Singer Jerry Lee Lewis is an early pioneer of rock and roll, Lewis had
hits in the late 1950s with songs such as "Great Balls of Fire", "Whole
Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On", "Breathless" and "High School Confidential".

 
Telethon button from 1980

The first Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon was held the weekend of
September 4-5, 1966; it was staged at New York’s Americana Hotel and
carried by WNEW-TV. Lewis continued to host the show until 2010. From
1966 to 2010, the telethon was seen for up to 21½ hours, starting on the
Sunday evening preceding Labor Day and continuing until late Monday
afternoon. The show has originated from Las Vegas for 28 of the 45
years it has aired.

The upcoming 2012 edition, now renamed the MDA Show of Strength
and scheduled for Sunday, September 2, 2012, is slated to be further
reduced to three hours, for prime-time broadcast.

Local KPTV 12 was among the participating stations of the "Love Network"
until 2002. The telethon moved to KPDX 49 in 2003.

"Rambin’ Rod" Anders hosted local telethon segments on KPTV for 
31 years. He died in May 2002.

From Frankie Laine Time which aired on CBS in 1956. It was the first 
national television appearance for Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers.