Was Singapore Ever On 'The Dean Martin Show'?

Hey pallies, likes ilovedinomartin is pleased as a bowl of spiked Dino-punch to be able to shares with all youse Dino-philes our great great Singaporian Andy's powerful Dino-patter from his majestically marvelous musical blog, "Singapore 60s: Andy's Pop Music Influence." Andy has been hangin' 'round ilovedinomartin for a long time and is truly truly one of the most devoted Dino-holics that ilovedinomartin is privileged to tag pallie.

As you will read below, Andy details how our most beloved Dino, at the pinacle of his tremedous television career "was invited to come to Singapore in the middle of 1980 to shoot a film for his series. He was invited to sell our little island by the local tourist promotion board who had noticed its immense popularity." As Andy notes, the production was to be a "special Christmas extravaganza." Sad to say, our great man ended up havin' to say no to this great opportunity.

Andy shares many many cool Dino-details in his Dino-scribin's and likes the coolest of the coolest note is that "his show was so popular it ran twice a week over RTS (Radio Television Singapore)." And, as always ilovedinomartin's awesome pallie Andy gives a huge nod of Dino-approval to ilovedinomartin and yours truly. Indeed Andy is a fabulously faithful friend of our Dino's and this humble Dino-blog.

ilovedinomartin sends out our deepest of deep Dino-appreciato to our wonderfully wise pallie Andy for liftin' up the name of our Dino at his fab blog and helpin' his huge readership to grow in knowin', lovin', and honorin' our main man. To checks out Andy's reflections directly at his blog, simply clicks on the tag of this here Dino-report. Dino-delightedly, DMP



Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Was Singapore Ever On 'The Dean Martin Show'?




Lay Some Happiness On Me: Opener You Tube by Lei-Lani Muriah.





In 1965 That's Amore crooner man Dino Paul Crocetti used a new media to entertain his fans - television - and hosted one of the most successful TV series in history. It was watched by many, won a Golden Globe Award and The Dean Martin Show lasted until 1973. Everybody Loves Somebody, his own hit, became the theme song and the series rolled along 264 times.

Like Larry Lai he was King of Cool.



In the same year he renamed it The Dean Martin Comedy Hour, and from 1974 to 1984 it was renamed again as The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts. It became so popular that big guns appeared on his show. It included Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, James Stewart, George Burns' Milton Berle, Don Rickles, Phyllis Diller and many more.

Golddiggers had a cast of 12.



While he was at the peak of his career Martin was invited to come to Singapore in the middle of 1980 to shoot a film for his series. He was invited to sell our little island by the local tourist promotion board who had noticed its immense popularity.



The special Christmas extravaganza would be on its hour long show featured on NBC. It was to highlight the island's tourist attractions and a special children's church choir. The board had wanted to promote Singapore to the American public and thought it was the best way to do so. Production and manpower costs were high and the programme would have cost $200,000.

His hit TV shows captivated the American public, Singaporeans and Malaysians.

The idea came to an end when Martin wrote to explain that he would not be able to make it because of internal reasons at his production company. But he had a solution and explained that he hoped to use video-tape clips sent by the board for his future programmes.



He ended his letter by explaining that he was most impressed by the professionalism of the officers in the organisation when he was dealing with them. Many viewers were disappointed because his show was so popular it ran twice a week over RTS (Radio Television Singapore).





*The Golddiggers with Dino.

Although some pop stars like Willliam Holden, Cliff Richard, Acker Bilk, Shirley Bassey, Rita Coolige, Sergio Mendes, Helen Reddy, Johnny Tillotson and The Rolling Stones had visited our shores and appeared on our stages, Dean Martin had not.



Show's so popular, it ran twice a week in Singapore.

Here's a suggestion. Bring back the show on Singapore's Channel 5. I am sure audiences, both young and old, will love a re-run. Nothing like real entertainment.



Lay some happiness on me

So the brighter side you'll see

No more loneliness to me

Lay some happiness on me...



*(In 1968 Dean Martin brought together twelve beautiful young girls who could sing, dance and act, and gave them the name The Golddiggers.)



Images: Google and The Straits Times Press, Singapore.



To read more about this superstar check out the website I Love Dino Martin below written and managed by my good friend Dino Martin Peters (DMP) who uses his own Dino-Lingo:

http://ilovedinomartin.blogspot.sg/

Copyright Post by Andy Lim* at 19.2.13