Dean Martin surprised by

Jimmy Durante

Priceless circa mid 60’s

Do you recall the Dean Martin Show? Do you remember how Dean used to open the door and unannounced, a mystery celebrity would enter the room?

This was always as much as a surprise to Dean as to everyone else.

This one features Jimmy Durante. Priceless

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The Dean Martin Show, not to be confused with the Dean Martin Variety Show (1959–1960), is a TV variety–comedy series that ran from 1965 to 1974 for 264 episodes. It was broadcast by NBC and hosted by entertainer Dean Martin. The theme song to the series was his 1964 hit “Everybody Loves Somebody“.

Dean Martin was initially reluctant to do the show, partially because he did not want to turn down movie and nightclub performances. His terms were deliberately outrageous. He demanded a high salary and that he need only show up for the actual taping of the show. To his surprise the network agreed.

As daughter Deana Martin recalled after meeting with the network and making his demands: Dean returned home and announced to his family, “They went for it. So now I have to do it.”

The terms of employment, and not having to appear for rehearsals, allowed Dean to appear in other projects. For example a series of Matt Helm films concurrent with the show’s run as well as a co-starring role in the first Airport film in 1970.

Dean Martin believed that an important key to his popularity was that he did not put on airs. His act was that of a drunken, work-shy playboy, although the ever-present old-fashioned glass in his hand often only had apple juice in it.

The show was heavy on physical comedy rather than just quips. He made his weekly entrance by sliding down a fireman’s pole onto the stage.

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