1954, I think, I was in the Navy, going to school in San Diego, California, and one of my classmates was a kid from Los Angeles, and occasionally we would go up to his house and spend the weekend.
His Dad was a Dentist, and on one particular weekend, the Dental Association was having an annual dinner. Now, you can imagine it was a big organization. On Saturday night, their big dinner, their entertainment, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
They also were appearing at a theater in LA, and doing a Sunday show, and his Dad got me a ticket to see the show. I doubt that much, or any sleep after they did the show for the dentists, and when I saw them in the theater.
I had pretty good seats, and I will never forget that experience, it was mayhem. I don't know of all of their shows were unscripted, but for an hour and a half they just did whatever came to them. I laughed, hysterically, for the entire show.
So, yes, I had the pleasure of seeing Martin and Lewis, together, in their prime, shortly before they split up, the same year.
