[Applause]
thank
you
tonight the United Negro College Fund is
honoring a very special man on his 60th
anniversary in show business ladies and
gentlemen our guest of honor Mr Sammy
Davis Jr
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
if there's anybody on the face of the
Earth who doesn't know who this man is
and doesn't know why we're honoring him
tonight perhaps this a refresh your
memory whether I'm
right or whether I
[Music]
run whether I find a place in this world
or never
belong I got to be
me I got to be
me the dream that I see makes me
what I
am that far away
priz a world of
success is waiting for me if I ha the
call I won't settle
down won't settle for
less as long as there's a chance that I
can have it
all I'll go it
alone that's how it must
be I can't be right for somebody else if
I'm not right for
me I got to be
free I've got to be
free daring to try to do it or die I've
got to be
me I'll go it
alone that's how it must
be I can't be right for somebody else if
I'm not right for
me I got to be
free I just got to be
free daring to try to do it or
die I
got me
[Music]
ladies and gentlemen Frank Sinatra
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
thank you for that nice reception ladies
and gentlemen I'm delighted to be here
to join in this wonderful celebration
for my little friend who's the best
friend I ever
had 60 years that's a lot of bourbon
under the bridge baby I tell you
that and I knew that you would amount to
something but I didn't feel that you
were going to amount to
everything and he did it all he really
did anyway people are going to say that
uh they're going to say a lot of nice
things about you tonight Sam a lot of
wonderful adjectives so that uh I want
to get my licks in before they come out
here and I say Here's to You Sam you
know I love you I can't say it any more
than that you're my
brother and you're the greatest
[Music]
tonight is a celebration we're talking
about a person who has spent 60 years
entertaining the public now let's put
that into perspective 60 years ago
Herbert Hoover was a president and Babe
Ruth was a Sultan of Swat
and and the country was in the middle of
a Great Depression Samu was in a Great
Depression of his own uh he was four and
he wasn't a star
yet in 1929 Sammy made his first film
with the Great eth Waters called Rufus
Jones for president back then the idea
of a black man in the White House was
somewhat remote Booker T Washington had
slept in the White House in 1917 at the
invitation of President Wilson the next
black man to sleep in the White House
was Sammy Davis
Jr yes he
did and it wasn't during a Perry Como
concert it was at the invitation of the
president of the United States States
and Sammy slept good too did you
Sammy had a deep all of that was and you
slept in Abraham Lincoln's bed didn't
[Laughter]
you now when Sammy started out 60 years
ago there was no television and no video
cassettes talking pictures that just
come to the movies and it took 4 days to
get from New York to California and Jaa
was was only on her second marriage at
that time
[Applause]
now we now have video cassettes and
audio tapes and a means of recording
history so that we can look back on
great careers like Sammy Davis Jr's and
see what it what it was that made a man
a phenomenon that he is and let's look
at some of the stuff I didn't know about
show business that I was just out with
my family I didn't learn about I didn't
learn about Show Business until uh oh
I'd say till I was about six or seven
that I was in a business I thought it
was this
fun so I started when I was three I won
my amateur contest and uh right after
that my dad and will Maston put me in
the ACT singing I'll be glad when you're
dead you rascal you
[Music]
[Applause]
never went to grade school I never went
to any kind of school at all we stayed
at the black hotels ate in the black
restaurants uh socialize with the other
blacks within that Community because it
was part part of belonging and feeling
comfortable and also part of the legal
structure but then I went into the army
I was 17 at the time I was in the first
integrated group of infantry men and
they had never seen a black man do Jimmy
Kagney or Jimmy Stewart or any of the
popular guys so I started doing it in
the Army when I got with this integrated
group the white guys would laugh and the
black guys would look at me like
this when I got out of the army the
first night working at a place called
Shep's playhouse at the opening night I
step up and I say thank you very much
it's nice to be out in the Army I got
something and my dad and uncle don't
know that I can do we talked about it
but I never got a chance to do it for
him I'm going to do it for you nice
folks tonight I got up to the microphone
and I said how about Jimmy Stewart you
know while while J was I'd really loed
to side that it really is a pleasure to
be back among my my own folk and well
they went we got off the stage people
were standing we got into the dressing
room my father said if you ever do that
again I'm going to kill
you but he did do it again and as he got
Bolder and better his reputation as a
world- class Entertainer continued to
increase surely the gods were smiling on
him until one night driving from Las
Vegas to Los Angeles the smiles vanished
in a flaming automobile accident Sammy
lost an
[Music]
eye for your love and your gears and fur
but with his flare for theatrical he
converted his Misfortune into a stylish
prop he wore the patch for almost a year
until a trusted friend convinced him to
get rid of it forever the friend was
Frank Sinatra Frank made Sammy part of
his extended family which included Dean
Martin Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford and
together The Rat Pack gave performances
in Las Vegas that are talked about to
this day we are also delighted to have
our audience the brightest man in the
political world in this country or any
other country today senator John Kennedy
from the great state of
Massachusetts yeah
ja follow that
Joy you son of a gun you got the Jewish
vote I knew that but I couldn't say
it what was his last name
again their success only added to sami's
solo career if I get a hit record or I
get a good movie that's grav
my main suit is concerts nightclubs
going on around the world entertaining
being a variety artist that's what I am
[Music]
ladies and gentlemen Clint
[Applause]
[Music]
Eastwood thank you thank you I'm happy
to be here tonight to honor a great
Entertainer and a great friend when I
was running for mayor and carmell Sammy
offered to come all the way up there and
hug my
opponent there are many other there are
many other things about Sammy Davis that
are not common knowledge and at one
point Sammy was a worldclass quick draw
artist when I was trying to make
something of myself in spaghetti
westerns Sammy was at home practicing
the art of the Quick Draw he said if
they ever start making chitlin Weston he
was going to be ready so as everything
Sammy does he went all out he got
himself the best equipment silver mother
of pearl handle long barrel Colt pistols
hand tooled leather and a Gucci holster
real silver B
and here's an excerpt from a BBC special
done in the 60s and this will this will
give you an idea why you should never
mess with this guy in a
shootout as I walked out in the streets
of
Loredo as I walked
out in
Loredo one
day I spy a young cowboy
[Music]
wrapped up in white
GRE Shucks I wouldn't put it on unless I
was good at
[Applause]
it you see single action means like
unless you have the modern Revolver They
can fire this way by just pressing the
trigger with the oldfashioned Western
Gun had to the gun first and then
fire so that in essence when you go for
the fast drawer the gun is actually
cocked while it's in the holster like so
see it's cocked here you pull out and
then fire of course you must be careful
that when you do this you don't do
[Music]
that but you'll find out immediately why
Chester walks with a limp
[Music]
Sammy is one of those few stars who
recognized by just one name Sammy Frank
Liza
Dean
[Laughter]
[Applause]
Areno and here's another one Goldie
Goldie h
[Applause]
thank you when I was first starting out
in Show Business h i was
oops what's
this I was living New York and I was a
dancer and I auditioned for everything
that came along I even audition for
Golden Boy but I didn't get
it that's okay I did meet a
choreographer however and one day he
gave me a call and he told me that Sammy
was throwing a big party at the rainbow
room and he was looking for go- go
dancers and that well to liven things up
if I would like to do that so I said
well yeah I'd love to do that so called
my girlfriend and I got all dressed up
in my little nothing and Fringe things
and put on my makeup and I went to this
great party now I was up on this little
platform and very little and the music
went Non-Stop and I don't think that I
ever danc so hard before or since and at
the end of the evening Mr Davis himself
came up to me and he thanked me
personally with all these other people
around for being so good and working so
hard and that no one had ever said that
to me before then and I just went home I
felt like a million
bucks and years later I was doing
laughing and Samy was a guest on the
show and it rehearsal he walked over and
I thought to myself is he going to
remember
me and he said I remember you you're
that girl who danced at my party at the
rainbow room and you were
terrific and well Sammy I don't know how
many hundreds of times you've made
people feel special in your lifetime but
you can put me down for
[Music]
two ladies and gentlemen the heavyweight
champion of the world Mr Mike Tyson
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
all I
do
okay all right stay tuned for more the
Sammy Davis Jr tribute honoring the one
heavyweight I would never dare step into
the ring with Sammy you're a true
undefeated
champ
wait I think Mike can do a little better
than that Mike
okay I'm going to I'm going to attempt
to read this this may be disastrous okay
stay tuned for more of the Sammy Davis
Jr tribal honoring the one heavyweight I
would never dare step into the ring with
Sammy you are truly the undefeated
Champion the producers of the show The
Producers of the show was hoping you'd
have a little more feeling more Mike you
know a little bit more Mike Tyson you
know more Mike tysonism like like hello
ladies and gentlemen Sammy and I would
[Applause]
[Music]
like now when the will M
Trio with Sammy Davis Jr used to play at
the Apollo Theater in Harlem a young man
would sit in the balcony man he would
sit with his brother and his
father
[Applause]
now
they were also Ena and the young man
watched and he studied and he learned
and he watched and
danced and the Trio's name
name was hin Hines and
Dad the young man's name was Gregory
Hines ladies and gentlemen Mr Gregory
hin
[Music]
[Applause]
Sammy Davis
Jr so when I was a child when I was a
young boy and I was 10 years old and I
would hear that
name or I would see your
name or somebody would uh somebody would
talk about about you I would just get so
excited and I would
just it's hard to put into words it's
hard to say it but I just idolized you I
idolized you and and as I grew up as I
grew in our lives
pass I I I grew in that too and and and
so now I just I feel so much love for
you that
uh I'm going to try to dance that you
[Music]
no save it for the end I have a very
weak finish
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
and we are swinging
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
than you than you
I got more
[Music]
[Applause]
what hey
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
w
got a shoe horn
little cute nice and
light little fast
[Music]
no I
[Music]
[Applause]
now stop time stop
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
w
[Applause]
[Music]
what's the plans for the future I plan
to spend my
money I'm not going to fool around
saving and getting old I'm going to
spend my money then
die cuz there's no need to being alive
and broke after you had
money put your tongue
in I love this
[Music]
man and I mean it and I want everybody
in the world to know that ladies and
gentlemen they know it now Sam you can
let go
[Music]
ladies and gentlemen Richard
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
Pryor thank
you thank
you this is a nice evening huh this is
really
nice Sammy I'm I'm impressed I really am
man there 5,000 people out here some who
paid $500 a piece just to sit out here
and watch you
laugh you know that's great and I'm just
real happy to be here to be a part of it
and I saw all these wonderful people and
Sammy they all here to tell you how much
they love you and how wonderful they
think you are
I just don't what to say you know I
should know but I
don't you know how stuff in your head
and then then you say oh my God I forgot
it and they asked me to look at the
teleprompter I wear
glasses I'm looking at the teleprompter
I know it's real big and loud screaming
the words at me I'm looking at it but I
can't see
it it is just a
blur I mean this is
great yeah but back stage he got a
billion dollars worth of talent
backstage I was backstage trying to see
who the stars were looking
at I stepped on Bill Cosby's
foot and Bill got them big feet you
know yeah I bumped Michael Jackson I did
and I I stepped over Dean Warden excuse
me Dean
and I kissed Jesse's
ring you know it's kind of like it was a
f
Jesse and now I stand here before an
audience trying to think of the line
that gets me off oh please
God let me remember please
[Applause]
well they all were standing backstage to
look at this person that I'm going to
introduce and I'm real happy to
introduce him ladies and gentlemen Sammy
Davis Mr Gregory
[Applause]
[Music]
pack if Sammy Davis had never appeared
in a single film a play or a TV
production he'd still be considered a
fine actor not only for the mood he
creates when he sings a song or for his
commanding presence when he dances but
for the way he's played that Larger than
Life character called Sammy Davis
Jr making up the
script as he went along he's endured
more Agony more ecstasy more Twist of
the plot and more joy than McBeth job
and PeeWee Herman
combin but when called upon to sublimate
his own extravagant personality to
portray a character created from a
writer's imagination he brings to the
part The Ring Of Truth which is the
Hallmark of great
acting so let's take a look now at Sammy
Davis the
actor tonight we tell a special story
about two persons one an orphan of war
the other an orphan by choice they meet
and this is that story how star and this
is his first dramatic role is Sammy
Davis Jr in Al
ven
wow you certainly are the most displaced
little old person I ever did
see goodbye man
ma Papa I'm not your
papa Joey don't you know I'm not your
papa look I I don't need you kid
I I don't need you Joey I'm in the Army
and I don't need
you that's wrong Joey I need you Joy
I'll be back for you I I'll be back Joey
look at me I love you Joey love be back
for you three decades later Sam is still
going strong as he proved in his latest
film Ty I have tried Darin I swear to
you I have tried and I just can't pull
it off I can't make it work I go in
there and play cars with the guys tried
gardening upstairs but I ain't good at
none of them damn things I'm only good
at one
thing I'm a tap
dancer and Amy I'm proud of
that
now during that 30-year span Sammy the
song and dance man performed all over
the world and still found time to do 23
films he was part of a gang that stole
from the rich and gave to the poor in
Robin and the Seven hoods hey wait a
minute did you hear him say just a
second that's it don't get smart you
understand hey what is that I saw it in
the movie shut up how expect to go with
the Rob Sammy continued his scene
stealing ways with his buddies in a
series of films like Oceans 11 and
Sergeant 3 and on his own in such highly
acclaimed roles as Sport and life in
pori and Bess and the hippie preacher in
sweet charity he dawned the clerical
color for a CrossCountry Sprint in
Cannonball Run and put on judicial robes
for a romp on television that became a
national
sensation this judge's going to start a
war on crime and everybody day going to
get some time here come to
jch Sammy has appeared in over a
thousand television shows and has worked
with all the major Stars open your
[Applause]
eyes one of sammi's best films with por
and best it was almost as if he was born
to play the part of sport and life
although that classic American Opera was
written before Anita Baker was even
born
it's it's almost as if she was born to
sing this score ladies and gentlemen
Anita Baker
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
fish are
[Music]
jumping child cutting his
your
dad
Rich child your is good
look show a hush little
[Music]
baby you C
morning you're going to
rise you spread your
[Music]
way take my
sh that more
yes nothing can
hold daddy and
mommy standy
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
coming up next Bob Hope Shirley mlan and
President George Bush
we're the happiness boys I'm Ernie and
I'm confused because I didn't see it I'm
sorry I'm sorry I got one eye and was
looking the other
[Applause]
way they see my feet are natural yeah a
size seven and a size s
[Music]
[Applause]
they tell me my feet are natural
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
oh that's just
perfect ladies and gentlemen Bob
[Music]
[Applause]
hul thank you very much I'm here tonight
to talk about Sammy Davis the
saint good night
[Music]
well I'm saying he ain't but let me tell
you Sammy damis has been an angel to so
many millions of people who have
benefited from his benefits that he has
given us over the years there have been
thousands of benefits I mean things like
the benefit for the zah jaag Gabor
Driving School
Foundation Sammy is always lived by one
motto I never let my income interfere
with my standard of
living Sammy has thrown away so much
money in his lifetime that he could
qualify for his savings and lone
bailout he has the heart of a giant the
soul of a romantic and enough drama in
his life to fill a week's worth of
Heraldo believe me Samy Davis is a
singer a danc an actor an impressionist
huh he done more in one life than Sher
mlan has done in
20 he's amazing he had a hip operation
Samy's doctor told him he was getting
too much weight on the hip so Sammy took
off five rings in a
bracelet even with his bad hip Sammy
still dances up with storm believe me
who says Jews don't have rhythm
Sammy celebrating his 25th year in the
Jewish faith and he's still trying to
find a place that sells kosher
chitlins one person who couldn't be here
tonight but wanted to be a part of this
program as the President of the United
States rather than risk losing my green
card I said I'd be happy to introduce
him ladies and gentlemen from the White
House President George
Bush good evening pleasure to join you
on this special occasion as many of you
know I've been involved with the United
Negro College Fund for over 40 years and
in that time I've seen the remarkable
work the uncf has accomplished and the
countless people they've touched we
could also say the same for tonight's
guest of honor Sammy Davis Jr many years
ago Sammy was the first person to
contribute money to all 42 of the United
Negro College institutions
and since then Sammy you've continued to
contribute in countless ways and that's
why it's only fitting that the proceeds
from tonight's event are going to
establish Samy Davis Jr
scholarships through your efforts a lot
of young people are going to have
educational opportunities that might not
otherwise have been available to them
nothing says it better than the uncf
slogan a mind is a terrible thing to
waste congrat ulations to the United
Negro College Fund on this wonderful and
inspirational event and Sammy for all
your work not only do you have the
heartfelt thanks of your family and
friends but also of this President thank
you best of luck and God bless you
all ladies and gentlemen Shirley mclan
[Music]
thank
you
Samila it doesn't really seem that long
ago that we first met but it was 34
years
ago you were
30 and I
wasn't I had I was about to begin my
first picture with Dean and
Frank and they snuck me in to a very
famous nightclub called SOS they snuck
me in because I was underage
then they said they had discovered this
kid who was dancing and singing and
performing in the middle of a
trio the two people on either side of
you were
terrific but I could not believe my eyes
and my ears never had so much come out
of something so small for so
long I thank you
Sam for all you've taught me about live
performing about expressing yourself in
so so many ways dancing singing acting
writing about overcoming
adversity and about using your talent at
every moment when someone else needs
you you are not the middle of the trio
anymore you are our great glorious
soaring sweeping Symphony
[Music]
Orchestra if they could see you
now all those who knew you
well surrounded by this love and
joy oh boy that
they'd stand and cheer right here as all
of us
do and wish you health and wealth and
happiness
too no one on
earth can chase the blues and bring such
fun even in outer
space I've never seen it
[Music]
done you
deserve this
Weller bow you're one in a
million that's why Sam we love
you now
[Music]
[Applause]
stay tuned for Magic Johnson and Stevie
[Applause]
Wonder Sammy Davis Jr's 60th anniversary
celebration will continue in a moment
[Music]
well
Sammy Sammy Davis nice to see you j i
you know I'm rehearsing down the hall
and I am such a fan of yours I know it's
your opening show and I don't want to
disturb you but I being a fan I I
couldn't resist coming in and wishing
you good luck on the new year you know
I'm starting a new year I want this to
be the greatest year that I've ever had
in television so naturally I want shows
I want a pattern after the best shows
that I've done in the past and as you
say you've been a fan of mine I am what
what show what was the best show you
think that I did this last
year well I didn't see any of your shows
last
[Music]
[Applause]
year you didn't no I I I I didn't see
any well you said you were a fan I am a
fan and I I I I just can't watch you on
television Jack you never watch me on I
never watch you on television you know
the reason why now let me explain a fan
I am of sure but I want to remember you
from the old days in voeville the first
time for instance my father and uncle
took me to see what they call a real Pro
they took me to see you the greatest
entertainer of all time I sat in the
theater and I watch the master at work I
really and when you did the things you
did for instance when you opened up that
back of yours in Vaudeville in the old
days and you sang that song I'll never
forget it and then they n it they
rehearsed it and then they
gave
that gave birth to the
[Music]
blue when I old
sou gave birth to the
[Music]
[Applause]
blue
Samy Sammy I never I you did you did I
remember so well I know it I I can still
see it and then you went right to the
drums it was F I went to
[Music]
[Applause]
the then then you had him you had him
guessing they figured well he must be
tired now but you had more energy left
and that's when you went into your Dance
1 2 3 4
when did I ever do that
[Music]
[Applause]
it was really something to
see
Samy I didn't do those things I can't
sing I can't dance I can't do imitations
I can't play the drums you can't no I
guess that's why I don't watch you on
television uh 6'9 in tall our next did
some spit just shoot out my mouth it's
like I said tall I'm that's 6'9 in tall
I'm sorry if it
did 6' n in tall our next guest doesn't
have to look up to very many people but
there is one person he does have to look
up to and that person is only 5'6 in
heels the lookie is Sammy Davis Jr and
the looker is a magic man himself Mr
Irvin Magic Johnson
[Music]
I grew up in Lany Michigan and I had the
advantage of being able to go to grade
school high school and college Sammy
Davis grew up in Harlem and didn't have
that opportunity Sammy never went to
school he couldn't read or write as a
matter of fact when Sammy was 16 years
old working on the road in clubs and
little theaters with his father and
Uncle he still was basically
illiterate he did know however he was
going to be a star so he would practice
signing his autograph in between shows
backstage so he would practice writing
different names to Bill to Jack to Mary
and sure enough one day after the show a
bus boy approached Sammy and said Mr
Davis could I have your
autograph thrilled and excited and ready
he whipped out his pen and he said sure
you can have my autograph my good
man and he said who should I put it to
the bus boy looked up at Sammy and he
must have been real short if he looked
up at
Sammy and he said make it out to rul
[Applause]
and and Sammy said I'll get you later
pal Sammy now knows how to spell rul and
a lot of other things so Sammy I like
your
autograph you can make it out to irin
Magic Johns
[Laughter]
that's e a
r or you can just make it out to rul if
you
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
want guess who's Guess who's coming out
next
[Applause]
it is a great honor tonight to
[Applause]
to be
here in the presence of such a great man
and I feel particularly honored to be
standing in front of all of
you and the biggest h of
all is being able to introduce his next
man ladies and
[Applause]
gentlemen Stevie Wonder
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
Samy us all being here tonight is
our way of saying to you how much we
love you and how much you've been an
inspiration to all of
us and yes I can say and I hope I can
speak in behalf of all of the other
artists and performers actors and
actresses here tonight
tonight and
we we hope that we can in our
careers be as great and as giving as you
have been in
[Music]
yours there was a time in my life when a
song that you did uh well a few years
ago I listen to this song and I used to
do it on the show a lot and um in fact
when I was going through the musical
transition in my life and those was
saying well by the time he gets 21 it
won't be happening anymore and I I said
well you shouldn't move forward and do
the kinds of music kind of music you
wanted to do well I felt that I had to
do the things that I really felt in my
heart and because of this song it
inspired me to do exactly that and you
sang whether I'm
right whether I'm wrong
[Music]
whether I find a place in this world or
never
belong I've got to be
me got to be
[Music]
me daring to try to do it or die I've
got to be
[Music]
me daring to try to do it or die I've
got
[Music]
to be
me I've got to be me
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
get
[Applause]
up Jesus us when he walked in
Earth truth would set us free and give
second
birth he said our emphasis should be on
love and that's not greater than the
love from the one of
us give me
[Music]
out when would praise him for the things
that he
did he'd give the credit to his father
instead he said in fact there's one
thing that he
knew that greater things that he had
done we would all so
do and you've
done CU truth is the light Tru of the
world is light truth of the
light of the
world TR the
light of the
world the
light of the world
my God he love us so offer this
sun to be the sacrifice to save everyone
W he didn't want to but he suffered and
died it wasn't kiss well but the fathers
I'm told he
cry can you hear
me yeah
remember when they traveling
down seek the truth and things will
surely work out oh and if the things
that Jesus said are
[Music]
true I guess the best of it is nothing
me in
you yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah I know and
you know and we know and everybody knows
that TR of the
light of the world the light TR of the
light of the world the light of the
light the world light is a
light of the
world the
light of the world TR in the
light I know I
know I know I know we know that truth is
a liive
truth is a light everybody put hand
together now I know you know you know
truth is the
light truth is the light love is a light
truth of the world truth in the light of
the world truth in the light of the
world break it down with the cry let me
[Music]
[Applause]
everybody yeah
yeah we are amazing celebration to you
Sam you've given so much to the
world yeah it bring it ity
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
coming up Tony bza Reverend Jesse
Jackson Quincy Jones and Michael
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
Jackson thewi down
to a precious F I would hold
it I I don't believe what I just got
through hearing what are you doing Burl
singing a ballad well I don't understand
what you mean I can't believe that
you're serious I just don't believe it
Milton I I I thought that I would do it
because I thought it would be a change
of pace in the show you know in a
swinging review like this Milton look I
know you're the greatest comedian in the
world you're also a marvelous serious
actor but this is this kind of a show
demands what you invented stick physical
bits all of the Hokey visual things you
know slapstick all of that uh I I don't
want to put you down Sammy but all
that's well and good but slapstick Hokum
comedy today I think this day isn't
funny anymore Sam it isn't funnym you're
putting me on no I mean that it isn't
funny anymore come on Milton I don't buy
that I heard you lecture on comedy at
UCLA and do you remember when you were
telling the students about a LW and
Hardy picture yeah where Oliver Hardy
got the biggest yach in the world
because he did
this to stand low then he proceeded to
do that then he gave it one at ease
[Applause]
now you mean to say that's not
[Applause]
funny that's not
funny excuse
me you remember when you were talking
about the Keystone Cops and you did the
standin bit prior to that the makeup man
came over to you I remember it very well
and went makeup
[Applause]
now just be fair you mean to tell me
that's not funny
that's not
funny wait a
minute you remember when you were
talking of the Keystone Cops if you were
a keystone cop right and I was a guy
with a sels of water you mean to tell me
if I Spritz you like this
[Applause]
now you mean to say that's not
funny that's not
funny don't leave
[Applause]
now
Milton you mean to say if I took this
pie and went like
[Applause]
this now that's funny
ladies and gentlemen Tony
[Music]
danzza by the time Samy was 9 years old
he'd already been dancing professionally
for five and a half years and one day
Sammy said to his father Hey Dad I can
out dance you and his father said oh
yeah oh what makes you think so Sammy
and Sammy said well because Dad you
taught me everything I know and Sammy
Davis Senior looked at his young son and
he said yeah but Sam I didn't teach
everything I
know well Sam I don't know much and I
got to tell you after watching you and
Gregory Dance I'm not I'm I'm not sure I
want to do this anymore but but anyway
uh we worked up a little routine me and
and your friend Pat Rico and I'd like to
do it for you right now and what the
hell I'm a white guy so uh gentlemen
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
you
sir
oh
that's that's kind that's kind anyway to
mention another tap dance whenever Sammy
met Fred aair Mr you're laughing now huh
Mr aair always greeted him by saying
hello hell there tap dancer and Sammy
would always reply not around you I
ain't around you I'm a
singer and around you I got a sitcom you
know remember
that thank
you well whenever freder sta met Dean
Marney would say hello Dean and Dean
would reply oh am I in
town well well Dean's in town tonight
and here he is is Mr Dean
[Applause]
[Music]
Martin Right Here There You Go sir
that's
your well
Sammy I can remember those great times
we had together at the Sands back in the
60s you me and what's his name
remember all the fun we had making those
movies together Sergeant 3 privates
nothing Oceans
11 gone with a
wind we weren't in
that frankly
Sam I don't give a damn
I uh I could go on with this trip down
memory lane but I think you'd be more
interested in these wires that came in
from all over the
world just made that
up they've asked me to read uh these
because I have my own glasses and a
lovely voice
here's one from Hollywood dear Sammy you
have always been a Class Act and I've
patterned my career after you signed
Roseanne
Bar from overseas Dear Mr Davis please
stay away from my daughter signed Mother
Teresa I'm sorry that's Teresa's
mother and here's one from the royal
family de Sam the kids join us and
congratulating you on this great event
signed Debbie and Charlie Royal
[Applause]
everyone uh would love to be with you
tonight but I have to be at the Sammy
DAV his 60th anniversary celebration all
best wishes Dean
Martin I better get out of here if I'm
going to make that I'd like to add one
more little wire before I leave roses
are red carnations of pink if I had your
talent I wouldn't have to drink and I
love
it ladies and gentlemen Reverend Jesse
[Music]
[Applause]
Jackson this is a tremendous
moment in history prant with so much
hope tonight walls have been tumbling
down in
Poland
Hungary Berlin
Namibia New York
Virginia people are
crossing people are crossing ancient
boundaries of race and sex and
religion to affirm the Oneness of the
human
race none of these walls fell down
because of
corrosion or
inevitability but because of the
Persistence of people who chipped away
who risked their lives and careers even
when their fellow men did not understand
Samy Davis Jr has been chipping away at
that
wall breaking down
barriers seeking to find that spot on
the compass in the Affairs of human
history but lions and Lambs lie together
and neither would be afraid and they
could say a wall no more and beat their
swords in the ply shars and their Spears
in the pruning hooks to do so Sammy to
play such a role requires
perseverance of extraordinary character
to use Sam suffering breeds
character and character breeds faith and
in the end Faith and Hope will prevail
that the king and the host of Heaven
Smiles upon you tonight you've never let
us down and we love you so much keep
hope alive love you
[Music]
[Applause]
you are there
before we
came you took the
hurt you took the
shame they built the
walls to block your
way you beat them
down you won the
day
wasn't was n
fair you taught them
all you made them
care yes you were
there and thanks to
you there's now a
door we all walk
through and we are
here for all the SE
to be the
best that we can
be yes I am
[Music]
[Applause]
here
CU you
[Music]
were there
[Applause]
ladies and gentlemen quiny Jones
[Music]
I first met Mr Sammy Davis Jr when I was
14 years old and since everybody's
putting his business in the street Sammy
was 21 and that's exactly 42 years ago
when he was working with his father and
his uncle with the will M Trio at the
Washington educational and social
club and he was very serious Talent at
this time and he was well on his way to
becoming a legend and over the years
I've had the honor of playing playing
for him writing charts for him
conducting for him fishing with him
which is pretty funny and rooting for
him there's a cliche that goes he's the
best friend a song ever had but in
sami's case it's really true and tonight
some of sami's best friends are going to
get together here tonight and do some of
the songs that he brought to life during
this beautiful career and we're going to
start with Miss Diane Carol
once in a
lifetime a man knows a moment one
wonderful moment when fate takes his
hand and this is my moment my once in a
lifetime when I can explore a new and
exciting
land oh once in my life time
I feel like a
giant I saw like an eagle as though I
had
wi and this is my moment my destiny
calls
me and though it may be just once in my
lifetime I'm going to do
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
miss
m going to build a
mountain I'm a little
K going to build a
mountain Le a hold my
will going to build a mountain
to build it
high I don't know how I'm going to do it
only know I'm going to
[Music]
try to build a day
tream a
little to push that day dream up the
mountain
slow I feel my day
dream can
see I'm
going make
build heav come
on build
[Music]
heav
[Music]
with I'm going to
take my day dream of the
[Music]
mountain and
[Music]
Heaven we'll be w
[Music]
[Applause]
this Deon
W I love
you who can I turn
[Music]
to when nobody
[Applause]
needs my heart wants to know
so I must
go where
Destiny lead
me with
no started got
[Music]
need no one beside
me I'll go on my
way after the
day the the
darkness will hide me
yeah maybe
tomorrow I'll
find what I'm
after I'll throw off my
sorrow beg still a
borrow
my shall
laugh with you I can
to with you on a new
day who can I change you and you
turn
[Music]
away with you I could learn
to with
you on a new day
[Music]
but can I just you
[Music]
it away
[Music]
this bie
[Applause]
[Music]
Allen hey
[Music]
ain't necessarily
so
[Music]
a all youing the devil but it ain't
[Music]
to
show ain't Ain ain't ain't ain't
[Music]
Miss Lola
fana what
of am
I what have I fallen in love
[Music]
it seems that I'm the only one that I
have been
[Music]
thinking what kind of girl is
this that could not
see what could be seen by all those
everyone but
me
what kind of clown am
I what do
I know of
Life why can't I cast
away this mask of play and live my
life why can
I in
love till
I give a
dam and
maybe then I'll know what kind of
fool I am
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
oh
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
Continental by providing transportation
is pleased to have played a part in this
evening's tribute Continental working to
give the best performance in the air to
more than 100 cities around the world
and high at hotels and resorts in the
new H Reg in downtown Los Angeles by
providing accommodations are proud to
pay tribute to Sammy Davis Jr discover
the magic of the Hiatt touch and haatt
in Los
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
Angeles for Samy Davis Jr's 60th
anniversary celebration this is Charlie
O'Donald
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
a
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]