Vintage Hunk: Dean Martin

Hey pallies, likes everybody is gettin' in on the Dino-action! Today's Dino-devotion comes from the pad "gay.com daily" where scriber Mike McCrann features our Dino in their series "Vintage Hunk."

Much of the patter is somewhat standard Dino-fare, but I am impressed by the provocative statement made by McCrann...."But the truth is that Dean Martin was also a movie star whose potential was never really utilized during his top 5 golden years in films." Seems that this dude has much higher expectations of our Dino's film career....and it is very very refreshin' to see someone desirin' our great man to be usin' his extraordinary gifts in more exceptional ways.

Mr. McCrann highlights in a very evocative way some of our Dino's greatest film accomplishments..."The Young Lions," "Some Came Running."Rio Bravo," "Ada," and "Bells Are Ringing" and profoundly wishes that our Dino had continued to work in such a quality way in such quality films.

Can't help but agree with McCrann's assessment to a degree, but I woulda also remind him that the amazin' out put of stellar work on our Dino's part in recordin's and his television show is unparalleled in all of history.

ilovedinomartin sez our thanks to the pallies at "gay.com daily" for so coolly and creatively puttin' the accent on our Dino and 'specially to Mr. Mike McCrann for speakin' so devotedly of our Dino's life and work. To view this in it's original format, just clicks on the tagg of this Dino-post. Dino-loved, DMP


Vintage Hunk: Dean Martin

Written by Mike McCrann on March 14, 2011


Dean Martin is probably best remembered today as being:

1. Jerry Lewis' comic partner
2. The boozy star of the long-running Dean Martin TV show
3. Part of The Rat Pack

But the truth is that Dean Martin was also a movie star whose potential was never really utilized during his top 5 golden years in films.


Dino Paul Crocetti was born in Steubenville, Ohio to Italian parents. He had a rough childhood, dropped out of school, was a boxer, blackjack dealer and held other sundry jobs until he started singing with local bands as Dino Martini.

During most of the 1940s Martin bounced around eastern clubs until finally joining Jerry Lewis as the singer/straight man in their act. After a rocky start, the Martin and Lewis combo struck gold and became both club and movie sensations when Hall Wallis put them in his film My Friend Irma. Lewis got all the attention during these years while Martin was relegated to a supporting stooge. The duo made smash hits of all their movies until the end of their partnership in 1956.

When Martin and Lewis broke up everyone thought Lewis would do just fine, but that Martin would soon fizzle out. Indeed, Martin's first solo film, Ten Thousand Bedrooms, was a total flop. But after replacing Tony Randall in The Young Lions, Martin suddenly became a movie star. Vincente Minnelli gave him his best part in Some Came Running opposite Frank Sinatra and Shirley MacLaine. Martin was sensational in this film and his low-key charm and handsome looks helped create a really wonderful character.


For the next few years, Martin starred in a number of first-rate films including the Howard Hawks classic Western, Rio Bravo, Ada with Susan Hayward, and the musical Bells Are Ringing with Judy Holliday recreating her Tony-winning role in her last screen appearance. Martin had the best song in the film, "Just In Time," and his performance was perfect.


Watching Martin in films during this period only makes one wish that he had taken his movie career more seriously. Like Frank Sinatra, Martin was such a natural that he could have really become a fine actor, but like Sinatra he was too busy with being part of The Rat Pack and cutting records that he did not take the time to focus on this area. Both Sinatra and Martin are infuriating because you can see how talented they were, and it is frustrating how they spread their voluminous gifts so thin during these years.

In 1965 Martin started his weekly NBC variety show where he exploited his persona as a lazy, heavy drinking, good old boy. The show was a huge ratings success and while it made Martin a millionaire it pretty much ended any artistic aspirations he might have had. Martin was also a fine singer and had a number of top albums, but once again, he never really stretched his artistic gifts. His good recordings reveal a wonderful voice that could have really produced a body of work equal to Sinatra.

Martin's last years were depressing, with the end of his long marriage and the death of his son (one of seven children) from which he never fully recovered. Martin died in 1995 at the age of 78. He made a fortune from his triple threat career but one comes away from watching him in films like The Young Lions, Bells Are Ringing and Billy Wilder's Kiss Me Stupid as a promise unfulfilled.

Dean Martin had the looks and talent to become a really first rate actor and star. Instead, he settled for just being a star.

Dean Martin – A Lucky Charm for Us All

Hey pallies, didn't thinks likes I woulda be lucky 'nough to be able to find 'nother Dino-post for the day of the wearin' of the green....but likes thanks to our Dino-holic bro Otto Bruno at his self-tagged blog, indeed likes here is 'nother stellar Dino-post for this lucky day.

Mr. Bruno tags his Dino-patter, "Dean Martin – A Lucky Charm for Us All," and features that most wonderful of wonderful Dino-songs, "The Lucky Song" from that most wonderful of wonderful of wonderful Dino and the kid flicks, "Artists And Models."

Indeed this is truly my lucky day 'cause "Artists and Models" is such a outstandin' fav of mine...and "The Lucky Song" always brings such a huge Dino-buddha-grin to my face when I watch our incredible Dino havin' such fun with the kiddies in this perfect production number!

Thanks to Mr. Otto Bruno for spreadin' such Dino-sunshine on this St. Patty's Day and helpin' his readers to draw closer to our beloved Dino! To view this in it's original format, likes just clicks on the tagg of this here Dino-gram. Dino-loved, DMP

Dean Martin – A Lucky Charm for Us All

March 17th, 2011 | Classic Films, Great American Songbook, Italian America

I couldn’t resist juxtaposing the subject of our previous post (Mr. Lewis) with his old partner Dino.



What follows is a wonderful clip from Dean & Jerry’s version of the film Artists and Models (1955). I say “their” version because Jack Benny actually starred in the 1937 film version of Artists and Models. I’ve never seen Jack’s film although I’d certainly like to – I’m a big Benny fan.

Back to Dean and Jerry – Dean has some good songs in this film. One of the songs from this film that we now all associate with Dean is Innamorata. Someday, I’ll post an article I once wrote about how Dean, of all the Italian American vocalists, probably sang more Italian (or Italian “flavored”) songs than all the rest. In this movie, the songs were written by Harry Warren (born Salvatore Guaragna) and Jack Brooks who just happen to be the same team that wrote That’s Amore for Dean and Jerry’s film The Caddy two years prior to Artists and Models.

One other bit of trivia – although she’s not in this clip, Artists and Models also featured future Rat Pack mascot, Shirley MacLaine.

Sit back and enjoy Dean at his best . . . projecting the warmth and charm like only Dino could.

Happy St. Patty's Day From Our Dino

Hey pallies, likes top of the mornin' to all of ya on this day of the wearin' of the green. It has become an ilovedinomartin tradition to post this vid clip of our Dino and the kid from "At War With The Army' where our beloved Dino sings his deeply touchin' version of "Irish Lullaby" to the Jer.

An Italian singin' Irish? you sez....well, indeed yes....as only our Dino coulda pulls it off. Enjoys pallies and have the loviest of lovely Dino-day! Dino-loved, DMP

"“Dean was such an incredible human being, so charismatic......"

Hey pallies, likes thanks to our Dino-gized pallie Danny-o, I am sharin' 'nother Dino-post on this day of honorin' the birthday of the kid. Danny-o put me on to this interview that Jerry Lewis did with Mr. John Katsilometes for the Las Vegas Sun.

The interview that took place mid-October of last year covers lots of bases in the life and times of Lewis, and for our Dino-purposes I am simply sharin' those portions of the conversation that are Dino-focused.

Again, from Lewis' own words it is clear how much the kid was, is, and will always be devoted to our beloved Dino. Lewis says many bold thin's in liftin' up the name of our Dino, with perhaps the grandest bein'....

“Dean was such an incredible human being, so charismatic, you just don’t write someone like that off. My God, he was so underappreciated when we were a team. It was, ‘Jerry, this, Jerry that, Jerry runs the business.’ The whole show was Jerry. One review that broke his heart was when a reviewer went to the Copacabana and never mentioned him. It was tough, but he never said a word. He took 10 years of that.”

I so loves readin' that indeed Jerry Lewis has a full Dino-awareness of our beloved Dino bein' "an incredible human being." So cool to have this interview published on Mr. Lewis' 85 birthday and havin' it be such an amore to our King of Cool.

Grateful Dino-thanks to Mr. John Katsilometes for sharin' this interview with the world and of course to Mr. Jerry Lewis for speakin' so so bold and unabashedly of his deep, pure, and true devotion to our Dino! To view this in it's original format and read it in full, as usual, just clicks on the tagg of this Dino-post. Dino-loved, DMP



At 85, Jerry Lewis remains a true Las Vegan
By John Katsilometes · March 16, 2011

“I still feel Dean at times. … When I start to write, in my office at home, I play classical music at a very low level, just so I hear it. Over in the corner is a chair, and I swear to God, when I was writing, ‘Dean and Me,’ I felt his presence. When I told that to Jeannie, his wife, she said, ‘I know what you mean, Jerry, because a couple of the children have had that feeling, too.’ ”

**

“Dean was such an incredible human being, so charismatic, you just don’t write someone like that off. My God, he was so underappreciated when we were a team. It was, ‘Jerry, this, Jerry that, Jerry runs the business.’ The whole show was Jerry. One review that broke his heart was when a reviewer went to the Copacabana and never mentioned him. It was tough, but he never said a word. He took 10 years of that.”

**

“We had been a team for four nights, and we were sleeping in the same bed so we could save nine bucks. I dream out loud and he says to me, ‘You’re dreaming out loud again! Let me know when you’re finished so I can go back to sleep (laughs).” Then I say, ‘Paul (Martin’s real name was Dino Paul Crocetti), understand what I am going to tell you right now. In about six months, we’re going to have so much money, we’re not going to be able to count it. He said, ‘From your lips, my friend.’ Just days after we teamed up, I make this prediction because I believed it.”

**

“My partner never had any emotional understanding of anything, or discussions about emotions, and I did it all the time, because that’s where my whole being was coming from. … The only reason he opened up to me is because I didn’t have a problem opening up to him.”

On This Day In Dino-history: March 16, 1926 Jerry Lewis Born

Hey pallies, likes it may seem strange to ya to be celebratin' the birthdate of the jer here at ilovedinomartin, for as many of you pallies knows that for decades I have not been much of a fan of the kid. But, likes after readin' the Jer's tome on his relationship with our Dino: "Dean and Me: A Love Story," I've become aware of two thin's. One, the truth is that Jerry Lewis always has, and always will love our beloved Dino. Two, the truth is no one ever has gotten closer to knowin' our Dino then the kid durin' their ten year partnership.

So, likes on this day of the anniversary of the birth of Mr. Jerry Lewis, ilovedinomartin wishes Mr. Lewis a happiest of happy birthdays and thanks him for lovin' on Dino likes all our Dino's other devoted fans does. And, likes on this day, ilovedinomartin shares with you this great pix of our Dino and the kid embracin' durin' a performance...and a clip of that greatest of great birthday presents that our Dino gave Jerry in 1953...the professionally recorded song that our Dino wrote for his partner, "You Skinny Hebrew."

On this 85th birthday of Mr. Jerry Lewis, ilovedinomartin wishes him the happiest returns on the day and thanks him for his devotion to our beloved Dino. Dino-loved, DMP

Listening to Dean, while watching the river roll by, nothing gets better than that.

Hey pallies,.... "He was a paratrooper, a billboard model for Viceroy Cigarettes, he worked on ten films with John ‘The Duke’ Wayne, stunt doubled for Richard Boone in Have Gun, Will Travel, wrote the screenplay for and directed Smokey and the Bandit (and directed many other popular action films), and was the highest paid Stuntman in the movie industry for ten years."

So goes the amazin' bio of the multi-talented Mr. Hal Needham accordin' to pallies at the pad "Pop Matters" who are celebratin' the publication of Needham's new tome, "Stuntman!: My Car-Crashing, Plane-Jumping, Bone-Breaking, Death-Defying Hollywood Life."

In honor of Mr. Needham's bio, the staff at "Pop Matters" have interviewed him under the tag "20 Questions: Hal Needham." And, not surprisin'ly the name of our beloved Dino turns up in this prose. When asked quire numero 3, "The greatest album ever?," Hal boldly proclaims.... "Dino: The Essential Dean Martin. I have a home in Colorado on the Gunnison River. Listening to Dean, while watching the river roll by, nothing gets better than that."

Hal Needham, the coolest of the cool stunman, will settle for nothin' less then our King of Cool when it comes to his listenin' preferences. Truly warms my Dino-heart to hear Needham speaks his unequivocal passion for the croonin' of our great man!
Indeed Needham likes does speak such Dino-truth when he proclaims..."nothing gets better than that."

ilovedinomartin sez our deep appreciato to the pallies at "Pop Matters" for interviewin' Mr. Hal Needhem and also to Mr. Needham for openin'ly professin' his Dino-devotion. This is sure to help fans of Needham become even greater fans of our beloved Dino....comin' to know, love, and honor the greatest entertainer to ever walk the planet. To view the whole of Needham's interview, likes just clicks on the tagg of this Dino-post. Dino-loved, DMP




20 Questions: Hal Needham

By PopMatters Staff 15 March 2011

He was a paratrooper, a billboard model for Viceroy Cigarettes, he worked on ten films with John ‘The Duke’ Wayne, stunt doubled for Richard Boone in Have Gun, Will Travel, wrote the screenplay for and directed Smokey and the Bandit (and directed many other popular action films), and was the highest paid Stuntman in the movie industry for ten years. Along the way, he gives a bit of advice: “When they first light that match, hold your breath! If you inhale, you’ll suck in the flames.”

Indeed, we’d all be wiser to heed the advice of Hal Needham. He probably will live to be 100, as he intends – just so long as he doesn’t inhale. His latest endeavor: author of Stuntman! My Car-Crashing, Plane-Jumping, Bone-Breaking, Death-Defying Hollywood Life (February 2011, Little, Brown & Company).

Stuntman!: My Car-Crashing, Plane-Jumping, Bone-Breaking, Death-Defying Hollywood Life
Hal Needham
(Little, Brown & Company; US: Feb 2011)





3. The greatest album, ever?
Dino: The Essential Dean Martin. I have a home in Colorado on the Gunnison River. Listening to Dean, while watching the river roll by, nothing gets better than that.

I grew up on Dean Martin.

Hey pallies, likes her name is Sue, she hails from Largo, Florida and as the tag of this Dino-gram sez she "grew up on Dean Martin." Today's Dino-devotion comes from Sue's self-tagged blog "Simply Sue Style" where she also shared one of those outstandin' clips from our Dino and the Pack's adventures at the Kiel Opera House in 1964 (see couple of Dino-posts on this same topic last Dino-week).

How refreshin' to hear Miss Sue's open and affirmin' testimony of how our beloved Dino has "impacted" her life. Loves to read of her daddy-o's diggin' of our great man as he "watched and emulated" the King of Cool. Loves to read how Sue's devotion to our Dino has grown through the years as she proclaims boldly..."I am an avid collector of Dean Martin, a trait I took on in my later 20's."

ilovedinomartin sez our Dino-appreciato to Miss Sue for sharin' her "story of a Great Love" of hers. Thanks ever so much for drawin' others to deep, pure, and true Dino-devotion through your personal Dino-reflections! To view this in it's original format, likes just clicks on the tagg of this Dino-message! Dino-loved, DMP

The Rat Pack Live - Dean Martin - 1965



There are so many things I love about this video.
As I approach this year my 50th. I realize the things that impacted my life, and or made me smile.
I grew up on Dean Martin. I was only 4 when this was recorded, while my father Marvin E. Wille, watched and emulated this man singing and sort somewhat looks, for so many years after.
What a suave sounding voice. Even with a cigarette in his hand, which I think he would of puffed on mid song if he had a break long enough. lol!

What did they know then, back in the 60's of drinking and smoking anyhow, the jokes are carefree as their knowledge of the heath issues. But, the Talent....It was there! A natural for sure. I am an avid collector of Dean Martin, a trait I took on in my later 20's.

Thanks, Dad, for showing me this Great Entertainer.
This Sunday, Joe and I are going to see a pretend version of the Rat Pack.
I'm really going to see Dean.
I hope he pulls him off good.
Will I cry? Probably.
Joe will look at me and "Not get it".
Just like ...Why?
I cried when Dean sings at the end of this video "Your nobody till somebody loves you!"
Thanks for sharing my story of a Great Love of mine...if you agree, leave a comment.
Dean will Smile down from Heaven :)

Posted by Sue at Thursday, March 10, 2011

Learning Italian with…Dean Martin…for a week

Hey pallies, back again Dino-holics to share 'nother stellar Dino-discovery from the world wide web. Today ilovedinomartin turns it's attention to a Brit dude tagged Simon Edwards (Based in Warwickshire and Coventry) and his swingin' web pad "no81bob's world."

Seems that Mr. Edwards features a different musical artiste each week at his blog statin'.........

"Living with… is rediscovering that old habit of getting an album and just listening to that all week. Its how music fits with our lives. How its sometimes just a backdrop, sometimes at the foreground. Living with… is about people and music, those that help you discover music and those that are part of the story."

Well this week Simon has chosen to put the accent on our beloved Dino in his coolly creative Dino-prose "Learning Italian with…Dean Martin…for a week." Mr. Edwards features such Italiano Dino-words as menefreghista, amore, and pasta fazool or pasta fagioli.

Pallies, likes here is my fav of fav quotations from Simon's Dino-reflections...

....In a world where we over-analyse our work, our politics, our lives and relationships and the lives and friendships of others 24×7 on news channels, gossip magazines, on twitter…I found it refreshing to live life through a menefreghista where its not at all that complicated…”My life’s gonna be beautiful. I’ve sun- shine enough to spread; It’s like the fella said, ‘Tell me quick. Ain’t love like a kick in the head?’” “Let us leave the confusion and all disillusion behind. Just like bird of a feather, a rainbow together we’ll find”

Likes truly truly how refreshin' as Edwards sez 'bout his week of Dino-learnin' and Dino-livin'......"I found it refreshing to live life through a menefreghista where its not at all that complicated." This Edward guy likes makes a great point of just why we need our Dino more then ever!

ilovedinomartin sez our thanks to Brit Simon Edwards for sharin' such a stunnin' trib to our Dino...and certainly helpin' his blog readers to know, love, and honor our great man in a greater way. It likes continues to warm the depths of my Dino-heart to find such pallies as Edwards speakin' so candidly and insightfully of the life and teachin's of our beloved Dino. Likes to read this in it's original format, likes just clicks on the tag of this Dino-message. Dino-loved, DMP

Learning Italian with…Dean Martin…for a week

March 11, 2011 no81bob


[I'm sure somewhere I need to find copyright for this glorious photo, so may have to remove it...but for the time being enjoy the captured moment...see Shirley Maclaine quote below]
Continuing the Italian theme of last week (Madonna), I’ve spent the week learning some of the lingo with that master of smooth, Dean Martin…so this is how it went…

menefreghista – a person who couldn’t care less derived from the expression me ne frego (I couldn’t care less) with an ista added on to the end ‘cos its Italian. A word that is essentially Dean Martin as he always remained slightly detached, a distant figure that no one really understood. He never seemed to show that he cared that much.

Shirley Maclaine described the difficulties of understanding him “Getting to know Dean was another story … The words that come to mind are those that describe a person cut off from feeling – purposefully cut off. Perhaps that was why he seemed so devil-may-care and so coolly casual. The Italians, I later learned, had a more apt word for it, menefreghista, which means ‘one who does not give a f***.’ Dean Martin was basically a menefreghista.”

In a world where we over-analyse our work, our politics, our lives and relationships and the lives and friendships of others 24×7 on news channels, gossip magazines, on twitter…I found it refreshing to live life through a menefreghista where its not at all that complicated…”My life’s gonna be beautiful. I’ve sun- shine enough to spread; It’s like the fella said, ‘Tell me quick. Ain’t love like a kick in the head?’” “Let us leave the confusion and all disillusion behind. Just like bird of a feather, a rainbow together we’ll find”

Maybe, it was all simpler then but I suspect that the world is divided…in to the menefs and the non-menefs and being half Swiss I could never be the former, well not without a lot of consideration, angst and a referendum…

amore – as in Love or Zamora.

Love as in Amo, amas, amat, amamus, amatis, amant. Was I one of the last generation to learn Latin at school? (And drop it like a bag of spanners as soon as I could) The smell of blackboards and chewing gum stuck under desklids is flooding back as I write this…

Amore is probably the best word to describe the relationship Brighton fans and Bobby Zamora had and still have. In the three years that he played for the Seagulls he scored 83 goals and we had two successive league championships – the first silverware since 1964! The relationship also brought Brighton’s cultural contribution to the football chanting scene of the 00s in of course the immortal adaptation of Dean Martin’s That’s Amore.



I love the fact that the BBC sports article from 2003 politely picks up on the 2nd verse (football chants can have verses for the uninitiated). However, the more commonly sung opening verse went along the lines of “When the ball hits the net like a f*****g rocket that’s Zamora” More widely used, if clearly less widely reported upon. Bobby returned from a long-term injury to play and score for Fulham last week – good to have him back. That’s Amore.

pasta fazool or pasta fagioli, meaning “pasta and beans”. From last week you’ll recall P and I embarked on an Italian cooking fest for a school project. No pasta fazool for us – though on the Saturday home made spaghetti with home made pesto (pasta pesto if you prefer). This went stunningly well although having made the pasta dough ourselves we now understand why mama has such big forearm muscles. Much pummeling and cajoling required. And all washed down very nicely with an authentic Pinot Grigio and freshly grated parmesan.

However, Sunday was an excursion in to the world of Italian dessert with a recipe for Tiramisu.

“Easy” we thought bringing that combination of youth (P and a friend) and inexperience (me). As the photo below shows, I believe we have brought a new dessert to the table which we would call rospo nel foro dolce (literally translated means sweet toad in the hole). Taste was all there, but as Greg from Master Chef would say a little lacking in presentation.



As to the musical backdrop for the week, as with other artists from earlier times I struggled to find the right Dean Martin album from the period so resorted to a couple of compilations (the main being 2010′s All Time Greats). The usuals come through with some added gems that are worth looking out – a twee duet Two Sleepy People with Line Renaud, How d’ya like your eggs in the morning? with Helen O’Connell and the rather bawdy Luna Mezzo Mare - fun but not really a classic I suppose.

Much as I loved the trip to menefrighista land by the middle of the week it began to lay a little heavy (rather like the homemade Tiramisu/ sweet toad in the hole) so a blast of Faith No More was called for. They do say the secret of Italian cooking is in the contrast of flavours.

One final note – every Christmas we have that strange morbid conversation where we try to remember that someone famous died on Christmas Day but we can’t – Bing Crosby is always suggested but that would be too neat. It was Dean Martin, he died on Christmas Day 1995.

Video of the week captures it all, the music, the food, the wine….That’s Amore!



Glee Watch: Three song highlights this week. Firstly, true bad taste Glee with the geriatric rendition of The Living Years, the song has never sounded more apt. Secondly, back to high energy Glee with a barnstorming rendition of Valerie including great dance routine that deserves the standing ovation…this is what we pay to watch! Thirdly, and probably the highlight a performance of the ungleeable Florence and the Machine’s Dog Days Are Over…they proved me wrong with a riproaring rendition. So, despite a slow start, turned out to be a great Glee Watch. Oh, and we love Emma’s outfit as she stands up Will by the school bus!

Dean Martin was up first

Hey pallies, likea as a follow-up to yester-Dino-day's post of the airin' of "Rat Pack Live and Swingin'" on PBS is today's Dino-devotion via the San Rafael/Terra Linda "News Pointer" where Slice of Life columnist Miss Win Murphy does a sorta review of this historic 1964 Rat Pack concert live from the Kiel Opera House in St. Louis.

Likes pallies, gotta 'fess up that I likes totally totally digs the way that this Murphy chick patters on how she just happened on this PBS special while channel surfin' last Saturday night and likes how she wakened her hubbie from sleep so that he could enjoys it as well.

Our Dino loved to say that he loved playin' to de common folk, and likes Miss Murphy and her man seem likes just the sort of people that our Dino loved entertainin' for.

So, takes some time to soak in this very very cool read of a review of "Rat Pack Live and Swingin." ilovedinomartin sez our Dino-appreciato to the pallies at "News Pointer" and columnist Win Murphy for liftin' up the name of our Dino in this way. Obviously Win and her hubbie Owen are Dino-devotees and her patter certainly oughta help brings others to fallin' for our beloved Dino. To view this in it's original format, likes just clicks on the tagg of this Dino-message. Dino-loved, DMP and, likes btw pallies, checks out the clip followin' the patter for our Dino's opennin' set of Dino-magic from the Kiel....likes totally totally Dino-rad!





Slice of Life

Icons of U.S. history

Published: Wednesday, March 9, 2011 2:06 PM PST

Win Murphy

Who would be more surprised to be called icons of American history than Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. — or to have one of their concerts aired on public television as “Legends of the 20th Century”?

I can hear Dean Martin saying, “I ain’t any legend. Frank, are you a legend? And what about you, Smokey?” They’d all laugh and say, “We ain’t any legends.” But leaving the planet changes things, and the Rat Pack is considered legendary stuff that “repeats, repeats in my ear,” as Sinatra would sing in his smash-hit standard “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.”

Oddly enough, though “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” is a Sinatra classic hit, it was Sammy Davis Jr. who hit one out of the park with this classic Cole Porter song. It sounded like a familiar but totally different melody — that’s how each of these recording giants has left his permanent mark on the world of music.

The event, airing last Saturday night, March 5, on KTVU, San Jose, was an hour and a half of pure delight. And I just happened upon it. My husband, Owen, said, “There’s nothing on that interests me; I might as well go to sleep” (we were watching TV in bed).

“OK, “I said, lowering the volume so he could sleep. I tried all my favorite channels — “Ancient Aliens” on History, “Pit Bulls” on Animal Planet — but found nothing that would capture, entertain me or make me smile or learn something new.

I gave our TV one last chance by surfing channels at random, and there it was, on Channel 28, with one of my favorites, Johnny Carson, another icon of the last century, as emcee. Carson came onstage, looked around as if he didn’t know where he was, and without saying a word had the audience roaring with laughter and applause.

The concert, videotaped in 1965 at the Kiel Opera House in St. Louis, was a charity fundraiser organized by Sinatra. They did the whole show for no pay, the same way they used to drop in on whoever was performing at the Sands, their “headquarters” in Las Vegas. “Sinatra was a sucker for charity events,” said Shawn Levy, author of the book “The Rat Pack: Live and Swingin’,” which was the name of the television show.

“Owen, Owen,” I yelled, shaking my sleeping husband, who was not amused until I said, “They’re airing a video tape of a lost concert by the Rat Pack. You won’t want to miss this one.” And he didn’t. He bounced right into viewing position and said, “There’s a taped concert we missed?” It seems Nancy Sinatra (the daughter, not the first wife) has the master tape of this concert, and somehow someone unearthed a copy. It was indeed a first-time viewing for Owen and me because we’ve seen just about every Rat Pack tape that’s aired. Even flew to Vegas and drove to Reno to see Frank and the boys in person.

The very sight of Johnny Carson on stage made me wish they’d rerun his old late-night shows (sigh — Leno and Letterman just ain’t got it the way Johnny did). We heard each Rat Pack member doing a set of songs, then the group sang together.

Dean Martin was up first, strolling in with his glass of apple juice (his producers insist he never drank on stage). His relaxed manner made him seem to glide in, and his smile was wide and wonderful, as only Dino could make it. One verse of “Volare” and the audience was in his talented Italian hands. Tall and handsome in his tux, he wowed ’em — natch.

Next up was Sammy Davis Jr. (they were obviously saving the Chairman of the Board for last). I’d forgotten how diminutive Davis was, how he danced like cooked spaghetti gliding on ice. Each singer was spectacular, “owned” each song he did. The long years of singing in nightclubs, concerts, fairs — wherever — prove valuable in each of their abilities to take the stage, make it theirs, and perform with such incredible ease and not a hint of concern because they know they’re great at what they do. Sammy did a remarkable take on “I’ve Got You Under My Skin.” He didn’t use the orchestra (led by Quincy Jones), but sang and danced only to the beat of drums, including bongo and kettle drums. He was years ahead of his craft on this. Marvelous.

There was lots of teasing and joking around (Dean Martin on a mike backstage really heckled Sinatra, who was singing onstage and cracking up). The final number, in which Johnny Carson joined in, was the singing of “The Birth of the Blues.” Carson began singing (with a nice voice and guts to sing with these pros). Sinatra moved closer to Carson’s mike and Johnny said, “I’ll call you when I need you, Frank.”

'The Rat Pack: Live and Swingin',' airing on PBS stations

Hey pallies, dudes it is news likes today's Dino-news that simply gladdens the heart of this Dino-holic. From the web presence of Columbus Indiana's "The Republic" comes the stellar Dino-news that the Public Broadcasting Stations are in the process of airin' a classic Rat Pack concert.

From the pen of Mr. Verne Gay of Newsday comes word that PBS is broadcastin' that grandest of the grand live June 20, 1965 performance of the Rat Pack's "Live and Swingin'" at the Keil Opera House in St. Louis.

Likes why does such news gladden this Dino-holic's heart? Well what better way of reachin' the masses to bring others to Dino-devotion then to have our great man bein' featured on national television and educational television at that! Likes way cool to know that those lookin' for quality small screen programmes will have this outstandin' opportunity to enjoys some Rat Pack history, especially the pleasures of our swingin' Dino!

Who knows how many thousands of viewers will start their journey to pure and sweet Dino-devotion through the airin' of this PBS special. Now pallies, since each public education station likes sets their own schedule, be sure to checks your local PBS station for when this Dino-concert will air in your area.

Thanks to the pallies at "The Republic" and particularly Newsday's Verne Gay for breakin' this Dino-riffic news! To view this in it's original format, as usual, just clicks on the tagg of this here Dino-gram. And, as a bit of a Dino-bonus, checks out the vid at the end that features a few moments from this swingin' special!
Dino-centered, DMP



'The Rat Pack: Live and Swingin',' airing on PBS stations

By Verne Gay Newsday

REASON TO WATCH: For Rat Pack lovers, wherever you are.

WHAT IT'S ABOUT: On June 20, 1965, members of the Rat Pack performed in St. Louis' Kiel Opera House for a one-night-only televised benefit in support of a halfway house for ex-cons. Johnny Carson emceed in place of Joey Bishop (bad back) while Quincy Jones directed the Count Basie Orchestra. Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra sang some of their standards, and closed with "Birth of the Blues."

There's no narration or context here — just a straight performance. By the way, this special aired years ago on Nick at Nite, which may explain the puzzling dedication: "To Mort Viner, the last one standing who knows the true story." A longtime Hollywood agent, Viner died nearly a decade ago.

MY SAY: If Hollywood was once a high school, then the cool kids in the hall were the Rat Pack. Together they exuded a sly, knowing detachment — a rebuke to the anarchic movements of rock and roll and the counterculture. They made comic virtue of their vices — booze and cigarettes — but eventually succumbed to them. (Martin died in 1995 of emphysema; Davis in 1990 of throat cancer; the original leader of the pack, Humphrey Bogart, was gone in 1957 from lung cancer.)

Sinatra was the chairman, or the sun around whom the lesser stars revolved. The whole thing was, in part, an act — a style, and posture, that bound their separate nightclub, TV, stage, big-screen and recording personae. You'll need this background if you decide to watch this time capsule. The performances are excellent — Davis, in particular — but there's nothing dramatically different.

BOTTOM LINE: Enjoy the music, but you'll barely get a glimpse of what the Rat Pack was all about.

High stakes for Dean Martin and Robert Mitchum in Five Card Stud (1968)

Hey pallies, likes this is likes totally totally rad...just went to do a bit of Dino-searchin' of blogs, and Dino-low and Dino-behold one of the first listin' directed me to this current Dino-feature from our pallie Monty at blog "Saddles and Spurs: The Great Westerns."

Monty's current Dino-patter features our great man's great western "Five Card Stud." Loves Monty's homogin' of our Dino when he sez.....
"Dean is super cool as usual as the gambler with a conscience."

Very cool of our pallie Monty to shows such Dino-devotion in this Dino-review and loves! loves! loves! all the vid caps of our Dino and company from this stellar Dino-classic. ilovedinomartin sez our grateful Dino-thanks to our pal Monty for featurin' our beloved Dino this very Dino-day and for helpin' others to comin' to knowin', lovin' and honorin' our Dino through his amazin' Dino-efforts.

To likes veiw this in it's original Dino-form, just clicks on the tagg of this Dino-post. Dino-loved, DMP


Wednesday, March 9, 2011

High stakes for Dean Martin and Robert Mitchum in Five Card Stud (1968)



More of a mystery than a western but it does take place in the Old west times. When a card cheat is caught in a high stakes poker game, he is hanged by a lynch mob of the other card players. Dean Martin is the one player who tries to stop it but to no avail. Weeks past by when those same men are mysteriously killed one by one and Dean has to try and solve who's the killer before it's too late. Robert Mitchum comes in as a wandering preacher hoping to save the lost souls of this small town. Him and Dean have great chemistry together. Roddy McDowall is perfect as a weasel and card player who hates Dean for trying to date his sister. McDowall, even with that stiff British accent is quite good in a western. He plays a low down sniveling weasel pretty good. Inger Stevens is on hand as owner of a barber shop. Saud barber shop also gives more than shaves and haircuts, if you know what I mean. I liked Five Card Stud, since it was more than just a western. Dean is super cool as usual as the gambler with a conscience. And also Yaphet Kotto in one of his first roles as a bartender and friend to Dean. Look out for a good performance by Katherine Justice as McDowall's love lorn sister.


Robert Mitchum as The Reverend Jonathan Rudd


Dean Martin as gambler Van Morgan and Inger Stevens as Lily Langford


Yaphet Kotto as Little George and Dean Martin


Katherine Justice as Nora Evers and Dean Martin


Robert Mitchum

Posted by monty at 6:37 AM

Labels: dean martin, five card stud, inger stevens, photo, robert mitchum

Dean Martin, I hear the voices of velvet Dean Martin, I will await your return

Hey pallies, likes the more I does some Dino-searchin' of blogs, likes the more Dino-devotion that keeps turnin' up. Today's Dino-discovery comes from blogg "Bashung in English - Translating France's Greatest Rocker."

At this pad blogger Laura Tattoo of Astoria, Oregon is liftin' up the music of Alain Bashung, "a musician and singer many in France call 'the last of the greats'." Miss Tatoo's goal is spreadin' Bashung's work to the wider world.

Well, among Bashung's songs is one homagin' our beloved Dino, simply tagged "Dean Martin." Loves these Dino-thoughts....
Dean Martin, I hear the voices of velvet
Dean Martin, I will await your return

Likes indeed pallies, no one ever has or ever will have the velvet voice of our Dino, and indeed each and every true Dino-holic simply does await the return of our King of Cool!

How cool to learn that master rocker Alain Bashung shows such passion for our Master of Hip! Thanks to Miss Laura Tattoo for sharin' this great post of Alain's Dino-tune. To view this in it's original format, to read both French and English lyrics, just clicks on the tagg of this Dino-post. Dino-loved, DMP



Dean Martin



minor resemblance?

Word: Boris Bergman
Music: Alain Bashung

Everything isn't rosy in the land of flemish roses
Right everything's right Benelux*
Rose-colored glasses, we don't have a great thing
Scratch me there, I have a flea
She only makes love to God, she only does it with God
Confess her, confess
'Cause the port of anguish is always off limits
Did I succeed in climbing over it?

Dean Martin, I hear voices of velvet
Dean Martin, I will await your return
Zorro begged off, for other cats to whip
I've had some masked balls, René's gonna renegotiate

People gave kisses on the Titanic
Do you hear my ukulele
Let's dance on some salmon-colored trout, some trout, some trout
The paso's gonna double, the paso's gonna double, paso doublé
I get erect in reverse in the heart of the valley
I don't recommend it

Dean Martin, I hear voices of velvet
Dean Martin, I will await your return
Zorro begged off, for other cats to whip
I've had some masked balls, René's gonna renegotiate
Dean Martin

Everything isn't rosy in the land of flemish roses
Right everything's right Benelux
Not a word from her, tore up the book
Tomorrow I'll need all of them
The mousse had a bar with a blowtorch
Kiss me kiss me
And the port of anguish is always off limits
Did I succeed in climbing over it?

Dean Martin, I hear voices of velvet
Dean Martin, I will await your return
Zorro begged off, for other cats to whip
I've had some masked balls, René's gonna renegotiate
Dean

I get erect in reverse in the heart of the valley
If this tells you that one can start over again
The paso's gonna double, the paso's gonna double, paso doublé

*Benelux: An economic uniion between Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Posted by Moineau En France

" .....He told Phillips that he wanted to sing like Dean Martin..."

Hey pallies, likes ilovedinomartin simply simply delights in sharin' with all you Dino-holics the amazin' passion that others have for our beloved Dino.

Today's Dino-gram is a flash from the past in the form of a brief excerpt from "Elvis's million-dollar mentor" by Colin Escott of the Brit pad "The Examiner."
Escott's prose puts the accent on Sam Phillips of Sun Records fame, who was "Elvis's million-dollar mentor."

Mr. Escott simply retells the heart-warmin' story of how in 1954, Elvis walked into Phillips'small recordin' studio on Union Avenue in Memphis and Presley shared his deep, pure, and true desire to emulate our Dino....as you will read below.

Gotta 'fess up that I never ever have had much time for Mr. Presley's music, but I have the deepest of deep respect for his stellar Dino-appreciato!

To read this whole story on the career of Mr. Sam Phillips, likes simply clicks on the tagg of this here Dino-message. ilovedinomartin sez our thanks to writer Colin
Escott and the pallies at "The Telegraph" for sharin' this outstandin' remembrance of his idolization of our beloved Dino! Dino-loved, DMP

In the summer of 1954, Elvis Presley was 19 years old. Painfully shy, he’d never sung outside his bedroom. He told Phillips that he wanted to sing like Dean Martin as if a recording contract would suddenly rid him of his acne, his country accent, his awkwardness and he’d suddenly acquire Martin’s urbanity.

SAVE OVER $230 off the full price of The Dean Martin Variety Collection.

Hey pallies, likes d'ya know that you no longer needs to wait forever likes to gets you hands on the 29 vol-u-mes of the Dino-show? And, likes if you order the complete Dino-set you can save tons of bread over the buy-one-vol-u-me-at-a-time method!

Currently the pallies at the Dean Martin Variety Show pad (clicks on tagg of this Dino-post to goes there) are offerin' quite the Dino-deal if you order the whole Dino-set at one time? Just perhaps, just perhaps this spec-i-al offer is comin' our way 'cause Time-Life will be offerin' even a better deal with a six DVD set of Dino-discs from the Dino-show for less then 60 bucks startin' May 24.

But, likes in ilovedinomartin's effort to keeps all ya pallies up-to-date on the most current Dino-details, likes did what to make this Dino-information available.
Dino-loved, DMP



Complete Collector's Set AS A SPECIAL OFFER YOU CAN SAVE OVER $230 off the full price of The Dean Martin Variety Collection. You get the full 29 volume set for ONLY 4 easy payments of $99.99 plus FREE shipping and handling! That's like getting 8volumes absolutely FREE, plus FREE shipping & handling! The complete collection includes comedic skits and musical performances with Dean Martin and features the following celebrity friends: Ella Fitzgerald Frank Sinatra Goldie Hawn Johnny Carson
Lucille Ball Gladys Knight & The Pips Bill Cosby Dom DeLuise Jonathon Winter Bing Crosby Bob Hope And more!

Sunday Serenade with Dino: "Almost Like Being In Love"

Hey pallies, well Sunday Serenade with Dino is back with 'nother great moment from the Dino-show. This time 'round our belove Dino is croonin' that Broadway classic "Almost Like Being In Love" from "Brigadoon." While on the great white way the song was sung with a quite a serious tone, but in the hands of our Dino it is done so so much more playfully.

As you watch this clip enjoys how our Dino puts his whole body into the rhythm of the song spreadin' cool all over...each look, each gesture makin' us laugh and have the bestest of best time with our swingin' Dino.

And, as he sings, "There's a smile on my face for the whole human race" likes you just knows that is the simple, honest, and likes total Dino-truth....when Dino grins, likes you know it is just for you...but also everybody else on the Dino-planet as well!

Dino, our beloved Dino, thanks for makin' us smile and givin' us such cool memories...you simply makes us feel great by watchin' you have so so much fun as you
do your magic with this stellar song! Dino-loved, DMP




Almost Like Being In Love

What a day this has been what a rare mood I'm in
Why it's almost like being in love
There's a smile on my face for the whole human race
Why it's almost like being in love

All the music of life seems to be like a bell that is ringin' for me
And from the way that I feel when that bell starts to peal
I would swear I was falling swear I was falling almost like being in love

(What a day this has been what a rare mood I'm in
Why it's almost like being in love)
Oh there's a smile on my face for the whole human race
Why it's almost like being in love

All the music of life seems to be...

The 'Dean Martin' Collar

Hey pallies, likes you just never know where our Dino is goin' to turn up next. Today's Dino-discovery comes from a rad pad tagged "Vintage Scans' where the blogger shares unusual images from the past, includin' this advert from the October 1954 edition of Esquire Magazine featurin' the 'Dean Martin' Collar.

How cool to know that our Dino's cool style in shirts was recognized in this way...and that his stylin' was one of only 16 shirt styles. How cool to be able to say that you were sportin' a shirt with a Dino-collar!

Thanks to the pallies at "Vintage Scans" for sharin' this Dino-fun with us. To view this in it's original format, likes just clicks on the tagg of this Dino-post. Dino-loved, DMP


The 'Dean Martin' Collar



I presume that the 'Dean Martin' collar will attract boobicular young ladies.
From Esquire, October 1954.

PHOTOS OF THE DAY: BING AND DEAN MARTIN

Hey pallies, likes there are just certain pallies on the web that are such a pleasure to be in correspondence with....one of dem bein' Mr. David Lobosco.

Mr. Lobosco is a huge fan of der Bing holdin' forth at his outstandin' blog "THE BING CROSBY MEDIA ARCHIVE." While Bing is his main man, David is also a great great admirer of our great man and is so so kind as to personally email me when his pad features our beloved Dino.

His post this very Dino-day is an offerin' of 5-count 'em- 5 great pixs of our Dino and der Bing....we see our Dino and Bing havin' some fun cuttin' up dancin', golfin', and workin' together. So loves the way that pallie David puts the relationship between these two crooners...

"Martin admitted that Bing was a great influence his career, and Bing had a lot of admiration for Dino."

ilovedinomartin sez our greatful Dino-appreciato to Mr. David Lobosco for spreadin' some of his Dino-love in this way..sure to draw some of his readership closer to true and passionate Dino-devotion. And, thanks also David for showin' some true Dinopalliedom by personally emailin' so that we would know 'bout your current Dino-patter. To checks out this post at David's Bing Blog, just clicks on the tag of this Dino-gram. Dino-loved, DMP

Friday, March 4, 2011

PHOTOS OF THE DAY: BING AND DEAN MARTIN

Bing Crosby and Dean Martin were nearly from different generations. (Bing was born in 1903 and Dino was born in 1917). However, together they made crooning what it was for years. Martin admitted that Bing was a great influence his career, and Bing had a lot of admiration for Dino. They appeared together a few times in films, on television, and in recordings. However, it was not enough in my opinion. At Reprise, there was a proposed duet album called "Bing, Dino, And Dixie", but it unfortunately never happened. Luckily we have some great memories of the kings of crooning together such as these great photos...











Posted by Lobosco at 5:29 AM
Labels: Dean Martin, photos

Classic Dino-philosophy

Hey pallies, likes what does our Dino have in common with Rene Descartes and Pepe le Pew? Accordin' to today's Dino-post they are all great philosophers.

From "The Blog Fodder" where the blogger dude proclaims himself a "wandering soul who has at last found home and happiness in Ukraine," comes this fun post featurin' our Dino's amazin' philosophy of life "I drink, therefore I am" along side similiar quotations from Descartes and le Pew!

How cool is it that this transplant to Dnipropetrovs'k Oblast, Ukraine has shared one of our Dino's teachin's with his readers. Just goes to continue to prove that Dino-adulation is universal and that 'specially as the world news gets crazier and crazier...more and more pallies are turnin' to our Dino for wit and wisdom...and likes nobody wiser then our worldly wise Dino!

Thanks to the dude at "The Blog Fodder" for liftin' up the name of our Dino in this way and drawin' others to Dino-perfection! Likes, as always, to view this in it's original format, likes clicks on the tagg of this here Dino-gram. Dino-loved, DMP



Les Classiques des Philosophes Grandes

I think, therefore I am - Rene Descartes

I drink, therefore I am - Dean Martin

I stink, therefore I am - Pepe le Pew

Dean Martin's Nickel Breakfast

Hey pallies, likes just as any Dino-flick is worth watchin' over and over and any Dino-croon is worthy of listenin' to time and time again, so too pallies any Dino-tale is certainly worth tellin' many a Dino-time. Today's Dino-gram is likes 'nother tellin' of the epic Dino Nickel Breakfast tale.

From what is becomin' a fav web page of mine, "The Art Of Manliness," from the pen of Mr. Paul Kyriazi comes the funny and touchin' story of our beloved Dino and his pallie Sonny King's sharin' a nickel breakfast while they were waitin' to make it big. Always loves the punch line of how our amazin' Dino and King were very generous to the restaurant manager after they hit pay dirt.

I just loves the tellin' and retellin' of such Dino-experiences 'cause it likes gives us great insights into our great man's courageous character! Thanks to Mr. Kyriazi and the "Art Of Manliness" for liftin' up the name of our Dino in this way and help readers to come to know, love, and honor our beloved Dino. To view this in it's original format, likes just clicks on the tagg of this Dino-post. Dino-loved, DMP

Dean Martin's Nickel Breakfast
Posted by Paul Kyriazi on February 24, 2011 at 4:00am

When singers Dean Martin and Sonny King were first starting out, they had little money. They would go to a restaurant that served 2 donuts, coffee, and orange juice for a nickel.

Sonny stayed outside while Dean ate one donut, half the coffee and juice. Then Sonny would go in and say, "Hey Dean, you've got an important call." Dean would say, "Okay, why don't you finish my breakfast." which Sonny did.

After doing this several times, the manager caught on and said, "Hey, you guys don't have to do this. Just come in together and I'll serve you both for a nickel. You can pay me back sometime in the future."

Years later, Dean and Sonny searched for the manager and gave him $25,000 each.

45th anniversary of Dino as Matt Helm in The Silencers

Hey pallies, likes gotta 'fess up that for some reason the pallies at google have not been doin' their usual outstandin' job of sharin' Dino-'lerts and likes as a result many cool Dino-features have been likes slippin' my Dino-view. Case in point, today's cool Dino-gram from the pallies at the Bond pad "HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVANT" Weblong was posted over a week ago and likes I just happened 'pon it while doin' a blogger search for "Dean Martin."

So glad to have found it pallies, 'cause likes as you will see below, it is an anniversary Dino-trib to the first of the Matt Helm quartet of spy flicks. It was 45years in February that our Dino as Matt Helm made history on the big screen..and likes as the pallies a HMSS note, the series was "arguably the most successful non-Bond spy series of the 1960s." Likes how cool is that dudes!

Anyway, great to find this Bond pad (likes clicks on tag to goes there) has honored our Dino in this way by rememberin' this anniverary date of the debut of our beloved Dino as swingin' spy agent Matt Helm. Thanks to the pallies at HMSS for spreadin' the Dino-message in this way! Dino-loved, DMP

45th anniversary of Dino as Matt Helm in The Silencers

Posted on February 19, 2011 by The HMSS Editors

This week was the 45th anniversary of The Silencers, the first of four Matt Helm films starring Dean Martin and arguably the most successful non-Bond spy series of the 1960s.

Some of the film’s cast and crew had a shot at doing Bond movies but it didn’t happen.

Studio Columbia Pictures had turned down Bond, with United Artists instead making a deal with Bond producers Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman; producer Irving Allen had been Broccoli’s partner but thought Ian Fleming’s 007 novels were terrible; 007 screenwriter Richard Maibaum suggested Victor Buono to play Goldfinger; some United Artists executive wanted Phil Karlson to direct Dr. No, but he had a $75,000 asking price while Terence Young would work for $40,000.

Allen took Donald Hamilton’s serious novels and made them into spoofs, though the films did use some plot elements of Hamilton’s originals, particularly The Silencers. To get Dean Martin on board, Allen had to make him a partner. That’s why the films have a copyright notice reading “Meadway-Claude” — Claude was Martin’s production company.

Below is the latter part of main titles of The Silencers, in which Cyd Charisse lipsynchs the title song performed by Vikki Carr and written by Elmer Berstein and Mack David.



Filed under: The Other Spies Tagged: | Albert R. Broccoli, Columbia Pictures, Cyd Charisse, Dean Martin, Donald Hamilton, Elmer Berstein, Harry Saltzman, Irving Allen, Mack David, Matt Helm, Murderers' Row, Phil Karlson, Richard Maibaum, The Other Spies, The Silencers, The Wrecking Crew, United Artists, Victor Buono, Vikki Carr

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