDA Telethons until 2010 and that's at that time when they were 20+ hours; additionally he did well as national chairman of that organization. Now you are together, not only with Sammy Davis Jr., but also Ed McMahon and your old pal Dean Martin. OF course I will miss those reactions whenever he got those big checks from those corporate sponsors on those telethons.
Jerry , you and all your special friends over the years had what not many have today & that's a heart, it's true ,if this would never move ,you then nothing would xxx we love you so much , from the uk you're a martyr,selfless ,humble,dedicated man , we owe you Jerry forever in your debt . God bless You !!!
im soo glad they posted this back on. u cant watch this without gettin teary! thank u very much Mr. Davis for all the joy u brought to this world with your God given gift!!
I remember watching this live / I remember it was some time before Jerry could speak without being choked up / RIP Sammy the most all-around talented member of The Rat Pack /Love You Bro/see you later......
I remember this and I thought it was at the beginning of the telethon that Jerry said Sammy had died he was crying...like he would in '96 for Dean and '98 for Frank and I don't know when Ed died...I remember in May of '90 when Sammy died I was crying cause I liked him he was a great singer dancer performer though he was short an inch shorter than I am 5'3" RIP Sammy I love you :'''''(
Jerry Lewis last appeared on the telethon in 2010. He was supposed to do the 2011 edition but refused after MDA said it would be his last. (There were many attempts to interview Lewis about this, but he was unwilling to talk about it, maintaining that he wanted a $50,000 "interview fee" to do so.) Ed McMahon died on June 23 2009 at 86, and had appeared on the 2008 telethon.
This made me cry; so beautiful Jer💗 I like to imagine that Sammy, Frank and Dean are up there hangin' out together the way they did when here. They're patiently waiting for Jer, and they'll be waiting for some time I hope xox
the best of two friends on tv ever. There will never be that kind of friendship on ever again. Total the best of every thing. I love them both for ever.
In comparing the tributes on the MDA telethon of Sammy Davis Jr here in 1990, Dean Martin in 1996, and Frank Sinatra in 1998, Jerry was most emotional when Sammy died. He was so hurt losing him. I would have thought he would have had the same feeling for Martin, but it wasn't. And in Sinatra, not much emotion, other than just good words. In comparing the three tributes.
Sammy had died very shortly before the Telethon. Dean had died almost a year ago. Jerry probably had more time to rework the pain of losing Dean than Sammy did. And let's not forget that Sammy has NEVER cheated on Jerry, he has always been a loyal friend of his even when he was part of the Rat Pack. Sammy has never sided in favor of one (Dean) or the other (Jerry) when those two they talked. Dean has been saying so many cruel things to Jerry for years. They made peace only a few years before Dean's death.
That's why Jerry had and still have many criticism by hatters! He was not racist in his entire life. He always had many black persons friends and respect a lot them and opened oportunities for black artists on his work.
RIP S.D., Jr. Everything said about him was on the money. Now, with genuine admiration: This presentation was ShowBiz Brilliance! A deceased guy gets a standing ovation that had to be edited for this posting from the hottest-ticket studio audience of the time! And JL's coda to it sounded extemporaneous, sincere, and was I'm sure, completely successful in its revenue-generating intent. I am in awe of all the talents on display here.
Powerful stuff... ...and it's a rather remarkable tribute to Davis that the posthumous standing ovation that he received was so lengthy that it had to be fast-forwarded through (for this Posting). Lewis' comments after were both sincere, and unashamedly utilitarian. Davis would have been proud of the sincerity... and he would have admired the utilitarianism.
