[mrwallee]

[Randy]

What a shock to read about the passing of Louie. I met him at Jerry's 1969 NBC show.
To Lou's family, my prayers are with you.

[Joe548]

I wonder why this was never listed in Variety. I saw him at all the Lewis performances. He seemed like a nice guy. I wonder if it's true that he and JL had a fight and stopped talking.

[oh doctah]

Louie is dead. Thanks for posting the news or we would never have found this out. Why do you think there was no tribute to him on the Telethon?

[NuttyJerryFan]

The same reason there was no tribute to many others that may have gotten it.

They were running short on time the entire show.

[Joe548]

Time or no time, there is no way JL would a tribute to someone he doesn't even talk to. Remember, to JL, he has been dead for years. When was the last time Lou was on the thon?

[NuttyJerryFan]

Lou retired from the music circuit in 1995 - and was only doing work with Jerry beyond that.

Lou last conducted on the Telethon in 1997. He had gotten so old that he was missing cues and he was assigned a cue person to sit by him the entire show, and cue him to do things instead of putting on the usual headphones to receive cues from the booth about music needed and so on.

Maybe they had a falling out - maybe they didn't - it's been 10 years so very few people know the answer to that.

[Joe548]

He was old and missing cues? Sounds like he was about the same age that Ed is right now.

[Mike]

Hi all,

Just had to reply and (even though he passed away some 9 months ago, and that he and Jerry may not have been close the past decade or so) I am saddened and offer my condolences to his family. Three memories of Louie (and there are many!) from mid-late '70s telethons:

- The Reunion Dean and Jerry '76: Taking the mike from Frank and watching and smiling, in awe of the moment

- Towards the end of one show, where he takes off his tie and/or he does something with Jerry's tie, and they hug

- Louie throwing the chair/ stool for Jerry to sit on right before he sings "...Walk Alone"

At the end of the telethon, Jerry usually mentioned Lou last, as his musical director for the past ____ years, my "best", "closest", or "dearest Friend". It was always touching and heartwarming to see them together, the way Jerry fooled around and joked with him. I think one telethon he said that Lou was one of the only people that would talk/be straight with him, not bowing down to him and his ego or take any crap from him, and would put him in his place when needed. If they did have a falling out, it's a true shame, then; very regrettable. Fortunately, Anthony and Scott went to his funeral service. Here's to Lou Brown, a standout conductor and musical director and (it seems like) a true giant and a wonderful man.

[Joe548]

Lou was not the conductor with the microphone for Frank in 76. It was Frank's guy.

[errandboy]

I bumped into Lou in 1993 after sitting in the telethon audience for five or six hours. It was like 7 or 8 in the morning and Lou passed us as we were exiting the Sahara "space center" where the show was staged. I grabbed my telethon pin (the ones they handed out around the casino) and asked Lou to sign it. Even though he was anxious about getting back on the set in time, he very graciously stopped and signed. He seemed pretty old and hard-of-hearing, but also seemed to have a very kind heart. My belated condolences to his family.

On a more upbeat note, I always enjoyed his role in Jerry's live performances. In addition to lobbing a stool onto the stage when Jerry requested one, he'd also heave ten or fifteen canes at Jerry in the same manner, with perfect comedic timing. I'm sure they'd done it hundreds of times, but it always seemed fresh. As sad as it is that all these "old school" performers are passing, I can't help but be glad we had the opportunity to see them while they were here. There'll never be another group of performers like them.

[JustABill]

I love watching Dean and Jerry clown around with Lou on the old Colgate Comedy Hour shows. Classic!