Hey pallies, likes one of the thin's we mightily missed by bein' AWOL from our humble little ilovedinomartin waterin' hole is keepin' up with our youthful pallie from Ireland, Mr. Daire O'Hagan.

Faithful readers of ilovedinomartin will remember Daire from a mighty multitude of Dino-grams that have focused on Daire's awesome adulation of our most beloved Dino and his energetic emulation of our  Dino in his risin' musical career.  Likes if you puts Mr. O'Hagan's tag into the ilovedinomartin blog search engine at the top left of our home pad you will be able to see a neat number of Dino-grams fabulously focused on his deepest of deep devotion to our Dino and how our Dino is Daire's "Hero" and "Idol" proudly professin' on his musical facebook page HERE   that "In my humble opinion the greatest entertainer that ever lived."

Well as we are now powerfully playin' catch up after our long lingerin' absence from ilovedinomartin, we decided on this last day of our annual month long celebration of "The Day That Coolness Came To Earth" in huge homage of our Dino's June 7th entrance to our planet in 1917 that we would share a recent Dino-inspired vibrant video shared by Daire on both his facebook pad and at his youtube pad as well of the coolest of cool classic croon of our Dino "Houston."  As you watch and listen all youse Dino-philes will note that Daire has slowed it down from our Dino's original version, but there is no mistakin' that Daire's awesome adulation of our most most beloved Dino sweetly shines forth in this delightful Dino-trib.

Likes, we were first introduced to Daire when he posted his first vid of Dino-devotion at his facebook music page on the 100th anniversary of our Dino's birthday.  That vital vid was of the Dino-classic, "My Pony, My Rifle And Me."  When we first learned of this Irish laddie who at the time we tagged "Deanager Daire" 'cause he was still in his teens, our hearts were fabulously filled with the deepest of deep Dino-delight 'cause Mr. Daire O'Hagan reverently represents the next generation of Dino-devotees and with pallies likes Daire openly and affirmatively spreadin' their Dino-devotion we know that the legacy of our Dino...his life, his times, and his teachin's will continue to be swankly spread 'cross the Dino-universe forever and forever.  So, on this last day of  our ilovedinomartin 2021 celebration of The Day That Coolness Came To Earth" we lovin'ly lift up Mr. Daire O'Hagan and once 'gain thank him for superbly sharin' his deepest of deep devotion to our Dino in his up and comin' career as the next gen of crooners drawin' tons of today's youth into the Dino-fold...helpin' to welcome others into our Dino's wonderful world, bringin' Dino-happiness to many more pallies.

ilovedinomartin solemnly salutes Mr. Daire O'Hagan and truly truly thank  him for all he has done and all he will continue to do to proudly profess his awesome adulation of our one, our only Dino.  Enjoys Daire's version of our Dino's "Houston," all youse Dino-philes, and if youse are able gives Daire a cool comment to encourage his continuin' devotion to our Dino via his wonderful music.  To checks this vid out at Daire' youtube pad, simply clicks on the tag of this Dino-message.

We Remain,

Yours In Dino,

Dino Martin Peters

 

 Houston - (Dean Martin Cover) by Daire O’Hagan

 

Daire O'Hagan Music

 

Cover of classic Dean Martin song Houston written by Lee Hazelwood

Festival a celebration of Dean Martin's life and devotion to Steubenville

Hey pallies, likes as we were doin' a beautiful bit more Dino-searchin' for noteworthy news on Dino-fest 2021 in Steubenville, Ohio where our most beloved Dino made his entry into this ol' world, we were groovily guided by our pallies at google Dino-'lerts to the home pad of Stu-ville's TV Channel 9, WTOV, NBC FOX where if youse clicks on the tag of this Dino-gram all youse Dino-philes will be able to view a news report  introduced by news anchor Ms. Brittany Grego that has local news reporter Ms. Rayla Claypool speakin' live from Dino-fest with both Mayor Jerry Barilla and The Spot Bar owner, Mr JoJo Dialbert.  Likes those reverently radiant  remarks on the incredible importance of our Dino to his home town pallies are swankly shared below.

Likes, it wonderfully warms our deeply devoted Dino-hearts to hear both Mayor Barilla and barkeeper Mr. JoJo Dialbert speakin so powerfully profusely proudly of our most most beloved Dino and their eager efforts to keep Dino-fest glowin' and growin' each June in the land of Dino. we thank there local mighty movers and supreme shakers for all their energetic efforts to keep the life, times, and teachin's of our Dino awesomely alive in Stu-ville as pallies yearly make pilgrimage from near and far to express their awesome adulation of our King of Cool.

Likes, 'gain to check out the WTOV Channel 9 news vid, simply clicks on the tag of this Dino-report.

We Remain,

Yours In Dino,

Dino Martin Peters

Festival a celebration of Dean Martin's life and devotion to Steubenville

by Rayla Claypool  Saturday, June 26th 2021

 

STEUBENVILLE, Ohio — The Dean Martin Hometown Celebration continued Saturday in Steubenville, bringing everything from food vendors to vintage cars, all in the name of a local celebrity.

"This man has a huge draw,” Mayor Jerry Barilla said. “Even though he's been passed for a number of years, the magic is still there."

Martin -- singer, actor, entertainer -- and native of Steubenville.

He's known internationally for his roles in films and on television, as well as his music. And in Steubenville, the city is celebrating the legacy of a man who never forgot his hometown.

"Dean Martin is so important to Steubenville,” said JoJo Dialbert, owner of The Spot Bar. “We all know he was nationally known as a singer and entertainer. And numerous times, he mentioned Steubenville. And everybody knows that's where he's from."

The celebration was an opportunity to learn more about Martin, but it also brought vendors of jewelry. food trucks and live music to downtown.

In addition. the cruise-in Saturday afternoon saw vintage cars gather so their drivers could see each other after a long year.

"This is one big family, these car people,” Kathy Waszkiewicz said. “We don't get to see them often enough. It's just nice to come out and support Steubenville and see our friends and have a good time with everybody."

And the people living in Steubenville, as well as the people who come to visit, are the focus of the event's organizers.

"That's what we try to do with these festivals,” Barilla said. “Whether it's the Fort Festival, the summer concert series, the Dean Martin Festival, the Nutcracker Festival, people coming together, families coming together, saying hello to one another, hugging one another, it's a warm feeling. And it's a rewarding feeling."

"You know it's a lot of work and a lot of headaches, but when you look outside and see hundreds, sometimes a thousand, that are enjoying themselves, enjoying Dean Martin's music, it makes you feel good,” Dialbert added. “You feel satisfied that you were able to pull it off and make a lot of people happy."

The festival wraps up Saturday night at The Spot Bar with a tribute to Dean Martin put on by Tom Stevens.

I guess there are many Dean Martin stories, and here is my family’s:

 

Hey pallies, likes we knows all youse Dino-philes always always absolutely appreciate growin' in your Dino-edification...Dino-detail by Dino-detail 'cause we knows that none of us Dino-devotees can ever ever get 'nough of our Dino.  So, likes this very Dino-day we share with you a Letter To The Editor of our Dino's hometown rag, Steubenville's Star-Herald from May 15 in the year of our Dino 2021 that was beautifully brought to our Dino-attention through the energetic efforts of google's Dino-'lerts.

As you will read below, a pallie from Toronto tagged Mr. Jim Rinaldo shares how his family was connected to our most beloved Dino via his beloved mother, Angela Barra.  Likes how many of our Dino-holics woulda loves to hold cool claim to bein' in any which way connected to our one and only Dino?!?!?!  We thanks Mr. Jim Rinaldo for takin' the time to write his letter to the pallies at the Star-Herald and for the Star-Herald to see fit to publish the letter in their noteworthy newspaper.  To checks this out in it's original source, simply clicks on the tag of this Dino-report.

We Remain,

Yours In Dino,

Dino Martin Peters

An interesting connection

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

MAY 15, 2021

To the editor:

I guess there are many Dean Martin stories, and here is my family’s:

My grandmother’s uncle, Salvatore Vitelli, in 1910 became the legal guardian of four children from a family in distress named Barra. Vitelli was born in 1868 and died in 1957.

In the book “Dino” by Nick Tosches, on Page 13 it stated that the Barra family moved to Kilgore Street in Steubenville where my grandmother lived for more than 50 years. Our families were paesans, from the same town in Basilicato called Noepoli, province of Potenza, Italy.

There actually were five children in the family, but the oldest brother was sent back to Italy.

There is a mistake in the book — the author claims a man named E. DeMitt Erskine and a woman named Salvatora Vetella assumed legal guardianship of the four children.

My great uncle probably never went to school and spoke broken English, so the recorder at the probate court wrote down the name as he pronounced it, and it sounded in the feminine as Salvatora. Likewise, the misspelling of the last name. So, Salavatora Vetella actually is Salvatore Vitelli.

I have a copy of the probate court document from 1910. When Vitelli died, I was 9 years old, and I remember him. This was 1957.

The 12-year-old little girl in 1910, Angela Barra (Barr), married Guy Crocetti in 1914. They had a son, Dino Crocetti, who became Dean Martin, in 1917.

On the birth certificate of my grandmother from 1893, a witness to her birth was a woman named Angiola Barra. So, somewhere in the past the two families did cross, perhaps as godparents.

Jim Rinaldo

Toronto

Danny G's Sunday Serenade with Dino: "Cha Cha Cha D'Amour"

 Hey there, pallies...Welcome back! 

So, are youse ready for our second heatwave?! 

Yup...weather dude is sayin' into the 90's for 4 or 5 days! 

Man! That's some hot stuff! 

I cants' even 'magine in other parts of our USA? 

Guess what, pals? I says "Bring it!" 

Better than snow! Ha! 

Now, friends o' mine...is it just me...or do youse worry 'bout Summer flyin' by? 

I must be crazy! 

It just stared & I'm already 'fraid of it slippin' through my Dino-diggin' fingers! Haha!! 

Just seems like it was April a week ago...& now June is on it's way out too. 

Oh well, pals...we'll hold onto these long, muggy days...extra tight! 

OK, mi amici...let's gets to some tunes! 

I'm thinkin' this is the PER FEC TO time to REALLY kick off the season with one of Dean's FUN FUN "Latin type" tunes, pals. 

Just the way we likes it...REAL bouncy!  

GREAT way to keep our "The Day That Coolness Came To Earth" vibe flowin' too! 

Now who says "Summer fun" better than Dino? 

No one! 

He's the party-master! Ha! 

Well...I guess the best place to start is ALWAYS with one my FAVE summery Dino-al b ums..."Cha Cha De Amor". 

Yes, pals...this little vinyl frisbee is JAM-PACKED with HOT HOT & yet VERY VERY COOL Dino-tunes. 

Let's grab the title track, for today's Serenade, to really set the mood. 

Picture this, pallies...It's a hot...sweaty...Summer night. A little breeze keeps it tolerable, though. Youse grabs some yummy...icy...drinky of choice. Put the needle on the vinyl...& melt away with Dean. 

Ahhhhhh. That's good stuff, mi amici. 

Cheers to 'nother Summer with Dino, pals! 

Enjoy! 

Dean Martin Festival 2006 CBS News Sunday Morning segment

 

Hey pallies, likes we want to share at least one last post awesomely accentin' the Dean Martin Hometown Festival and likes, we got the Dino-notion to goes on over to youtube and sweetly share a vid clip from some aspect of Dino-fest.  We were Dino-directed to the coolest of cool vibrant video of the 2006 Dean Martin Festival with CBS broadcaster Mr. Bill Geist doin' on-the-spot reportin' for the swankest of swank segment of CBS News' Sunday Morning program.

Watchin' this tremendous tribute to our Dino and his home town, it is almost like proudly pilgrimaging there ourselves.  We loves watchin' "Keeper Of The Light," Miss Rose Angelica who headed up Dino-fest for a goodly number of years as she takes Mr. Geist on a tour of Stu-ville stoppin' at the land where our Dino's fam lived while he was growin' up, viewin' the Roman Catholic Church where our Dino was  baptized, an altar boy, and attended boy scout meetings in the basement.  We goes to Dinovo Dodge Dealership , "repository of significant Dean Martin relics," and stop to view the Dean Martin mural on the wall of the local Kroger Supermarket.  And there is the stop at the Spot Bar, "a Dino-landmark where Dino was both a singer and a croupier at the craps game in the backroom."  The tour continues with a visit to the Naples Spaghetti House where our Dino ate and the vid ends with briefly viewin' the yearly Mass said in honor of our Dino.

Viewin' this virtual video makes us extra eager to make personal pilgrimage to Stu-ville to visit the sights and sounds, we walk where our Dino walked and breath in the air that our Dino breathed.We are greatly grateful to a pallie tagged "wigadoodle" who originally put this video up for all our Dino-edification and Dino-viewin' pleasure.  To checks this out in it's original source, likes clicks on the tag of this Dino-report.

We Remain,

Yours In Dino,

Dino Martin Peters

Dean Martin Festival 2006 CBS News Sunday Morning segment

 

wigadoodle

Bill Geist's segment of the annual Dean Martin festival in Steubenville, Ohio in 2006.

Stubenville's Herald-Star Celebrates Our Dino's Legacy

 

Hey pallies, likes once 'gain our Dino-hearts are fully full of Dino-awe as we came 'cross an excellent editorial from our Dino's hometown rag, "The Herald Star."  Like as youse will reverently read below, in huge homage of the 104th anniversary of our most beloved Dino's descent to earth, the hometown pallies in Stu-ville are back with their annual cooler then cool celebration of our King of Cool, the Dean Martin Hometown Celebration this weekend.

Likes the unknown wordsmith from "The Herald-Star," who put pen to paper has coolly crafted likes one of the most touchin' 'n tender tributes to our one and only Dino that we have ever read.  Likes it totally totally gives us the biggest of big Dino-buddha-grin to know that there are pallies in our Dino's home pad who continuin' to hugely honor their hometown  hero.  Our deepest desire is indeed to make pilgrimage to Stu-ville...to walk where our Dino-walked and breath the air that our Dino-breathed.

ilovedinomartin sweetly shouts out our absolutely awesome appreciato to the supremely swank scriber from the Stubenville Herald-Star who has done our Dino proud in this engaging energetic editorial of Dino-adoration.  To checks this out in it's original format, likes simply clicks on the tag of this Dino-report.

We Remain,

Yours In Dino,

Dino Martin Peters

 

Martin’s legacy reason to celebrate

EDITORIALS

JUN 23, 2021

His talent made him, even by today’s standards, larger than life.

He was the symbol of the era of cocktail cool, hanging out with his pals, holding a cigarette in one hand and a glass of whiskey in the other, a beautiful woman or two not too far away.

Together with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford, Dean Martin was a part of the famous Rat Pack, entertainers who brought the once-sleepy little town of Las Vegas to life in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Martin’s name continues to carry magic, some 104 years since he was born as Dino Crocetti in Steubenville on June 7, 1917.

And, it’s appropriate that our area celebrate his legacy during this week’s Dean Martin Hometown Celebration.

He rates among the most versatile of entertainers, successfully appearing in live shows — his work in Las Vegas remains legendary — in films — think “Rio Bravo” and “Airport” — and on television — his “Dean Martin Show” was a top-rated program for NBC from 1965 to 1974. But he’s best remembered for his music, providing popular hit after popular hit, with his signature song “Everybody Loves Somebody” even knocking “A Hard Day’s Night” by the Beatles from the top of the Billboard charts in 1964.

The event, which will run Thursday, Friday and Saturday, will feature open houses at the Jefferson County Historical Museum and discounted tours of Historic Fort Steuben on all three days.

Thursday will see a performance by Beatlemania Magic at the Berkman Amphitheater and the annual Dean Martin Karaoke Contest at the Spot Bar, an event that traditionally has brought participants from all parts of the globe.

There will be street parties with live music, food and vendors in the 200 block of South Fourth Street on Friday and Saturday, a car cruise Saturday morning and free trolley rides to the museum Saturday afternoon. Martin tribute shows will be held at the Spot Bar on Friday and Saturday nights, with a $10 cover charge set for both evenings.

The event again will overlap with the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church Greek Food Festival, which will continue through Friday at the corner of South Fourth and South streets, which means there will be ample opportunity to celebrate our region and its heritage.

This week’s events offer everyone a chance to sit back, relax, not get too caught up with everything that’s going on around them and just enjoy life — which make them the perfect way to remember Martin and the contributions he made to the world of entertainment.

 

Museum’s open house celebration coincides with Dean Martin Festival

 

Hey pallies, likes we interrupt our previously scheduled Dino-grams  to reverently report a beautiful bit of  delightful Dino-news comin' from Dino-fest 2021 in our most beloved Dino's hometown of Steubenville, Ohio.  Likes almost everythin' else in the Dino-universe, Dino-fest did not happen in 2020, but it makes it's return this Thursday through Saturday, June 24-26.

Likes below is an awesome article scribed by Ms. Janice Kaiski (center in the pix on the left) who is the Community Editor of The Weirton Daily Times.  Tagged "Museum’s open house celebration coincides with Dean Martin Festival," this perfect prose shares times and details 'bout the Dean Martin Room at the Jefferson County Historical Association at 426 Franklin Avenue in Stu-ville.        This is certainly a pad that we wanna earnestly explore when we have op to make Dino-pilgrimage to our most beloved Dino's place of birth.  We largely loves the photo swankly shared of a portion of the absolutely awesome amount of Dino-treasures on display in this terrific trib to our King of Cool.

We swankly salute all the pallies at The Weirton Daily Times, 'specially Ms. Janice Kaiski who put this  Dino-news together for their readership.  It totally totally thrills our Dino-hearts to know that our main man's hometown is keepin' the Dino-light glowin' ever Dino-bright to keep the Dino-legacy alive and well.  To checks this out in it's original source, simply click on the tag of this Dino-gram dudes...........

We Remain,

Yours In Dino,

Dino Martin Peters

 

Museum’s open house celebration coincides with Dean Martin Festival

Dean Martin Room at museum features variety of memorabilia

EXTENDING MUSEUM HOSPITALITY — Charlie Green, first vice president of the Jefferson County Historical Association, stands in the Dean Martin room at the association’s museum located at 426 Franklin Ave., Steubenville. The second-story room features a variety of Martin memorabilia and welcomes visitors to its open house celebration this week, which coincides with the Dean Martin Festival on Thursday through Saturday. Among items on display is a wedding gown Martin’s seamstress mother Angela Crocetti made during the 1940s. -- Janice Kiaski

STEUBENVILLE — The Jefferson County Historical Association will hold its annual open house celebration to coincide with the Dean Martin Festival set for Thursday through Saturday.

On Thursday and Friday, the museum, located at 426 Franklin Ave., Steubenville, will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for visitors and tours. Refreshments will be offered.

On Saturday, the museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with trolley rides running to the museum from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Hot dogs, chips and refreshments will be made available to visitors who stop by during those hours. They also can enjoy old photos of Steubenville that will be displayed throughout the yard. Tours of the museum will be available upon request.

The Dean Martin Room on the second floor of the museum will be a focus during this time of celebration. The room will showcase memorabilia of Martin’s life throughout his career. Items of interest include record albums; the Dean Martin Celebrity Roast shows on VHS and documentaries of his life, which can be viewed in the room; pictures of the Rat Pack group; and several photos of family and friends. There also is a tapestry of Dean Martin and friends on the wall, It mimics the mural in the Hollywood Shopping Center.

The association museum is staffed by volunteers and is open every Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for tours. Other times can be arranged by calling the museum in advance at (740) 283-1133. The museum also includes the Vivian Snyder Genealogical Library, which is available for those interested in researching their family history.

Admission to the museum is free, but donations are appreciated. Officers are Judy Brancazio, president; Charlies Green, vice president; Dennis Milko, treasurer; and Sandy Higgs, secretary.

 

 

 

 

DEAN MARTIN Grave & Last Home - Jordan The Lion Travel Vlog

 

Hey pallies, likes over the years we have lovin'ly lifted up the beloved name of our Dino here at ilovedinomartin we have been beautifully blown 'way by the marvelous many and viral varied ways that our Dino continues to be hugely homage all over the ol' world wide web.  Likes today we once 'gain return to youtube where we delightfully discovered a pallie tagged Jordan whose devotion to our Dino is absolutely awesomely outstandin'!  Jordan's youtube pad tagged "Daze with Jordan the Lion" and his gig is to take his viewership to important places that he visits.  (Jordan and his doggie are pictured on the left.)

In the vibrant vid below we go with Jordan, his dog, and his lady friend to visit our most beloved Dino's final restin' place at Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary, Los Angeles, CA and to see the outside of his last pad of residence.  The terrifically touchin' 'n tender thin' 'bout this vid is that our newest pallie Jordan has done his Dino-homework and gives a rad remarkable runnin' cooler then cool commentary 'bout our Dino's life 'n times durin' this over 20 minute vid.

Now, we gotta 'fess up that on a few Dino-details Jordan is a bit off the mark....such as our Dino had four youngens by wife numero uno Elizabeth and three youngens by wife numero duo Jeanne...which Jordan gets the number of pallies by each wife mixed up.  But it wonderfully warms our Dino-hearts to see 'nother of today's youthful hipsters so so sweetly into the Dino-story and doin' their powerfully potent part to spread Dino-devotion far and wide.

Likes the one new thin' that we learned 'bout our Dino is that the part of Westwood Village Memorial Park where he rests is tagged "Sanctuary Of Love".....likes as Jordan powerfully points out, likes how absolutely appro is that pallies?!?!?!  Sits back and enjoys viewin' our Dino's restin' place and final residence and revel in 'nother solidly solidly sold-out-to-Dino-dude speakin' sweetly of the story of our King of Cool, our one, our only DINO!

We supremely shouts out our Dino-appreciato to Jordan for his extraordinary efforts in the coolest of cool cause of spreadin' the Dino-tale and bringin' many many more into the Dino-fold!  To checks this out in it's original format, simply clicks on the tag of this Dino-message.

We Remain,

Yours In Dino,

Dino Martin Peters

 

 

1277 DEAN MARTIN Grave & Last Home - Jordan The Lion Travel Vlog (4/8/20)

Daze with Jordan the Lion

 

 Hey pallies, likes this Dino-day we return to youtube to solemnly share 'nother vital vid trib to our most most beloved Dino tagged "Last Photos - Last Memories of Dean Martin - Final Days.."  Likes we have shared these and similar Dino-images before and they always mostly makes us so so sad as we view our Dino's decline in health and vitality durin' the last months of his life.  

But today, likes as we just viewed this Dino-vid, we remarkably  realized what a powerful privilege it musta been for the pallies who are pictured in these candids servin' our most most beloved Dino and givin' him lovin' assistance.  How amazin' it woulda been for any of us who name the name of our Dino to have been able to swankly serve his needs in those last months of his time on this planet.

Likes also pallies, when we focus on these later day Dino-images, we likes to think of the wonderful ways that our Dino lived his long life on his own terms as the King of Cool, the Master of Hip, the Ruler of Randy and likes when youse live your life to the full, indeed at some point decline will come to the body as noted here.  It reminds us of one of our Dino's quintessential quotations of the way he lived his life, "If I knew I was gonna live this long, I woulda taken better care of myself."  

We invites all youse Dino-holics to not only view this video montage of Dino-poses, but also to drink deeply of the wonderfully wise words printed below the vid that are a totally totally touchin' and tender tribute to our King of Cool, and likes while youse are at it pallies, likes takes a bit of time to read some of the over 1000 coolest of cool comments that Dino-devotees have posted showin' just how deeply deeply so so many pallies are deeply devoted to our one and only Dino.

Likes here are a small sample of the completely comfortin' comments solemnly shared by Dino-philes...

Al Biondi

He lived life to the fullest and lived more in his 78 years than most of us could live in 178 years, rest in peace Dino and thanks for the memories.

Kamila Agi-Mejias

His music still comforts me when I remember my father and the music he used to love.  Thank you Dino, love you forever

drumsport

There's solace in having witnessed his years in the Sun, and how many centuries of fun and cool he crammed into 78 years.  Truly, a one-of-a-kind talent.  RIP Dino.  You were superb!

chris osieczanek

Met Dean Martin on a golf course in Southern California in the mid ‘60’s . It had started to rain , the members of his foursome called it a day , and he was waiting the rain out in the lounge . Stopped by his table to say ‘ Hello ‘ and he invited me to sit down . What a witty and gracious guy . Chatted for an hour or so , rain didn’t let up , so we parted company . You’ll never hear me say anything negative about good ‘ol Dino .

We sweetly salute the pallie who created this vital vid of our most most beloved Dino.  To checks this out in it's original source at youtube, likes simply clicks on the tag of this Dino-gram.

We Remain,

Yours In Dino,

Dino Martin Peters

Last Photos - Last Memories of Dean Martin - Final Days..

Immortal Photos - Last Memories

 

 

Latest Photos of Dean Martin  - Final Days..

If there had to be an image for cool, the man to fit it would be Dean Martin.

Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti in Steubenville, Ohio, to Angela (Barra) and Gaetano Alfonso Crocetti, a barber. His father was an Italian immigrant, and his mother was of Italian descent. He spoke only Italian until age five. Martin came up the hard way, with such jobs as a boxer (named Kid Crochet), a steel mill worker, a gas station worker and a casino croupier and dealer.

In 1946, he got his first ticket to stardom, as he teamed up with another hard worker who was also trying to succeed in Hollywood: Jerry Lewis. Films such as At War with the Army (1950) sent the team toward super-stardom. The duo were to become one of Hollywood's truly great teams. They lasted 11 years together, and starred in 16 movies. They were unstoppable, but personality conflicts broke up the team. Even without Lewis, Martin was a true superstar.

Few thought that Martin would go on to achieve solo success, but he did, winning critical acclaim for his role in Genç Aslanlar (1958) with Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift, and Aşk Uğruna (1958), with Shirley MacLaine and Frank Sinatra. Movies such as Kahramanlar Şehri (1959) brought him international fame. One of his best remembered films is in Soyguncular (1960), in which he played Sam Harmon alongside the other members of the legendary Rat Pack: Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford. Martin proved potent at the box office through the 1960s, with films such as Bells Are Ringing (1960) and 7 tatlı serseri (1964), again with Rat Pack pals Sammy Davis Jr. and Sinatra. During much of the 1960s and 1970s, Martin's movie persona of a boozing playboy prompted a series of films as secret agent Matt Helm and his own television variety show. Havaalanı (1970) followed, featuring Martin as a pilot. He also played a phony priest in Yolun sonu (1981).

In 1965, Martin explored a new method for entertaining his fans: Television. That year he hosted one of the most successful TV series in history: The Dean Martin Show (1965), which lasted until 1973. In 1965, it won a Golden Globe Award. In 1973, he renamed it "The Dean Martin Comedy Hour", and from 1974 to 1984 it was renamed again, this time "The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts". It became one of the most successful TV series in history, skewering such greats as Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, James Stewart, George Burns, Milton Berle, Don Rickles, Phyllis Diller and Joe Namath.

His last public role was a return to the stage, for a cross-country concert tour with Davis and Sinatra. He spoke affectionately of his fellow Rat Packers. "The satisfaction that I get out of working with these two bums is that we have more laughs than the audience has", Martin said.

After the 1980s, Martin took it easy--that is, until his son, Dean Paul Martin died in a plane crash in March 1987. Devastated by the loss, from which he never recovered, he walked out on a reunion tour with Sinatra and Davis. Martin spent his final years in solitude and out of the public light. A heavy smoker most of his life, Dean Martin died on Christmas Day, 1995 at age 78 from complications to lung cancer.

DEAN MARTIN DEATH CERTIFICATE

 

Hey pallies, likes our sharin' on last Saturday of the newest of new Dino-documentary, "AUTOPSY: The Last Hours Of Dean Martin" beautifully broadcast on the premium channel REELZ last evenin' incredibly inspired us to to a bit of Dino-searchin' on youtube for vital vids related to our Dino's death and in the comin' few days we are gonna share the Dino-devotional vids that we discovered.

Likes today we takes all youse Dino-philes to the Dino-tube where "THE REAPER FILES" has posted our most most beloved Dino's Death Certificate.  There are likes to parts to the certificate and it is extremely edifyin' to be able to view this virtually and read all the Dino-details.  Likes we have no idea how these dudes went 'bout acquirin' a copy of this certificate, likes whether it was easy or hard, but we wanna express our great great gratitude to those who did the Dino-research and created this video to our Dino-enlightenment.    Hats off to "THE REAPER FILES" for their contribution to our growth in Dino-knowledge.

To checks this vid out at youtube, simply clicks on the tag of this Dino-message.

We Remain,

Yours In Dino,

Dino Martin Peters

DEAN MARTIN DEATH CERTIFICATE

THE REAPER FILES

This is the death certificate for Dean Martin!

Danny G's SPECIAL Father's Day Sunday Serenade with Dino: "Gentle On My Mind"

 Welcome back, Ol' friends o' mine! 

So So happy youse dropped by!  

First of all I wanna wish a "Happy Daddy-O Day" to ALL the swingin' Dino-lovin' dad's out there! 

Man! What a COOL COOL thin' it is, pals... to be able to celebrate all the COOL COOL fathers & father figures in our lives...right in the midst of "The Month That Coolness Came to Earth"!! 

Truly a special time of year, my friends. 

Today is also the very first day of Summer 2021! 

Man! 

All these very special occasions...all at once & I'm thinkin' a BEA U TI FUL Summer day is perfecto to honor Dino & ALL these GREAT fellas, who mean/meant SO SO much! 

Now palsies...as youse may know by now...I pick a Special Serenade every year for today's tune. 

A jam that brings me back to my youngest days of Dino-dom. 

A familiar song that reminds me of my Dad & keeps him in my thoughts everyday. 

Well, as I always do...I reach for a specific kind of Dino al b um. 

A real blue-collar sound. 

Yup...my Pop was BIG into those Dino "trucker" jams! Haha!! 

The "C.B. radio" type tunes. 

A jam 'bout some down & out dude...tryin' to make his way back home or maybe some carefree fella just enjoyin' the simple life. 

Yea...those were his faves. 

Still cracks me up thinkin' 'bout him singin' along to these songs! 

He thought they were SO SO cool & I thought HE was SO SO cool for knowin' the words! Hahaha!!! 

What a GREAT guy Dad was! Great memories, pallies. 

Today's SPECIAL SERENADE takes me ALL the way back to the mid-70's! 

Man! Where'd that decade go?! 

OK pals...let's get the music flowin'! 

No one COOLER than our Dino to keep that "easy livin" feelin'...cruisin' down the ol' white line of life, pallies! Haha!! 

That's my attempt at trucker talk! Haha!! 

Anyway...here's to ALL the father figures. Includin' our very own "Father figure" of this here humble little blog...Dino Martin Peters. 

Your daily efforts to keep the Dino-message alive & thrivin'...are TRULY appreciated, pal! Thank you & I salute youse!  Not an easy job. 

So mi amici...let's keep that special guy in mind today. No matter who he was...or how he was part of your life...this one's for him. 

Thanks for everythin', Dad & thanks, Dino... for keepin' his memory alive! 

Your both FOREVER "Gentle On My Mind". 

Ciao & enjoy! 

world renowned forensic pathologist, Dr Michael Hunter......to delve deep into Dean Martin’s records to discover whether there was, in fact, something else going on in Dean’s body that contributed to his eventual demise.

 

 

Hey pallies, likes we just got a Dino-'lert that a new documentary dedicated to our most most most beloved Dino is set to premier tomorrow night, June 20 at 9 ET/PT on the premium channel "REELZ."  This Dino-docu is tagged "AUTOPSY: The Last Hours Of Dean Martin" and is part of  "a documentary series that reveals the truth behind the controversial deaths of global icons and people whose untimely deaths were surrounded by scandal and intense media attention. Fact and fiction are forever separated through reconstructions of their final hours using crucial medical evidence from the actual autopsies to explain how and why they died while interviews with friends and family shed light on the events that led to death—finally putting an end to the speculation."

Tomorrow night's potent presentation, as youse will read 'bout below features "world renowned forensic pathologist, Dr Michael Hunter" (pictured on the right) who decided  "to delve deep into Dean Martin’s records to discover whether there was, in fact, something else going on in Dean’s body that contributed to his eventual demise" besides what has been spoken of in the past.

Likes pallies, likes this sounds so so Dino-fascinatin' and will surely draw many more to learnin' 'bout and seekin' to grow in knowin', lovin', honorin' and bein' warmly welcomed into our Dino's world.  We only wishes that we had access to channel "REELZ" and hope that eventually this Dino-presentation will be shared with the wider Dino-world in some way.  

Below is the incredibly insightful introduction to this new Dino-programme for your Dino-edification and likes if youse clicks on the tag of this Dino-gram you will be sent off to the "REELZ" pad that this Dino-information was taken from.  With awesome anticipation, we express our greatest of great gratitude to Dr. Michael Hunter and all the pallies at "REELZ" for puttin' our Dino front in center in this newest tremendous tribute to our King of Cool.

btw pallies, likes when you clicks on the tag of this Dino-gram you will note a short vid on the right hand side that we tried to share without success that is a powerful promo for this new Diino-docu...checks it out dudes!

We Remain,

Yours In Dino,

Dino Martin Peters

Dean Martin

On Christmas Day 1995, Dean Martin, nicknamed the “King of Cool”, died at the age of 78, leaving behind a five decade legacy in music, movies, and television. Dean Martin started life in the limelight as a crooner in local bars and clubs, but quickly shot to international stardom as a singer, releasing over 30 albums, and even knocking The Beatles off the top spot in the charts with his hit rendition of “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometimes.” He started his acting character as one half of the comedy duo, “Martin and Lewis” with Jerry Lewis, but after 10 years he cut ties and decided to go it alone. He subsequently starred in more than 40 movies, from Westerns with John Wayne to Oceans 11 with Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Junior, with whom he would join forces in movies, on stage and television. The press dubbed them “The Rat Pack”. Dean went on to host his very own TV show, “The Dean Martin Show”, which earned him a Golden Globe award for Best Male Television Star. But 50 years in the limelight took its toll on this popular entertainer. He chain smoked his whole life and was a drinking man, even using alcohol as a prop for a convincing “drunky” stage persona. However, one tragic moment in 1987 would see Dean Martin’s life unravel. During the last 8 years of his life his alcohol intake spiralled out of control and he became dependent on opioid painkillers. He died at the age 78 of respiratory arrest. As a lifelong smoker he developed Emphysema and later, lung cancer. However, world renowned forensic pathologist, Dr Michael Hunter doesn’t think this is the whole story. He needs to delve deep into Dean Martin’s records to discover whether there was, in fact, something else going on in Dean’s body that contributed to his eventual demise.

 

 

When this movie first came out I thought it was a little corny..but, now I really enjoy watching it.

  Hey pallies, likes we're back once 'gain with more marvelous missages on our most beloved Dino as swingin' spyster Matt Helm in the lastest of the last Helmers, "The Wrecking Crew."  Likes today we retrun to Miss Dawn's beautifully blog tagged "Noir and Chick Flicks" where she has shared one of dem short but sweet radiant reviews of our Dino makin' the swingin' spyster scene with a bevy of beautiful babes includin' the loviest of the lovely Miss Sharon Tate.

We awesomely appreciates how Miss Dawn gives her touchin' testimony that "When this movie first came out I thought it was a little corny..but, now I really enjoy watching it.  Likes the finest of fine wine, our Dino as Matt Helm only gets cooler and cooler as the years go by.

Truly truly Dino-holics there is nothin' more purely pleasurable then viewin' our most beloved Dino playin' his coolest of cool, hippest of hip, randiest of randy Dino-self as Matt Helm and we loves the incredible image of our Dino and Miss Tate havin' a lovin' moment together on the grass and the vital vid near the end of "The Wrecking Crew" where our Dino and Miss Sharon fly a helicopter together and land on the train to fight off the baddies and save the world's fortunes.

Likes we continue to stand in absolute awe of the just how many bloggers are continuin' to coolly celebrate our one, our only Dino as Matt Helm and just how many more pallies are growin' in their Dino-devotion by sharin' in all the powerful pleasures of our Dino as Helm, Matt Helm.

Thanks once 'gain to Miss Dawn for doin' her part to spread some Dino-love at her blog.

To checks this out in it's original source, likes simply clicks on the tag of this Dino-gram.

We Remain,

Yours In Dino,

Dino Martin Peters

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

The Wrecking Crew(1968)

The Wrecking Crew (1968). Cast: Dean Martin, Elke Sommer and Sharon Tate. The fourth and final film in a series of comedy-spy-fi featuring Martin as secret agent Matt Helm. As with the first three movies (The Silencers, Murderers' Row and The Ambushers), the film is based on Donald Hamilton's 1960 novel of the same name.

The story is simular to the Bond novel/film, Goldfinger, Helm's assignment is to bring down the evil count who is trying to steal gold. Along the way, Helm is partnered with a British agent played by Sharon Tate an accident-prone spy. Chuck Norris makes his film debut in a small role. It was the first film in the series to not be written by comedy writer Herbert Baker but by former police reporter and crime novel author William P. McGivern. The Wrecking Crew, is best known for the performance of Sharon Tate, who performed her own stunts and martial arts scenes cheroeographed by Bruce Lee.

Please click here to learn more about Sharon Tate.

 

 Please click here to learn more about Elke Sommers.

When this movie first came out I thought it was a little corny..but, now I really enjoy watching it.

 

DINO, SUPERSPY

Hey pallies, likes today we're steppin' 'way from the "CMH" - "Classic Movie Hub" pad to sweetly share more Dino-devotion a la Helm that we uncovered at the Brit blog pad for "INFINITY" magazine..."the magazine beyond your imagination" where Mr. Allan Bryce (pictured on the left), who is an actor, author, and horror movie expert based in the UK,  has greatly gifted all of us Dino-holics with his his excellent energetic essay simply stated "DINO, SUPERSPY."

Likes Mr. Bryce bein' the remarkable renaissance, one would not expect anythin' less then perfecto prose from his potent pen, and might we say he has done a simply stunnin', remarkly randy review of the quartet of Dino as swingin' spyster Matt Helm big screen epics.  Likes there is simply so so much powerfully profound pleasure in Allan's coolly crafted comments on our most beloved Dino as Matt Helm.

Allow us to share a few choice comments from Bryce....

"Dino played him as a lecherous, chain-smoking, permanently pickled lounge lizard who gets more crumpet than Greggs."

"Dino’s Helm is so laid back that even if a nuclear bomb went of behind him he wouldn’t drop his martini glass."

"This permanently sozzled superspy also has a fully stocked bar in his wood paneled station wagon so that he can get tanked up as he drives."

"and again Dino is obviously just playing himself, making jokes about fellow rat-packer Frank Sinatra and knocking back whisky on the rocks as he drives."

While it is clear that Mr. Bryce is not as great a Dino-devotee as all us Dino-philes, we completely credit him with usin' his terrific talents to spread Dino-magic to all those who happen 'pon these Dino-reflections a la Helm.  We are always always appreciative of truly talented pallies who ubberly use their awesome abilities to spread the Dino-word far and wide.  ilovedinomartin expresses our deep deep Dino-delight to Mr. Allan Bryce who has perfectly proclaim "DINO,SUPERSPY!"       To checks this out in it's original source, likes simply clicks on the tag of these here Dino-remarks.

We Remain,

Yours In Dino,

Dino Martin Peters

DINO, SUPERSPY

By Allan Bryce -18th July 2017

Title:  The Matt Helm Collection (1966-1969)

Directed by:  Phil Karlson

Starring:  Dean Martin, Stella Stevens, Daliah Lavi

If Austin Powers had a favourite movie spy series it would have to be the Matt Helm movies made by Dean Martin in the 1960s. Matt was a hard-as-nails U.S. government counter-agent, hero of 27 books by Donald Hamilton. Dino played him as a lecherous, chain-smoking, permanently pickled lounge lizard who gets more crumpet than Greggs. Columbia Pictures originally planned at least five Matt Helm movies, starting with The Silencers (1966), where our hero is joined by sexy Stella Stevens on a booze-fuelled mission to prevent a baddie named The Big O (played by Batman villain Victor Buono) from creating a nuclear disaster.

Dino’s Helm is so laid back that even if a nuclear bomb went of behind him he wouldn’t drop his martini glass. He has a sexy secretary named Lovey Kravesit and a small harem of stunning ‘Slaymates’ ever ready to soap his back in his king-sized tub. He’s armed with a special gun that shoots backwards, a blade-firing camera and exploding buttons.

This permanently sozzled superspy also has a fully stocked bar in his wood paneled station wagon so that he can get tanked up as he drives. Hey, it was the 60s, get over it and have one for the road.

Martin was 50 years old when he made his first Matt Helm flick and while he manages to bed every sexy woman he meets he’s not so energetic in the action scenes, But there aren’t that many of them here anyway. The critics hated this movie but Dino had the last laugh, it made a fortune at the box office and he ended up with a bigger payday than Sean Connery got from playing James Bond in the same year’s Thunderball!

Martin was back as Helm the very same year in Murderers Row (1966). The film was supposed to have been released in 1967 but Columbia’s big Christmas release, Casino Royale, was mired in production problems so the Helm pic took its place as a Yuletide treat.

This second movie in the series saw our lackadaisical hero bedding sexy Ann-Margret and trying to stop her evil dad Karl Malden (who changes his accent in every scene) from melting Washington DC with his “helio-beam.” Dino didn’t exactly knock himself out making this one. He refused to travel for Europe to do any location filming, and therefore a good proportion of the movie involves the use of an unconvincing double!

Murderer’s Row took a tip from James Bond’s You Only Live Twice and opened with Dino supposedly being murdered in his bathtub, leading to an amusing scene where his countless girlfriends all turn up to his funeral in the same outfits. The fashions here are 60s kitsch at its craziest, and again Dino is obviously just playing himself, making jokes about fellow rat-packer Frank Sinatra and knocking back whisky on the rocks as he drives. The film features a bad musical number from the pop group ‘Dino, Desi & Billy’. One member is Dean Martin’s son, and we know this because he calls out “Hi Dad!”

The gadgets here include a gun with a delayed action, so that when a baddie uses it and it doesn’t go off they inevitably look down the barrel and… that’s their lot. Cunning.

The Ambushers came next in 1967, with more off-colour jokes, scantily-clad females and plenty of lovable sexism from Dino. Meeting one well-endowed female secret agent Helm comments: “When you say you’re a ‘38’ you ain’t just kidding.”

“It’s not a gun, Mr. Helm,” she replies. “It’s the new weapon they gave me, developed right here in our labs.”

“Developed pretty well, too!” says our man with a wink to camera.

The plot of this one had Dino traveling to Mexico to retrieve a flying saucer stolen by a rogue beer manufacturer! At one point the baddies try to kill Helm by chucking him into a huge vat of ale. How daft is that? The guy who has been thrown in with him glugs frantically that he can’t swim, and Dino coolly advises him: “Drink your way to the bottom.”

Amazingly The Ambushers made a big profit at the box office and so the Helm bandwagon rolled on with The Wrecking Crew (1969). This time our hard-drinking hero linked up with sexy Sharon Tate (a tragic victim of the Manson murders only a few months after this hit cinemas) to save the world’s economy from the meltdown that seems imminent when dastardly crime baron Nigel Green hijacks $1 billion in gold.

Chuck Norris turns up in a small role and Columbia hired Bruce Lee to train Sharon for her kung fu fight with sexy Nancy Kwan – the undoubted highlight of the film. Otherwise it’s all extremely lame, with very tacky production values – at one point Dino lands on a lawn and it bounces!

While The Wrecking Crew was utter rubbish it was not much worse than previous entries, and the only reason it became the final entry in the series was because Dean Martin himself decided to call it a day.

It is believed that he was so distraught over the murder of his Wrecking Crew co-star and friend Sharon Tate that he abandoned the next already-announced Matt Helm motion picture series installment (to be titled The Ravagers), and never played the character again, though there was a short-lived TV series in the 70s starring Anthony Franciosa in the part.

If you’re a fan of Dino himself or maybe just of really trashy 60s spy flicks with swinging chicks and groovy tunes then you’ll probably get a kick out of the Matt Helm movies despite their ineptitude. All four movies are available as a box set from Amazon. Pour yourself a large martini and enjoy.

 

"cigarette-smoking, Scotch-drinking ladies man played by Dean Martin."

Hey pallies, likes guess what Dino-holics, we're headin' back to "CMH" - "Classic Movie  Hub" for yet 'nother huge helpin' of purely potent deeply deep Dino-devotion a la Matt Helm this very Dino-day. Likes today we venture forth with a groovy glance at Helmer quatre, none other then "The Wrecking Crew."  Likes today we meet and greet with blogger "Rick 29" (pictured on the left) who holds forth at the "Classic Film & TV Cafe."

Like this Rick dude openly opines on the bountiful pleasures of "The Wrecking Crew" and youses guessed it Dino-philes we deeply digs it dudes!   Likes with yesterday's Dino-salute to "The Silencers," we delightfully discovered that we had shared Rick's reflections previously here at our humble little ilovedinomartin waterin' hole  HERE way back on January 17,  2014 in a Dino-gram we tagged ".....the cigarette-smoking, Scotch-drinking ladies man played by Dean Martin."

Today we have made the Dino-decision to simply repost our original Dino-adulation of Rick worthy words and they simply follow below.  'Nother note pallies is that we did a wee bit of Dino-searchin' at Rick's rag and we discovered he has shared a number of other Dino-reviews of our most beloved Dino's big screen efforts, so likes don't be surprised it we shares them in the not-to-Dino-future. And now to our ravin' reflections of Rick's wonderful words on our Dino in "The Wrecking Crew".....

Hey pallies, likes fewer and fewer Dino-'lerts are comin' up from our pallies at google, but likes every now and then a true Dino-treat does come up and today's Dino-post is one of 'em.  Today we takes all youse Dino-holics to a new-to-ilovedinomartin-pad tagged "Classic Film and TV Cafe," where Administrator Rick just shared  his wise words on Helmer numero quatre, "The Wrecking Crew."

Tagged, "Dean Martin Ogles the Ladies in 'The Wrecking Crew,'" likes we love how Rick tags this Dino-flick a "guilty pleasure" and further states, " Guilty pleasures don't get much guiltier than this fourth entry in Dean Martin's Matt Helm series."   Our newest Dino-devotee has scribed a remarkable review of said big screen Dino-effort and we knows you will enjoys readin' all of Rick's patter.

We here at ilovedinomartin are particually smitten with Rick's Dino-description of Helm, and we couldn't resist taggin' our post with it....."cigarette-smoking, Scotch-drinking ladies man played by Dean Martin."

And likes we knows that Rick is truly very very Dino-wise when he states, "......A follow-up, Murderers Row, appeared later that year. It's probably the best of the four films."  We simply couldn't 'gree with him more.

Well, likes 'nough said by us, simply enjoys readin' Mr. Rick's ruminatious review of the last of the spyster Matt Helm flicks.  We salute Mr. Rick of  "Classic Film and TV Cafe," for addin' to the Dino-devotion of his readership by sharin' this total total guilty Dino-pleasure with 'em.  To checks this out in it's original format, simply clicks on the tag of this here Dino-gram.  Always Dino, DMP

We Remain,

Yours In Dino,

Dino Martin Peters

Dean Martin Ogles the Ladies in "The Wrecking Crew"

I was in the mood for a guilty pleasure recently and up popped The Wrecking Crew (1968) on TCM. Guilty pleasures don't get much guiltier than this fourth entry in Dean Martin's Matt Helm series. With spy movies all the rage in the 1960s, Columbia tried to posture Helm as a poor man's James Bond, Well, sort of. The Helm pictures were actually spoofs--not clever ones like Our Man Flint--but broad tongue-in-cheek efforts. That approach suited Dean Martin, who appeared as the turtle-necked protagonist while still doing his weekly variety TV series on NBC.

The plot resembles Goldfinger with Matt's agency, Intelligence and Counter Espionage (ICE), sending the secret agent to recover $1 billion in stolen gold bullion. Villain Count Contini (Nigel Green) plans to flood the financial markets, thus devaluing the economies of Great Britain and the U.S. Throw in some chases, fisticuffs, and plenty of pulchritude and you have The Wrecking Crew.

Dean sniffs Sharon Tate.

It's a far cry from Donald Hamilton's 1960 novel, the second of 27 Matt Helm spy thrillers. Indeed, the only resemblance is that Helm's cover was as a photographer in both the book and film. Otherwise, Hamilton's tough-minded hero had little in common with the cigarette-smoking, Scotch-drinking ladies man played by Dean Martin.

Martin's film series kicked off in 1966 with The Silencers, which co-starred Stella Stevens as Matt's klutzy cohort (the poster proclaimed: "Girls, Gags & Gadgets! The best spy thriller of Nineteen Sexty-Sex!"). A follow-up, Murderers Row, appeared later that year. It's probably the best of the four films, simply on the basis of a cast featuring Ann-Margret and an over-the-top Karl Malden as the bad guy. Still, the formula was wearing thin by the time The Ambushers (with Senta Berger) was released a year later.

Elke Sommer's "come hither" look.

What redeems The Wrecking Crew is its cast. Tina Louise and Nancy Kwan have little to do other than look glamorous (or, in Kwan's case, also manage a few karate kicks). However, Elke Sommer and Sharon Tate are perfectly cast. Sommer's European sultriness poses a perfect counterpoint to Martin's lecherous looks. In addition, she has a grand time playing a villain and (spoiler alert!) "dies in perfect beauty" (as she described in her interview with the Cafe). In contrast, Tate mixes kooky charm with buckets of sex appeal as Matt's female sidekick. I'm not sure that Tate would have evolved into a major star, but she shows her potential as an appealing comedienne in The Wrecking Crew.

While the karate fights leave much to be desired, they were still choreographed by a young Bruce Lee (granted, he didn't have much to work with). Also, if you look closely at the henchmen in the House of 7 Joys fight, you may notice Chuck Norris (in his film debut).

Dean takes a look at Sharon.

Although the closing credits of The Wrecking Crew promise a fifth installment to be called The Ravagers, another Matt Helm film was never made. Weak boxoffice receipts doomed the franchise and Martin, tired of the series, wanted out. Sharon Tate's murder, which occurred just a year after The Wrecking Crew, also cast a shadow over the series.

Still, decades later, the spirit of Dean Martin's Matt Helm movies lives on. It's hard to watch Mike Myers in his Austin Powers spy spoofs without concluding that he's channeling a lot of Matt Helm.