ePub Wallops Station and the Creation of an American Space Program (The NASA History Series) by National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Jr.; Harold D. Wallace in History

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*Includes pictures. *Includes Lewis' quotes about his own life and career. *Includes a bibliography for further reading. “I've had great success being a total idiot.” – Jerry Lewis A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history’s most influential figures; but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors’ American Legends series; readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of America’s most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute; while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known. Jerry Lewis has been in show business for over 7 decades; a multi-talented entertainer known for comedy; acting; singing; and producing and directing films to match. In many ways; his versatility is unprecedented even today; an era in which stars routinely alternate between film and musical careers; and Lewis has enjoyed it; as he once happily noted; “I get paid for what most kids get punished for.” He has been paid in several ways; including with too many lifetime awards to count; and he remains a household name today. At the same time; however; Lewis remains best known for his work with Dean Martin; and in that sense; he remains overshadowed by his more famous partner. There’s no doubt part of this was due to the stark contrast between their images; as Martin was suave and traditionally masculine while Lewis was a bundle of frantic energy. Although the circumstances that initiated their partnership are unusual and purely coincidental; the natural contrasts between the two ensured a perfect and complementary comedic fit. Working as “Martin and Lewis”; the team became the most popular nightclub act in America; commanding huge fees for their appearances all across the country. Perhaps the most ironic aspect of their success is that Dean Martin was not a comedian in any real sense of the word; and even during their act; he essentially served as the straight man to Jerry Lewis. The routine ensured that critics took more notice of Jerry Lewis; who intentionally came across as an awkward figure with a brand of bodily humor that was borrowed from a lineage of Yiddish humor predicated on physical slapstick. And just as Martin benefited from Lewis’ comedic skills; Lewis also further developed a singing career thanks to the more famous Martin’s crooning. American Legends: The Life of Jerry Lewis profiles the life and career of one of America’s most famous entertainers. Along with pictures of important people; places; and events; you will learn about Jerry Lewis like never before; in no time at all.