The thread here about the Jerry Lewis Theaters has brought a lot of e-mail. Here are some excerpts, starting with this message from Fred Hembeck…
I've been enjoying the extensive discussion regarding the Jerry Lewis Theater Chain (which I just this morning had the chance to read) over at your site, and I can attest to the following facts: the Jerry Cinema located in the town of Coram, fifty odd miles away from NYC on bucolic Long Island, amidst a thriving shopping center, and across from a popular Pathmark grocery store, morphed immediately from a failing flight of a funnyman's financial fancy into a venue blatantly showing triple X-rated features!! Whether there was any confusion during the turnover process with marquees et al, and whether the infamous Linda Lovelace starrer was ever there, I couldn't tell you, but the transition DID happen in (virtually) my home town. How can I be so sure, you ask? Well, while I never actually plunked any money down to support Jerry's particular dream, I, um, did take in the odd feature at the revamped picture palace — and lemme tell ya, some of 'em were pretty odd!?! Actually, I have a pretty funny story concerning my intial visit with the new tenants, but hey, I've gotta save SOMETHING for my own website, don't I? Well, if nothing else, maybe this'll spur me on to finally commit that story to the keyboard!
We'll watch for it over on www.hembeck.com. (It's not up yet, but Fred's site is well worth visiting anyway.) Now, this message comes from Jim Hanley…
Just thought I'd mention that while the central company may have failed, we had a Jerry Lewis Cinema on Staten Island until at least 1976. I distinctly remember seeing The Pink Panther Strikes Again there, which IMDB lists as coming out that year. I don't know if that means that they had replaced their projection equipment or not, but considering how many theaters had closed on SI in the years before that, second hand equipment was probably easy to come by. And it always seemed appropriate that the other occupant of the lot with the Jerry Lewis was an Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips stand.
And I wonder how many people who know the name of Arthur Treacher know that he was an actor (and Merv Griffin's sidekick) who had nothing to do with fish and chips besides being British and selling his name to a franchise operation? Probably the same number who'd be amazed to know that there was actually a Roy Rogers and that, apart from lending his moniker to a bad fast food chain, he made movies. Anyway, thanks, Jim. And now this next one is from Darren J. Hudak…
All this talk about the Jerry Lewis theaters brought back fond memories. There was a Jerry Lewis theater in the New Jersey town where I grew up. It was the theater where my parents took me to see the first movie I ever saw in a theater. The Barbara Striesand film What's Up, Doc? I behaved so badly that it was years before my parents every took me to another film. (I think I sat still during the two minutes that Bugs Bunny appeared at the end, other then that I was anything but well behaved). I do remember the cardboard standup of Jerry that stood in the lobby along with a mural of famous film figures from the past. At one point in the 70's, it stopped calling itself the Jerry Lewis theater but for years everyone referred to it as the Jerry Lewis theater. During this time the cardboard cutout of Jerry was gone but the mural of famous film figures from the past stayed for years to come. For what seemed like forever, (but was probably only a few months) it did show the x-rated film Caligula, probably adding to the urban legend. (I remember this because my Mom went shopping at the supermarket across the street and every shopping trip during this time included a complaint about "that movie"). It then closed for a few months and reopened showing more traditional fare, and there were many movies I remember seeing there. At some point in the 80's they put a wall down the middle of the theater in an attempt to turn it into a multiplex, (actually a two plex). The mural of famous film figures was also painted over at this time. About 6 years ago they finally tore down the theater and put up a Rite Aid drug store. This depressed me greatly since not only was this the first place I saw a movie but also the place where, (at age 15), I first kissed a girl. Anyway thanx for bringing up the memories of a place from my youth that will never exist again.
Lastly, here's one from my old fanzine pal, Wayne DeWald…
I know for a fact that a Jerry Lewis Cinema in South Miami did indeed show hardcore porn. (er…that is a good friend of mine TOLD me that it did…I of course would not have any personal knowledge.)
On further reflection, maybe the name of the place changed before the fare became hard core. No question it was the same building, but maybe there had been a name change. I wasn't — I mean, my friend wasn't — as concerned about the name of the theater as much as what really happened Behind the Green Door, which was the feature film.
Okay, I'm now convinced that it's possible/probable that some of the Jerry Lewis Theaters did turn to porn at some point. And if Jerry ever did see his name on a theater marquee along with that of Linda Lovelace, it was probably in that context. I still don't believe any theater would book a genuine hardcore sex film with a Jerry Lewis movie. Anyway, I think I've had enough of this topic for now, but I thank all the participants. (Oh — one more related trivial aside. Once upon a time, there was a Jerry Lewis restaurant at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Larrabee. It went out of business and was eventually replaced by a strip joint called The Classic Cat. It's now a Tower Video, right across from the infamous Viper Room where all the big rock stars go to overdose.)