September 5, 2016: 40 Years Later: The Martin & Lewis Reunion

> TONIGHT ON 'METROFOCUS,' FOR MANY YEARS ON LABOR DAY AMERICANS LOOKED FORWARD TO THE STAR-STUDDED MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION TELL THON HOSTED BY JERRY LEWIS.

THE ANNUAL EVENT WAS A PART OF AMERICAN CULTURE.

BUT THE 1976 TELETHON GAVE US A PIECE OF HISTORY THAT WILL LIKELY NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

IT WAS A FEAT THAT ONLY FRANK SINATRA HIMSELF COULD HAVE PULLED OFF.

THE REUNITING OF TWO OF HOLLYWOOD'S ORIGINAL KINGS OF COMEDY AFTER A 20-YEAR-LONG FEUD.

DEAN MARTIN AND JERRY LEWIS TOGETHER AGAIN LIVE ON TV FOR THE WHOLE WORLD TO SEE.

WE'LL TAKE YOU BACK TO THAT SPECIAL MOMENT WITH TWO VERY SPECIAL GUESTS.

JERRY LEWIS --

LOOK AT MY FACE AND DEAN'S FACE AND YOU'LL SEE WE SAW ONE ANOTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS.

DEAN MARTIN'S DAUGHTER DINA.

IN THE DARKNESS I SEE HIM START WALKING, MY GOD, THAT'S DAD.

'METROFOCUS' STARTS RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS 'METROFOCUS.'

WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD, AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY -- CORPORATE FUNDING FOR METRO FOCUS WAS PROVIDED BY MUTUAL OF AMERICA, YOUR RETIREMENT COMPANY.

AND BY PSE&G, SERVING CUSTOMERS, STRENGTHENING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, AND INVESTING IN THE FUTURE.

> THE MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION TELETHON HOSTED BY JERRY LEWIS WAS A LABOR DAY STAPLE IN AMERICA FOR DECADES.

CELEBRITIES CAME TO HELP RAISE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FOR A GREAT CAUSE.

EACH TELETHON HAD SPECIAL MOMENTS.

BUT PERHAPS THE MOST MEMORABLE OF ALL OCCURRED IN 1976 WITH THE REUNION OF LEWIS AND HIS FORMER COMEDIC PARTNER AND FRIEND DEAN MARTIN.

WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT NIGHT 40 YEARS AGO WAS PURE MAGIC.

IT'S WELL KNOWN SINATRA WAS EXTREMELY CLOSE TO DEAN MARTIN.

WHAT IS NOT WIDELY KNOWN IS HE WAS A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF JERRY LEWIS.

LEWIS AND MARTIN HAD BEEN THE COUNTRY'S FAVORITE COMIC DUO AND FILM AND STAGE MEGA STARS FOR MUCH OF THE 1950s.

BUT AFTER A BITTER FALLING-OUT, THE TWO WOULD NOT SPEAK AGAIN FOR 20 YEARS.

AND THAT'S WHEN THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD STEPPED IN.

IN FRONT OF THE ENTIRE WORLD, SINATRA ORCHESTRATED ONE OF THE MOST UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS IN TELEVISION HISTORY WHEN HE REUNITED HIS FAMOUS FEUDING FRIENDS DURING THE 1976 MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATION TELETHON.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT, IT WAS FRANK SINATRA WHO FINALLY RECONCILED LEWIS AND MARTIN, AND YES, HE DID IT HIS WAY.

LISTEN.

I HAVE A FRIEND WHO LOVES WHAT YOU DO EVERY YEAR.

AND WHO JUST WANTED TO COME OUT -- WOULD YOU SEND MY FRIEND OUT, PLEASE?

WHERE IS HE?

SEND HIM OUT HERE.

COME HERE.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, BREAK IT UP, BREAK IT UP.

WHAT IS THIS HERE?

BREAK IT UP.

I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME, DON'T YOU?

THANK YOU.

I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

YOU SON OF A --

WE COULD WHIP THE WORLD.

THERE THEY ARE, FOLKS.

I DON'T KNOW.

HOW YOU BEEN?

[ LAUGHTER ]

YOU KNOW -- IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVEN'T SEEN EACH OTHER FOR 20 YEARS.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS ALL THOSE RUMORS ABOUT OUR BREAKING UP.

THEN WHEN I STARTED THE SHOW YOU WEREN'T HERE, I BELIEVED IT.

I'LL SHOW YOU GU GUYS TO YOUR ROOMS.

THE LIGHTS ARE OUT UPSTAIRS.

HE DRINKS A LOT, THIS KID.

SO, YOU WORKING?

[ LAUGHTER ]

WOW.

IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE THAT AGAIN.

IN A MOMENT JERRY LEWIS HIMSELF WILL BE HERE TO DISCUSS THAT NIGHT AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH FRANK SINATRA.

JOINING ME NOW IS DINA MARTIN, THE DAUGHTER OF DEAN MARTIN.

WELCOME, GREAT TO HAVE YOU WITH US.

WELL, THANK YOU, IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE WITH YOU.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, DINA, I MYSELF WAS SITTING IN FRONT OF THE TV WHEN THIS RECONCILIATION TOOK PLACE.

IT WAS AN AMAZING THING TO WATCH.

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN SINATRA REUNITED YOUR DAD AND JERRY LEWIS THE NIGHT OF THE '76 TELETHON?

I WAS IN EAST 54th STREET, WATCHING THE TELETHON AS WE ALWAYS DID GROWING UP, OF COURSE.

IT WAS ALWAYS SO MUCH FUN.

I HAD NO IDEA THAT MY FATHER WAS GOING TO BE ON THAT SHOW.

SO I'M WATCHING.

ALL OF A SUDDEN I HEAR -- I SEE FRANK SINATRA, UNCLE FRANK, SAY, JERRY, THERE'S A MAN WHO LOVES WHAT YOU DO, HE'S HERE TONIGHT.

AND I SEE -- IT'S IN THE DARKNESS.

I SEE HIM START WALKING.

THAT'S MY DAD.

I COULD TELL THE WAY HE WALKED FROM A MILE AWAY.

HE WALKED OUT AND I WAS SO SHOCKED AND SO HAPPY.

AND SO EXCITED.

AND HE JUST WALKED OVER TO JERRY AND HE HUGGED HIM.

I MEAN, THEY LOOKED AT EACH OTHER.

IT'S 20 YEARS.

OH MY GOSH.

I USED TO WATCH 'MARTIN AND LEWIS,' YOU KNOW, LIVES A LITTLE GIRL.

MY DAD AND JERRY, THEY WERE PLAYING AT THE SLAPSY NASTIES THE NIGHT I WAS BORN.

JERRY LEWIS WAS AMAZING.

AND OF COURSE FRANK SINATRA.

BUT THESE TWO MEN, MARTIN AND LEWIS, COME TOGETHER, AND THEY HUGGED.

I THINK JERRY SAID TO DAD, SO YOU BEEN WORKING?

MY FATHER HAD THE NUMBER ONE TV SHOW FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS.

JUST THAT LINE.

BUT IT WAS LIKE NO TIME HAD PASSED.

THEY WERE PARTNERS.

AND AS JERRY SAYS, THEY HAD MAGIC IN A BOTTLE.

AND, I MEAN, THEY REALLY AND TRULY DID.

SO TO SEE THEM TOGETHER, IT WAS JUST AMAZING TO ME.

AND I SPOKE TO ED MCMAHON YEARS LATER.

AND HE SAID THAT THEY HID DAD IN HIS TRAILER, NOBODY KNEW MY FATHER WAS THERE.

SO IT WAS A THRILLING MOMENT FOR ME.

WAS UNCLE FRANK THE ONLY PERSON THAT COULD HAVE ASKED YOUR FATHER TO WALK ONTO THAT STAGE THAT NIGHT?

IF SO, WHY?

OH, I'M PRETTY SURE THAT'S THE ONLY PERSON THAT COULD HAVE ASKED MY DAD TO WALK OUT ON THE TELETHON AFTER SO MANY YEARS.

AND MY DAD WOULD DO IT FOR HIM BECAUSE HE LOVED FRANK SINATRA.

THEY WERE BROTHERS.

I MEAN, THEY WERE JUST LIKE BROTHERS.

YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY.

MY DAD WOULD HELP FRANK OUT ALL THE TIME.

FRANK WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HIS THROAT AND HE COULDN'T DO HIS SHOW, MY DAD WOULD FLY ANYWHERE, GO IN, DO THE SHOW, NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

HE JUST ADORED HIM.

THEY WERE LIKE PARTNERS.

THEY WERE FRIENDS.

THEY WERE THAT RAT PACK.

THEY WERE UNBELIEVABLE TOGETHER.

DEAN, FRANK, SAMMY.

WHAT AN AMAZING GROUP OF MEN.

BUT, YOU KNOW, DAD WOULD DO THAT.

I REMEMBER ALL THE JOKES HE WOULD SAY ABOUT FRANK, UNCLE FRANK.

YOU KNOW, HE'D SAY, IT'S HIS WORLD, I'M JUST LIVING IN IT.

AND IT WAS -- IT MEANT A LOT TO MY DAD THAT FRANK WOULD CALL HIM.

AND ASK HIM TO DO THAT.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT MADE HIM DECIDE TO GO ON AFTER ALL THAT TIME.

DINA, WHAT'S YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF FRANK SINATRA?

DID YOU KNOW HE WAS A CELEBRITY OR WAS HE JUST ONE OF YOUR DAD'S WORK BUDDYES?

ONE OF MY DAD'S WORK BUDDIES, THAT'S SO CUTE, FRANK SINATRA.

ACTUALLY, I THINK THE VERY FIRST TIME THAT I REALIZED FRANK SINATRA -- IT WAS AT THE COPA ROOM AT THE SANDS HOTEL IN LAS VEGAS.

AND I WOULD SIT IN THE AUDIENCE.

I WAS 9, 9 YEARS OLD.

AND HE WALKED OUT ON STAGE WITH MY DAD.

AND HE'S SINGING.

AND IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THAT NIGHT WHEN I FOUND MY DAD FOR I JUST KNEW HIM AS DAD, WHO WAS SUPER-COOL AROUND THE HOUSE, BUD I'D NEVER SEEN HIM PERFORM.

I'D HEARD HIS RECORDS, SEEN HIM IN MOVIES, BUT I'D NEVER HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE OF GOING TO LAS VEGAS, SO GROWN UP.

AND THE ROOM WOULD BE DARK.

YOU'D HEAR THE ANNOUNCER.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE SANDS HOTEL IS PROUD TO PRESENT THE STAR OF OUR SHOW, DIRECT FROM THE BAR, DEAN MARTIN!

AND MY DAD WOULD WALK OUT.

SO HANDSOME IN A TUXEDO, THE RED POCKET SQUARE.

AND YOU COULD HEAR THE AUDIENCE GO -- THERE HE IS!

SO EXCITING.

AND THEN TO HAVE FRANK SINATRA WALK OUT.

I KNEW HIM AS UNCLE FRANK BUT I'D NEVER SEEN HIM PERFORM.

TO SEE THEM TOGETHER, TO SEE THE BOND THAT THEY HAD AND THE GENEROSITY WITH EACH OTHER, THE FUN THEY HAD, THE JOKES THEY MADE, THE VOICES.

IT WAS BRILLIANT FOR ME.

I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT NIGHT.

FRANK SINATRA WALKED OUT AND STARTED SINGING WITH MY DAD AND THEY WERE JOKING AROUND AND HE WAS JUST -- HE'S BEEN MY -- I'VE ADORED HIM EVER SINCE.

DID SINATRA COME AROUND YOUR HOUSE MUCH?

WHAT WAS THE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM LIKE?

HE USED TO CALL ME THE SOCIAL BUTTERFLY BECAUSE I WAS ALWAYS RUNNING IN, HI, UNCLE FRANK, GIVE HIM A KISS, RUN OUT, OFF TO DO SOMETHING.

AND IN FACT HE GAVE ME A BEAUTIFUL GOLD WATCH WHEN I GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

AND IT SAID, TO MY SOCIAL BUTTERFLY, LOVE, UNCLE FRANK.

I WISH I HAD BROUGHT IT.

BUT HE GAVE ME KIND OF MY FIRST SINGING LESSON.

WE WERE GOING TO SING A SONG ON MY DAD'S TV SHOW.

AND I'M STANDING IN THE WINGS GETTING READY TO GO ON.

AND I SAID, SO UNCLE FRANK, HOW DO YOU DO IT?

HOW DO YOU GET THAT GREAT TONE, HOW DO YOU SING?

HE SAID, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE AIR.

I'D TAKE IN A BIG BREATH, PUSH FROM THE DIAPHRAGM, AND I CAN TELL EVEN BEFORE A NOTE COMES OUT IF I'M GOING TO BE ON PITCH OR NOT.

I SAID, REALLY?

DOES MY DAD DO THAT?

HE SAYS, NO, YOUR FATHER HAS NO IDEA WHAT HE'S DOING, HE JUST DOES IT, HE'S A NATURAL.

AND MY DAD WAS A NATURAL.

BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT FRANK SINATRA THAT I COULD TALK TO HIM.

HE TAUGHT ME ABOUT PHRASING.

AND SO MUCH ABOUT SINGING AND LEARNING THE SONG.

AND HE TAUGHT ME THAT THROUGH THE YEARS, IT WOULD CHANGE ITS MEANING BECAUSE YOU WOULD GROW.

AND HE JUST TAUGHT ME MORE ABOUT SINGING.

MY DAD, WHEN I ASKED MY DAD COULD I HAVE SINGING LESSONS, HE SAID, WHY?

DO YOU WANT TO SOUND LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE CHOIR?

BECAUSE MY DAD -- I TRULY THINK HE THOUGHT MAYBE EVERYBODY COULD SING, IT WAS SO NATURAL AND WONDERFUL FOR HIM.

NOT THAT IT WAS EASY, HE ALWAYS MADE IT LOOK SO EASY.

UNCLE FRANK, I THINK HE WORKED FOR EVERY NOTE HE EVER HIT.

AND HE WAS JUST AN AMAZING, AMAZING MAN.

DID YOU REALIZE THAT YOUR DAD AND FRANK AND ALL THEIR PALS WERE PART OF THAT INCREDIBLE GROUP CALLED THE RAT PACK?

YES, I DID.

I MEAN, THEY WEREN'T -- YOU KNOW, IT'S FUNNY.

THE RAT PACK.

BECAUSE THEY WERE -- I THINK DEAN, FRANK AND SAMMY, TO ME, THEY WERE THE THREE MOST TALENTED SUPERSTARS THAT EVER EXISTED.

FOR ME JUST TO BE AROUND THEM WAS AMAZING.

I HAVE A GREAT STORY ABOUT THE TUXEDOS.

BUT THE NAME.

I KNOW FRANK DIDN'T LIKE THAT.

YOU KNOW.

MY DAD DIDN'T CARE.

GETTING BACK TO THE TUXEDO, THEIR TUXEDOS, THE TAILOR THAT WOULD MAKE THEIR CLOTHES WAS CY DEVORE.

DEAN, FRANK AND SAMMY WERE GOING TO CAMPAIGN FOR JFK.

THEY WERE DOING A BENEFIT AT THE BEVERLY HILTON HOTEL.

I HAPPENED TO HAVE BEEN HOME THAT DAY WHEN THE THREE TUXEDOS WERE DELIVERED TO OUR HOUSE.

AND I HAD THE DELIVERY MAN PUT THEM IN THE POWDER ROOM AND THERE WAS A BIG ONE FOR MY DAD, A MEDIUM ONE FOR UNCLE FRANK.

THE ONE FOR UNCLE SAMMY WAS SMALL AND BEAUTIFUL AND I HAD TO TRY IT ON.

I MEAN, AND IT KIND OF FIT PERFECTLY.

AND I STOOD THERE.

I DANCED AROUND THE HOUSE SINGING 'MR. BOJANGLES.'

I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE TO BE ON STAGE WITH DEAN MARTIN, FRANK SINATRA, AND SAMMY DAVIS JR.

IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE FEELING.

FRANK WAS CLEARLY THE LEADER OF THE PACK.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT WAS, THAT HE WAS ALWAYS SEEN AS THE LEADER?

HE WOULD ORGANIZE THINGS, FRANK WOULD GET THINGS TOGETHER.

HE WOULD PUT ON A PARTY.

HE DID NOT WANT TO GO TO SLEEP AFTER THE SHOW, HE WANTED EVERYBODY TO COME OVER AND HE KNEW HOW TO ENTERTAIN.

HE LOVED TO COOK.

HE LOVED TO HAVE A DRINK.

HE'D LOVE FOR PEOPLE TO GET TOGETHER.

I THINK THAT MY DAD, ON THE OTHER HAND, LOVED AFTER THE SHOW TO GO HOME, BE QUIET, SIT DOWN.

YOU KNOW, JUST NOT BE OUT WITH EVERYBODY.

MY DAD LIKED TO GET UP VERY EARLY IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS OF THE MORNING TO GO PLAY GOLF.

THAT'S WHAT HE LIKED TO DO.

FRANK SINATRA, HE LOVED STAYING UP, HE WAS A NATURAL ORGANIZER, AND HE WANTED PEOPLE TO HAVE FUN.

HE WANTED TO ENTERTAIN PEOPLE.

AND EVERYBODY WOULD JUST FOLLOW THE LEADER.

HE WAS THEIR LEADER.

MY DAD WAS HAPPY, SAMMY WAS HAPPY, ALL OF THEM WERE HAPPY TO LET FRANK BELIEVE THAT HE WAS, AND HE TRULY WAS.

BUT HE COULD PUT ON A PARTY.

DID YOUR DAD EVER SHARE HIS FAVORITE FRANK SINATRA STORY WITH YOU?

YES, AS A MATTER OF FACT.

IT'S FUNNY, THEY USED TO DO PRACTICAL JOKES ON EACH OTHER.

THE THREE OF THEM, IT WAS ACTUALLY WITH MY UNCLE, UNCLE FRANK, MY DAD, AND PRINCE ROMANOFF, MICHAEL ROMANOFF, WHO OWNED ROMANOFF'S RESTAURANT ON RODEO DRIVE IN BEVERLY HILLS.

HE WASN'T A PRINCE BUT EVERYBODY CALLED HIM PRINCE ROMANOFF.

AND THEY WOULD TRAVEL TOGETHER.

THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY TO I GUESS GOING CROSS COUNTRY TO NEW YORK FOR A SHOW.

THE PRACTICAL JOKES THAT THEY WOULD DO, DAD AND FRANK, THEY WOULD GO IN, PRINCE ROMANOFF USED TO SMOKE -- GOSH, WHAT WAS IT RALEIGHS, I THINK.

THEY CAME IN A BOX.

THEY WOULD GO INTO HIS ROOM, OPEN UP THE BOX, TAKE A PIN, PUNCH HOLES IN THE CIGARETTES, PUT IT BACK NEATLY INTO THE BOX, PUT IT BACK IN PRINCE ROMANOFF'S DRESSER.

SO THEN THEY WOULD BE SITTING AT DINNER THAT NIGHT.

DAD AND FRANK, THEY WOULD BE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER.

PRINCE ROMANOFF WOULD PULL OUT A CIGARETTE, LIGHT IT, PUFF ON IT, NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN.

HE WOULD PULL OUT CIGARETTE AFTER CIGARETTE.

AND THEY WOULD JUST BE LAUGHING.

LIKE LITTLE BOYS, LOOK WHAT THEY DID!

SO I THINK THAT WAS LIKE MY FAVORITE THING THAT MY DAD DID WITH FRANK THAT THE PRACTICAL JOKES THAT THEY WOULD PLAY ON EACH OTHER.

DINA, JUST IN A FEW WORD DATS SCRIBE FRANK SINATRA.

THE MAN OF FRANK SINATRA, AND THIS IS PERFECT, IT WAS YEARS AGO, WE WERE IN LAS VEGAS, IN MY DAD'S SUITE.

MY GRANDFATHER VITANO HAD PASSED AWAY.

WE WERE ALL SITTING.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN -- THERE WERE DOUBLE DOORS TO THE SUITES.

AFTER A WHILE BOTH DOORS OPENED.

FRANK SINATRA WALKED IN.

AND HE HAD HIS POSSE BEHIND HIM.

ALL OF THEM CAME IN.

AND HE WALKED AROUND AND HE HUGGED MY FATHER, HUGGED MILL, KISSED HIM ON BOTH CHEEKS, AND SAID, I'M HERE FOR YOU.

HE HUGGED EACH ONE OF US.

HE SAID, IF THERE'S ANYTHING YOU NEED, YOU KNOW I'M POP.

WE ALL USED TO CALL HIM POP.

HE HUGGED EACH ONE OF US.

ED SAID, IF YOU NEED ME, I'M HERE.

THEN HE WALKED OUT OF THE DOUBLE DOORS AND THE DOORS CLOSED.

IT WAS LIKE HE WAS THERE FOR MY DAD, HE HAD -- I DON'T EVEN THINK HE WAS IN VEGAS AT THE TIME, BUT HE KNEW THAT MY DAD WOULD NEED HIM, BECAUSE EVERYBODY LOVED MY GRANDFATHER.

BUT THAT WAS FRANK.

HE LOVED DEEPLY.

HE WAS A FAMILY GUY.

HE MADE YOU FEEL WANTED.

HE WAS INTENSE.

HE WASN'T ASHAMED TO BE VULNERABLE.

AND HE SAID, I THINK I'M HONEST.

HE SAID, ESPECIALLY WHEN HE SINGS, VERY HONEST.

BUT THERE WAS JUST SOMETHING SO AMAZING ABOUT HIM.

IT WAS LOVING AND STRONG.

AND YOU COULD DEPEND ON HIM.

AND HE WOULD BE THERE FOR YOU.

HE WAS A TRUE FRIEND.

ABSOLUTELY TRUE FRIEND.

THAT'S THE END OF OUR QUESTIONS, DINA.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH OUTSIDE 'METROFOCUS.'

IT WAS REALLY A GREAT PLEASURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, THAT WAS FUN.

THANK YOU.

WOULD YOU EXCUSE US A MINUTE?

[ LAUGHTER ] JUST WANT TO SEE THE WIRES.

' IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU.

I'M OVER HERE.

[ LAUGHTER ]

I HAD TO COME IN.

BECAUSE I HAD TO, YOU KNOW -- I HAD TO GO AND THIS WAS THE CLOSEST PLACE.

[ LAUGHTER ]

YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO GO.

I ALWAYS DO.

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

YEAH!

OH, YEAH!

HA HA HA!

OH, YEAH!

YES, SIR!

I CAN SEE YOU NOW.

OH, YEAH!

HOW ABOUT THAT.

PRETTY GOOD ENTERTAINMENT.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I MEAN, I WATCH YOU FOR FIVE HOURS AND I SAW ALL YOU GOT IS $733.19 AND 16 CENTS.

3 MILLION --

OH, THAT'S THE PHONE NUMBER -- [ LAUGHTER ]

LET'S HEAR IT!

OH, YES.

GETTING ON WITH THE REST.

JERRY LEWIS IN A STATE OF DISBELIEF AFTER DEAN MARTIN LEAVES THE TELETHON STAGE WITH FRANK SINATRA.

IT'S NOT TOO OFTEN LEWIS IS AT A LOSS FOR WORDS EVEN FOR A MOMENT BUT THAT NIGHT WAS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING SPECIAL.

NOT JUST FOR HIM BUT FOR THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE WATCHING AT HOME.

AND RIGHT NOW WE'RE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE JERRY LEWIS JOIN US TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT HISTORIC MOMENT IN TELEVISION HISTORY AND THE ROLE FRANK SINATRA PLAYED IN GETTING MARTIN AND LEWIS BACK TOGETHER AGAIN AFTER 20 LONG YEARS.

JERRY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

MY PLEASURE.

I HAVE TO ASK YOU, DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEA THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN BACK IN THAT 1976 MDA TELETHON?

NO.

LOOK AT THE FILM.

YOU LOOK AT MY FACE.

LOOK AT DEAN'S FACE.

YOU'LL SEE WE JUST SAW ONE ANOTHER FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 20 YEARS.

JERRY, YOU'VE SAID THAT YOU THINK FRANK SINATRA WAS THE ONLY GUY WHO COULD HAVE BROUGHT YOU AND DEAN TOGETHER AFTER ALL THAT TIME.

WHY IS THAT?

BECAUSE WE LOVED FRANK AND FRANK LOVED US.

AND WE HAD THIS WONDERFUL THREE-WAY LOVE AFFAIR.

BUT FRANK NEVER GOT IN THE WAY OF DEAN AND I.

DEAN NEVER GOT IN THE WAY OF FRANK AND I.

AND WE ALWAYS HAD THE GREATEST RESPECT FOR ONE ANOTHER'S FRIENDSHIP THAT THEY HAD WITH OUR PARTNER OR OUR FRIEND.

JERRY, ONE OF THE THINGS WE DIDN'T SEE, THOSE OF US WATCHING THE TELETHON THAT DAY, IS WHAT HAPPENED BACKSTAGE AFTER THAT FIRST MEETING.

WHAT DID GO ON?

WHAT DID YOU SAY TO EACH OTHER?

THE SHOW WAS SO FULL AFTER THAT, THERE WAS NO TIME FOR US TO GET TOGETHER.

SO THE MINUTE THE SHOW WAS OVER, I GOT HIM ON THE PHONE AND WE HAD A GREAT TALK.

THEN WE GOT TOGETHER LATER THAT NIGHT AND HAD A COUPLE OF DRINKS TOGETHER.

WE REMINISCED.

AND IT WAS GREAT BEING TOGETHER AGAIN.

BACK TO FRANK.

WHEN AND WHERE DID YOU FIRST MEET FRANK SINATRA?

GEEZ, THAT'S OLD NEWS.

NOT FOR OUR VIEWERS, PROBABLY.

1954.

BACKSTAGE AT THE PARAMOUNT THEATER, I MET FRANK SINATRA.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT FRANK SINATRA THAT THE REST OF US DON'T KNOW AND MIGHT SURPRISE US?

IF HE LIVED IN ENGLAND, HE'D AN LORD.

IF HE LIVED IN ENGLAND, HE'D BE UP SOMEWHERE IN THE GOVERNMENT.

HE WAS ONE OF THE MEN IN THE WORLD THAT I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE BEEN LIKE.

AND MOST EVERYONE THAT LOVED FRANK AND THAT FRANK LOVED BACK FELT THE SAME WAY.

HE WAS THE KINDEST, WARMEST, MOST SENSITIVE, MOST COMPASSIONATE, MOST MARVELOUS HUMAN BEING I HAD MET IN MY LIFE.

AND I MET FRANK WHEN I WAS STILL 14 OR 16 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND THROUGH THE YEARS THAT WE WERE FRIENDS, HE DID THINGS THAT I WOULD NEVER REPEAT BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULDN'T BELIEVE THEM.

THIS MAN HEARD ABOUT A FIREFIGHTER IN RICHMOND, ILLINOIS.

HE CALLED ME.

HE SAYS, I'LL MEET YOU AT MY PLANE AT 7:00, BRING YOUR TUX.

I'M AT THE PLANE WITH MY TUX.

AND MY ASSISTANT.

AND WE FLY TO RICHMOND.

AND HE HIRED AN ORCHESTRA OUT OF CHICAGO, 32-PIECE ORCHESTRA FLOWN TO RICHMOND.

HE PAID FOR IT.

HE PAID FOR IT ALL.

HE PAID FOR THE WHOLE SHOW.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO DELIVER TO THE WIDOW OF THIS FIREFIGHTER ABOUT $350,000 FOR THAT NIGHT.

HE AND I WERE BOTH ECSTATIC THAT WE GOT THAT MANY PEOPLE IN THE ARENA.

THERE'S A 20,000 SEATER.

I DID FOUR OR FIVE JOKES ABOUT RICHMOND.

YOU LIVE IN RICHMOND, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET A SEAT AT A SPECIAL SHOW OR WHATEVER.

IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

AND THAT WAS FRANK.

HE DID THAT WITHOUT ANYONE EVER KNOWING ABOUT IT.

HE HAD A VERY, VERY STRONG FEELING OF COMPASSION FOR HIS FELLOW MAN.

AND THIS KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY THAT FRANK HAD AND THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T SEE, DID HE NOT WANT PEOPLE TO SEE THAT SIDE OF HIM FOR SOME REASON?

IT WAS NOBODY'S BUSINESS.

HE DID EVERYTHING VERY, VERY, VERY OPENLY.

BUT IF ANYONE GOT WIND OF IT, THAT WAS THEIR BUSINESS.

IF HE HAD THE TIME TO JUSTIFY WHY HE DID SOMETHING, WE'D BE WITH HIM FOR FOUR YEARS.

HE DID THIS OUT OF A NATURAL INSTINCT WITHIN HIS SOUL TO BE GOOD TO PEOPLE.

EVERYONE THAT EVER WORKED WITH HIM SAID IT WAS LIKE WORKING WITH THE MESSIAH.

VIEW.

TO SPEND TIME WITH HIM YOU'D LEFT HIM KNOWING YOU'D JUST PICKED UP SOME INFORMATION.

HE WAS A TEACHING MAN.

WE'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THIS WEEK ABOUT FRANK.

THEY ALL SAY HE WAS A GENIUS, A GENIUS AS AN ARTIST.

YOU WOULD AGREE IF.

HE WAS MUSICALLY THE MOST GENIUS-LIKE PERFORMER THAT EVER CAME OUT OF SHOW BUSINESS.

HE KNEW HIS MUSIC, HE KNEW WHAT TO PLAY, HE KNEW WHAT TO SING.

AND HE KNEW HOW.

AND IT NEVER WAS DOING THAT BUT HOW, DOING THAT BUT HOW.

HE ALWAYS MADE YOU FEEL LIKE HE WAS DOING YOU A FAVOR.

THAT WAS A WONDERFUL GLITZ THAT HE HAD WITHIN HIS SOUL THAT REMINDED HIM THAT HE'S DOING WHAT HE'S DOING BECAUSE IT'S GOT TO BE GOOD.

HE WAS A MANIAC WHEN IT CAME TO PERFECTION.

BECAUSE WHEN YOU TALK TO PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT PERFECTIONISTS, IT'S HARD FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE HELL YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.

HE TOOK GOOD CARE OF YOU.

GOOD CARE OF YOU.

HE TOLD A CREW MEMBER OR SOMETHING AND THEY WEREN'T CLEAR, HE'D SHOW THEM HOW.

AND HIS INTELLIGENCE WHICH CAME OUT OF HOBOKEN GREW OVER THE YEARS.

JERRY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IT'S BEEN A REAL PLEASURE TO SPEAK WITH YOU, SIR.

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