June 25th, 1962-1964 (Syndicated)
A daily ninety-minute talk show hosted by Steve Allen and sponsored by Westinghouse
Jerry Lewis makes an unrehearsed phone call to Mr. Sol Segal, owner of Segal's Kosher Restaurant in Chicago. By far, the most hilarious of the many Steve Allen phone calls ever made and unedited as originally broadcast. In addition, there is a question and answer session with Jerry and the members of the audience.
Prior to the actual phone conversation between Jerry Lewis and Sol Segal, which occurs 24 minutes into this air check, Lewis conveys his lively brand of humor with Steve including having Allen repeat his pseudo Limerick, "ONE HEN."
In an attempt to contact Mr. Segal for this "prank" call, Steve first talks to three other people on the phone, including his wife, before finally connecting with Sol Segal at his restaurant. Jerry poses as a potential customer who want to have a catered affair at the Segal's Kosher Restaurant and double talks his way into setting it up with a very patient and unsuspecting owner.
Afterward, Steve and Jerry discuss the joke phone call with Sol Segal. Some more show continues prior to Steve bidding all a good night.
NOTE: In 2001 Sin-Drome Records released an 8:03 minute excerpt of this phone call contained in an album titled, "Jerry Lewis Phony Phone Calls (1959-1972). Of the 12 phone calls heard in the album, only the Mr. Siegal phone call represents a television show broadcast.
The 8:03 excerpt Mr. Siegal telephone call does not contain material prior to the call when Jerry and Steve attempt to locate Mr. Siegal on the phone or the complete discussion with Mr. Siegal after Steve Allen and Jerry Lewis reveal the prank, as recorded by Phil Gries / Archival Television Audio when this show originally broadcast over 60 years ago.
NOTE:
In November 2023 Sol Segal's grandson, Chris Segal, contacted me for a copy of this broadcast. In a letter to me he stated the following anecdotal information.
"Phil, I've been listening to the recording since I was 15. I found it on an album called "Funny Fone Call" in the early 80's. I am now almost 60.
Sol died in 1993 around the ago of 80. The recording captures how kind and patient of a man he was...a good human being. He was quite a character with many funny stories about him. Got lost at O'Hare Airport looking for his kosher ice cream...used 3 day old chicken for salad at the restaurant...stole electricity from Chicago Utility to save money...stared down mobsters trying to get their share of his cigarette machine money.
Many of my family don't like the recording because they felt Jerry Lewis humiliated Sol. One classic retort by Siegal was when Lewis stated that he has a full house of children (Sol heard the audience laughing), and rebounded by stating "I feel sorry for your wife!" which got a huge laugh form everyone including Jerry Lewis and Steve Allen.
Unlike my family I like the recording, especially because Sol gets in his plug for his restaurant at the end.