Throwback Thursday Comedy Showcase: Jan Murray and Jerry Lewis Kibitz on the 1995 MDA Telethon

The MDA Labor Day Telethon was an enchanting yearly variety show that ran for half a century. Hosted for many years by Jerry Lewis, the telethon featured top stars from the world of music, comedy, and Broadway. The telethon was created to help support the Muscular Dystrophy Association, which is leading the fight against the disease.

In 1995 comedian Jan Murray made an appearance on the telethon and kibitzed about their lives in show business and the differences in the way Jerry hosted the MDA Telethon and Jan hosted the Chabad Telethon.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

 

  #Throwback Thursday    #TBT

The Great Jewish Comedians: Jan Murray on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1960

Jan Murray (born Murray Janofsky) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, and game show host who originally made his name on the Borscht Belt and later was known for his frequent television appearances over several decades. 

Murray began performing on the vaudeville stage at the age of 18. During the 1930s, he entertained at the "Borscht Belt" Catskills resorts popular with Jewish vacationers. In the 1940s and early 1950s, he became a Las Vegas marquee performer, including headlining at the Flamingo Hotel during its first year of operation.

Murray also helped launch the Chabad telethon in 1980 and hosted the fundraiser through 1996. 

Here's a video clip from 1960 of Jan Murray in one of his frequent appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. In this routine, he jokes about comedians, westerns, the right girl, wife and marriage.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

Throwback Thursday Comedy Special: Red Buttons Standup at Chabad Telethon

Red Buttons, the comedian who became known at celebrity roasts for his "never got a dinner" speech, appeared on a Chabad telethon in 2009.

He had the audience laughing when he performed a variation on the speech, listing famous Jews since the beginning of time who never did a show for Chabad.

At the Telethon, he was introduced by Jan Murray, whom we profiled yesterday as one of the great Jewish Comedians.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

The Great Jewish Comedians: Jan Murray at Milton Berle's 93rd Birthday Party

Jan Murray, born Murray Janofsky (1916-2006) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, and game show host who originally made his name in the Borscht Belt and later was known for his frequent television appearances over several decades.

Murray began performing on the vaudeville stage at the age of 18. During the 1930s, he entertained at the "Borscht Belt" Catskills resorts popular with Jewish vacationers. In the 1940s and early 1950s, he became a Las Vegas marquee performer, including headlining at the Flamingo Hotel during its first year of operation.

He was the host of many Chabad telethons, and we've shared a few with you in years past.

In 2002, he made an appearance at Milton Berle's 93rd birthday party, and entertained a roomful of comedians and entertainers including Sid Caesar and Carl Reiner, and told some of his and Berle's old jokes.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.