“I've got the world on a string. I'm sitting on a rainbow, Got the string around my finger. What a world, what a life. I'm in love. I've got a song that I sing I can make the rain go. Any time I move my finger. Lucky me, can't you see. I'm in love”. Iconic words from a man who needs no introduction, people from all walks of life know him and have come to cherish him. Men hated him but only because they were green with envy of him. And women well... woman didn't know if they wanted to slap or marry him. This magnificent man was known by many names; Ole’ Blue eyes, The Voice, and the Chairman of the Bored. This man was Francis Albert Sinatra or better known as Frank Sinatra.
He was also known as a "Rat", but not only a "Rat” the "King of Rats". When you think about a rat it kind of sends shivers up and down your spine, because let’s be honest rats are nasty, gross, foul creators that usually lurk in the dark depths of some sloppy sewer system. As an avid fan and someone who has read numerous books and articles on this subject the word Rat conjoined with the word Pack makes for one of the most amazing groups of marvelous men that have ever roamed the Vegas strip. Let's go on an excursion through time, and find out how the Rat Pack was brought to life.
1. How was the Original Rat Pack Formed and Who was Part of the Elite
According to The LIFE books “The Original Bad Boys”. In nineteen and fifty five the “Rat Pack” was born. The original Rat Pack, or then known as "Holmby Hills Rat Pack", consisted of Judy Garland, Lauren Bacall, Humphrey Bogart, and none other than Ole' Blues Eyes Frank Sinatra. The beginning of the Rat Pack wasn't in the lamp, lustering lights of Las Vegas either. The birth place was in West Los Angeles at none other than Bogart and Bacall's residence. Humphrey Bogart was one of Hollywood's leading men from the mid 1920's to the 50's. Some of Bogart's best known films were "Sabrina", "The Maltese Falcon", and "Casablanca". Bogie’s group of rag, tag actors were coined the Rat Pack by reporters because of their lack of cooperation with studios on the contracts. When Bogart died Frank was very heart broken and missed all the night fun he had with his friends. He was so heart broken he decided to have a relationship with Lauren Bacall while and after Bogie's death. Sinatra decided to assemble a close nit bunch of buds to drink the nights away, not realizing how much of impact it would have on a “place” in particular.
How Dean Martin became a Rat.
Frank and Dean were in a movie together called "Some Come Running". They instantly hit it off, hardcore Italian style. According to The LIFE Books, "Dean was everything Frank wanted to be". He had good looks, he was tall, could ad-lib, and had a natural flair for comedy. You might know Dean better as the Artist who sang “That’s Amore”, "Volare", "Sway", "Mambo Italiano", and "You're Nobody 'til Somebody Loves You". Dean also had a very lavish career prior to the Rat Pack acting and singing with his comedic partner, Jerry Lewis.
How Sammy Davis Jr. became a Rat.
Sammy was a frequent Vegas performer, but being a black American at that time was hard because Vegas was still stupidly segregated. He was not treated like all other performers and Frank didn't like that the least bit. He took Smokey under his wing and helped him become one of the biggest names in show business. Some of Sammy's most known songs were "What Kind of Fool Am I", "Mr. Bojangles", and "The Candy Man". He was only the second black man ever to sleep in White House while President Nixon was in office.
How Peter Lawford became a Rat.
Peter and Frank become fast friends during the time they were both under contract by MGM. Peter was a handsome, elegant, and a vibrant, English actor and Frank was drawn to his persona. Peter was in films such as "Mrs. Miniver" in 1942, "The Picture of Dorian Gray" in 1945, " Easter Parade" along side of Fred Astaire and Judy Garland in 1948, and "Royal Wedding" in 1950. According to The LIFE books, Peter came to Sinatra with the scrip that would become the Packs biggest movie together, and would put Vegas on the map.
How Joey Bishop became a Rat.
Joey Bishop was merely a prop, the MC for the Rat Pack. He never was a Las Vegas headliner, wasn't a singer, didn't dance, and wasn't a leading man in Hollywood. He did however; host two different talk shows through the 60's, both titled the "Joey Bishop Show". The latter of the two gave Regis Philbin his first big break into show business as Joey's side-kick. Both shows combined lasted about ten years. According to LIFE Books “he was tagged as a “comedian’s comedian.” He was a funny man, that was it, and he didn't enjoy the wonderful lighted Vegas lifestyle, like the other four.
2. How to Live a Lifestyle that Kills the Strongest
Vegas was their playground, their home away from home, their stomping grounds and their jewel in the desert. Sinatra and his pack of Rats put Vegas on the map, making it the nightlife destination for adults. Vegas was much different than it is presently, the majority of the hotel/casinos that made up the old strip are no longer there. The headquarters for the Rat Pack was The Sands. The Sands stood where the magnificent Venetian hotel has been built. According to the book “The Way You Wear Your Hat” Sinatra himself owned 9% of The Sands, hence why that would be a grand place for the club headquarters. Vegas was also where there hit movie "Oceans 11" was filmed. I highly recommend everyone watching it. They also had three other movies together all representing Craps numbers, "Sergeants 3", "4 for Texas", and my personal favorite "Robin and the 7 Hoods". While these amazing historical films were being made there was also someone making history with the help of Sinatra.
3. Who Set Up the Rat Trap
Frank was intrigued by John F. Kennedy, and wanted to do anything in his power to get him elected as President, and that's what he did. It helps to get close to someone in power like JFK when you’re the biggest name in Hollywood and one of your faithful comrades is married to the President's sister. Peter was married Patricia Helen Kennedy "Pat". Being so close to a President and his family can be great, but in this particular case for Peter it was bad news. According to LIFE Books “The Original Bad Boys” JFK was supposed to stay at Frank’s house in Palm Springs.The then Attorney General, aka Robert Kennedy, advised his brother against it due to Frank's supposed affiliation with the mob. JFK instead stayed with fellow crooner and long time friend of Frank, Bing Crosby. Peter was the man tasked with the job to tell Frank the bad news. Sinatra had a short temper and that was it for Peter, Sinatra was done with him.
Seeing how Joey Bishop was never really a Las Vegas headliner and rarely indulged in Pack's night caps, he just kind of disappeared over time from the Rat Pack. That left the Three Amigos: Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, and their fearless leader Frank Sinatra.
This was how the Rat Pack was formed, how their lavish lifestyle was lived, and how the dismemberment of all but three happened. Although the times were changing and people started being more interested in a new musical genre called Rock and Roll, people never forgot the outrageous hilarium that presented itself in that dusty, rugged, tumbleweed infested, casino paradise the Pack called home. Vegas, where the Rat Pack roamed scavenging for dames, broads, and chicks after crooning the night away Under the Lights of The Sands.
*All pictures located on this post of The Chap's Tribune are not mine nor can I claim the rights for
them.
Work Cited
Kaplan, James. The Rat Pack: The Original Bad Boys.
New York: LIFE Books, 2013. Print
Zehme, Bill. Frank
Sinatra and the Lost Art of Livin’: The Way You Wear Your Hat. New York:
HarperCollins, 1997. Print.
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