The Day I Met "CinderFella"

Once upon a time, there was a Total Film-Maker who was directing a syndicated TV series called Super Force at a major studio not far from me. Super Force starred Ken Olandt, Larry B Scott and Patrick Macnee (John Steed of The Avengers) in a sci-fi crimefighting adventure. It was that took place the far-out futuristic world of-----oooooh--—-the year 2020.

A dear friend, also working at the studio on another project, called to ask me, “Do you want to meet Jerry Lewis?” Of course I did—but first I went home to get my copy of the CinderFella album for him to sign. This album is not the soundtrack, but a lull cast reenactment of the basic story with Lewis as narrator. The cast consists of Hollywood’s top studio singers, including Bill Lee (Christopher Plummer in The Sound of Music) and Loulie Jean Norman (the soprano heard in the original Star Trek theme). Walter Scharf (Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol) arranged and conducted a huge orchestra, just for this record, which was written, produced and directed by Lewis. Enclosed in the gatefold was a board game with a spinner, a tiara, music stang, story book with photos and conductor’s baton.

Arriving at the appointed time at Universal in Jerry Lewis’ office, I could hear Jerry Lewis’ voice coming from inside his office. He was very cordial and introduced me to another man there who was either his manager or agent. Carefully looking through the album’s contents, which were all part of his concept, he slid the vinyl record from the cover.

The LP was pressed in translucent, multicolored vinyl, unlike anything I had ever seen before or since—even with all the new Record Store Day special editions. The other gentleman in the room said, “Look! It’s in different colors.” Lewis replied, rather sharply, “Whadaya think, I didn’t know that? This was my idea to make the record this way!

He looked at me and said, “May I ask a favor? My wife has never seen this record and I would like to borrow it for a few hours to show it to her. Can I do that and get it back to you?”

I was not going to say no to Jerry Lewis—nor was I going to say, “Why don’t you just keep it, good sir? He also didn’t ask to buy or keep it. As my thanks for your gift of laughter!” I was so startled that he wanted to borrow it at all, none of that really occurred to me. Besides, he was being very much Jerry in charge of things and asked me where to send the record for pickup. Again, he was more than courteous and dutifully had the record returned with his signature (as well as a cool handwritten delivery note).

It’s always a delight to share a part of one’s life with someone who made it happen. Quite often I am surprised how few performers received copies of the works in which they participated. Jerry Lewis was genuinely happy to see this album again, many years after its making. Who knows if he saw it very often, if at all, after it was released in 1960? It’s no huge deal in the long range of things, but it’s a nice thing to have been able to do.

And CinderFella really is quite a lavish, unique album, especially considering it was made entirely for records at a considerable budget.. A little gem from the Lewis oeuvre.

Enjoy!