Thursday, March 31, 2011

"Thanks!" Chicago....Dean Martin



Hey pallies, likes today's Dino-post gives all us Dino-holics a new place to makes a Dino-pilgrimage. From the on-line presence of Chicago's Sun-Times newspaper comes word of some cool Dino-autographs backstage at a historic windy city theatre!

Mr. Dave Hoekstra of the Sun-Times reports that 'mong the more then 10,000 signed autographs featured on the backstage walls of the "landmark" Chicago Theatre are at least a couple from our beloved Dino. The most famous one bein' of our Dino, the Sam, and the frankie when they played the theatre in 1988 as part of the Rat Pack Reunion Tour....which as all you pallies will remember our Dino left after playin' at this venue in Chicago.

The other Dino-signature that heads this Dino-gram "Thanks!" Chicago....Dean Martin, is much clearer then the one mentioned above, but likes have no info on when our great man did his great wall-graph!

I likes can't wait to make my way to Chicagoland to gets to view these Dino-treasures! Thanks to Mr. David Hoekstra and the Chicago Sun-Times for puttin' us on to these amazin' Dinofinds. To view this entire article in it's original format, please clicks on the tag of this Dino-post. Dino-loved, DMP


Stars leave their autograph on backstage walls of Chicago Theatre
BY Dave Hoekstra Staff Reporter/dhoekstra@suntimes.com Mar 28, 2011 02:10AM


The Chicago Theatre’s Javier Ayala points out various autographs that cover the walls, stairwells and doors backstage. Tour groups sometimes get to see the signatures up close. | Rich Hein~Sun-Times




Some of the signature characteristics of the Chicago Theatre are rarely seen by the public.

The backstage area of the landmark theater —which celebrates its 90th anniversary on Oct. 26 — features more than 10,000 autographs and murals from headliners and their sidemen and crew members. The autographs cover three floors on both sides of the stage.

“As many times as we can, we take them backstage to look at a limited amount of autographs,” Ayala said as he stood by a security door panel that was autographed by Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. on what turned out to be the final stop of the 1988 Rat Pack reunion tour. Martin went home after the Chicago stop and was replaced by Liza Minnelli (her father Vincent got his start designing costumes at the Chicago Theatre).


Dean Martin (barely legible upper left) Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra. | Rich Hein~Sun-Times

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

I'm with "Stupid"

Hey pallies, I always always am likes so delighted when I read patter on our Dino that clearly comes from someone who "gets Martin." Such is today's Dino-reflections from movie reviewer Mr. Glenn Kenny, at his self-proclaimed "foo-foo film site" tagged "Some Came Running."

Kinney writes of his "highest esteem" for our beloved Dino in that way-ahead-of-it's-time big screen classic "Kiss Me, Stupid." In his Dino-commentary Glenn takes on a chick tagged Self-Styled Siren and her lack of appreciato for our Dino's character in KMS....lettin' his readers know that what S-S Siren disses is what Kenny digs!

ilovedinomartin sez "Hats Off!" to Mr. Glenn Kenny for a very thought-provokin' defense of and his highest devotion to our Dino in KMS. To read this in it's original format, as usual, just clicks on the tag of this Dino-gram. Dino-loved, DMP


March 27, 2011


I'm with "Stupid"


Felicia Farr's character espouses her idol/ideal in Kiss Me, Stupid.

Over at her blog, the thoroughly delightful Self-Styled Siren muses on ten movies she should, in theory, adore, but does not. I've expressed disapprobation with similar-minded pieces I've seen on the web in recent years, arguing that a defensive posture is not necessarily the most useful stance from which to practice critical discourse, but one of the differences in this case is in nuance, a quality with which the Siren fairly teems. Note that the piece is about movies she herself believes she ought to love, not movies she believes others are telling her to love; that makes a big difference. Two other big differences have to do with the Siren's sharp and sometimes gimlet eye, and her ever-present wit. But one thing I did notice is that she sometimes disdains the very features that I myself hold in the highest esteem viz. a particular film. For instance, considering Alfred Hitchcock's 1956 rethink of his own The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Siren sighs, "This married couple just basically hate each other, don't they?" YES, EXACTLY, ISN'T IT GREAT? sez I, and I did so at some length here.

The Siren also doesn't have the love for Billy Wilder's 1964 Kiss Me, Stupid, shuddering that Dean Martin's character, a thinly, or should I say hardly, disguised version of himself, or rather his persona, "is just too creepy for words." Well, yes, exactly, again. One thing I find perverse enjoyment in with Kiss Me, Stupid, is its coarseness, or more precisely the way that coarseness manifests itself. It was made just as the sexual revolution was revving up and the studio system was circling the drain. While Wilder's comic sensibility was always at least partially about pushing a joke or double-entendre past whatever the acceptable breaking point for the Breen Office was, the man himself was in some ways a bit of a prig. His '60s films were getting more and more frantic, but with Kiss Me, Stupid, there's an almost palpable sense of Wilder saying "screw this." Dean Martin biographer Nick Tosches, no slouch at coarseness his own self, describes the Wilder/I.A.L. Diamond script for Stupid thusly: "Kiss Me, Stupid was as sordid an idea as had ever been proposed for a movie comedy. Wilder [and Diamond] had written [...] pictures that were sexy in an insouciant, sweet sort of way. But their screenplay for Kiss Me, Stupid was downright, leeringly sleazy. Sex and venality lay at the heart of every dirty laugh." Wilder, the disciple of Lubitsch, for some reason decided to replace the Lubitsch "touch" with a haymaker. To sap from it all of its humanity and compassion. Or not all of it: the three Gershwin tunes that masquerade as the work of the ambitious songwriting team portrayed by Ray Walston and Cliff Osmond are ornaments of a world the movie considers long dead, a place of grace that the croon of "Dino" simultaneously evokes and mocks. The levels of disdain at work here are quite, um, multivalent. I am also reminded of Robert Christgau's observation on noting that a particular Frank Zappa record indicates that Zappa was listening to a lot of Miles Davis before making it: "But where Davis is occasionally too loose, Zappa's always too tight—he seems to perceive only what is weird and alienating in his influences, never what is humane." In Kiss Me, Stupid, Wilder mutates Lubitsch's principles of comedy into a downright nasty worldview. And Martin, abundant in the doesn't-give-a-fuck quality that Tosches refers to by its Sicilian word, menefreghismo, proved an entirely ideal co-conspirator for such a project. Thus, "creepy" doesn't even really begin to cover it. Awesome!

"There is nothing more exhilarating than philistine vulgarity," Vladimir Nabokov famously pronounced. Kiss Me, Stupid is philistine vulgarity with a will, a will that takes it almost to the point of genuine nihilism. That is arguably not something that's praiseworthy or, as they say, commendable, but it certainly is not uninteresting.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

On This Date In Dino-history: March 29, 1953 & 1973

Hey pallies, on this date in Dino-history in the year 1953 our beloved Dino released his recordin' of that italiano amore classic "Return To Me."







And then exactly 20 years to that day, on March 29, 1973 our Dino declared to the world that he was never ever returnin' to wife numero duo when his divorce to Jeanne Biegger was finalized on that Dino-day. Our great man was married to the Jeanne for over 23 years and that marriage resulted in two boypallies, Dino Jr. and Ricci, and girlpallie Gina.



In was in 1969 that while playin' in 'Vegas our Dino was asked to do some publicity shots with Miss USA, Gail Renshaw. Our beloved Dino became likes totally totally smitten with Miss Gail and he became her Mr. Wonderful! Not long after their meetin' our Dino announced to the world that he planned on endin' his marriage to the Jeanne.

Likes by the time our Dino offically cut the strings from the Jeanne he was swingin' with a new lovely, Miss Cathy "with the candified K" Hawn, a beauty parlor receptionist, who he would say I do to less then a month later in April of 1973.

So pallies, likes on this 29 day of the year of our Dino 2011 let's remember these two important Dino-memories....1953, the issue of the Dino-classic "Return To Me" and 1973, the finalization of our great man's divorce to the Jeanne. Dino-loved, DMP

Monday, March 28, 2011

Dean Martin was great in the role of the playright, and he was never in better voice.

Hey pallies, here's 'nother great post from our Dino-holic David Lobosco from his second web space, "THE GREAT ENTERTAINERS MEDIA ARCHIVE." Likes today's Dino-post from Mr. Lobosco is a well researched and well written review of our Dino's only screen version of a Broadway musical, "Bells Are Ringing." David has many lovin' thin's to say 'bout our Dino includin' "Dean Martin was great in the role of the playright, and he was never in better voice."

Lobosco also gives many behind the scene details, lots of 'em focusin' on Miss Judy Holliday...who just happens to be one of my most favorite commediannes. Such a tragedy that this ended up bein' Miss Holliday's last big screen role due to her death from cancer.

Thanks to our Dino-devoted pallie David Lobosco for sharin' this review with his readers helpin' bring 'em to deeper and purer Dino-passion. To view this in it's original format, likes just clicks on the tag of this Dino-post to goes there. Dino-loved, DMP


Saturday, March 26, 2011

MOVIE SHOWCASE: BELLS ARE RINGING

Watching BELLS ARE RINGING some fifty years after it was made makes me wish that Dean Martin did not waste his time with Jerry Lewis in the 1950s. I would have loved to have seen Dino making more all-out musicals. BELLS ARE RINGING unfortunately was made at a time when the movie musical was starting to fade, but it was an excellent film. Based on the successful 1956 Broadway production of the same name by Betty Comden, Adolph Green, and Jule Styne, the film focuses on Ella Peterson (Judy Holliday), who works in the basement office of Susanswerphone, a telephone answering service.

Ella Peterson works as a switchboard operator at the Susanswerphone answering service. She can't help breaking the rules by becoming overly involved in the lives of the subscribers. Some of the more peculiar ones include a dentist who composes songs on an air hose, an actor who emulates Marlon Brando, and a little boy for whom she pretends to be Santa Claus.



Ella has a secret crush on the voice of subscriber Jeffrey Moss (Dean Martin), a playwright for whom she plays a comforting "Mom" character. She finally meets him face to face, when she brings him a message under a false name (Melisande Scott) and romantic sparks and some confusion begin.

A humorous subplot involves the courtly Otto, who convinces Susanswerphone to take orders for his "mail-order classical record business". Unfortunately, Otto is actually a bookie whose orders are a system for betting on horses. Unwittingly, Ella changes some of the "orders" not realizing she is changing "bets".

Although the police begin to assume that Susanswerphone might be a front for an escort service, the plot ends happily, with Jeff proposing, and her wacky subscribers coming to thank her.



This movie was a pet project of Judy Holliday, since she originated the role on Broadway. During filming Holliday would already be suffering from cancer, and this would be her last movie. Dean Martin was great in the role of the playright, and he was never in better voice. Some of my favorite moments from the film is Dino crooning "Do It Yourself" or dueting with Holliday on the classic song "Just In Time".

Judy and Dean Martin interacted very little off the set. There wasn't a great deal animosity between them, it was just that they didn't have much in common. Judy would retire to her trailer between takes, passing the down time by playing Scrabble. Martin preferred to pass the time at a nearby golf course. The only possible source of contention between the two was that Martin, as he freely admitted, regarded his role as a waste of his time and talent. Martin had not appeared in the stage version and thus did not share Judy's level of commitment to the project. For him, this was just another film. Jeffrey Moss was the type of character Martin had played numerous times before. The lack of a challenge lead him to sleepwalk his way through the role. For Judy, it was a character and a property that she had devoted 3 years of her life to. Since Martin was just going through the motions, Judy feared that their on-screen relationship would suffer and as a result, the romance would across as more polite than passionate.



The lack of chemistry with Dean Martin, was nothing compared to her problems with director Vincente Minnelli. Four of Judy's seven previous films had been directed by George Cukor. Cukor's penchant for perfection meshed well with Judy's desire to do take after take, until both she and the director were satisfied. Minnelli's tendency was to yell "PRINT!" when he was satisfied. As the star of a vehicle that was written especially for her and as the owner of a role that she had put an indelible mark on, Judy correctly felt that her suggestions about what was funny or how something might be done better, should have had some merit. Minnelli's refusal to consider her opinions became a very sore subject with her. Surrounded by people that she felt were not giving her, or the project, the proper respect, she did something that was very unlike her, she attempted to quit the film. Feeling like just a cog trapped in the machinery, she decided it would be better to drop out, rather than see the character of Ella Peterson end on such an unsatisfactory note.



A few weeks into the filming, she asked Arthur Freed to replace her with another actress. She even offered to give back every penny she had been paid up to that point to help offset the cost of re-shooting her scenes. Freed, knowing that without Judy Holliday in the lead role, the picture would have no chance at the box-office, refused her request. For better or worse, they were all in it together. All parties involved soldiered on, making the best of a difficult situation. They were all, no doubt, counting down the days until the film wrapped production on December 24, 1959.

BELLS ARE RINGING premiered on June 20, 1960 at Radio City Music Hall and preceeded to break all of that venue's existing records, grossing more than $1 million during its 7-week run. Unfortunately, the "Bells" box-office phenomena was confined to the New York area whose residents adored the play and were interested to see how well it translated to film. The movie did not fare anywhere near as well across the rest of the country. Dino got the best reviews of the movie, and of course he would go on to star in many more films. This movie was a devastating blow for Judy Holliday, and she would never make another movie. Five years later Judy passed away...

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Sunday Serenade with Dino: "Suposin'"

Hey pallies! I've been kindly invited to lay nother' Sunday Serenade on all you Dino-holics. And of course, I gratiously accepted. I never pass up an opportunity to share some Dino-thoughts on youse. This is actually one of my new fav's. I'm ashamed to say that I never really paid much attention to it before. I recently purchased it as a single from the itunes store. Man, what a beautiful job Dean does on this one! He never ceases to amaze this paisano! That's whats so great about this day and age that we Dino-holics live in! It's so so easy to find new music to groove on! We're very lucky that we have access to ALL the many many tunes of Dean Martin via the internet. Anyway, I'll get to the song now. This is a great live clip from the show featurin' some hilarious patter from Dino and his piano playin' pal, Mr. Ken Lane. They made a great team! I really love how Dean is havin' some laughs with Ken at first and then completely changes the tone by croonin' such a wonderful tune the next minute. He was a master entertainer to say the least. He always always left you wantin' more! Enjoy pals o' mine, and always always remember...Keep the Vino and the Dino flowin'!

Danny G.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

At The Home Of Danny G.: Interview Dino-holic Danny G. Part III

Hey pallies, last, but likes for sure not the least is the third and final istallment of our Danny G.'s Dino-interview. Enjoys learnin' more 'bout our pallie's deep Dino-attachment and the amazin' difference that our Dino has and is makin' in Danny's life.

Cool cool Dino-readin' for likes sure! ilovedinomartin saids our Dino-appreciato to Danny G. for makin' the time and sharin' so candidly 'bout his Dino-passion. Dino-loved, DMP


DMP: Danny-o, man I have a hunch that along the way of your Dino-journey you've had folks that likes just don't get the depth of your Dino-devotion...say that one of dem dudes sez to ya..."Why Dean Martin?".....just wonderin' what sorta answer you woulda gives 'em?

DG: That is very true pal, some folks just don't get our great man. So explainin' our Dino-devotion can be difficult to say the least. For me, the way I explain my connection to Dean Martin is largely based on the bond I had with my father. Dino was kind of a common ground for my Pop and me. That's how I "found" Dean. I explain that since then my influence from him is based on a certain life style that I "try" to emmulate. Carefree, cool, laid-back. I say "Who else can a person look up to who really knows how to squeeze the most juice outta life AND belt out a tune like no other?" They can't argue with that pal!

DMP: Pallie, likes I know we have spoken 'bout this before, but wonderin' if you would tell our ilovedinomartin readers the various roles that our beloved Dino plays in your life?

DG: Well pal, I can sum up Dean Martin's role in my life in two words...Role Model. That, I would say, covers ALL the bases. I eat, sleep and breath Dino! I start my day with him, I play him in my car, I listen to him around the house, while I'm in the shower and if I'm with my bud's down in mantown. He's definately my everyday soundtrack. But to me, Dino goes beyond just the incredible music. He's also an inspiration to live that way of life. He's teachin' me how to handle everyday situations with a certain amount of suave. Cool tempered and very casual. Strivin' for that ultra easy going style. It's not easy...but I'm tryin'!


DMP: Seems to me pallie, that likes we are livin' in one of the most stress filled times in all of history.....and thus we need our Dino more then ever before....might you share with our readers some of the ways that followin' our Dino has helped you deal with the stresses and strains of livin' in the 21 century? Wonderin' which Dino-resources you most draw on to helps keeps that Dino-cool?

DG: Hey pallie, you are so so right about these CRAZY days we're livin' today! When I know that I'm gettin' too caught up in everyday stresses, I take a deep breath...grab a little bit of the ol' homemade vino and throw on some Dino-tunes. It's surely a cure for the blues! None of us are Dino-perfect...especially me. We all can use a little reminder that there is light at the end of the EVERY tunnel! I've been through some really tough times in the last ten years, and the music of Dean Martin has definately helped me keep my chin up. For me, the best refresher is a good Dose o' Dino! Music has ALWAYS been my escape. Nothin' better to lift one's spirits!

DMP: Danny-o, no suprise man that our Dino's croonin' is your main source of Dino-support, but wonderin' if you draw Dino-strength from other Dino-sources...such as watchin' Dino-vids and readin' Dino-prose...such as Nick Tosches' amazin' Dino-bio?

DG: Absolutely! Nothin' makes me feel better than SEEIN' our great man in all his glory! I love watchin' clips from "the good ol' days" on youtube. Invigoratin'! That's the word I'm lookin' for! The only thin' better than listenin' to Dino...is listenin' while WATCHIN" Dino! That REALLY motivates this Dino-holic!


DMP: And, you also are growin' in your Dino-devotion by studyin' the life and teachin's of our Dino....as I recall you did mention delvin' into Tosches' deep and dark Dino-tone and the great delight you had in acquirin' that Look Mag expose of our great man....wonderin' what role your Dino-studies are playin' in your growin' Dino-passion?

DG: Man, I just love gettin' new perspectives on our great man! I read as much as I can about him. Every interview or biography or even an opinion can show you a whole new side to someone that wasn't obvious to you previously. Now you can step back and say "Yea, I get it now!" It's like a blast back to the past readin' those old interviews! Every true Dino-holic should own AT LEAST ONE old mag with a "one on one" with Dean. It REALLY helps you to get to know the REAL Dean in his OWN words. Great reference material too whenever you need a little inspiration to jump one of life's many many hurdles. You'd be surprised how much you can learn from our great great man! The Tosches book was a great read but to see what kind of answer Dean gave to a certain question is simply awe inspirin'!

DMP: Danny G. just wonderin' if you can think of a time or two when a teachin' of our Dino has lightened your load and brightened your day?

DG: I've had many times in my career when I didn't quite know what move to make. So what did I do? Nothin'! Just like Dean taught me. Sometimes you need to step back from a problem or certain situation, and just let the chips fall where they may. Things usually have a way of workin' themselves out. Just think too yourself, "What would Dino do?" Chances are you'll come up with the same answer as me...Nothin'.

DMP: Hey pallie, likes what a stellar example of followin' the Dino-way...thanks ever so much for sharin' the fruits found in walkin' the Dino-path.... Knows likes that we probably coulda goes on and on with this Dino-interview, but before we finish I woulda loves to gets your thoughts on this Danny G...... Image, if it were possible to go back to the days when Dino walked the earth and you were so blessed as to find your self in the immediate presence of our great man....wonderin' what you woulda want to say to our Dino 'bout his transformin' power in your life?

DG: Man, You got me awe-struck just thinkin' bout' it! What do you say to the guy who gets you through everyday? The guy who brightens your blue blue days. The dude who's cool cool ways have sort of molded your very being! Man o' man pally, that is a tough one. How bout' this, pal o' mine...simply...sincerely..."Thank you."

DMP: Well, gotta 'fess up that that sounds very Dino-like as our great man was often a man of minimal words himself. So, as we close out this Dino-interaction for at least now, wonderin' what partin' words 'bout our Dino that you would like to leaves us with?

DG: Hey pal, in partin'...for now, let me just say how much fun it was and a pleasure to share my personal feelins', thoughts and learnins' from the forever GREAT GREAT Dean Martin.

He really has a big spot in this pallie's heart. Hopefully we all can learn a thin' or two from him. Just remember, always ask yourself..."What would Dean Do?" Whatever will be...will be. It's all in God's hands anyway. Don't stress out over the lil' wee thins'! Be like Dino! So let me part by sayin' "Live and let live...Love and be loved...Drink and be Drunk!!! Ciao.

Friday, March 25, 2011

At The Home Of Danny G.: Interviewin' Dino-holic Danny Part II

Hey pallies, in part two of our interview with Dino-holic Danny G. our pallie puts the accent on his swingin' mantown pad and on raisin' his wee boypallie Nicky and girlpallie Stella in the Dino-way. Cool stuff indeed dudes. Thanks 'gain to our Danny G. for takin' the time and puttin' in the energy to share his amazin' passion for our beloved Dino! Dino-loved, DMP

DMP: Danny-o man, perhaps this woulda be a cool time to share some Dino-details with our readers 'bout your "Man-town". aka "Dan-town".

DG: Well, I guess it's like every other mantown out there...bar, dartboard, big screen T.V., life size cut-out of DEAN MARTIN!!! What?! Dosen't every self respectin' Dino-holic have one of those??!!! Other than that, just a few other signs of Dino-devotion: Some framed classic pics, a couple old movie posters & mags. The kids enjoy it as much as I do. We have friends over sometimes and the wee ones can't wait to get down there and get some Dino tunes-a-playin'!

DMP: Pallie, you man-town sounds so so Dino-heavenly! Likes now I know that yous aren't goin' be committin' to havin' fav Dino-croonin's...and I likes totally totally understands..but when you sez, " the wee ones can't wait to get down there and get some Dino tunes-a-playin'!," does makes me wonder if your girl and boy pallies, Stella and Nick, have fav Dino-tunes that they most loves to be partakin' of?

DG: Funny you should ask pal. Stella has three favorite favs! She absolutely loves "Baby-O," "Mambo Italiano" & "Things" with Nancy Sinatra. She's even got some of the words down pat. She loves when the two of us attempt a duo on Things. Pretty funny! Nick just loves em' all!!!



DMP: Way cool daddy-o...betcha you just loves singin' some Dino with your girlpallie Stella....is boypallie Nick into doin' any Dino-croonin' yet?

DG: Nicky G. isn't quite ready for croonin', however, he loves imitatin' Dino's mannerisms that he's seen on youtube. Really funny stuff man!

DMP: Well, have totally stellar is that...now pallie, do tell more 'bout boypallie Nicky's Dino-emulation....

DG: Man pal, this kid really knows how to make his Pop proud and crack me up at the same time! When Nicky G. is in the right mood and he hears a choice Dino tune, he throws his arms out in classic Martin style and attempts to mouth the words. This, comin' from a four year old is some seriously funny stuff! That's my boy!!!



DMP: Dude, does sounds likes you are doin' an amazin' job of directin' your youngens in the Dino-way....been wonderin' have you started Stella and Nick on partakin' of our Dino on the " big screen T.V......perhaps viewin' some Dino and the kid flicks as you did with your daddy-o?

DG: They actually haved viewed alot of Dean's flicks. Usually not the whole flick, but some here, some there. Nick is still a little too young to have much interest but my Dino-squirt Stella is really catchin' on fast! That's my girl!

DMP: Cool, which likes, of course, is leadin' me to Dino-wonderin' which of the Dino-films are of most interest to your girlpallie Stella?

DG: Anythin' Dino is interestin' to my lil' Dino squirt. We've watched 5 Card Stud together. She seemed to enjoy that. Lots of questions though. "Why did Dino do that?" "Why did Dino say this?" She's at that age I guess. The only Martin & Lewis flick she's seen is Scared Stiff. Of course she wanted to know, "Why was Dino bein' mean to Jerry Lewis?" I explained it was just to be funny in the movie and all was well again in Dino-land!



DMP: Ain' that the sweetest...grand to see you little girlpallie so so Dino-pysched...so likes pallie what woulda you say was Miss Stella's most profound Dino-quire?

DG: I gotta admit, I get a real Kick in the Head when Stella asks me..."Did you know Dean Martin?" As I explain that I didn't and that sadly he's no longer with us, she stops in wonderment for a couple seconds and then says..." Now YOUR the REAL Dino!" Pretty funny.

DMP: Man-o-man likes am I ever so glad to have asked you 'bout that...so likes now, just gotta knows likes what sorta Dino-answer does you give Dino-girl Stella when she sez to you....." Now YOUR the REAL Dino!" ?

DG: Pallie, what else could any self respectin' Dino-holic dad such as myself do but laugh and say " If you say so squirt!"

DMP: Now, likes how cool is that....so this all makes me wonderin' what Dino-plans and Dino-provisions you are makin' for the formal Dino-education of your girlpallie Stella and your boypallie Nicky?

DG: Well pallie, I guess I'll just lead by example. They get the Dino-vibe pretty good. I'll keep on playin' my tunes and showin' my flicks and I got a hunch that they will get more and more attracted to the Dino ways of livin' the good life, without me pushin' anythin' on em'. They're pretty bright wee Dino-ones! Just like their Pop! Ha!

Thursday, March 24, 2011

At The Home Of Danny G.: Interviewin' Dino-holic Danny , Part I

Hey pallies, likes every so often dudes you comes 'cross a pallie who is a Dino-holic's Dino-holic...such is the case with our pallie Danny G. whose column "At The Home Of Danny G." has been featured in the last few months here at ilovedinomartin.

It has been my extreme pleasure over the course of the last couple of weeks to have been conductin' an inquiry into the deep, pure, and true Dino-passion of our Dino-devotee par excellant Danny G. What follows is part of one of three parts from the extensive interview conducted with Danny coverin' all the arenas of his Dino-focused life.

Likes I had the time of my life speakin' Dino with Danny and likes I just knows all you pallies are likes gonna totally totally dig learnin' the Danny G. Dino-story! Dino-loved, DMP


DMP: So Danny G., as we begin, please tell us 'bout yourself and your fam....name, rank, serial number...whatever you woulda likes the ilovedinomartin readers to know.....

DG: Hey pal, I'll start by sayin' "Hi" to all the readers and "Thanks" to you for welcomin' me on board! I'm a 41 year old Boston, Massachusetts area dad. I've been married for 10 long, hard years...just kiddin'! Ha ha! I have two wee Dino-one's. Some may remember my wee Dino-girl, Stella, made the Dino gingerbread man a couple of months back. She and her little brother, Nick, are really growin' into two wee Dino-holics! Makes their papa so so proud! At least I know they have good taste! I'll even catch "wifey" hummin' a Dean Martin tune every now and then. What can I say? Bein' a Dino-holic is very very infectious! I remember my first intro to Dino way back when I was just a wee one myself. I was hooked from then on.

DMP: That's a great lead in to my next question Danny G. Likes, please do share with us your "first intro to Dino way back when I was just a wee one myself."

DG: My Dad was actually the first one who got me into Dean Martin. I must have been around 6 or 7 at the time. I clearly remember the Saturday afternoons when my father and I would be glued to the set watchin' a random "Martin & Lewis" movie. Man, would my Pop laugh! And when Dad told me that Dean Martin was Italian...that was all I needed to know! Now he was REALLY like one of the family! I caught on quick that there was somethin' special about Dean. There was somethin' very charismatic about him. You wanted to watch him. You wanted to see what he would do next, and how he would do it. I was drawn into his calm, cool ways. No matter if he was singin' or bein' funny...he was ALWAYS cool.


DMP: How cool to know that it was your old man who first shared the Dino-way with you. Wonderin' how long these Dino and the jer sessions went on between you and your daddy-o? Given your age, you musta been born at the pinacle of our Dino's reign on TV! D'ya remember your fam partakin' of our great man's tv show or perhaps the Dino-roasts?

DG: Yea, It was definately my Pops that showed me the Dino-light! Saturday afternoons were ours til' I moved out in my late teens. We still shared a phone call whenever one would catch a Martin & Lewis movie airin'. He would call and say "Hey kid, hurry up...Dean Martins' on channel 56 (or whatever station)! I miss those days. I don't remember the Dino TV years. I was young and probably didn't get the whole Dino-vibe yet. If I only knew then what I KNOW now...man what A cool grammer schooler I would have been! Ha ha!

I gotta give some credit to my mom too though. She was more into the music side of Dean. She definately influenced that part of it for me. To this very Dino-day if you ask her who her favs are, its Dean Martin and Englebert Humperdink. What a pair!

DMP: Man, that is just what I was gonna ask next....today you obviously have such a great and growin' passion for our Dino's croonin'....could you share with us your journey to jivin' on our great man....how did your mom motive you to groovin' on the Dino-sound?

DG: My mother would have my Dad put Dino on the big ol' record player all the time when I was a kid. He was always her favorite. That must of had an impact on me because I ended up listenin' to him from those days forward. Even when I went through my "Heavy Metal" stage in the 80's, I always had a vibe for Dean Martin. He's the type of talent that you don't grow out of or away from...he's someone you grow more into everyday. I'm still gettin' to know him even now.



DMP: So, likes d'ya remember your mommy-o or daddy-o havin' particular fav Dino-tunes? And, you Danny-o...as a youngen did you have some Dino-favs that you 'specially liked to listen to?

DG: Well, my Dad was more into the Country/Western type croonin'..."Little ol' Wine Drinker Me," "Gentle On My Mind," "Just Bummin' Around," tunes like that. And Mom is more of an Italian/romantic type fan..."Your Breaking My Heart," "In The Misty Moonlight," "Sway. Me"...I love em' all! Seriously, I couldn't pick a fav. Too many fav's to list. I did always really dig "Volare". It used to be my recordin' on my answerin' machine in my apartment. This didn't go over too well when I first got into real estate sales. Other agents would call my house and instead of hearin' some stuffy realtor-type message, they got an earfull of VOLAAAREEE...OOHHHooohhhhh. Ha ha!!!

DMP: Great story Danny-o!....likes just gotta ask, likes how old were you when Volare! went on your answerin' machine? Was this your first public profession of your Dino-devotion?

DG: This was in my mid twenties. It was probably my first declaration of Dino-pride! Ha! From then on pallies, my Dino-devotion has grown and evolved, if you will, into an out-of-control freight train of Dino-motivated life choices!!! HI, MY NAME IS DANNY G. AND I'M A DINO-HOLIC. (ALL) HI DAN, WELCOME TO DINO-HOLICS ANONYMOUS. Ha ha haaa!!!!


DMP: Cool, so likes kindly elaborate dude 'bout your "out-of-control freight train of Dino-motivated life choices!!!"....'cause inquirin' Dino-minds just have to know.

DG: I've been tryin' to live the Dino life style more as I've grown older. I don't mean a swingin' playboy type. I'm really concentratin' on the positives in life. The carefreeness that Dean possessed. Takin' things a little less serious and just tryin' to enjoy my time on this big spinnin' ball. Life's too short to get caught up on things that can't be changed anyway. That's probably the biggest Dino-motivated choice that I try to follow through with. Just to let things be and enjoy my life! Being with my family, listenin' to great Dino tunes, havin' a drink...or two. That's all this pallie needs!

DMP: So, Danny G. am wonderin' if you recall when you made Dino-devotion you "own"....likes when you made the transition from Dino bein' an important part of your mom and pop's life...to ownin' Dino for yourself?

DG: I would have to say, pal, that there was no real "Awakenin'" type moment for me when it came to Dean Martin. I've ALWAYS admired him from day one. The movies & the music were parts of my life from as far back as I can remember. I never considered him a guy that I wasn't allowed to like because of my age or because of certain undertones to his jokes. Maybe it's because I come from an Italian/American family, but we ALL considered him "One of Us". Kind of like a distant relative. I read, on this very Dino-site, another Dino-fan's memories of Dean were that of an "Uncle type". Those are the same feelins' that I share.

DMP: Great to hear pallie! So, there musta been likes a time when you did make the Dino-decision to start gatherin' up your own Dino-treasure....Dino-discs, Dino-flicks....?

DG: I started my very own Dino collection in the 90's. I bought a few cassettes of all the old time crooners. Dino, Sinatra, Martino, Bennett...all the greats. Got myself familiar with "the standards". Although Dean was always my fav! Just kept collectin' from then on. CD's, DVD's, some posters, etc. Anything Dino! Gotta keep myself in check though...only grabbin' special items these days.


DMP: Always loves to hear other Dino-holics brag 'bout their Dino-collections. Woulda loves to hear you share Danny G. 'bout some of you most fav Dino-treasures....

DG: Hey pallie, I would have to say that my most treasured treasures are my original Matt Helm movie posters. These were the actual movie promos that were displayed in the cinemas back in the late sixties when Dino was rockin' the spy world! I've managed to grab all four over the last few months. Thanks to wifey, who framed them all so magnificently, they are hung with pride as you delve into my "Man-town". aka "Dan-town".

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Paul Thorn on Growing up with a Pimp and a Preacher, Dean Martin, and Boxing

Hey pallies, from the pages of The Phoenix New Times' Music Blog, "Up On The Sun," comes news of 'nother up-and-comin' musician who idolizes our Dino. "Up On The Sun" reporter Miss Melissa Fossum interviewed Mr. Paul Thorn who is appearin' in the Phoenix area this Saturday night taggin' the outstandin' interview, "Paul Thorn on Growing up with a Pimp and a Preacher, Dean Martin, and Boxing."

Likes how cool is it dudes that Thorn's Dino-devotion is mentioned in the tag line of his interview! Thorn whose daddy-o was a preacher and whose uncle was a pimp has been entertainin' for 14 years and has just released his 9th al-b-um, "Pimps and Preachers."

As you will read below, Thorn loves our Dino and praises our great man as a "talented singer and very classy guy." Likes so diggs to find some many of today's swingin' artists who are sold out to our amazin' Dino! You gotta reads for yourself all the stellar thoughts that Thorn shares of his Dino idolization...likes totally totally rad man!

ilovedinomartin sez our thanks to singer Paul Thorn for so openly and candidly speakin' of his Dino-devotion and for Miss Fossum for sharin' it so boldly in her interview for "Up On The Sun." To read the whole interview, just clicks on the tagg of this here Dino-gram. Dino-loved, DMP

Paul Thorn on Growing up with a Pimp and a Preacher, Dean Martin, and Boxing

By Melissa Fossum, Mon., Mar. 21 2011 @ 8:39AM



Paul Thorn, a native of Tupelo, Mississippi, learned most of what he needs to know in life from his preacher father and pimp uncle. Thorn's ninth album, Pimps and Preachers, is all about the light and dark parts of life he learned about from these individuals.

After a brief boxing career, Thorn decided to start playing a mix of blues, rock, and gospel music. Fourteen years later, he is still touring.

He is scheduled to perform at The Compound Grill on Saturday, March 26.

We recently caught up with Paul Thorn to talk about growing up with a pimp and a preacher, Dean Martin, and going toe to toe with Roberto Duran.
.....................................................................................

UOTS: Do you strive for a certain balance between comedy and seriousness? You have a bit of variety with songs like "Viagra" and "I Hope I'm Doing This Right."

PT: I've got a few songs that are humorous. When I do my shows I don't want to be too serious. I mix it up, I lean toward the style of old school entertainers like Dean Martin, who's this talented singer and very classy guy. He would sing these really serious songs, and then between songs he might tell a joke or pretend to be drunk. He's an entertainer.

To me, there's a difference between being a singer and being an entertainer. An entertainer has the ability to make you feel like he's talking to you and make you feel like everybody's welcome. That's what I'm trying to do. Those are my idols and heroes, the people like that. They have that extra little something that you can't define. People loved him. I'm just using Dean Martin as an example, but people are still talking about him even all these years after he's dead. It's because he was great and he knew how to entertain a crowd.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Dean Martin Renaissance On Deck with New CD, DVD, Book Launches

Hey pallies, just likes when you thinks that thin's couldn't gets better for all us sold old Dino-holics, even greater Dino-news gets released. From the pallies at Billboard comes totally totally stunnin' Dino-news from Mr. Phil Gallo of L.A.

The tagg of Mr. Gallo's Dino-reflections sez it all pallies:
DEAN MARTIN RENAISSANCE ON DECK WITH NEW CD, DVD, BOOK LAUNCHES

How fab to see the Renaissance of our Dino comin' on huge with the release of the Dino-show DVDs on May 24 and then on our Dino's birthday, June 7 the release of the double CD "Cool Then, Cool Now" with the coffee table picture book of our amazin' Dino. And, then also to know that on that same date Capitol/EMI will be spreadin' more Dino-cheer with "Classic Dino: The Best of Dean Martin," a reworkin' of "Dino: The Essential Dean Martin."

Dino-mania is gonna breaks out pallies and likes what coulda be cooler then that...with more and more pallies of all ages and stages, comin' to know, love, and honor our King of Cool.

And to read that a Dino-box-set is in the works for late this Dino-year...likes, likes totally totally Dino-inspirin' pallies! And, then also to read that our Dino's girlpallie Gail is speakin' of more and more Dino-projects...will be waitin' with bated breath to learn more and more details of the Dino-revolution ahead!

Thanks to the pallies at Billboard for lettin' the world know 'bout this Dino-renaissance and to Mr. Phil Gallo for puttin' the words on page! To read this in it's original format, likes just clicks on the tagg of this Dino-report. Dino-loved, DMP




Dean Martin Renaissance On Deck with New CD, DVD, Book Launches

by Phil Gallo, L.A. | March 21, 2011 2:42 EDT


Getty Images

Hoping to extend the renaissance of Dean Martin that has occurred over the last five years, a collection of DVDs, CDs and a coffee table book will be released in late May and June, while a boxed set is in the works with an eye for a release late this year.

Universal Music Enterprises will release a hardcover book and musical collection titled "Cool Then, Cool Now" on June 7. Photos in the 60-plus page book were acquired from personal collections and family archives, featuring shots of Martin on movie sets and at home; the two-CD, 28-song collection spans Martin's musical career.

Also on June 7, Capitol/EMI will release the 14-track "Classic Dino: The Best of Dean Martin," an expanded version of the 2004 release "Dino: The Essential Dean Martin," which has sold 1.3 million copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The new version has six added tracks.

Meanwhile, NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products and Time-Life will release "The Best of the Dean Martin Variety Show," the first time Martin's popular show has been released on DVD, on May 24. The release will be available as a single DVD, double DVD set and six-DVD Collector's Edition.

The single DVD includes four episodes with more than 15 musical performances; the double DVD set includes seven show episodes featuring more than 30 musical performances; and the six-DVD Collectors Edition includes more than 50 guests and 80 musical performances. "The Dean Martin Show" aired on NBC from 1965 to 1974. Guests featured on the DVDs include Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr., Gene Kelly, Roger Miller and Duke Ellington.

"We want to see more projects and we're trying to figure that out now," says Gail Martin-Downey, one of nine Martin heirs handling Dino projects. "When our children and grandchildren see dad (Martin) pop up on YouTube, we know there's a growing audience out there."

For the first time in the 15 years since Martin's death, the Martin family is in talks to hire an agent to act as a clearing house for marketing and licensing of his likeness and works that the family controls. Martin's centennial will be in 2017.

EMI has worked the Martin catalog consistently over the last several years, releasing "Amore" through Starbucks in 2006 and elsewhere in 2009 and creating an album of duets, "Forever Cool," to commemorate his 90th birthday in 2007. "Amore has sold 145,000 copies while the duets disc moved 104,000 copies.

"The TV shows captured [Dean Martin] in his casual comfortable way," Martin-Downey tells Billboard.com. "Most of the shows capture that, plus you get his serious side and the silly sketches. It really shows who he was at home."

"THE BEST OF THE DEAN MARTIN VARIETY SHOW"



Hey pallies, likes digs this dudes....the pallies at Time-Life have put up a 5 minute promo vid on youtube as a teaser for the May 24th release of "THE BEST OF THE DEAN MARTIN VARIETY SHOW." As I watched it I was in awe pallies, likes total total awe, of how clear and crisp the vid was....one woulda never guess that many of these clips were filmed over 40 years ago.

Seein' this teaser just simply makes me more and more so so yearn for May 24th to come when all true Dino-holics will be able to gets their hands on this fabulous new Dino-treasure!

Enjoys the clip pallies and thanks to the pallies at Time-Life for sharin' this with us! Dino-lovin', DMP


"THE BEST OF THE DEAN MARTIN VARIETY SHOW" TO BE RELEASED FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

BY TIME-LIFE ON MAY 24


"THE BEST OF THE DEAN MARTIN VARIETY SHOW" TO BE RELEASED FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER BY TIME-LIFE ON MAY 24



Hey pallies, astoundin' Dino-news keeps on pourin' in from the world wide Dino-web. Opened my email and found this outstandin' announcement from the pallies at CO5MEDIA that answers many of our Dino-quires 'bout the May 24th Time-Life release of vids from our Dino's amazin' variety show.

The information below does a stellar job of 'xplainin' what will be contained on the one, two, and six disc Dino-releases. Cool to learn that each disc will be over two hours each!

Takes the time to read all the glorious Dino-details below...and how cool to finally see what the cover will look like for these Dino-collections!

Thanks to the pallies at CO5MEDIA for sendin' this my Dino-way so likes that I coulda share it with all the Dino-holics here at ilovedinomartin. Can't wait for May 24th to come in Dino-time! Dino-awed, DMP

"THE BEST OF THE DEAN MARTIN VARIETY SHOW" TO BE RELEASED FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

BY TIME-LIFE ON MAY 24

THREE SEPARATE DVD SETS FEATURE HUNDREDS OF

GUEST SEGMENTS, SKETCHES AND MUSICAL PERFORMANCES

FROM THE GROUNDBREAKING TELEVISION VARIETY SHOW



GUESTS AND MUSICAL PERFORMERS APPEARING INCLUDE

ORSON WELLES, JIMMY STEWART, JOHN WAYNE, DUKE ELLINGTON,

RODNEY DANGERFIELD, GEORGE BURNS, TONY BENNETT,

THE ANDREWS SISTERS, WOODY ALLEN AND MANY MORE



COLLECTIONS ARE THE FIRST OFFICIAL RELEASE OF ACCLAIMED SHOW

FROM NBCUNIVERSAL TELEVISION CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND TIME-LIFE

Los Angeles, CA - March 21, 2011 - NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products and TIME-LIFE has announced the release of three new DVD collections featuring The Best of the Dean Martin Variety Show to be released May 24. The Best of the Dean Martin Variety Show sets capture material never before released from some of the shows greatest episodes during its nine-year run on television from 1965 to 1974. Hosted by Dean Martin, the acclaimed variety and comedy show was one of the highest-rated in television history, garnering 12 Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe award (Dean Martin "Best Actor in a Comedy Television Series" 1967),frequented by hundreds of guests from across the world of entertainment including legendary actors and actresses from the stage and screen, pop and jazz singers, dancers and comedians. View a five-minute trailer of The Best of the Dean Martin Variety Show exclusively on YouTube.


For the first time ever, The Best of the Dean Martin Variety Show will be available as a single DVD, double DVD set, and six-DVD Collector's Edition, officially from NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products and TIME-LIFE. Each DVD, more than two hours long, features several episodes including guest segments, comedy sketches and over a dozen full-length musical performances, with additional bonus material starring regular show performers and extensive liner notes. The Best of the Dean Martin Show single DVD includes four show episodes with more than 15 musical performances; the double DVD set includes seven show episodes featuring more than 30 musical performances; and the six-DVD Collectors Edition includes more than 50 guests and 80 musical performances.



The Dean Martin Show ran for nine seasons, airing on NBC from 1965 to 1974. Hosted by legendary entertainer Dean Martin, the unique variety and comedy show was a television pioneer. There were no rehearsals, no re-takes, and Martin simply just wasn't a host behind a desk and a microphone - he took part in virtually all the segments. Whether talking and singing with guests or performing a comedy sketch, Martin put every guest at ease and was able to coax even the most serious actors (such as Orson Welles and Jimmy Stewart) to indulge in their comedic and musical sides. Guests had a great time, word got out, and after the initial success of the show EVERYONE wanted in on the act.



Show regulars such as Rodney Dangerfield, Dom Deluise and Nipsey Russell are featured in recurring comedy sketches on show episodes while guests chosen by Martin included legendary actors and actresses from across the stage and screen, pop and jazz singers, dancers and comedians. Highlights from the one disc and 2-DVD set include guests Get Smart actor Don Adams, Grammy Award-winning singer Tony Bennett, actor, comedian and writer George Burns, actress Florence Henderson in a comedic guest performance prior to the debut of The Brady Bunch, Bob Hope in his only appearance on the show, Sid and Marty Krofft's famed "Krofft Puppets," actor Michael Landon performing several over-the-top song and dance numbers at the height of Bonanza's popularity, comedian and near-show regular Bob Newhart, famed dancer and actress Juliet Prowse, comedian Don Rickles, legendary singer and actress Dinah Shore, distinguished actors Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne, renowned director/actor/writer/producer Orson Welles, comedian and actor Jonathan Winters and more.



The four added DVD's featured in the six-DVD Collector's Edition set include twelve additional shows with guest segments from actor, comedian and playwright Woody Allen, country singer Eddie Arnold, comic actor and writer Sid Caesar, cohort Sammy Davis Jr., comedienne and actress Phyllis Diller, English comedian and actor Marty Feldman, comedian, actor and television show host George Gobel, actor Andy Griffith, Broadway and film star Gene Kelly, comedian and actor Paul Lynde, actress and comedienne Kay Medford, Broadway and film comedienne Ethel Merman, country singer/songwriter Roger Miller, actor Robert Mitchum, actor Charles Nelson Reilly, actor Peter Sellers and many more. Musical guests include the Andrews Sisters, Duke Ellington, and many, many more.



A famed star of the silver screen, television icon, Grammy® Award-winning singing sensation and member of the renowned "Rat Pack," Dean Martin's show business legacy is legendary. His musical career features such classics as "Ain't That A Kick In The Head," "That's Amore," "Mambo Italiano," "Everybody Loves Somebody," "Sway," "Volare," and more, releasing dozens of album recordings over his lifetime. Starring in dozens of well-known movies including Ocean's Eleven, Rio Bravo, The Caddy, and Who Was That Lady?, for which Martin received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor, coupled with a highly popular television career, Dean Martin certainly earned his nickname as the "King of Cool."



ABOUT NBCUNIVERSAL TELEVISION DVD, MUSIC, AND CONSUMER PRODUCTS GROUP
NBCUniversal is a leader in providing entertainment programming to the domestic and international marketplaces. NBCUniversal Television DVD, Music, and Consumer Products Group manages all global ancillary television business endeavors for the NBCUniversal Television Group, including third-party home entertainment distribution, consumer products, musical soundtracks, special markets projects and the NBCUniversal Online Store. For the latest product updates and an overview of the properties managed by the group, visit the NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products portal at http://nbcuconsumerproducts.com.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Dean Paul Martin, Mar.21, 1987




Hey pallies, likes was moved to find yet 'nother trib to our beloved Dino's beloved boypallie Dino Jr. at a pad tagged "Voy." Posted on this 24th anniversary of Dino Jr.'s plane crash, this remembrance shares briefly the life and times of our Dino's namesake...includin' a Dino-detail or two that I had not known before.

ilovedinomartin sez our thanks to the pallies at "Voy" for honorin' Dino Jr. and thus also his amazin' daddy-o Dino in this way. To view this in it's original format, just clicks on the tagg of this Dino-gram. Dino-rememberin', DMP






Subject: Archive: Dean Paul Martin, Mar.21, 1987


Author:
Musician, actor, pilot
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date Posted: Monday, March 21, 12:23:36pm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dean Paul Martin (November 17, 1951 – March 21, 1987) was an American entertainer, noted as a tennis player, a singer and actor, and a military pilot.


Early life and career
Martin was born to performer Dean Martin and his second wife, Jeanne Biegger. Dean Paul was the fifth child of Dean Martin's seven children. He was Jeanne's eldest son. He attended the Urban Military Academy in Brentwood, California. As a youth Martin was encouraged toward a singing career. At age thirteen he joined Desi Arnaz Jr. and Billy Hinsche in the pop group Dino, Desi, & Billy, which had a few minor nationwide hits between 1965 and 1968, landing in the Top 30 twice.

Martin began to go by his given name of Dean Paul instead of the nickname "Dino" in his late teens. He became a successful tennis player (he competed in a junior competition at Wimbledon) and an actor. He co-starred with Ali MacGraw in the 1979 film Players, starring as a professional tennis player, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award as Best New Star of the Year — Male.

He later starred in the TV series Misfits of Science which aired during the 1985-1986 television season. The series co-starred Courteney Cox.

Aviation career and Martin's death
Martin, an avid pilot, obtained his pilot's license at age 16 and became an officer in the California Air National Guard in 1981. He rose to the rank of Captain. He died in 1987 when his National Guard F-4 Phantom fighter jet crashed in California's San Bernardino Mountains during a snowstorm, killing him and his WSO (Weapons Systems Officer), Captain Ramon Ortiz.

His father, Dean Martin never recovered from the loss of his son, retiring from show business a few years later.[citation needed] His death rekindled the friendship of his father and former partner Jerry Lewis, who attended Dean Paul's funeral.

Martin is buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

Personal life
Dean Paul Martin married actress Olivia Hussey in 1971. They had one child, Alexander. They divorced in 1978. He married Olympic gold medalist ice skater Dorothy Hamill in 1982. They divorced in 1984. In 1985 Dean Jr. became the godfather of entertainer Joshua Paul Driver, who was given the middle name "Paul" from Dean Paul Martin.

Remember our Dino's loss of his beloved boypallie Dino Jr.

Hey pallies, likes on that fateful day,21 March 1987, our Dino's beloved boypallie, Captain Dino Jr., while pilotin' a Guard F-4 Phantom fighter jet for the California Air National Guard, crashed the plane in California's San Bernardino Mountains during a snowstorm. Dino Jr. and his Weapons System Officer, Ramon Ortiz, were both killed in the crash.

Likes his incredible Daddy-o, Dino Jr. was a renaissance man of extraordinary talents.....singer, actor, tennis pro, pilot. Certainly, if he had lived, Dino Jr. woulda have become heir apparent to the throne of the King of Cool.

The demise of Dino Jr. began the demise of our beloved Dino himself. Our great man simply lost the will to live without his prodigy by his side. Truth be told, probably the only man that our Dino looked up to was his beloved namesake Dino Jr.

Below is a picture of Dino Jr.'s gravesite and a bit of information on Dino Jr. and the location of the grave. We thanks the pad Seeing Stars for this picture and information. To checks this out in it's original format, as usual, just click on the tag of these Dino-reflections. Dino-hearted, DMP



The Grave of Dean Martin Jr.

Dino, the son of Dean Martin, part of the 60's pop band "Dino, Desi, and Billy." An Air Force Captain, he was killed when his plane crashed into a mountain; buried at the huge military National Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. His grace is against the south fence bordering Wilshire Blvd, in Section 419, grave P-28.

On This Day In Dino-history: March 21, 1987 Our Beloved Dino's Dino Jr. Dies

Hey pallies, likes this is the saddest of sad days in our Dino's history. On this day, March 21, in the year 1987 our Dino's most beloved boypallie Dino Jr. crashed
his National Guard fighter jet in the mountains of Cali when he came upon a bad snowstorm. Dino-followers are of one mind that once our Dino's namesake died, a huge part of our beloved Dino died as well that fateful day.

Below is an outstandin' tribute to Dino Jr. by the pallies at "The Music's Over." We thanks them of rememberin' our Dino's boypallie's life and times in this very honorin' way that includes a vid trib to Dino Jr.'s band adventure, "Dino, Desi, and Billy" singin' one of their grooviest tunes, "The Rebel Kind."

To view this in it's original format, likes just clicks on the tagg of this Dino-message. Dino-saddened, DMP

Died On This Date (March 21, 1987) Dean Paul Martin

Posted by themusicsover.com on March 21, 2010

Dean Paul Martin
November 17, 1951 – March 21, 1987



To many, Dean Paul Martin was best known as Dean Martin’s son, but to music fans he was Dino of Dino, Desi and Billy. The Desi being Desi Arnaz Jr. Forming the group in their early teens, DD&B had a couple of semi hits that targeted the teenage girl crowd. As he grew older, Dino became Dean Paul and went on to make a name for himself playing tennis. He even played Wimbledon. Flying was yet another passion of Martin’s. He got his pilot’s license at just 16 and later earned his wings with the Air National Guard. Then in 1987, Martin was flying his National Guard fighter jet when a bad snowstorm caused him to crash it in the mountains for California, killing him and his Weapons System Officer on impact. He was once married to Olympic ice skater, Dorothy Hammill and actress Olivia Hussey.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Boxer, Comedian, Mafia associate… The Rat Pack’s velvet-voiced boozehound was a man’s man who feared nothing and no one. Except,.....

Hey pallies, likes surffin' the net for ever more cool Dino-features to shares with all you pallies simply leads to the discovery of so so many swingin' pads...likes today's Dino-prose from "BeHyped The Modern Musicians Notebook."

"BeHyped" taggs itself as "A resource for musicians (and the curious) BeHyped looks at the music industry of past and present and looks ahead with fervor." It was thrillin' to discover the accent bein' put on our Dino in a recent post at "BeHyped".....likes indeed our beloved Dino is front and center of the past and present music scene...and indeed will fervorently always be part the future of where music is always at.

The pallies at "BeHyped' have tagged these Dino-reflections below as "A mini introduction to the musical legend - Dean Martin," and said Dino-literature is actually a reprint of the Dino-focused essay that appeared in the Brit music mag "Q" in February of 2010.

I gotta 'fess up that I likes totally grooves on the tag that writer Mr. Michael Hogan has put on his Dino-ponderin's...."Boxer, Comedian, Mafia associate… The Rat Pack’s velvet-voiced boozehound was a man’s man who feared nothing and no one. Except, perhaps, tall buildings."

Wow, likes what stunnin' images to salute our great man with....
"BOXER, COMEDIAN, MAFIA ASSOCIATE
THE RAT PACK"S VELVET-VOICED BOOZEHOUND
WAS A MAN'S MAN
WHO FEARED NOTHING AND NO ONE.
EXCEPT, PERHAPS, TALL BUILDINGS"

Likes of course these outstandin' Dino-images gotta makes all us Dino-holics smile and nod in likes total Dino-approval!

What follows is an exceptional mixin' of verbage and pixs that sheds much Dino-light on the life, times, and teachin's of our beloved Dino. While the content of most of Hogan's patter is already known to Dino-holics such as us...this is a well written piece of Dino-devotion that certainly has great Dino-pontential to draw tons of new pallies to deep, pure, and true Dino-adulation!

Likes only found one Dino-detail to be off note is this amore to our beloved Dino....Hogan perpetuates the old wife's Dino-tale that Dino-wife numero duo, the Jeanne, was on the scene at the last breaths of our King of Cool, when truth be told, our Dino died alone...dyin' alone, as I am sure that he wanted it.

ilovedinomartin sez our thanks to the Mr. Michael Hogan and the pallies at Q Magazine for spreadin' this Dino-message originally, and to the pallies at "BeHyped" for reprintin' it recently.

Always thrillin' to see such passion shared in the tellin' of the Dino-story...and in this case havin' such amazin' Dino-pixs to add to the whole Dino-message. Indeed, loves the huge pixs of our Dino that occurs at the "BeHyped" pad...and likes, as usual, to view this in it's original glorious original, please clicks on the tagg of this Dino-gram. Dino-loved, DMP


Dean Martin | Boxer, Comedian, Musician
This article was originally featured in the February 2010 issue of Q Magazine

Boxer, Comedian, Mafia associate… The Rat Pack’s velvet-voiced boozehound was a man’s man who feared nothing and no one. Except, perhaps, tall buildings.

Words | Michael Hogan


Dean Martin (L) running his own game of blackjack at a casino. Las Vegas 1958 by Allan Grant

“Martin’s is a real rags-to-riches story. He was born Dino Crocettie in 1917 to Italian immigrant parents in Steubenville, Ohio – a steel city known as “Little Chicago”, with a reputation for crime and corruption. Barber’s son Dino spole only Italian until the age of five and was ridiculed at school for his broken English. He left aged 14 and ran with gangs while juggling jobs including bootleg liqour delivery boy, blackjack dealer and speakeasy croupier. All rather reminiscent of Henry Hill’s initiation into the wiseguy life at the start of Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas. Little surprise, then, that Martin’s biopic has been an on-of passion project for scorsese. Like Sinatra, Martin has lifelong Mafia links. He was helped with his singing career by mob bosses who owned venues, returning the favour by performing for them when he hit the big time. FBI bugs once picked up a Mafioso making plans to “give Martin a little headache” because of a perceived lack of gratitude. Luckily, he “forgotaboutit”.

As a club punter would later testify when he called Martin a “greaseball” and the young singer leapt offstage to punch him, he could fight a bit too. He boxed as a welterweight called Kid Crochet but lost 11 of 12 bouts and wisely hung up his gloves. Insteadm he started singing with local bands under the name “Dino Martini” – after then-famous operatic tenor Nino Martini. Bandleaders advised Dino to Anglicise his soubriquet. Dean Martin was born.


Dean Martin talking to the band during a recording session. Las Vegas 1958 by Allan Grant

Struggling to earn a living, Martin repeatedly sold 10 per cent shares of his earnings for upfront cash – only to discover he’d done this so often, he’d sold 100 per cent of his income. Such was his charm, however, that most lenders wrote of his debts. By the end of World War II, the handsome, phlegmatic crooner was doing well in the clubs with a style modelled on the warm baritone of Bing Crosby. He attracted the attention of Hollywood but offers weren’t forthcoming. Martin looked destined to stay on the steak dinner circuit – until 1946, when he shared a bill with comedian Jerry Lewis.

They formed a fast friendship, with nine-years-older Martin as the big brother figure, which saw them guesting in each other’s acts and forming an unlikely duo. Martin and Lewis’s first set flopped and the cub manager told them that if the second wasn’t better, they’d be fired. They decided to go for broke by throwing out the script. Martin went onstage alone and sang. Lewis repeatedly interrupted his set by coming out dressed as a busboy, dropping plates and performing pitfalls until Martin chased him off, pelting him with bread rolls. The secret, both said, was that they ignored the punters and played to each other. It raised the roof and they were soon playing well-paid gigs, climaxing in a triumphant run at Manhattan’s legendary Copacabana club.

A radio series followed, then TV. Hollywood finally beckoned and Martin was happy to answer the call – partly because as a chronic claustrophobic, he liked LA which, because of its earthquakes, has few tall buildings. Scared of lifts, he wasn’t keen on climbing the stairs in the Big Apple’s skyscrapers.

By the ’50s, the laid-back Lothario and gawky clown were America’s hottest act. Lewis described it as “lightning in a bottle”. Martin preffered “sex and slapstick”. Orson Welles said “so funny you’d piss your pants”. They took advantage, negotiating one of Hollywood’s juiciest deals: $75,000 per movie, plus the freedom to make one film a year via their own York Productions. They also kept control of their club, record, radio and tv appearances. This spin-off work earned them millions.


Dean Martin performing at the Sands Hotel. Hollywood CA December 1958 by Allan Grant

Martin and Lewis had fun onstage and were firm friends off it – this was their secret. But cracks appeared because Lewis was seen as the talent, with straight man Martin’s contribution underestimated. He fought to vary their formulaic routine but Lewis was a control freak, leading to escalating fall-outs. Martin eventually told Lewis, “You’re nothing to me but a fucking dollar sign.” The duo split in 1956 – a decade to the day from their debut. They marked it with a farewell gig at the Copacabana.

Martin, seen as a spare part, initially struggled solo. It looked like he might be remembered as Lewis’s former sidekick, his own career confined to the clubs. Ever the fighter, though, he got up off the canvas for a spectacular comeback.

First, he decided to become a proper actor. With Mob help, he blagged his way into war drama The Young Lions, so he could learn from co-stars Montgomery Clift and Marlon Brando. This was followed by an acclaimed role as the aptly-named Dude in Howard Hawk’s Rio Bravo.

With a mic in his hand, Martin moved on from the Crosby comparisons to his own style: nice’n'easy, the swinging soundtrack to romance. His trademark lounge tune ‘Everybody Loves Somebody’ knocked The Beatles’ Hard Day’s Night off the BIllboard top sot in 1964 and hits kept coming – despite the rise of rock’n'roll. As he said, “That’s for teenagers, my music’s for Deanagers.” He branched into country, covering Johnny Cash and was crowned Man Of The Year but the Country Music Association in ’66. He even influenced Elvis, whose Love Me Tender vocals were very Martin-esque.

By now Dino was one of the most popular entertainers in Vegas, combining butterscotch-smooth singing with equally slick comedy (he’d learnt a lot from Lewis). He was already the King Of Cool. Lasting cult status was assured when he became a second-in-command of the Rat Pack. Martin and Sinatra has crossed paths on the club circuit but became the best of buddies – “pallies”, they called it – when co-starring in Oscar-nomintaed 1958 film Some Came Running. By the early 60′s, they were joined by Vegas scenesters Joe Bishop, Peter Lawford and Sammy Davis, Jr to form the tuxedo-clad, testosterone-feulled, ring-a-ding clique that dubbed themselves The Summit or The Clan – the counter to The Establishment. Sinatra was Chairman Of The Board, Dino his Deputy.

The “pallies” all starred in the iconic Oceans’ Eleven but were mainly famed for their hedonistic booze’n'broads lifestyle. Their gig nights were legendary, normally secret, always raucous and rapturously received. The billboard at the Sands Hotel would read “Dean Martin. Maybe Frank. Maybe Sammy”. They’d sing solos, duets and trios, alongside seemingly improvised comedy. It was edgy stuff, playing on Sinatra’s womanizing, Martin’s drinking, Davis’s race and Judaism. Un-Pc, sure, but responsible for the desegregation of Vegas, as Sinatra and Martin refused to appear anywhere that barred Davis, forcing casinos to open their doors to blacks and Jews.


Playing his favourite game. California 1958 by Allan Grant

Martin became even more of a household name in the late ’60s with his weekly variety show on NBC – for a while, the most-watched programme on US TV. It was here he cemented his image as a louche, lazy loveable boozer, hitting on women with one-liners that would get mere mortals slapped. There was even a bar onstage. Martin joked that he had someone tape the shows so he could enjoy his gags sober. The license plates on his cars spelled “DRUNKY”. It was popularly assumed he was an alcoholic. In fact, it was all, more or less, part of the act. “Oh, I love to drink,” he shrugged, “but I’m never drunk.” The “Scotch on the rocks” he supped onstage was apple juice and the barfly persona had a prodigious work ethic. Martin grafter to look effortless. He prides himself on memorising whole scripts and bailed out of Rat Pack parties early, preferring to get up the next day to play his beloved golf. “If you drink, don’t drive,” he said. “Don’t even putt.”

Neither was he quite the womaniser of lore. Martin was a family man, a father of seven, who fought for custody of the kids from his first marriage. Second wife Jeanne said, “He’s a man’s man, not a ladies’ man, home every night for dinner.” There was a mid-life crisis in his 50s, when he divorced Jeanne, got briefly engaged to the ’69 Miss World-USA, Gail Renshaw, then married a Rodeo Drive hair salon receptionist half his age, Catherine Hawn. But he returned to Jeanne, stayed for the rest of his life and died in her arms. That’s amore.

By the ’70s, Martin scaled down. He didn’t need the cash, having invested his earnings – he was the single largest shareholder in both RCA and NBC. He lost his golden son, fighter pilot Dean Junior, in a 1987 plane crash. It broke his heart and he never recovered. He suffered emphysema, then lung cancer but refused surgery, He finally died on Christmas Day 1995. The lights on the Las Vegas Strip were dimmed in his honour. Lasy year, his children accepted his posthumous Grammy for Lifetime Achievement. He’s earned it, releasing over 100 albums and 50 films. As Martin’s hit went, memories are made of this.”

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March 8, 2011 | Filed under Icons and tagged with Article, Biography, Dean Martin, Music Icons.

Tags: Article, Biography, Dean Martin, Music Icons