The friend was Dean and both men hugged

Hey pallies, likes we are back once 'gain for more  touchin' 'n tender thoughts on the reunion of our most beloved Dino and is most beloved partner Mr. Jerry Lewis durin' the Labor Day MDA Telethon on September 5, 1976.  As we have shared in prior recent posts, it seems that this year bein' the 40th anniversary of this most wonderful event has literally brought a plentiful plethora of posts accentin' one, if not the most, heartwarmin' events in all of Dino-history.

Likes today we share a personal reflection scribed by a blogger who  tags themselves "citizen john q public" at the "Go Do  Good" section of "CHICAGO NOW."  We digs it the mostest that this everyday pallie has chosen to wonderfully write their personal awesome appreciation of this monumental moment in the life, times, and teachin's of our one and only Dino.  Most often the scribin's that we end up sharin' are from professional pallies who are makin' a livin' writin'...and that is all for the good dudes, but it makes it evermore extra special when an average Joe or Jolene use their talents in rememberin' our most beloved Dino.

Anyway, we also thinks it is the coolest the tag that "citizen john q public" as used for these reverent reflections....."Blessed are peace makers with Blue Eyes!"......puttin' Mr. Frank Sinatra's extraordinary efforts into the potent perspective of bein' a "peace maker" which is exactly what he set out to do and did!  That this wonderful writer has their own personal history with workin' on MDA telethons makes the reflections even more deeply delightful.

We sez our thanks to the pallies at "CHICAGO NOW" and 'specially "john q public" for hugely homagin' our most beloved Dino and his pallie of pallies Mr. Jerry Lewis on this awesome anniversary of this most marvelous moment in all of Dino-history.  Likes to checks this out in it's original source, simply clicks on the tag of this here Dino-gram.

We remain,

Yours in Dino,

Dino Martin Peters


Blessed are peace makers with Blue Eyes!

By citizen john q public,



I have fond memories of the Labor Day Weekend for a number of reasons. My daughter Gina was born late in the day on Sunday, Sept. 4th, the day before the 1983 LD holiday. She was a healthy, big (9.4 lbs) baby. The weekend was also significant for my work as a camera operator/director for a number of Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) telethons broadcast over a local Rockford CBS affiliate. The network programming originated from Las Vegas hosted by comedian Jerry Lewis with Ed McMahon as a side-kick which Johnny Carson approved since Ed had an exclusive contract with the Tonight Show.

For those that don't remember what an MDA telethon was all about, Jerry Lewis would joke, mug, cajole, weep, and play ringmaster to a horde of celebrities as he appealed to viewers to dig deep and donate to the research effort to battle the disease. For 20-plus hours that started the Sunday before Labor Day Monday and carried through till the sign-off on the evening of the holiday, it was non-stop entertainment with a tote board that would reveal the millions being pledged by Americans. It was also a time when the average citizen could come to the station and get on TV with contributions collected at a workplace or by family, club or church. Jerry Lewis would always conclude by singing “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” which was a tearjerker for me and many viewers.

One of the most memorable TV moments of an MDA Telethon featured the one and only Frank Sinatra. Sinatra had a long history with Jerry Lewis and his entertainment partner on stage and screen, Dean Martin. Martin & Lewis were huge as an act before live audiences. Jerry was the clown to Martin's straight man - an act that commanded "mucho dinero dollares." On the tenth anniversary of the Martin/Lewis partnership, Dean decided to bale and many critics figured Jerry wouldn't make it without his colleague. Both men did just fine and had very fruitful careers. However, the decision to part company ended their friendship and neither spoke to one another. That changed on stage on Sept. 6, 1976 when Frank brought out "one of his friends," to pay homage to Jerry for his good work on behalf of MDA. The friend was Dean and both men hugged and then commenced an awkward conversation that was the beginning to peace and a friendship that never faltered the rest of their lives. Jerry Lewis eulogized Dean Martin as one of the kindest souls he had the pleasure to know.

God bless the peacemakers - including Old Blue Eyes for bringing two friends back together.