The Princess of Cool

Hey pallies, this Dinoarticle just appeared at the official Branson web site Branson.com, and originally appeared in the mag 417 ( go to: http://www.417mag.com/417-Magazine/February-2008/The-Princess-of-Cool/ ) While this article features our Dino's girlpallie Deana, it certainly contains some great Dinoinformation and that is why I am sharin' it with you...and if you wanna read it in it's original format, just click on the tagg of this Dinopost. Loves to see more and more Dinopublicity meanin' that more and more pallies will comes to know, love, and follow our Dino.... Dinoinformatively, DMP

The Princess Of Cool
By Katie Pollock

Sometimes, if you are Deana Martin, people hold on to you, and they won’t let go. Women old enough to be your mother wrap their hands around your arm in a death grip, and they won’t release you until they’ve had their say. They want to tell you stories about the man who they fell in love with decades ago—your iconic father, Dean Martin. The man who you resemble. Maybe they won’t let go because they see him in your face.

But other times, if you are Deana Martin, the world reacts to you in a different way. Not with doting fandom, but with celebrity pampering. Photographers come into your home and pose you underneath pictures of your father. Restaurants make last-minute room for you, have food waiting on the table when you arrive and seat you beneath pictures of your father’s contemporaries: Andy Williams, Sammy Davis Jr., Mama Cass, Judy Garland. The people in charge of being in charge at Branson shows sneak you into a packed house (through the back door) and corral you backstage afterward to meet the star of the show… an aging “Moon River” singer you’ve known for decades. All on a whim. All last-minute.

Celebrity Daughter
Today, Deana Martin lives in Branson but travels with her husband, John Griffeth, singing the classic songs of her Rat Pack crooner father, Dean Martin, in front of big bands such as Les Brown Jr.’s crew at the Mickey Gilley Theatre. She plays those songs on her two radio shows and provides an outlet for Dean Martin fans who have stories to share. She’s a grandma to two little boys—Jagger and Hunter, the children of her son, Mickey Guerin, and his wife, Paola—all of whom she talks about with warm affection. And on top of all that, she’s planning a movie about her dad. “We’re trying to figure out who the heck could play Dean Martin,” she says. She thinks Johnny Depp could study Dean’s movements and pull it off. “He’s such a good actor, and he’s got the hairline,” she says.

Deana is 59 and a petite little woman: fit, smart, sweet and energetic with a bursting performer’s voice and wide, bright eyes. She’s a compact bundle of talent, wrapped in nostalgia and tied with a ribbon of tribute to her dad’s impressive life. But growing up the daughter of the legendary Dean Martin—like the growing up the daughter of anybody—had its ups and its downs.

In 2004, nine years after her father died, Deana wrote Memories are Made of This: Dean Martin Through His Daughter’s Eyes. It chronicles her life with touching honesty and the most insider of insider stories. It’s the book she wants to use as the base for that movie, and it’s not a tale of Hollywood glamour told through rose-colored glasses. “I wanted people to see that families can go through these things and survive,” she says. “These things” are families split and reunited, the twice-dealt-with effects of divorce, death and loss, an absent father, a mother who left. What’s apparent is that despite everything, there was never a shortage of love or fun. Families persevere.

In her book, Deana talks about the nomadic lifestyle she and her older siblings had with their mother, Betty MacDonald, especially after Dean cut off Betty’s alimony after an article in the now-defunct Confidential magazine said in no uncertain terms that Betty’s lifestyle dangerous for her kids. Deana writes that the story was overly cruel and sensationalized, but it resulted in a serious lack of money for the family, and they wound up moving from house to house and school to school. The family played cards together no matter what their situation. Even today, Deana has a card room in her home, right around the corner from a space that’s dedicated to her father’s and her music. His gold and platinum albums line one wall. Deana’s album sits on another. Photos of Dean and Marilyn Monroe share space with snapshots of the family playing poolside when Deana was just a girl. She seems to have gathered all the best in these spaces: the best pastimes, the best memories, the best examples of talent and accomplishment in a life that was peppered with a sort of poignant pain.

Keeping Notorious Company
When she was a little girl, Deana didn’t know her father very well. Soon after her birth, he left her mother to marry Jeanne Biegger. “In the very beginning when I wasn’t living with my father, it was strange,” she says. “I knew I was Deana Martin. I knew there was Dean Martin. And our dad wasn’t at our house. I remember the kids were saying, ‘Well, if you’re Dean Martin’s daughter, why are you going to this school?’ Kids can be cruel, and they didn’t understand.”

During her years with Betty, Deana and her sister, who were friends with Liza Minnelli, put on a play in the yard for Liza’s mom, Judy Garland. Deana says she played a tree, and after the performance, Judy told her, “You were the best tree I ever saw.” For the aspiring actress Deana was, hearing those words was a proud moment.

When Betty would throw big parties any night of the week, Deana and her older siblings would be right there with the partiers amid company that would make the most world-weary swoon with star-struck awe. Her mom sometimes woke the kids up and loaded them into limos to shuttle off to the beach and catch spawning grunion fish under the moonlight. Deana says she cherishes these moments of spontaneous adventure with her mom before they went to live with Dean. She was 9 when she and her two older sisters were dropped off to stay for good at his home with Jeanne and their three children.

“When we moved into the house with Dad and started going to Beverly Hills Catholic School, there were a lot of celebrities’ children going there, and everybody was on equal footing: Ricardo Montalban’s daughter, Danny Thomas’s son, George Montgomery and Dinah Shore’s kids,” Deana says. “It was a level playing field. But we knew our parents were special. We really did because everyone was talking about it, and they were cool. Dad was the coolest guy ever. I remember meeting Elvis Presley at Paramount Studios. He came riding up on his bicycle. That’s how they would ride around at the studio. And Dad introduced me to him, and Elvis said to me, ‘You know they call me the King of Rock ’n’ Roll, but your dad’s the King of Cool.’”

Deana has a lot of treasured memories of interactions with celebrities who appeared throughout her life. She can drop names like bombs on a conversation. There were the people who came to her stepmother’s Christmas parties: Elton John and Gregory Peck. Boom! Boom! There was Rosemary Clooney, who sang “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” with Deana one year. Boom! There were Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Jerry Lewis. Boom! Boom! Boom! She even referred to Sinatra as “Uncle Frank.” He was her favorite, a man who would talk and listen, who was concerned and comforting. Deana says being surrounded by Hollywood stars never seemed odd to her; she had not known anything else, so how could it be unusual?

But at one point in Deana’s life, the Hollyood-bright circles in which she ran intercepted a darker one, and she encountered a more sinister sort of celebrity. Charles Manson and Deana met at a house party before he gained notoriety as the creepily charismatic leader of the murderous Manson Family. Back then, he was an aspiring musician, writing songs and courting a deal with Terry Melcher, an Apple Records producer whom Deana was dating. In her book, she writes that Manson played guitar at the party while she and a group of friends watched. She didn’t know Manson, but he recognized her. Giving her a silver ring off his own finger, he asked, “You’re Dean Martin’s daughter, aren’t you?” The story at its most chilling is best read from the pages of her book, but by the time the ordeal ended, Deana had learned that her brother, Dean Paul, was on the Manson Family’s hit list, and Deana might have been there as well. The police didn’t comment when she asked. She writes: “While Manson had given me the creeps, I’d never for one minute suspected that he could be guilty of such a heinous crime. It shook me to the core, to think that I could have been one of his targets.” The first of the Manson Family murders took place at the home where Deana had initially encountered Manson.

Deana For a Reason
In the couple’s basement studio, surrounded by big computer monitors and giant microphones, Deana and her husband, John, settle in under headphones. John puts on Deana’s recording of “Silver Bells.” He cranks up the volume to shout-over level. His tall, lanky frame stands in the middle of the studio bopping to the beat with his pointed forefingers tapping the air in front of his handsome, white-haired head while he listens to his wife singing through the speakers. “Is this the hottest Christmas song you’ve ever heard?” John asks, raising his voice to hit listening ears over the music. “I’m cool, John,” Deana yells back, with a laugh. “I’m the Princess of Cool.”

In 2006, Deana put out an album (produced by John) titled Memories are Made of This with bright, lively, jazzy covers of her dad’s music and that of other singers from his era. Five of the songs spent 40 weeks on iTunes top 10 lists. The album tour took her all over the world, including to perform in front of an audience of 12,000-plus on the royal polo field in Dubai. The album features “Time After Time,” a duet with Jerry Lewis that was performed on his MDA telethon. But Deana’s history with the fundraising comedian dates back decades, to when Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis were the exceedingly popular 1950s comedy duo, Martin and Lewis. While Dean would play the suave and cool crooner on stage, Jerry would be the bumbling waiter interrupting his shows. The club act blossomed into a 10-year partnership and 17 movies, but it all ended in a famously bad way, ending the duo’s friendship. Deana explains it diplomatically: They both got famous and wanted things to go their way.

Deana says she knew when she was writing her book that the story of her dad wouldn’t be complete without Jerry’s take on everything. He agreed to meet her at his yacht. She says: “I’m walking down onto the pier, and there are all the boats, and all of a sudden I hear, ‘Lady!’ I looked, and I really didn’t recognize him, but I knew it was Jerry because of the voice. He put his arms around me, and he put his hands on my face, and he said, ‘Oh, I see my partner.’ And he started to cry, and I started to cry. And we talked for hours and hours.” That day, the pair decided to sing a duet: Martin and Lewis together again, Deana says.

It was one encounter of hundreds that Deana sought out in trying to piece together her and her father’s lives. She says that the years of research were therapeutic; they helped her come to terms with the death of her father. The book has sold more than 100,000 copies. John brings up the movie plans, and (like Deana) he asks, “Who should play Dean?” He tosses out a vote of confidence for George Clooney.

“I know that this is what I was meant to do,” Deana says of her schedule packed with projects and tours. “I’m sure that’s why I was named Deana Martin.” Her name was lifelong foreshadowing of what she says she is called to do: Keep Dean Martin’s legacy alive.

He died very early on Christmas day in 1995. In his honor, the lights on the Las Vegas Strip were shut off; he’d performed there for more than 30 years. It was a gesture that’s not done for just anybody, and Dean Martin wasn’t just anybody. It wasn’t long after his death that Deana says she realized the extent of the impact he’d had on so many people. She began to hear stories from fans about chance encounters with him that put a stamp on their memories forever. She tells of one man whose child was asking for change to play games. A man’s hand filled with coins reached out, and the man told the child to take as much as she wanted. Later, the little girl asked her father if he knew that man, if he was a friend. The father responded, “That’s Dean Martin. He’s everyone’s friend.”

Today, Deana and John have a segment on their morning radio show where they ask fans to send in their favorite Rat Pack memories. The have a 1,000-page document filled with letters from fans who have stories to share about Dean Martin, something they both find gratifying. “He was real, down to earth,” Deana says. “He had a very special charm and charisma. Men wanted to be like him, and women wanted to be with him.” One thing Dean particularly liked to do, Deana says, was go to a Las Vegas blackjack table and covertly take the dealer’s place. When he was dealing, the women never busted, and back then the casinos let him do it because the guests got such a kick out of it. It brought in business. Deana and John have gotten a letter from a woman who played at one of those blackjack tables. She says she looked up, and there was Dean Martin. Fans have sent pictures of Dean and Deana that they had shot while the father-daughter pair passed by on the street when she was just a kid. It’s not strange to her. “A long time ago, I realized I was Dean Martin’s daughter, but he was everyone’s Dean Martin, and I had to share him,” Deana says.

Fatherly Instincts
“Dad always told me, ‘Wear turtlenecks and long sleeves,’” Deana says. It’s the age-old keep-it-to-the-imagination lesson handed down from doting dads to teenage girls who have reached the age when other, younger men begin doting as well. When Deana was a freshman in high school and about to go on a date with senior Michael Nader (who would later star in Dynasty), she asked her dad not to embarrass her. “The next night, Michael comes over,” Deana says. “We are having our Cokes, and Michael is very nervous because it’s Dean Martin, for heaven’s sake. And all of a sudden I look up, and there’s Dad standing on the stairs in the doorway in his pajamas. And he walks towards us down the stairs and over to Michael, and he says, ‘I’m Deana’s dad.’ So then Dad comes over and kisses me on the cheek. He walks down behind the bar, pours a beer. Then he says, ‘Well, good night, Deana,’ and he walks back up. And then we see that he had an entire roll of toilet paper stuck to him, and there’s a trail of toilet paper coming all the way down the stairs and around, and he never stopped. He just went back up to his room.”

Sometimes his humorous shows of fatherly authority were done on the sly. Deana says her father was charming, but he only liked the interaction in small doses. Shirley McLaine once put it this way, Deana says: “Dean is nice to everyone. He just doesn’t want nice to go on too long.” When he’d had enough socializing, she says, he’d duck off to bed. Once, when Deana was a teenager, she had a big birthday party at the family home. There was a band (Buffalo Springfield), there was a pool, and “everybody who was anybody was there,” she says. But when Dean Martin was ready to go to bed at about 11 p.m., he decided it was time for the party to quiet down, too. Deana says he called the Beverly Hills police department to report that those Martins were making too much noise. Before she knew it, the police showed up, and the party was over.

For all the reputation that the Rat Pack may have had for being men about town, Deana says her father was a homebody. He would come back from a day of golf and cozy up in front of the TV with his daily butter-and-Wonder-Bread sandwich. He’d join the whole family around the dinner table or to play Scrabble. He’d splash in the pool, where Deana says he could pull off a perfectly gorgeous swan dive. It was a fairly normal home life. But Deana talks about the times he spent on the road, when there wasn’t a dad at home. Her affection for him (and his for his kids) is obvious, but Deana will openly say that although Dean Martin was a very good man, he was not a very good father. “I would have liked more of his time,” she says. “He didn’t have time to be able to do that, but he was a great provider.” It’s something she is comfortable with, it seems, as if she understands the choice he made to have a life of fame and life of family. Balancing it all must have been a very precarious act.

Dinosparklin' Fireworks

Hey pallies, it's a Christmas song, but like our Dino is so so sparkly and enjoys the fireworks at the end of the Dinotune. And, likes be sure to celebrate your freedom in Dino.... Dinofreely, DMP

Dean Martin Dinocalendar Dinopix for July

Hey pallies, like was almost totally Dinolate for the Dinodate of postin' the June Dinocalendar Dinopix...so whens pallie Carol posted this very hot Dinopix over at my myspace Dinocomments...just know that our Dino was inspirin' me to share this as the July Dinocalendar Dinopix.....any pallies know any Dinohistory 'bout this Dinopix? Enjoys pallies, and like keep those cards, and letters, and Dinomessages comin' Dinoawed, DMP

Dean Martin Celebrity Roast With Frank Sinatra

Hey pallies, like what a Dinofind this is....the full length Dinoroast of frankie by our Dino....from 'Vega...just click on the tagg of this Dinopost and you will be transported to the site to view this coolest of the cool Dinoroasts.. Dinodiggin', DMP


Dean Martin Celebrity Roast With Frank Sinatra June 28th, 2008

From a Vegas that no longer exists, this is the real Ocean’s Eleven. Or more accurately, this is the authentic but worn Ocean’s Eleven, made in 1977, the celebrity roast was the last gasp of the Dean Martin show, as the Rat Pack lifestyle excess begins to take its toll. Nevertheless, its an iconic piece of American television. An unbelievable array of celebs attend and a smoking Dean Martin hosts - as in actually smoking.

98 mins.

Dean Martin Dinocalendar Dinopix for June

Hey pallies, it's true Dinoconfession time dudes...likes got so busy with so many Dinoactivities in June includin' celebratin' "The Day That Coolness Came To Earth," that I just 'bout forget to Dinopick and Dinopost the Dinocalendar Dinopix for June....wells pallies, we all knows how much our Dino diggs BB, so thought this cool pix of our Dino in uniform woulda be so Dinoappro for the startin' the Dinosummer Dinomonths out...enjoys pallies, and woulds love to hear some Dinopatter from ya... Dinogroovin', DMP

My Dino Myspace Page...Dino Martin Peters..aka Kentsmokerguy

Hey pallies, like after postin' pallie Keith's myspace Dinosite, been thinkin' that I have never shared my Dinospace with you over at myspace...just click on the tagg of this Dinopost and you will see my Dinotrib to our Dino...btw pallies, the tagg Kentsmokerguy comes from the fact that Dino made Kents his smoke of choice. If you are on myspace and not pallies with me yet, please feel free to add me.... Dinosharin', DMP

The Dino Lounge

Hey pallies, for regular readers of this Dinoblog you are familiar with my Dinobro Keith who has been so Dinofaithful to post Dinocomments on every Dinopost. Well pallie Keith has decided to share his true Dinodevotion through a new Dinotrib Dinopage over at myspace. Like if you click on the tagg of this Dinopost you will be transported over to pallie Keith's new Dinosalute...and if my Dino-opportunity you just happens to be on myspace why not add 'em to your friends list. Congrats to pallie Keith for spreadin' his Dinowings and share his Dinopassion ever Dinofarther and Dinowider...and like pallies, be on the Dinolook out for pallie Keith's soon to be unveiled Dinoblog. Yours in true Dinodevotion, DMP

"Money From Home" Arrives July 1

Hey pallies, great Dinonews...the Dino and the jer flick "Money From Home" releases on July 1 in DVD. This means that "Three Ring Circus" is the only Dino and the kid flick not in current release. And here's a Dinodescription of this classic Martin and Lewis caper...

A hilarious laugh-a-minute comedy starring the legendary comedy team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. When Honey Talk Nelson's (Dean Martin) gambling debts start to mount, he enlists his veterinarian cousin Virgil (Jerry Lewis) to help him fix a race. Along the way, the boys find plenty of time for gags, music and for Honey Talk, a romance with the gorgeous Phyllis (Marjie Millar). Features their now classic take on Cyrano de Bergerac!

Gotta loves our Dino and the kid.... Dinoreportin', DMP

Dean Martin "An American Buddha" Characteristic Number 6: Unsurpassed Leader Of Those To Be Tamed

Hey pallies, here is the next installment in the Dinoconversation 'bout how our Dino is like "An American Buddha." Woulda loves to hear your pallies responses to this Dinoconcept. Dinosharin', DMP



dean martin peters wrote:
Hey pallie Keith, man I think this is your greatest piece of Dinoprose yet...indeed you were born to be a writer. Thanks for all these great Dinoinsights into how Dino was a true "knower of the world." I can only say that I like totally concur with your Dinothoughts. Dino used his worldly knowledge, but the world never used him. Dino's total success was because Dino knew exactly how the world opperated and he used that knowledge to create his persona...a persona that neither men or women could resist. It was who Dino truly was, but he used it to draw the masses to him and his amazin' TV show. I'm sure that few folks durin' the days of the original Dinoshow realized what our Dino was do......bein' the wise mentor to the world 'round him.....but we with the advantage of three decades behind us, can now watch and see what Dino was really 'bout......startin' a revolution of cool that simply in gainin' momentum every single Dinoday. So, yeah Dino both knew himself and the world....and this was a most powerful combination to take on the world and become it's King.....the King of Cool. And now on to Buddha characteristic #6 Unsurpassed leader of those to be tamed. First of all pallie Keith, thanks for your enlighted term for me......grasshopper .....'cause next to our Dino, I am a grasshopper at best. Again, I am in awe how this characteristic of the buddha is so Dinolike.... ...Nick Tosches was really on to somethin' when he called our Dino...like "an American Buddha." Well, it goes without sayin' that our Dino is the "unsurpassed leader" of everyone and everything. Never was, never will be anyone as cool, hip, and randy as our Dino....he is our "unsurpassed leader".....there is no one like Dino and he is our wise philosopher and leads us all into the Dinotruth of how to live our lives to the fullest!!!! There is no one greater to follow then Dino....he is indeed "unsurpassed" in his "leadership. " And where will Dino lead us....to HIS WORLD. And as the wisest of the wise leaders, Dino doesn't push or shove us, he simply invites us to join him.....now that is what true leadership is all about. Dino doesn't strong arm us into comin' to him, he coolly invites us and shows us the way to livin' the cool life. In this day of usin' fear to motivate people to follow our leaders, it is so totally refreshin' to study and follow our Dino's leadership 'cause it is all 'bout Amore!!!! And our Dino's "unsurpassed leadership" is "of those to be tamed." Like what does bein' tamed mean? I believe it applies to those who unknowledeable 'bout the true way to follow. Until our Dino found us, we were like wanderin' fools, not knowin' which way to go.....listenin' to this person....doin' what that person wanted us to do." We were truly without direction... ..wild in wilderness and simply lost. But, our Dino came to us, and offered us the direction of cool....and as we submitted to the Dinoway, our Dino loved us and tamed us into followin' him. Without Dino we were wanderin' idiots....with Dino we have found the way to livin' the life of cool. Dino is truly unsurpassed, Dino is truly the leader, and we are truly in need of bein' tamed by our Dino. Dino is the "unsurpassed leader of those needing to be tamed." I hope this few Dinothoughts make at least a little Dinosense to my pallie Keith. And, now like I as so lookin' forward to more of your Dinoinsights concernin' this Buddha trait. Dinoexpectantly, DMP

Keith wrote:
Hey pallie DMP, I always remember martial arts masters referring to their students as grasshoppers in those old Kung Fu movies. Glad you liked it. Dino is our master, our teacher, our mentor. Dino is the unsurpassed leader. No one has ever been as great as Dino. He's the Master of Hip, the King of Cool, and the Ruler of Randy. No one can even compare to him in any of those categories. He's the greatest all around entertainer ever. Dino didn't follow anyone. He was his own man, but Dino does have followers. Because he is unsurpassed, others look up to Dino for guidance and wisdom He shows us how to enjoy life and get the most out of it. There is no one better to do that than Dino. He has more wisdom in his pinky finger than other cats have in their whole bodies. He is the true leader. He doesn't have to grab your arm, point a gun at you, or threaten you in any sort of way. We willingly want to follow Dino. He doesn't have to use fear tactics to get followers like so many other leaders throughout history. We all want to follow Dino of our own free will because we recognize that he is unsurpassed. We are like little children who need someone to nurture us and teach us. Dino is that person. We are like a wild horse who needs to be tamed and trained. Dino is there with his hand outstretched. He wants to welcome us into his world. He's show us what it means to be cool, hip, and randy. He is the only true, the only unsurpassed one, who can truly tame us and teach us what it means to live live to the fullest. Thank God for Dino. This world needs Dino now more than ever.
I hope that makes some sense to you.
Now on to #7: teacher of the gods and humans
Your insights?
Keep Dinoswingin,
Keith

Dean Martin "An American Buddha" Principle Number 5: Knower Of The World

Hey pallies, here is the fifth characteristic of how our Dino is like an American Buddha...check out my Dinobro Keith and my Dinothoughts and share some of your very Dino-own... Dinosharin', DMP



dean martin peters wrote:
Hey pallie Keith, I am not sure of this is what "well gone" means....but we have both spoken Dinotruth 'bout how Dino took charge of his life and did it his way....leavin' when he said so and not on somebody else's terms. If I get the opportunity I may try to study this Buddist principle more and see if it resonates with our Dinothoughts. The next Buddha principle is like so much like our Dino....."knower of the world." Who knew himself and the world better then our Dino. Dino knew what made the world tick....Dino knew what would turn people on....both the guys and the gals who craved him so...just like we do. Dino knew how to use the pleasures of the world and not let the pleasures use him. I believe that it was Deana who was quoted as sayin' "Dino used alcohol, alcohol didn't use him." Because our Dino is such an insightful knower of the world, it is our desire to follow his Dinoleadin' as he welcomes us to his Dinoworld. The great success of the Dinoshow was 'cause our Dino knew what would turn people on and keep them watchin'. Our Dino is the wisest of philosophers 'cause of his total worldly knowledge. Wanna say more 'bout this, but the clock says I must Dinogo. So, pallie Keith, want to hear your Dinoinsights into this buddha characteristic and then will add some more of my own as Dinotime Dinopermits. Dinoentranced by Dino's worldly ways, DMP

Keith wrote:
Hey pallie DMP,

Oh yeah. Dino was definitely a "knower of the world." He understand the world better than any of us. He knew himself better first of all. He understood who he was deep down and what he wanted out of life. He wasn't living in a delusion and living the expectations of others. He was confident in himself and had the cojones to go out and get it. He was a man who got out of life what he wanted. He knew what kind of man he was. He didn't need to have anyone else tell him who he was or who he should be. He made up his own man. He knew he was the Master of Hip, the King of Cool, and the Ruler of Randy. He didn't need anyone else to tell him that. He knew without a shadow of a doubt who he was. That made him so much better. So many of us are lost and empty. We don't know who we really are or who we want to be. We live out the dreams and goals of others. So many times we never live our lives fo ourselves. We ask those eternal questions of who am I, where did I come from, where am I going. Dino knew the answers to those questions. He didn't have to seek out the answers. That made him all the more special. Then Dino knew how the world worked. He saw the way people did each other. He understood that the society tried to keep people in line, keep them part of the herd and as mindless sheep. Dino was not going to have any of that. He wasn't going to live a stressful and hectic life on the daily grind. He wasn't going to punch some time card. He was going to be about booze, butts, and broads. That's the life he wanted to live and he would be damned if he let anyone stop him from living it. He didn't care what the critics said, he didn't care for what society considered taboos. He knew himself and he knew the world. He wanted to share all of this with the masses. He wanted people to see what a fun life could be. Life should be an adventure full of pleasure, instead of some miserable bore we co through day end and day out. The Dinoshow especially was Dino's way of teaching us. He was a knower of the world and this wise philospher wanted to share that knowledge with the people. People were glued to their tv sets. For almost a decade, Dino was there every week to share his wisdom with anyone willing to learn the ways of Dino. He had so much knowledge to share with us. He showed us how to woo a lady, how to smoke a cig, how to croon a song, how to crack a joke, how to dress, etc. Dino was the true knower of the world. No one else surpassed him on this. Nobody even came close. So what do you think?

I guess we can also move on to the next Buddhist characteristic:

6. unsurpassed leader of persons to be tamed

Your thoughts, grasshopper? :-)

Keep Dinoswingin
Keith

10th Annual Dean Martin Festival Dinovid From Steubenville

Hey pallies, last weekend was the annual Dinofest in Dinomecca. Here is a cool Dinovid done durin' the 10th annual Dinocelebration in Steubenville....birthplace of our Dino...enjoys pallies and like check out how truly Dinodevoted our great man's fans truly are.... Dinosharin', DMP

Everybody Loves Our Dino

Hey pallies, a dude tagged Don posted this Dinoclip at his blog to honor our Dino on his DOB...unfortunately he thoughts it was June 17...so like have to make the Dinocorrection..but this Dinoclip is just so Dinowonderful, in fact our pallie Terri thinks it is like one of the very Dinobest, so just had to post it here for all you Dinoholics to Dinodig....our Dino's most huge Dinosuccess of a Dinosong with some of the very Dinobest Dinojokes our Dino ever cracked....enjoys all Dinolovers and shares your Dinothoughts with us.... Dinodiggin', DMP

Dean Martin "An American Buddha" Characteristic Number 4: Well Gone

Hey pallies, like here is some Dinodiscussion on Buddha characteristic numero 4....and like pallies, leave some Dinopatter on your Dinothoughts of how our Dino is Well Gone.. Dinosharin', DMP


dean martin peters wrote:
Hey pallie Keith, dude we seem to have much the same Dinothoughts when it comes to our Dino "staying in perfect knowledge".. .indeed if there ever was a dude who truly "knew himself' it is our Dino and he always stayed in the perfect knowledge of himself and what he wanted out of life....and like what our Dino wanted, he always could make happen his Dinoself. Now, the next characteristic of the buddha is prob the most difficult to comprehend.. .#4 is well gone. I think this may mean somethin' like how do you make good endin's in your life. Well if that be the Dinocase, again our Dino is like the greatest model of this. When Dino decided that it would not be in his best interest in keepin' the Dino and jer act goin' it was Dino who said his goodbye to the jer, not the other way 'round. When Dino decided that it would not be a good idea to do a 5th Matt Helm caper, it was our Dino who told Columbia studios no....even though they threatened a law suit....Dino was well gone from the Matt Helm series. When Dino had enough of the Jeanne, it was Dino who filed for divorce....and on what day of all days.....Valentine' s Day....it was Dino who made the decision and on his terms sayin'...."I know it is the gentlemanly thing to do to let the woman file, but I'm no gentleman. When the studio cut loose Miss Marilyn Monroe when they were havin' such probs with her in "Something's Gotta Give," it was our Dino who said he would not complete the picture with 'nother actress..... and the picture was scrapped. Dino did it his way, bein' loyal to Miss Marilyn..... just 'nother example of how our Dino was well gone in his actions of endin' things on his Dinoterms. And after a couple of years with wife #3, Cathy with the candified K, it again was our Dino who cut loose of her, not Cathy leavin' our Dino....'nother sign of how Dino lived a life of bein' "well gone." And the Dinoexamples could be told over and over again......like who called the shots on the Dinoshow.... NBC.....NEVER. ...it was our Dino who did the show only on his Dinoterms. Just 'nother Dinoexample of how the King of Cool lived his life only on his terms and was "well gone" in his Dinoprinciples. Pallie Keith, perhaps I may be Dino-all-wet in what how I think that Dino was "well gone." Please feel Dinofree to Dinoinstruct me in your Dinotruth. Dinowonderin' , DMP

Keith wrote:
Hey pallie DMP,

Dino knew himself. He didn't have doubts about himself. He was confident in who he was and what he was about. He didn't need a mentor to lead him down the right path. He knew it from the beginning. He always knew he was the Master of Hip, the King of Cool, and the Ruler of Randy. The rest of the world just had to discover that. Once they did, they all feel down on their knees in admiration and devotion of our Dino. He took them by the hand, raised them up, and offered them a drink and a smoke.

The "well gone" concept was a little confusing to me. I appreciate your insights. I think they opened up my mind to what this is all about. Dino was the one who offered the Jer part of his $50 to join his act. He wasn't asked to join, but offered the Jer to be a part of an act with him. Then when he realized that it wasn't working anymore because of the Jer's jealousy and dictatorship attitude, he was the one who said goodbye. It wasn't the Jer. It was Dino. Dino had had enough and moved on. It's the same with Jeanne. Dino and her lived seperate lives for so many years. They lived in the same house, but had different bedrooms. It wasn't Jeanne though who decided when it was over. It was Dino. He had had enough and was ready to move on. He had spent enough time with Jeanne and realized that they had different ideas of how to live life. He moved on and got his own pad. It was the same way with his third wife. She didn't leave him. Dino was tired of it and moved on. It was Dino who left the last tour with Sammy and Frankie. Frankie was getting on his nerves with his demands. Dino didn't want to be on the road anymore. He missed his boypallie Dino Jr. His heart wasn't into performing anymore. The swingin' Rat Pack days were behind him. It wasn't Frank who said goodbye. Dino had enough and was ready to go home. There are many cases of Dino doing this. When he had enough, he was "well gone." Dino didn't do what others told him. He made his own decisions. He didn't follow the crowd or society. He wasn't one of the mindless sheep in the herd. He was his own man. If he didn't like something or had enough of it, he packed his bags and was "well gone."

What do you think of that?

Now on to the next characteristic:

5. unsurpassed knower of the world

Keep Dinoswingin' ,
Keith

Dean Martin "An American Buddha" Characteristic Number 3: Staying In Perfect Knowledge

Hey pallies, been quite a Dinofew since I posted Dinocharacteristic #2 how our Dino is an American Buddha....now is numero 3...staying in perfect knowledge....

dean martin peters wrote:
Hey pallie Keith, you are quite Dinoenlightened by your great Dino-observation on how our Dino is perfectly self-enlightened. Many great Dinothoughts here....but of particular Dinonote is that "Dino didn't have to have a mentor." Why Dino is like the buddha and we are not is 'cause Dino didn't need a teacher, but he has become our teacher. We try to listen to his amazin' Dinowisdom and perfect Dinoinsights to follow in his Dinopath. Let's move on to the 3rd Characteristic of the Buddha...... stays in perfect knowledge. Well pallie Keith, like who among us has lived as consistent of a life of cool, hip, and randy as our Dino. One thing for sure when listenin' to and watchin' or Dino is his amazin' ablity to be consistently cool at all times and all situations. Dino stayed cool in everything he did....from playin' golf....to recordin' a tune.....to smokin' his smoke. 'Cause of Dino has perfect knowledge of himself at all times and who he was....Dino effortlessly was always his own man. Because of his amazin' ability to "stay in perfect knowledge" we can always, always turn to him for the coolest direction in livin' life to the fullest. Dino is such a steady kind of guy in the coolest sort of way....and why can he do this....'cause he more then any other human who has ever walked the earth.....truly knows himself perfectly. And, I think that is the source of his Dinoselflove. And, now your Dinoinsights great pallie Keith? Dinoexpoundini, DMP

Hey pallie DMP,

Exactly. Dino didn't didn't need a mentor or a teacher. He knew this in his very heart and soul. It was in every fiber of his being. We do though. That's why it's important we listen to the wise words that come from the mouth of our Dino, the wisest philosopher there ever was.

Ok. Here goes about the 3rd Buddhist characteristic of staying in perfect knowledge. Yes, Dino lived a consistent life. He was always cool, hip, and randy. He was that even under pressure. Dino didn't get all steamed up and loose his cool. Dino was able to let things roll right off of him and still be the carefree spirit he was. He was always the Master of Hip, the King of Cool, no matter what it was he did. It didn't matter if it was recording a song, performing his stage act, makin' a movie, wooing the ladies, playin' golft, etc. Dino was always so cool whatever he did. He made it look so easy. That's because he had perfect knowledge. He knew who he was and what he was about. He didn't have doubts. He knew that he was Dino. He could do anything he wanted. He had that self confidence and self esteem to go out and make his dreams come true. He understand himself perfectly. That helped him achieve all these great wonders. Now he wants to share that with us. He wants to share those miracles with us.

Keep Dinoswingin,
Keith

dean martin peters wrote:
Hey pallie Keith, you are quite Dinoenlightened by your great Dino-observation on how our Dino is perfectly self-enlightened. Many great Dinothoughts here....but of particular Dinonote is that "Dino didn't have to have a mentor." Why Dino is like the buddha and we are not is 'cause Dino didn't need a teacher, but he has become our teacher. We try to listen to his amazin' Dinowisdom and perfect Dinoinsights to follow in his Dinopath. Let's move on to the 3rd Characteristic of the Buddha...... stays in perfect knowledge. Well pallie Keith, like who among us has lived as consistent of a life of cool, hip, and randy as our Dino. One thing for sure when listenin' to and watchin' or Dino is his amazin' ablity to be consistently cool at all times and all situations. Dino stayed cool in everything he did....from playin' golf....to recordin' a tune.....to smokin' his smoke. 'Cause of Dino has perfect knowledge of himself at all times and who he was....Dino effortlessly was always his own man. Because of his amazin' ability to "stay in perfect knowledge" we can always, always turn to him for the coolest direction in livin' life to the fullest. Dino is such a steady kind of guy in the coolest sort of way....and why can he do this....'cause he more then any other human who has ever walked the earth.....truly knows himself perfectly. And, I think that is the source of his Dinoselflove. And, now your Dinoinsights great pallie Keith? Dinoexpoundini, DMP

Happy Birthday To Dino!!!

Hey pallies, here we are at "The Day That Coolness Came To Earth." Our great pallie Keith did a cool Dinopost at his myspace blog in honor of our Dino includin' this cool Dinotrib Dinovid featurin' "Welcome To My World." The only world that true Dinoholic wish to live in is our Dino's... So enjoys this Dinovid and if you wanna read pallie Keith's great Dinotrib, just click on the tag of this Dinopost...

Is It True? Was There Truly Such A Person As Dean Martin?

Hey pallies, I loves the evocative Dinoquestion that this piece of Dinoprose speaks..."Is It True? Was There Truly Such A Person As Dean Martin?" While I have a few differences with the writer of this, I find that in most ways I loves how this dude expresses his Dinolove....loves to hear your Dinothoughts on this. If you wanna read the Dinopost in it's original Dinoform just click on the tag of this Dinopost....


Dino: Living High in the Dirty Business of Dreams
This is the ultimate biography of Dean Martin, the sleepy-voiced pop crooner and movie star who was actually one of the outstanding all-around entertainers of the century, and the personification of the complete entertainer that Sinatra could only aspire to be. Though remembered for starring with Jerry Lewis to form one of the most popular comedy teams in movie history, and viewed as a Vegas parody by the younger generation, Dean Martin was, in his extended heyday, the ONLY entertainer to succeed in all four major areas of show business: records, movies, television and the concert stage. Bob Hope and Danny Kaye are not huge record-sellers. Crosby and Sinatra never made it on television (not counting Specials). Dinah Shore, Nat Cole, Perry Cozmo, Andy Williams, Tony Bennett, and Michael Jackson, among many others, never made it in the movies. The only man to do it all is Dean Martin: 55 motion pictures, some of them very good; nearly 80 long-playing record albums, many of them Gold Records; the most popular TV variety show of all time, which turned Thursday night at 10 pm into a sacred hour for millions across the country; and a long night club and Las Vegas concert career. As a crooner who sang to the men in his audiences so they would not be jealous of their women swooning over him, he nevertheless appealed to both men and women and had an uncanny knack of drawing the audience into his own world, which is what popular singing is all about. And, as a two-decade box office powerhouse under two separate persons, Martin was, said former partner Lewis, "the most underrated performer in the history of our business." Furthermore, it was Dean Martin who first did what no one else could do at the time ¨C knock the Beatles out of the top spot on the pop charts. He had been Elvis Presley¡¯s first major singing idol, the young King of Rock and Roll gluing in to the finger-snapping swing and wink of the eye with which Dean sang, and whose ballad hits like Love Me Tender copied Martin's bedroom-voiced diction; yet when Everybody Loves Somebody hit No. 1 in 1964, Dean sent Elvis a telegram: "If you can't handle the Beatles, I can." But, on the flip side, he was not a wonderful human being. This is a fascinating portrait of a man who had it all ¨C money, fame, women ¨C and didn't give a damn about any of it. Even as he wallowed in the excesses of Hollywood and the Rat Pack, Martin stayed critically aloof from that world, albeit often in a booze-and-pill- addled haze. He got into showbiz precisely because it required so little effort, and few could impress him outside of his early singing idols, Bing Crosby and, most importantly, the Mills Brothers. While Frank Sinatra would do anything just to hang out with reputed Mafioso, the Mob had to make special trips to ask Martin in person to play a show at one of their casinos. Dosages' portrait, written only a few years before Martin's death on Christmas morning1995, depicts its subject as nothing so much as a Zen master without the spiritual anchor; after sampling everything that life had to offer and finding it lacking, and having lost his revered son, Dino Jr., Martin spent the last years of his life waiting to die in virtual seclusion. Only a handful of showbiz biographers can lay claim to processing true literary acumen, but Nick Dosages is one of these writers, and his unauthorized biography of Martin stands as a testament to his genius. Several inimitable sequences in which Dosages adopts his subject's perspective (most of which are regrettably unsuitable for quotation here) make the book a real standout. Not only that, Dosages brings the Twentieth Century together in one 572 page package, tracing popular culture to the one point at which everything and everyone converged - Dean Martin! In the future people will read this book and wonder
"Is it true? Was there truly such a person as Dean Martin?"
Dosages has wound up reality so tightly with this book that once you've read it you may feel the need to reread it every few months or so before it all begins to...unravel. This is the hardback edition with some wear around the edges of the dust jacket, but this book is in excellent used condition. The pages inside are clean, unmarked, and undamaged. Item will not be shipped until payment has been received ( i.e., Payola payment or money order received, or checks cleared). Payment is due within 7 days of auction's end at which time, if payment has not been received, the item will be reenlisted and a non-paying bidder alert will be sent without any further notice. When possible, multiple items will be shipped together to reduce shipping costs. I will ship internationally with prior approval. If you need additional information or have any questions, please contact me BEFORE placing your bid. Also due to interned piracy I will not answer emails unless they are directed through an item # of mine which will direct it through Bay¡¯s secure site. Buyer pays for shipping. I do not unnecessarily inflate shipping and handling costs. Books and videos will be sent by MEDIA MAIL unless otherwise requested and paid for. Other types of items weighing more than 13 ounces will be shipped Priority Mail. For this item, US Buyers pay $3.50 shipping - includes Putt Rico, Guam, APO, FPO etc. Canadian Buyers pay $4.00 shipping. International buyers must pay appropriate rates for shipping, to be determined depending on location (will check with U.S. Post Office before issuing Invoice). BID WITH CONFIDENCE & review my feedback. ***** 100% quality assurance.
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All 12 Dinoclips From "Marriage On The Rocks"

Hey pallies, just Dinonoticed that now all 12 count 'em 12 Dinoclips are now availble for our Dinopleasure from "Marriage On The Rocks." Enjoy pallies...

"You hang out a martini to dry."

Hey pallies, the day when coolness came to earth Dinoapproacheth....here's our Dino talkin' to George Burns on the telephone as George celebrates his 100th....and what does our Dino ask of George?!??! "You hang out a martini to dry." Clebratin' the Dinodifference with ya pallies!!!!

Dino in "Marriage On The Rocks"

Hey pallies. like I knew it would Dinohappen...someone has posted a few Dinoclips from "Marriage On The Rocks." Here they are for your Dinoviewin' Dinopleasure....

What is Trini Lopez doin' on the Dinoblog?

Hey pallies, the answer is....this is the only Dinoclip that I could find from any of the three Dinoflicks that got released this very Dinoday..."Some Came Running," "Marriage On The Rocks," and "Sergeants 3." Prob in a few Dinodays Dinoclips from all three Dinoreleases will find their way to the web.

Anyway, this clip of Trini singin' "Sinner Man" is from "Marriage On The Rocks" and midway through this clip you will see our great Dean Martin swingin' with Debra Kerr on the dance floor...so in honor of our Dino and that three more of his classic Dinofilms are not available on DVD..enjoy this Dinoclip.

Dean Martin: "An American Buddha Characteristic Number 2: Perfectly Self-Enlightened

Hey pallies, my Dinodialogue with pallie Keith, 'bout our Dino bein' an American Buddha continues with this Dinoexchange on how our Dino is Perfectly Self-Enlighted....



Hey pallie Keith, such "worthy" Dinoinsights you offer into the "worthy"ness of our Dino. It is clear that you have a very wise handle on our Dino's "worthy"ness. Your Dinothoughts are clear and make total Dinosense to this dude. Not sure there is anything more to be Dinoadded at this time. You are one wise and hip Dinolover pallie Keith. So, shall we go on to the 2nd characteristic of Buddha...... .....Perfectly Self-Enlightened.

Well, we know that Dino is so PERFECT in everything he does.....the perfect actor, singer, comedian.... .ever perfect in how he smokes, drinks and loves on the ladies. Dino is the most ENLIGHTENED person to ever walk the earth....... he has such wisdom on how to live the good live in the coolest way possible.... .and how did our Master of Hip get so enlightened. ...it came only from himself..... so our Dino is like totally SELF-ENLIGHTENED. ....never needed anyone to help him find his way.....he is the ultimate of the self made man....and as our Dino never ever needed anyone to show him the way to go he is indeed.....PEREFECT LY SELF-ENLIGHTENED! !!!

And, now our Dinoinsights on this characteristic of the Buddha, pallie Keith? Dinoexpectantly, DMP

Hey pallie DMP,

Glad you liked what I wrote about Dino being the worthy one. Here goes my observations about Dino being perfect self-enlightened. Dino didn't have to have a mentor. He didn't have to have anyone tell him how to live his life and how to think. He didn't need a teacher. Dino knew himself. He knew who he was and what he wanted to do with his life. He was truly a self made man, whether it was movies, television, the stage act, records, you name it. Dino had the self knowledge to be the King of Cool. He didn't have to have someone guide him. He didn't follow the rules of others. He didn't need a manual to show him how to live life. He knew it from his very soul how to live the Dinolife. This is Dino's world. Because he always knew how to be cool and hip, he's now sharing that with us.

Keep Dinoswingin,
Keith

Dean Martin: 200th Dinoblog Dinopost

Hey pallies, just noticed that this will be the 200th Dinoblog Dinopost..... Have chosen to share with you a Dinoclip that is sorta outta Dinoseason...but for some Dinoreason this Dinoclip of our great man singin' "Marshmellow World" speaks volumes to me of how our Dino is an American Buddha....not just the way that our Dino sings this tune...but watch all his cool moves and facial inflections as he sings this....indeed June 7, 1917 is the day that an American Buddha was born, the day that coolness came to earth.

Dean Martin: Favorite Dinoclips

Hey pallies, as we continue to prepare to celebrate the Day That Coolness Came To Earth, here is a clip shared with me by my Dinobro Keith....the most faithful Dinoreader of this here Dinoblog....and you will note the dude who shares in the Dinodialogue we me on how our Dino is an American Buddha (next installment comin' Dinosoon). This here Dinoclip is from 1965 and features our great man singin' "Houston." And as an added Dinobonus, click on the tagg of this Dinopost and you will be transported to Keith's myspace pad and his great blog post of 10 of his fav Dinoclips of all Dinotime. Keep diggin' our Dino pallies...and many thanks pallie Keith!!!!!

Dean Martin Jammin'

Hey pallies, here's 'nother Dinopix that I recently came 'cross....our Dino is not in his pjs, but he is certainly jammin' out...do have to wonder if Dino's boypallie Dino Jr. gave his daddy-o any lessons on the guitar? To see the Dinopix in it's original blog settin' just click on the tagg of this Dinogram

Speakin' of Dino Jr., here's a great little clip of Dino Jr. with his group, Dino, Desi, and Billy" jammin' on a 1965 TV show....even at a tender age Dino's boypallie is followin' his daddy-o's cool footsteps...enjoy....

Dean Martin: "An American Buddha" Characteristic Number 1: A Worthy One

Hey pallies, continuin' our Dino and the Buddha comparison, here is what pallie Keith and I wrote to each other on Buddha characteristic numero uno....."A Worthy One." Will be Dinodelighted to hear your Dinothoughts in the Dinocomment section.



Hey pallie Keith, you are most welcome and I am already Dinorelatin' to most of these Buddha characteristics. But, let's take them one at a Dinotime beginnin' with "a worthy one." We have often spoke at ilovedinomartin of our Dino bein' worthy. Dino is worthy of our time, energy, and devotion just 'cause he is Dino, the King of Cool, our Master of Hip. Dino is worthy of our emulation 'cause he is the standard of cool that we desire to be totally like. Some thoughts from you pallie Keith 'bout our Dino bein' the "worthy one?" Dinoemulatin' , DMP


Hey pallie DMP,

Yeah, I like the idea of taking them one at a time. Discussing how this relates to Dino. I like your insights. I agree with how you put it. Here goes. Here are my thoughts.

A Worthy One.

Is there any reference that more fits our Dino? Not many. Dino is The worthy one. There is no human being more worthy than Dino. Dino is after all the Master of Hip, the King of Cool. He is the height of hipness and coolness. He is worthy of our adoration, our devotion, our respect, our homage, our love, and so much more. He is the prime example, the role model, for living a swingin' life. He shows us how to live life to the fullest, not to just pass each day the same as the last. He shows us what a worthy life should be like. We should be happy with life and love livin' it. Dino did that. He is worthy because he shows us what a good life could be like. He showed us how to drink, how to smoke, how to flirt with the ladies, how to dress, how to tell a joke, and so much more. Dino is worthy because he showed us the Dinoworld. He showed us what paradise could be.

Make any sense at all? I hope so.

Keep Dinoswingin,
Keith

Dean Martin Circa 1960

Hey pallies, here's a great pix of our great man from 1960.....never had seen this before until it found me through a Dinogram from flickr yesterday....if you click on the tagg of this Dinogram you will see it in it's original Dinocontext over at flickr. Just wonderin' pallies what our Dino is doin' in his pjs and who took the pix...and is this like in Dino's trailer on a movie set? Dig the old phonograph and telephone. Lookin' forward to your Dinopatter on this. Latter pallies....

Dean Martin: An American Buddha

Hey pallies, gonna begin sharin' the Dinodialogue between pallie Keith and myself 'bout how our Dino is like the Buddha. Please feel Dinofree to enter into this Dinodialgue by leavin' your Dinothoughts in the comment section.

Here is the Dinopost that began the Dinobuddha Dinodialogue and pallie Keith's response.

Hey pallie Keith, just did a little research on the buddha and found these nine characteristics of a Buddha over at Wikipedia... ...I am findin' some strikin' similiarites between our Dino and the Buddha!

Here is the list of 9 Nine Characteristics of a Buddha:

1. a worthy one

2. perfectly self-enlightened

3. stays in perfect knowledge

4. well gone

5. unsurpassed knower of the world

6. unsurpassed leder of persons to be tamed

7. teacher of the gods and humans

8. the Enlightened One

9. the BLessed One or fortunate one

I thought that we might just have some Dinodialogue on each of these nine characteristics and how they refer and relate to our Dino. So, let's begin with a Dinodiscussion of how our Dino fits as "the worthy one."

In Dinodevotion, DMP

Hey pallie DMP,

Thanks for the research. That's pretty interesting. I'm going to have to look over those and make some feedback. Any ideas yet yourself? It's neat that Dino inspires us to even talk about world religions up here. What will Dino do next? :-)

Keep Dinoswingin,
Keith

Dean Martin: "I kinda thought of him as an American Buddha"

Hey pallies, like here is some way cool Dinoprose tagged "The Song Of The Soused" written by Ty Burr soon after our Dino departed planet earth. At the end of the article Burr quotes Dinobiographer Nick Tosches 'bout our Dino bein' like an American Buddha. This gave way to some Dinoinspiration by my Dinobro Keith (who is most faithful in his readin' of and respondin' to the Dinoblog) and I to share some Dinopatter on how our Dino is like the Buddha. Plans to run those comments over the next several Dinodays for your Dinoreadin' Dinopleasure, and of course for your Dinocommentary as well. If you wanna read this Dinoarticle in it's original format, just click on the tagg of this Dinopost.





THE SONG OF THE SOUSED
The original slacker, Dean Martin
glorified the lush life on stage and screen.
By Ty Burr, Entertainment Weekly, 12 January 1996
If the signal attribute of late-20th-century American pop culture is cool, and if the essence of cool is the projection of detachment, then maybe--just maybe--Dean Martin was the real Chairman of the Board. Sinatra is the greater artist, of course, but in a way, that's what hangs him up--despite naming an album No One Cares, Sinatra obviously has cared, especially about his music. But Martin, who died Christmas Day 1995 from acute respiratory failure at age 78, never seemed to give a rat pack about anything. He achieved success on the charts, in movies, even on TV (the one arena that Ol' Blue Eyes never conquered) while floating above the fray with bibulous serenity. In an industry of self-publicists, Dean Martin remained insistently unknowable.

That quality gave him charisma while marking him as a lightweight, made him seem absurdly passe by the mid-'70s while giving him a weird, nearly existential purity in his final decades. Slackers may be sipping martinis and neo-hipsters like Greg Mangus might be singing Martinesquely, but there was no Bennett-style comeback for Martin; in fact, he sourly bailed out of a 1988 reunion tour with Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. after hollering "I wanna go home!" from the stage and flicking a lit cigarette butt into the audience. His ex-wife Jeanne, to whom he was married for 23 years, once sighed, "There's either nothing under there or too much." Nick Tosches' 1992 biography, Dino: Living High in the Dirty Business of Dreams, calls him a menefreghista, Italian for "one who simply does not give a f---."

Born Dino Paul Crocetti on June 17, 1917, Martin grew up the son of an immigrant barber in Steubenville, Ohio. He worshiped at the altar of Bing Crosby and made a go at a singing career, mutating from Dino Crocetti to Dino Martini to Dean Martin, and picking up a new nose in the process. In 1946, he and a lantern-jawed comedian named Jerry Lewis began kibitzing in on each other's acts; by the time the duo played Slapsie Maxie's in Los Angeles two years later, they had the industry in their palms.

Sixteen hugely popular Martin and Lewis films followed in seven years, and as the comedian's ambitions ballooned, Martin simmered, despite having a successful recording career on Capitol that crested with the 1953 top hit "That's Amore." By 1956, tired of breakups and makeups with the insecure Lewis, Martin told him, "You can talk about love all you want. To me, you're nothing but a f---ing dollar sign." And he was outta there, pally. Martin never looked back, rarely acknowledging Lewis' existence, while his ex-partner erupted in public outpourings of separation anxiety. (Lewis was too "shattered by grief" to comment on Martin's death, according to Lewis' manager.)

No one thought Martin would make it on his own. Reviews for his first solo film, Ten Thousand Bedrooms, were brutal ("Apart [from Lewis], Mr. Martin is a fellow with little humor and a modicum of charm," said The New York Times). But Martin's ensuing choices were inspired: a GI in The Young Lions opposite Brando, an alcoholic deputy (his best dramatic role) in Rio Bravo.

Then the Rat Pack came calling, offering the position of Frankie Lite alongside Sinatra, Davis, Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop in movies and Vegas nightclubs. To make his allegiance clear, Martin left Capitol to record on, and financially back, Sinatra's Reprise Records. His apotheosis came in 1964: "Everybody Loves Somebody" knocked the Beatles out of the No. 1 spot, and he starred in Billy Wilder's Kiss Me, Stupid, which epitomized Martin's persona as a lovable, lecherous lush. Condemned by critics and the Catholic Legion of Decency, Stupid was the Showgirls of its day, yet its acrid playboy nihilism may be the closest he came to a personal statement.

The next year saw the debut of The Dean Martin Show, a variety program that ran for nine successful seasons on NBC. Yet pop culture was shifting away from him: The show's va-va-voom chorus line, the Golddiggers, caused the National Organization for Women to give Martin a Keep-Her-in-Her-Place award during the final season. The Matt Helm spy spoof series that began promisingly with 1966's The Silencers quickly ran aground with three limp follow-ups. His records veered toward workaday country; Martin would lay down vocals only after producer Jimmy Bowen had recorded all the other tracks.

The late '70s and '80s saw Martin slope off into halfhearted singing gigs and celebrity roasts featuring the likes of Milton Berle and Foster Brooks--Last Suppers for the borscht belt. After his son Dino Jr., 35, died in a 1987 plane crash, Martin seemed to vanish into himself. He haunted Hollywood restaurants, alone, with an ever-present drink in his hand. "I'm just waiting to die," Paul Anka says Martin told him one night.

But that tragic vision doesn't square. Tragedy necessitates self-knowledge, and indications are that Dean Martin rolled blissfully on the waves of unthinking fortune to the end of his days. "He had no interest in his own life," says biographer Tosches. "He was completely content in his solitude. I wanted him to hit 80. That was the age that Buddha was when he died. I kind of thought of him as an American Buddha."

DEAN MARTIN DINODETAILS CHALLENGE!!!!

Hey pallies, dudes, like thinkin' that a great way to kick off our celebration of the day that coolness came to earth woulda be to have you all take the Dean Martin Dinodetails Challenge....all right the Dinofest folks tagg this "Trivia"...but this Dinoholic maintains that nothin' and I mean nothin' pallies 'bout our Dino is trivial...so have retagged it the "Dinodetails" Challenge. Click on the title of this Dinopost and see how many of the 20 Dinoquestions you have gotten Dinocorrect. First time I took the Dinochallenge I got a mere 16 correct...will be tryin' again myself to see if I can improve my Dinorecord. Leave some Dinopatter to let all the pallies know how you do.

Dean Martin: Dinofest 2008

Hey pallies, a great way to begin our Dinobirthday Dinotrib is to let all you Dinoholics know 'bout Dinofest 2008 to be held in Dinomecca (Steubenville, Ohio) on June 12-15. Click on the link to the title of this Dinopost to go to the offical Dinosite where you will find all the Dinodetails. Just wish I was goin' to be able to make the Dinopilgrimage to Dinomecca this Dinoyear.

Dean Martin: Celebratin' The Day That Coolness Came To Earth

Hey pallies, just a heads up that just a month from today we celebrate the anniversary of the date that Dino was born...so for the next month the ilovedinomartin Dinoblog will be "Celebratin' The Day That Coolness Came To Earth".....June 7, 1917. So sit back, relax, put on some Dinotunes or a Dinoflick and enjoy the celebration of all thin's Dino...later pallies!!!!

Dean Martin in "Sergeants 3" comes to DVD on May 13

The 1939 adventure classic Gunga Din is transferred from British India to the American West, courtesy of Frank Sinatra's "Clan." Sinatra, Dean Martin and Peter Lawford play three cavalry officers, always ready for a brawl but willing to die for each other if need be. Sammy Davis Jr. a cavalry bugler who has aspirations of being a combat soldier. The three officers and the bugler take on a Napoleonic Native American chief, who plans to unify all the tribes and kill every white man in sight. Davis does his "Gunga" bit by blowing his bugle and warning the approaching cavalry that they're riding into a trap. About all that isn't pilfered from Gunga Din is the death of the noble bugler; Davis survives being shot up by the Indians with little more than a flesh wound! Sergeants Three also stars another Sinatra crony, Joey Bishop, playing the role originally essayed in Gunga Din by Robert Coote

On May 13, "Sergeants 3," the only remaining unreleased Rat Pack flick will come to DVD.

Dean Martin flick "Some Came Running" arrives on May 13

After a round of partying he can’t remember, World War II veteran Dave Hirsh is placed on a bus headed for the last place he’d choose: Parkman, Indiana, the hometown Hirsh hasn't seen in well over a decade. Frank Sinatra plays Hirsh, whose arrival in Parkman brings small-town hypocrisy to the unforgiving light of day in this character-driven tale directed by Vincente Minnelli and based on a novel by James Jones (whose From Here to Eternity had led to Sinatra’s 1953 Oscar). In his first screen pairing with Sinatra, Dean Martin plays a sharp-witted cardsharp. And Shirley MacLaine earned one of the movie's five Academy AwardÒ nominations as the good-hearted floozie with a potentially fatal attraction to Hirsh.


"Some Came Running" debuts in DVD on May 13.

coming May 13...DEAN MARTIN in "Marriage On The Rocks"

What do you do when you have a beautiful house, two great children, and a Marriage on the Rocks? If you're bored Val Edwards (Deborah Karr), you swap your fuddy-duddy hubby Dan (Frank SInatra) for his swingin' bachelor best friend Ernie (Dean Martin) - and watch the spraks fly. Ol' Blue Eyes breezes through this romantic comedy romp at the head of an all-star cast. Along for the laughs are frequent Sinatra co-stars Martin, Cesar Romero, and Tony Bill, plud daughter Nancy Sinatra and Kerr. The fun starts when the Edwards take a second honeymoon in Mexico and fall into the hands of the quickie-divorce/quickie-marriage lawyer Romero. Faster then jumping beans, everybody's unhitched, rehitched, confused, confounded, and cohabitating. But Dan has the right attitude. "We had a bad marriage", he says. "Let's have a happy divorce!"

"Marriage On The Rocks" will be released on DVD on May 13.

Iraqi and American Youth Both Dig Dean Martin

Hey pallies, now this is just 'bout the coolest ever. Here is a vid chat that Iraqi students in Damascus had with American students at the Ross School in E. Hampton, New York. Scholars at both schools dialogued on many things, but this exchange caught my Dinoeye....

"Iraqi students asala wants to know if you like dean martin

Ross school: i love dean martin"

Just so Dinothrilled to know that Iraqi students know who are Dino is and must groove on him to ask their American counterparts 'bout their Dinointerest...and how cool to have one of the American students respond "I love Dean Martin."

It is truly Dinowonderful to find more and more of today's youth who know, love, and freely share their Dinodevotion. The thought that our Dino is a bridge between east and west youth is just so so Dinocool!!!! With all the conflict between Americans and Iraqis goin' on....it is so amazin' to find that youth in both cultures have found Dino to be common ground.....so great to see this kind of dialogue goin' on between youth in both cultures and to know that today's youngens east and west dig our Dino so very very much....loves it....to read the transcipt of the whole dialogue, please click on the title of this Dinopost.

Dean Martin: Just Tryin' To Spread Some Dinohappiness 'Round

Hey pallies, like I am feelin' the Dinourge to share some Dinohappiness with all my Dinoholic Dinopallies....loves the Dinocombo of the Dinojokes and great Dinotune in this Dinoclip....Dino, all we ask is that you "Lay Some Happiness On Me!" Remember pallies, our Dino is the only true source of happiness!!!!!

Dean Martin Dinocalendar Dinopix for May

Hey pallies, 'nough of this Dinoindecision...I have chosen the Dinocalendar shot for May and here it is....our Dino is so mod in this great pix..just wonderin' when in Dinohistory this was taken...late sixties...early seventies? Enjoy pallies, and remember that only Dino really matters...

Dean Martin Dinographics

Hey pallies, like I loves this Dinographic so much...so many many cool Dinomemories associated with these Dinopixs...enjoy pallies and remember that only our Dino truly matters...

Dean Martin Dinocalendar Dinopix for April

Hey pallies, like it took me almost the whole Dinomonth to make my Dinoselection...so many great Dinopix...so hard to make that Dinochoice...will try to do much Dinobetter for May. Latter pallies... P.S. pallies, like if you click on the Dinopix it will get like totally Dinohuge...so Dinocool!!!!

Dean Martin Dinocalendar Dinopix for March 2008

Hey pallies, like it took me Dinoforever to make a Dinodecision on the Dinopix to use for the March entry in the Dinocalendar...but here is it. March signals the start of spring on the calendar and spring reminds me of chicks....ever heard the term spring chickens....anyway....I decided to select a cool pix of our Dino with a very lovely young chick who seems to love our great man very, very much...and Dino seems to be pleased with her as well. Pallies, let me know what you think of this Dinochoice...and I like make a Dinopromise that I will post an April Dinopix early next Dinomonth.

Dylan Jones on Dino: the true leader of the Rat Pack

Hey pallies, Dylan Jones, editor or GQ has written this wonderful tribute to our Dino in UK's Daily Mail. If you wanna read it in it's orginal form, just click on the link to this Dinopost. Loves to find others who loves our Dino like we do!!!!

Dylan Jones on Dino: the true leader of the Rat Pack
By DYLAN JONES


Dylan Jones says Dean Martin's cool was born of sheer indifference
The ultimate lounge lizard, Dean Martin eclipses both Frank and Elvis if only because his cool was born of sheer indifference



Now, you might think you're cool. You might be standing there in front of your full-length, bulb-framed, lava-lamp-shaped mirror, in your one-button, peak-lapel, rope-shouldered mohair midnight-blue two-piece feeling enormously pleased with yourself.

You might be admiring your brand spanking new patent-leather loafers, high-collared Harry Hill/Dylan Jones-style shirt and skinny matt-black tie and feeling enormously smug.

You may have just been given a pair of Thomas Pink gold-bullion cuff-links by your significant girlfriend, managed to approximate a fairly convincing spotted pocket handkerchief (the right way up this time) and treated yourself to a new watch with a face the size of Belgium, and therefore be thinking all is well with the world.

But let me tell you, my friend – you have nothing on Debonair Dino.

He might not have been The Voice (he was never as ambitious as Sinatra) and he might not have been The King (although Elvis copied his singing style wholesale), but he was the coolest man to ever wear a tux, and compared to him you look about as cool as Nick Clegg in a hoodie. Or a shell suit. Or anything worn by John McCririck.



Dean Martin invented cool. For 20 years, from the late Forties to the end of the Sixties, he was the epitome of louche sang-froid, a singer, actor and genuine star who conquered Hollywood, television and Tin Pan Alley.

He was the first man to ever enjoy stardom on all four fronts of stage, records, television and film.

He liked a drink – indeed, towards the end of his career it was his defining characteristic, and he was rarely seen on television without a drink of some sort in his hand (his personalised numberplate read DRUNKY). And he liked his women.

But most of all, he liked breezing through life without a care in the world. He was a star not just because he could sing well or act appealingly, but also because he was the embodiment of relaxed, funny sexiness.

In a word that first came into vogue during his rise, he was Cool. With a capital C.

He dropped out of school because he thought he was smarter than the teachers. He delivered bootleg booze, served as a blackjack dealer, worked in a steel mill and boxed as a welterweight.

And then he became one of the biggest stars in the world.

Other Italian-style singers of the time worked hard to seduce the women in the audience. To him, that came naturally – sometimes too naturally.

He worked to seduce the men, winning them over, gaining their approval through the illusion of camaraderie.

Scratch his flip, insouciant exterior… and you found a flip, insouciant interior. Which is probably why he felt so at ease with the way he dressed.

His cool wasn't born out of arrogance; it was born out of indifference.

And his uncaring air of romance reflected the flash and breezy sweet seductions of a world in which everything came down to broads, booze and money, with plenty of Amarone and linguine on the side – living high in the dirty business of dreams.

During the Sixties he refused to rehearse at all for his ridiculous TV show, instead showing up for the taping after a round of golf and winging his way through it, reading off cue cards and pretending to be drunk (sipping apple juice instead of JD). Happy days indeed.

I suppose my infatuation with Dino stems from the fact that I grew up in an environment in which he was rarely off the turntable.

From England's 1966 World Cup victory through to the first Moon landing, my early memories revolve around listening to Return To Me, Volare, Under The Bridges Of Paris, You Belong To Me and In Napoli on the American air force bases of East Anglia.

For me, these songs still define a certain kind of imported homespun sophistication, however ersatz it may be.

Also, while the whole Rat Pack ethos endures because it represents adolescence in perpetuity, Martin was more adolescent than most.

Among his Rat Pack buddies, Martin was always the joker, the Martini-drinking lounge lizard with the laissez-faire attitude and an ever-ready excuse.

What's more, he was the author of some of the best-remembered Hollywood bon mots. "I've got seven kids, and the three words you hear most around my house are 'Hello', 'Goodbye' and 'I'm pregnant'."

"You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on."

"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. They wake up in the morning and that's the best they're going to feel all day."

"It was a woman who drove me to drink, and come to think of it, I never did hang around to thank her for that."

"Hey, lady! Do I look all blurry to you? 'Cause you sure look blurry to me."

So next time you go shooting your cuffs, rolling your shoulders or pumping out your chest, think again.

Don't get above yourself, buddy, because in the grand scheme of things you're about as 'hip' as a Kula Shaker tribute band.

And when you're next about to venture out on the town, be sure to do the decent thing and put on some Dino before you leave the house.

You might never look like Dino, you might never have his luck with wine, women and song, but at least you can brush up on your karaoke.

After all, if it was good enough for Elvis, then it's certainly good enough for you.

Dylan Jones is the editor of GQ

HISTORY OF DINOSONG "THAT'S AMORE"

Hey pallies, here is a cool little Dinohistory Dinolesson on "That's Amore.' If you woulda like to view it in it's original form, just click on the link of this Dinopost. So great to be learnin' more 'bout our great man Dean Martin.




“That’s Amore” is a 1952 song by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Jack Brooks. It became a major hit for Dean Martin in 1953. Amore means “love” in Italian.

The song first appeared in the soundtrack of the Martin and Lewis comedy film The Caddy, released by Paramount Pictures on August 10, 1953.

The track that was used for the single released by Capitol Records was recorded on August 13, 1953 (Session 3098; Master 11694-6), with the orchestra conducted by Dick Stabile, at Capitol Records’ studios at 5505 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, California. On November 7, 1953, Martin’s record of the song, with “You’re The Right One” (which was recorded at the same session as “That’s Amore”) on the flip side, peaked at #2 on the Billboard charts. The song was kept from the #1 spot when Les Paul and Mary Ford’s Capitol Records single “Vaya Con Dios” returned to the #1 spot after being knocked out by Stan Freberg’s Capitol Records single “St. George And The Dragonet”, which had been #1 for the past four weeks, after “Vaya Con Dios” had been #1 for the nine previous weeks.

The song remains closely identified with Dean Martin; That’s Amore was used as the title for a 2001 video retrospective of Martin’s career, and his son Ricci Martin entitled his 2002 biography That’s Amore: A Son Remembers Dean Martin. As an iconic song, “That’s Amore” remains a secondary signature song[1] for Dean Martin (second only to “Everybody Loves Somebody” of 1964).[1]

The arrangement of the 1953 hit was scored primarily for mandolins. The lyrics affectionately ridicule the Italian-American ethnic stereotype, with lines like “When the moon hits your eye/Like a big-a pizza pie/That’s amore”, “When the world seems to shine/Like you’ve had too much wine/That’s amore”, and “When the stars make you drool/Just like pasta fazool’/That’s amore.” Martin did not attempt to deliver the lyrics in an authentic Italian accent, but used the accent of an American trying to mimic Italian pronunciation.

Since the verse starts “In Napoli/where love is king,” the setting of the song is Naples, Italy. That is evident in the lyrics (cited, above) that contain what may be called jocularly either the best or the worst rhyme in the history of popular music–that is, the bilingual rhyme of “drool” and “fazool,” the Neapolitan dialect word, fasule, for the Italian fagioli–beans.

Tags: Thats Amore
Posted under music |

One Comment to “Thats Amore”


dino martin peters Says:
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Hey pallie, what a great bit of Dinohistory on one of our Dino’s greatest songs of amore. I so love the Dinoversion contained in “The Caddy”…so full of Dinolive! Thanks for sharin’ this…hope it draws even more to knowin’, lovin’, and followin’ our great man. Never was, never will be anyone as cool as the King of Cool…oh, to return to the days when Dino walked the earth.