Kennedy once gave one of his personal friends an engraved plaque that read "There are three things that are real . God, human folly and laughter. Since the first two are beyond our comprehension, we must do the best we can with the third." .
Thesis statement: I am speaking of "The King of Comedy" as he has often been referred, Mr. Jerry Lewis. .
Preview and Transition: In describing Jerry Lewis" life I would like to quote Congressman Les Aspin of Wisconsin in conclusion of his documented nomination of Jerry Lewis for the Nobel Peace Prize on December 27, 1976, "Jerry Lewis is a man for all seasons, all people, all times. His name has, in the hearts of millions, become synonymous with peace, love and brotherhood." I would like for you to meet the professional entertainer, humanitarian and business man, Jerry Lewis.
BODY.
I. Main Idea: Jerry Lewis has been one of the most successful performers in show business history.
A. Jerry Lewis was born Joseph Levitch on March 16, 1926 in Newark, New Jersey.
1. Both of Jerry's parents worked in the entertainment world. His mother played .
piano at New York City radio station WOR. Jerry's father introduced Jerry to.
comedy while he was performing with other Jewish performer's in the so-called Borscht Belt dinner theaters in upstate New York. Jerry made his first appearance singing "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" in New York's Borscht Circuit when he was only five years old.
B. In 1946 Jerry and Dean Martin began one of the most successful partnerships in the entertainment world as a nightclub comedy act at the Copacabana in New York City. According to The Complete Marquis Who's Who 2003, they received the best comedy team award in 1951, 1953-1954 and 1957. They made their first film debut together in 1949 with My Friend Irma. They continued to make 17 other movies in the next six years. Dean Martin always played the suave, romantic ladies" man undermined by the frantic, blundering Jerry that appeared to be the Skinny Young Maniac.