Thursday, June 29, 2017
Frank Sinatra on Religion
Sunday, August 25, 2013
The Rat Pack on the Walk of Fame
If you visit Hollywood, you can't miss the Hollywood Walk of Fame, because the sidewalk stars honoring entertainment personalities cover the downtown area. In all, over 2400 stars have been dedicated to both performers and behind the scenes honorees. And among them, are sidewalk stars honoring members of the Rat Pack. . .with one exception.
Stars have been awarded in the categories of motion pictures, television, radio, recording, and live performance. The most honored celebrity of them all is Gene Autry, who has stars in all five categories.
In Hollywood, you'll find four stars on the sidewalks for singer Tony Martin, for motion pictures, TV, radio, and recording.
When it comes to the Rat Pack, both Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin are honored with three stars each, in the categories of motion pictures, recording and TV. Sammy Davis Jr. is represented with one star, for recording, and Peter Lawford is there with a star for TV.
Rat Pack friend Marilyn Monroe is on the Walk of Fame with a star for motion pictures, and Frank's daughter Nancy has her own star, for recording.
The one Rack Pack omission: Comedian Joey Bishop, who had his own successful talk show and sitcom on TV, and a long career in live performance. Despite that, Joey is not present on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. But then for that matter, also missing is the co-creator and star of what many people consider the best TV comedy series of all time. And that would be Jerry Seinfeld.
This article courtesy of the Frank Sinatra tribute site, FrankTribute.com.
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Marilyn Monroe and the Rat Pack
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Rat Pack Trivia
Although much is known about the Rat Pack and its primary members, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr., there are still a lot of interesting facts about this group of close friends and co-stars that are not widely known. For example, as a young man, one of the Rat Pack members worked as a blackjack dealer, and later dealt blackjack for fun in the Las Vegas casinos where he and the guys were starring. "The Rat Pack" was not the name preferred by Frank Sinatra to describe the group. What did he prefer? And one of the Rat Pack members was often known as "Smokey". Who was it, and why? The answers to these questions and many others can be found at FunTrivia.com's Rat Pack trivia page.
FunTrivia.com offers over 110,000 trivia quizzes on a variety of subjects including science, sports, history, and many entertainment related topics covering TV, movies, and celebrities, which of course includes the quiz that serves as an interesting Rat Pack tribute.
To test your knowledge of Frank, Dean, Sammy and company's historic partnership, visit FunTrivia's Rat Pack trivia quiz. Also visit the Rat Pack Tribute at FrankTribute.com for more information on one of today's groups of entertainers that's also doing its part to keep the Rat Pack's memory alive.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Memories of a Rat Pack Member by a Rat Pack Daughter
Co-written with Wendy Holden, the book is an enjoyable reminiscence of Dean's life from the inside, which includes a foreword by Dean's former partner Jerry Lewis. There are many recollections of Dean as an entertainer, husband, and father, and it's an intimate look at family members and friends who were close to him, including of course his pals in the Rat Pack. Plus, the book includes many interesting accounts of Deana's own experiences as an entertainer. Written in 2004, the book will remain an enduring look at Dean's professional life and family life.
Also keeping Dean's memory alive is the Dean Martin Festival, held every June in Dean's birthplace of Steubenville Ohio, and the festival is staged each year under the loving direction of Deana Martin. The festival often features entertainment by some of the best Rat Pack Impersonators.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Judy Garland & The Rat Pack; Tribute to Their Memories
They gave themselves comical titles, like Bogart's designation as "rat in charge of public relations", Bacall as "den mother", and Frank as "pack master". Judy had a more establishment title as first vice-president.
But in addition to her membership in the Holmby Hills group, Judy also maintained a strong connection to the more famous Rat Pack of Frank, Dean and Sammy. Her connection to Frank was especially strong and long-lasting. Years before the 60's Rat Pack, Judy and Frank both worked on the MGM lot, and when Frank became a headliner at the Sands in Las Vegas, Judy was also signed to perform there. And at the peak of the Rat Pack's Las Vegas heyday in 1962, Judy hosted a network TV special, and landed Frank and Dean as her guest stars for some memorable music numbers.
Judy remained friends with Frank till she died in 1969 at the age of 47. But another Judy Garland Rat Pack connection appeared when Frank, Dean and Sammy attempted to revive the Rat Pack show in 1987. Unfortunately, with Dean ailing, it wasn't meant to be, at least not with the original three guys. Soon after the tour started, Dean dropped out. But the tour continued, with Frank and Sammy sharing the stage with a replacement for Dean in the form of Judy Garland's daughter, Liza Minnelli.
In addition to being one of the twentieth century's greatest entertainers, Judy Garland's name should be included in any comprehensive Rat Pack tribute or reminiscence.