Jerry Lewis the following summer, and the audience was so enthusiastic that Kaye became Lewis' manager and guardian for Borscht Belt appearances. During World War II, he was rejected for military service because of a heart murmur. Lewis initially gained attention as part of a double act with singer Dean Martin, who served as straight man to Lewis' zany antics as the Martin and Lewis comedy team. They were different from other duo acts of the time because they played to each other and had ad-libbed improvisational segments within their planned routines. After forming in 1946, they quickly rose to national prominence,
Jerry Lewis and was unprecedented in that he had unlimited creative control, including final cut, and the return of film rights after 30 years. Lewis' clout and box office were so strong that Barney Balaban, the head of production at Paramount at that time, told the press, "If Jerry wants to burn down the studio I'll give him the match!" He had finished his film contract with Wallis with "Visit to a Small Planet" (1960) and wrapped up production on his own film "Cinderfella" (1960), with Ed Wynn and directed by Tashlin. The movie was postponed for a Christmas 1960 release. Paramount