Friars Club renames its clubhouse building the Jerry Lewis Monastery

The historic Friars Club building, a five-story house constructed in 1909 in midtown Manhattan that became the clubhouse and “Friars Club Monastery” in 1957 with Abbot Joe E. Lewis, was renamed the “Jerry Lewis Monastery” in a special ceremony Monday night in honor of the club’s current Abbot and Lewis.

“Jerry is the Abbot of the Club and in recognition of his iconic status in entertainment, the Board voted unanimously to name the building in his honor,” Barry Dougherty, the Friars Club’s Director of Communications, told The Comic’s Comic.

Lewis is the Friars Club Abbot. Larry King, 80, became the Dean of the Friars earlier this year, replacing Freddie Roman, who had served in that capacity for 20 years.

Friars Club members old and older joined the 88-year-old Jerry Lewis at Monday night’s ceremonies, including Lisa Lampanelli, Gilbert Gottfried, Pat Cooper, Vincent Pastore and Al Roker. Roker shared a few photos from the event.

Then last night, Lewis went on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he quipped about the Friars renaming their joint in his honor: “And when you’re a Jew, that’s tough.” Lewis also was on Fallon’s show to promote the 50th anniversary of his film, The Nutty Professor. Here’s the clip.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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