The Martin and Lewis Show is a radio comedy-variety program in the United States starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. It was broadcast on the NBC Radio Network beginning April 3, 1949, and ending July 14, 1953.[2]
After losing The Jack Benny Program and Amos 'n' Andy from its Sunday night lineup to what had been called "the CBS talent raids" of 1948–49, NBC turned to the young comedy team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, a pair "virtually unknown to a radio audience."[3] Reinehr and Swartz commented in their old-time radio reference book, "the program ... was never as successful as the network had hoped, because much of Martin and Lewis's comedy was visual.[4]
Work on the program began early in 1949, after NBC "decided to build a show around Martin and Lewis."[5]Billboard magazine reported that the network spent approximately $400,000 over five months getting the show ready. Preparation was worked around the duo's performances in night clubs and in the movie My Friend Irma.[5] The basis for NBC's investment was a five-year radio contract signed in December 1948. The deal guaranteed the pair $150,000 per year and "a choice time slot."[6] The program was scheduled to begin Jan. 16, 1949,[7] but it did not go on the air until April.[8]
Negative reviews
Reviews of the program's first broadcast indicated that the episode left much room for improvement. A Billboard reviewer wrote, "Off the initial outing, the lads will have to do considerable improving to live up to all the web's hopes."[9] However, he offered some optimism by writing, "[I]f the scripters can come up with material as fresh as their style and talent, Martin and Lewis still may earn all the accolades which were tossed their way before they ever faced a mike."[9] Meanwhile, media critic John Crosby wrote in his newspaper column, "The general attitude was one of friendly skepticism."[10]
In January 1950, Billboard reported that CBS "was making a determined effort to sign, among others, the comedy team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis."[11] The story added that at that point the program still had no sponsors and was "costing NBC close to $10,000 per week."[11]
By the end of 1950, Jerry Lewis recruited comedy writers Norman Lear and Ed Simmons to become the regular writers for Martin and Lewis.[1][12]
Gains
Things eventually improved economically for The Martin and Lewis Show. It went on to have sponsorship from Chesterfield cigarettes and Anacin.[2] It gained popularity with listeners, too, as it was named Favorite Radio Comedy Show in Radio-TV Mirror magazine's 1952 poll.[13] However, at least one newspaper writer still was not favorably impressed by the program. In 1952, Hal Humphrey wrote that The Martin and Lewis Show and Red Skelton's radio program were lacking in comparison to their television counterparts. He commented, "With rare exceptions their jokes and situations were stale and grisly with age, and on radio they had no chance to save themselves with mugging or pratfalls."[14]
Format
Martin was the singer of the pair, and Lewis was the comedian, with the latter described by radio historian John Dunning as a "squeaky-voiced idiot who heckled everybody in sight."[3] Dunning described the program's content as "standard variety fare: an opening song by Martin, some verbal slapstick, a guest spot, more Lewis antics, and a closing number by Martin."[2]
Personnel
Besides Martin and Lewis, regulars on the program included Ben Alexander, Sheldon Leonard,[2] Florence MacMichael, The Skylarks[15] and Mary Hatcher.[16]
Ed Simmons and Norman Lear wrote for the program, just as they also wrote for Martin and Lewis's movies and TV shows.[17]Dick Stabile was both the bandleader[18] and a foil for Martin and Lewis jokes.[2]
^ abc. Archived from the original on 2017-05-20. Retrieved 2017-04-27.
^ abcdeDunning, John (1998). On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio (Revised ed.). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. pp. 438–439. ISBN978-0-19-507678-3. Retrieved 2019-10-01. The Martin and Lewis Show, com.
^ abDunning, John. (1976). Tune in Yesterday: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio, 1925-1976. Prentice-Hall, Inc. ISBN0-13-932616-2. Pp. 397-398.
^Reinehr, Robert C. and Swartz, Jon D. (2008). The A to Z of Old-Time Radio. Scarecrow Press, Inc. ISBN978-0-8108-7616-3. P. 171.
^ abSmith, Bill (March 17, 1951). "Big Dough, Big Aches Wind Up M & L Story". Billboard. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
^"Martin-Lewis In 150G, 5 Year AM-Tele Deal". Billboard. December 25, 1948. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
^"Martin-Lewis NBC Show Set To Open On Jan. 16" (PDF). Radio Daily. December 18, 1948. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
^"NBC Renews Morgan; Wants Martin & Lewis Reduction". Billboard. December 24, 1949. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
^ abChase, Sam (April 30, 1949). "Martin and Lewis Show". Billboard. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
^Crosby, John (May 5, 1949). "Radio in Review". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
^ ab"CBS in Pitch for NBC Team Martin-Lewis". January 7, 1950. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
^"Norman Lear Looks Back on Early Days as TV Comedy Writer". 30 October 2015.
^"Radio-TV Mirror Awards" (PDF). Radio-TV Mirror. May 1952. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
^Humphrey, Hal (September 23, 1952). "Video Stars Give Radio Leftovers". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
^Terrace, Vincent (1981), Radio's Golden Years: The Encyclopedia of Radio Programs 1930-1960. A.S. Barnes & Company, Inc. ISBN0-498-02393-1. P. 173.
^"NBC Irons Sunday Night Kinks". Billboard. March 19, 1949. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
^"52G to Simmons, Lear to Do Five Martin-Lewis TV Shows". Billboard. October 31, 1953. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
^Thomas, Bob (January 30, 1952). "Martin And Lewis Bandmaster Signs On For More Mayhem". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
External links
77 episodes of The Martin and Lewis Show available for streaming from the Internet Archive
February 06, 2023
martin, lewis, show, radio, comedy, variety, program, united, states, starring, dean, martin, jerry, lewis, broadcast, radio, network, beginning, april, 1949, ending, july, 1953, dean, martin, jerry, lewisgenrecomedy, varietyrunning, time30, minutescountry, or. The Martin and Lewis Show is a radio comedy variety program in the United States starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis It was broadcast on the NBC Radio Network beginning April 3 1949 and ending July 14 1953 2 The Martin and Lewis ShowDean Martin and Jerry LewisGenreComedy varietyRunning time30 minutesCountry of originUnited StatesLanguage s EnglishSyndicatesNBCStarringDean MartinJerry LewisAnnouncerJimmy WallingtonJohnny JacobsWritten byEd Simmons 1950 1953 1 Norman Lear 1950 1953 1 Directed byRobert L ReddDick MackProduced byBob AdamsOriginal releaseApril 3 1949 July 14 1953Sponsored byChesterfield cigarettesAnacin Contents 1 Background 2 Negative reviews 3 Gains 4 Format 5 Personnel 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksBackground EditAfter losing The Jack Benny Program and Amos n Andy from its Sunday night lineup to what had been called the CBS talent raids of 1948 49 NBC turned to the young comedy team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis a pair virtually unknown to a radio audience 3 Reinehr and Swartz commented in their old time radio reference book the program was never as successful as the network had hoped because much of Martin and Lewis s comedy was visual 4 Work on the program began early in 1949 after NBC decided to build a show around Martin and Lewis 5 Billboard magazine reported that the network spent approximately 400 000 over five months getting the show ready Preparation was worked around the duo s performances in night clubs and in the movie My Friend Irma 5 The basis for NBC s investment was a five year radio contract signed in December 1948 The deal guaranteed the pair 150 000 per year and a choice time slot 6 The program was scheduled to begin Jan 16 1949 7 but it did not go on the air until April 8 Negative reviews EditReviews of the program s first broadcast indicated that the episode left much room for improvement A Billboard reviewer wrote Off the initial outing the lads will have to do considerable improving to live up to all the web s hopes 9 However he offered some optimism by writing I f the scripters can come up with material as fresh as their style and talent Martin and Lewis still may earn all the accolades which were tossed their way before they ever faced a mike 9 Meanwhile media critic John Crosby wrote in his newspaper column The general attitude was one of friendly skepticism 10 In January 1950 Billboard reported that CBS was making a determined effort to sign among others the comedy team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis 11 The story added that at that point the program still had no sponsors and was costing NBC close to 10 000 per week 11 By the end of 1950 Jerry Lewis recruited comedy writers Norman Lear and Ed Simmons to become the regular writers for Martin and Lewis 1 12 Gains EditThings eventually improved economically for The Martin and Lewis Show It went on to have sponsorship from Chesterfield cigarettes and Anacin 2 It gained popularity with listeners too as it was named Favorite Radio Comedy Show in Radio TV Mirror magazine s 1952 poll 13 However at least one newspaper writer still was not favorably impressed by the program In 1952 Hal Humphrey wrote that The Martin and Lewis Show and Red Skelton s radio program were lacking in comparison to their television counterparts He commented With rare exceptions their jokes and situations were stale and grisly with age and on radio they had no chance to save themselves with mugging or pratfalls 14 Format EditMartin was the singer of the pair and Lewis was the comedian with the latter described by radio historian John Dunning as a squeaky voiced idiot who heckled everybody in sight 3 Dunning described the program s content as standard variety fare an opening song by Martin some verbal slapstick a guest spot more Lewis antics and a closing number by Martin 2 Personnel EditBesides Martin and Lewis regulars on the program included Ben Alexander Sheldon Leonard 2 Florence MacMichael The Skylarks 15 and Mary Hatcher 16 Ed Simmons and Norman Lear wrote for the program just as they also wrote for Martin and Lewis s movies and TV shows 17 Dick Stabile was both the bandleader 18 and a foil for Martin and Lewis jokes 2 See also EditTeaming with Jerry Lewis describing how the act broke up in 1956 References Edit a b c Writing for Early Live Television Norman Lear television film political and social activist philanthropist Archived from the original on 2017 05 20 Retrieved 2017 04 27 a b c d e Dunning John 1998 On the Air The Encyclopedia of Old Time Radio Revised ed New York NY Oxford University Press pp 438 439 ISBN 978 0 19 507678 3 Retrieved 2019 10 01 The Martin and Lewis Show com a b Dunning John 1976 Tune in Yesterday The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Old Time Radio 1925 1976 Prentice Hall Inc ISBN 0 13 932616 2 Pp 397 398 Reinehr Robert C and Swartz Jon D 2008 The A to Z of Old Time Radio Scarecrow Press Inc ISBN 978 0 8108 7616 3 P 171 a b Smith Bill March 17 1951 Big Dough Big Aches Wind Up M amp L Story Billboard Retrieved 29 August 2014 Martin Lewis In 150G 5 Year AM Tele Deal Billboard December 25 1948 Retrieved 29 August 2014 Martin Lewis NBC Show Set To Open On Jan 16 PDF Radio Daily December 18 1948 Retrieved 29 August 2014 NBC Renews Morgan Wants Martin amp Lewis Reduction Billboard December 24 1949 Retrieved 29 August 2014 a b Chase Sam April 30 1949 Martin and Lewis Show Billboard Retrieved 30 August 2014 Crosby John May 5 1949 Radio in Review Pittsburgh Post Gazette Retrieved 30 August 2014 a b CBS in Pitch for NBC Team Martin Lewis January 7 1950 Retrieved 30 August 2014 Norman Lear Looks Back on Early Days as TV Comedy Writer 30 October 2015 Radio TV Mirror Awards PDF Radio TV Mirror May 1952 Retrieved 30 August 2014 Humphrey Hal September 23 1952 Video Stars Give Radio Leftovers The Pittsburgh Press Retrieved 30 August 2014 Terrace Vincent 1981 Radio s Golden Years The Encyclopedia of Radio Programs 1930 1960 A S Barnes amp Company Inc ISBN 0 498 02393 1 P 173 NBC Irons Sunday Night Kinks Billboard March 19 1949 Retrieved 29 August 2014 52G to Simmons Lear to Do Five Martin Lewis TV Shows Billboard October 31 1953 Retrieved 29 August 2014 Thomas Bob January 30 1952 Martin And Lewis Bandmaster Signs On For More Mayhem The Tuscaloosa News Retrieved 29 August 2014 External links Edit77 episodes of The Martin and Lewis Show available for streaming from the Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Martin and Lewis Show amp oldid 1120369755, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
