June 7: Happy Birthday, Dean Martin

Everybody Loves Somebody Sometimes was a signature song for crooner Dean Martin and it was the way he felt about people most of his life. He knew that his fans were what made him the success he became.

Born in 1917 as Dino Paul Crocetti, Martin sang his way into the hearts of millions of women and his disgustingly good looks made a few men in their lives rather jealous. Dean Martin was a part of famous Rat Pack, which included notables like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Junior, and performed 10 years of comedy movies with Jerry Lewis. Although their later years together were tumultuous, Martin had a fondness for his young co-hort in picture making.

Dean Martin performed and recorded many classic hits, such as the one mentioned above, That’s Amore and Volare. His singles were played on radio airwaves for decades and never failed to melt the hearts of young female admirers the world over. One of the swashbuckling gossips about Martin was affiliations with the Mafia, which in retrospect could be true, but never altered the psyche of his popularity. martin made have known some of the underworld namesakes, but he still stood upon his own talent. married three times, Martin had 8 children...two of which died or were killed in accidents. Dean Martin left this world in 1995 after a bout with emphysema. He gave many celebrity roasts for his friends and in the hearts of many fans he has received a final toast.

March 16: Happy Birthday, Jerry Lewis

March 16: Happy Birthday, Jerry Lewis

It isn't easy to write a short entry on Jerry Lewis. Doing so can't capture his kinetic energy, his flowing and sprawling brand of physical humor. Nor is it adequate for discussing all the things he was: director, comedian, radio personality, fund raiser, winner of many prestigious awards.

Maybe we should just focus on radio! The Martin and Lewis Show leapt onto the airwaves in 1949, starring Lewis and his partner Dean Martin, a popular nightclub act. With Martin as the butt of Lewis's jokes, the two provided zany and energetic comedy while also hosting guests. The program did not skimp on talent, with guests including Lucille Ball, Peter Lorre, Henry Fonda, John Carradine, Jane Russell, and many others.

On the air or live, the two were the biggest comedy act of the early 1950's. As was the case with many radio stars, their show had more than one incarnation with more than one sponsor. In 1951, they took the airwaves under the name The Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis Show. A comedy song called "A Streetcar Named Max" got guest Dinah Shore laughing in what Variety Magazine would deem "one of the most hilarious thirty minutes in radio."

Lewis would go on to a tremendously successful film career, as an actor, yes, but also as a writer and director. In June of 2012 he was hospitalized after collapsing at a Friars' Club function.