http://youtu.be/L-R7D4TFeEU
I knew Jerry Lewis back in 1966-68 when I worked with a member of his family who was just starting in the music industry; we visited his well-guarded home many times, and the hospitality of the Lewis home was outstanding, warm and kind. He invited me to a number of filmings — his shoots were always open, but I got to watch his directing and camera directing close-up. As a matter of fact, one time it got really wild when Don Rickles showed up on the set and starting clowning around, grabbing camera stuff and raising total chaos, on the Junior League baseball field for Family Jewels. I remember the baseball lot being somewhere in Culver City, but I could be off by a few dozen miles.
Right off, in the first scene, you’ll meet Cy DeVore, from whom everyone I knew bought their clothes. He was Tailor to the Stars, along with another friend, haberdasher Cy Amber, whose shop was literally just around the corner on Hollywood Boulevard. DeVore’s shop was on Vine Street, just below Hollywood Boulevard and right next to the Broadway, an elegant department store that catered to stars and tourists looking to see some stars.
Cy was a passing good actor; note the reacts. He got it from vaudeville, but had been in the clothing business for many years when this bit was filmed.
In the Halo commercial, you’ll hear my dearest friend, Peggy Lee, whom I knew from my childhood days and worked with often. She recorded at Capitol Records where my stepdad Paul Donner was Marketing Director.
I did the photos and lettering for her “roses” greeting cards every year since about 1964, and we used to enjoy singing songs with each other over the phone. In December of 1993, Harry Nilsson was visiting when she called to sing something to me, and somebody put it on the speakerphone, so Harry and I joined in! I have the event on videotape.
At the tail end of the clip, there’s a bit with the Step Brothers (yes, that was really their name) and a sort of tap-off break dance style that might tickle your fancy and amaze & astound. Actually, Dean was pretty good at softshoe, not at all schooled, just instinctive.
To top that, I’ve added this barbershop tap fantasy with the Step Brothers just by themselves — you’ll note that they had definitely toned down their act to accommodate the addition of Deano in the after-piece. Jerry’s clowning comedy dance is beyond description.
T and I will be doing some softshoe and maybe a bit of tap — she’s very good at tap, I haven’t done it since I was knee-high to Abdul Kareem Jabbar. Come to think of it, I’m still knee-high to Abdul Kareem Jabbar.
Anyhow, we’ll try some tap, if we can get a stage protector tap floor on which to work, otherwise the stage will self-destruct in a few minutes of tap-dancing — it’s just 3/4″ plywood, and can’t take that kind of beating, but what can?
And speaking of tap, my mother’s stage name was Eve Paige when she danced with the Nicholas Brothers. Here’s a sample of their great work:
Okay, that’s plenty of hints and tips to go by. Want to find out more, you’re on your own from here on in. Or is it, you’re on your in from here in on???