Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis were unquestionably the most successful comedy team in the world in the 1950’s. When they opened at the 500 club in Atlantic City, on the Jersey shore, only about five people showed up in a room that sat two hundred fifty.

The next day they went down to the beach where Jerry swam out into the water and screamed that he was drowning. Dean came running, dove into the surf and dragged Jerry up onto the sand. Dean proceeded with CPR until a big crowd gathered. Jerry then did a hilarious spit take and jumped up saying—1st show at 8:00, we’re at the 500 club. The club was packed that night.

They did this daytime routine three times a week on different parts of the beach to huge crowds. The rest is history. You can watch Jerry tell this story here.