School has started for many kids across the country but when I was growing up the Jerry Lewis MD Telethon on

[ZonkerHarris]

Labor Day weekend was my notice that the school year would be starting on Tuesday.
My friends and I would always do a fundraiser, wash cars, lemonade stand, bake sale to donate money to our local chapter/affiliate.
I'd watch as many acts as I could especially up late on the east coast when some the late night Vegas stuff that Jerry and his gang would do was so fun.
Frank Sinatra would always show up late night after his show on the strip was done.
Dean Martin showed up one year and reunited with Lewis.
Frank arranged that too.
A few Tippany's at the end of Sunday night for the final total and I knew summer was officially over, kid-wise.
I kinda miss Jerry, even with all his faults.

[underpants]

1. The Telethon was always a great experience

Drop the bike in the front yard as a fluid step to get into the house to watch what was going on on the floor mounted fake wood panel TV.

Weird how the screen door was either open or not. Sliding off the bike into a full run was a skill.

Growing up in Va it was also the last day before school started.

[Warpy]

2. My parents loathed Jerry Lewis, so I never saw it

I thought his movies were hilarious but I outgrew them pretty quickly, preferring the Marx Brothers.

So, unless other stations had better fare, the TV was resolutely off and I was in my room reading all weekend.

Funny, my dad's family hailed from France. He didn't share the French enthusiasm for Lewis.

[hunter]

4. So did my parents, my mom especially.

As a young woman working in Hollywood it's very possible my mom had an unpleasant encounter with Lewis herself. She certainly knew women who had.

[Warpy]

6. My mother might have heard it through the grapevine, too

One of the zillion hats she wore was as a stage makeup artist. Still, I think it was the cloying sentimentality and using kids as props that nauseated her the most. My dad just hated his guts for reasons unknown.

[KatyaR]

3. Even after I went to college, I would spend the weekend

with my grandmother so we could stay up and watch. Those are special memories.

[ZonkerHarris]

5. Sinatra, Lewis and Martin reunion video clip...

Link to tweet

[some_of_us_are_sane]

7. oh man

I remember watching the telethon every year. Jerry would cry singing "You'll never walk alone" at the end, and of course, I would tear up as well. That sure brings back memories. Boy oh boy.....