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From the Scoop Archive - 3/8/2003
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Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis: Comic Book Stars
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| Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis comic book ad for TV puppet show. |
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Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis stormed stages, televisions, phonographs and
movies on their way into the hearts of a very adoring public. After initial
successes as solo performers, they began working together as an act in January
1947,though they had been on the same bill several times previously by that
point. With their music, comedy and lively banter, they quickly became in demand
for radio shows and eventually television. This lead to 16 movies, as well as
licensed products such as puppets, note pads and many other items. It's
difficult today to understand just how popular they were, but they could sell
out large venues for weeks, make the girls scream with delight, and make America
laugh. But did you know that the comedic reign of Martin and Lewis extended to
comic books?
The Adventures of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis was
published by DC Comics (then National Periodical Publications) for 40 issues
from July-August 1952 until October 1957, the year after the duo actually ended
the act. The comic, of course, tried to capture the humor and camaraderie that
they exuded in their on-stage personas. In fact, that might have been the real
part of the act that people fell in love with, and that would go a long way to
explain the decades-long fascination with their split.
The subject of
endless speculation and even a fairly recent TV movie, the journey of Martin and
Lewis has been highly documented by entertainment writers, but perhaps only they
know why they only appeared together in public three times after their 1956
split.
Dean Martin passed away December 25, 1995. The comic book changed
its title to The Adventures of Jerry Lewis beginning with #41 and ran
until #124 in 1971
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Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis comic book ad for TV puppet show.
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The Adventures of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis #34.
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The Adventures of Jerry Lewis #134.
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