Martin and Lewis – In-person lecture

Join film historian Larry Wolff as he presents a fascinating look at the partnership of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. They were the biggest comedy stars in America and the hottest property around in 1956 when they suddenly broke up the act—leaving, according to Lewis, $500 million in contracts on the table.

What drove this extremely smooth singing straight man and his wild comedic partner to walk away from such a successful partnership? In this lecture, you'll learn about the stars’ personal backgrounds, their career successes, and the clashing egos that led to their split.

Hollywood stars begged them not to break up, venues threatened lawsuits, studio executives screamed, and the public cried—but the two wouldn’t even speak for twenty years… or would they? You may be surprised by what really led to the split, and what happened during their careers as solo artists. It was a complicated relationship that lit up movie screens and 1950s television sets.

This program includes a presentation, Dean Martin’s music, comedic highlights from their appearances on The Colgate Comedy Hour, and a display featuring books, autographs, and film memorabilia.