Charlie Sheen & Dean Martin Play Chicago

Hey pallies, likes I was thinkin' that we were havin' a pretty cool week so far with posts here at ilovedinomartin....likes I mean I loved our Danny G.'s Sunday Dino-serenade featurin' "In A Little Spanish Town." Then we had that great post on Monday puttin' the accent on our Dino's amazin' style...and yesterday readin' 'bout Michael Buble dancin' his first dance with his new bride to our Dino's classic, "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime" brought a huge Dino-buddha-grin to my face.

But, likes pallies today's Dino-reflection is one of those oh so so rare and magical pieces of Dino-prose that truly makes one proud to be known as a true Dino-holic's Dino-holic!

From a blog site tagged "Open Salon" a blogger known as Chicago Guy tells about his experience of seein' Charlie Sheen last Sunday night playin' the famous Chicago Theater.

Well pallies, accordin' to Chicago Guy seein' Charlie Sheen in the windy city was no great thrill, but what is thrillin' is to read this dude's recollection of seein' our Dino playin' the same venue not long after his beloved boypallie Dino Jr. died in the plane crash....no doubt when our great man played the Chicago Theater with the frankie and Sam man durin' the 1998 Rat Pack Reunion Tour...and as you will remember pallies, our Dino called it quits followin' the Chicago gig.

You are gonna wants to read each and every word of Dino-praise that Chicago Guy has for our beloved Dino....several times!

Loves how Chicago Guy simply sez, "He smiled. And he had you." All our Dino has to do is walk out on the stage and smile...smilin' that amazin' Dino-buddha-grin of his...and likes pallies this guy and his pallies were gone...simply lost in Dino-wonder.

Can't tell you how happy it makes me to read this Dino-account of some young guys in the Windy City bein' blown away by the charm of our King of Cool. Gotta also 'fess up how envious I am of Chicago Guy and his pals, 'cause likes I coulda been one of those three thousand bein' in the immediate presence of our beloved Dino and bein' changed forever by simply seein' him smile!

Words simply cannot express my appreciato to Chicago Guy for sharin' his fabulous memories of bein' in the Chicago Theatre, bein' transformed by the power of Dino! Chicago Guy simply has recharged my batteries to be even more faithful in proclaimin' the message of Dino-devotion as far and wide as possible.

Thanks ever so much Chicago Guy for sharin' your Dino-testimony with the rest of the world and lettin' others know the transformational power of our beloved Dino! To read this in it's original format, likes just clicks on the tagg of this Dino-message. Dino-transformed, DMP

APRIL 4, 2011 12:25PM

Charlie Sheen & Dean Martin Play Chicago



Sunday was a bad night for ticket scalpers in Chicago. Standing quietly in the shadows thrown by Charlie Sheen’s name splashed across the marquee, they weren’t even trying to negotiate. So I said, “5 bucks.”

“Aw c’mon man . . . .”

I shrugged and we started down the stairs to the Red Line subway home. Rain was coming. Time to go home. But the scalper called after us.

“Only cause that’s such a pretty lady. Hey, you ain’t Sandra Bullock are you?”

She rolled her eyes and said under her breath, “Yeah, I am. But the limos in the shop so we’re taking the train.”

I looked at her and she said quietly, “Oh alright. If it gets really bad we can leave.” And I gave him the $10.00 bill with no thought at all to what others had paid. Only that I might be paying too much.

Inside the stately Chicago Theater. The lobby built to capture the anticipation of being bowled over by world-class talent. Now it was winking. As if to say, “Are you sure?”

We found the predictably distant nosebleed seats. A football field’s distance from the stage.

And I thought back to the night 3 pals and me had come to see Dean Martin near the end of his life. All three of us young punks awash in just how funny we thought we were. Dressed in Rat Pack trench coats. Boxes of candy cigarettes. So we could stand outside, take a Sinatra like sharp quick puff, and then flip the butt to the sidewalk. Like that was some sort of signal for Ava Gardner to pay attention. Sure, we’d go watch the old guy. Laugh at just how cool we were while he was just old.

Then Martin came onstage. In the tux. The look still there. Hollowed by the recent death of his son, he smiled and still radiated a presence that commanded you to pay attention. He smiled. And he had you. In 10 seconds, us 3 young punks were speechless. I’m sure we didn’t know why. We just knew that he made us stop the attitude, the bad jokes, the blind and crazy ignorance of those who think they know answers. And he did it with his presence. All he did was smile.

Here was a man who could instantly hold the attention of 3,000 strangers. As if it didn’t matter what he did. He told jokes. He sang “That’s Amore,” he did some shtick about being drunk, letting all of us in on the real joke which was of course that no one could have been more sober.

When the show was over. We three children in our trench coats stood up and started applauding. And we didn’t stop for a long, long time.

So as Charlie Sheen rambled up on stage. I couldn’t help but think about how hard it was to hold an audience just by being you.

There really isn’t much to report about the show. Which I guess is the point. The murmur of the crowd did include many who’s wish for a train wreck wasn’t real far under the surface. And some of that was fueled by the vodka, red bull, cranberry drinks that were going for about what we paid for both our tickets.

But the train wreck never happened. It was more like, standing on the train platform, the giant heaving locomotive chugging towards you, and you have the momentary fantasy, “What if this mountain of pulsating steel jumps the tracks and comes plowing right towards you? Instant and horrific death to you and the rest of the crowd on the platform?’

But instead what happens is that the locomotive pulls gingerly into the station, comes to a complete stop, and your drunk Uncle Fred stumbles off. You want to pretend you don’t know him. But he sees you, so you take him to get coffee before you drive him home to the scolding of Aunt Elizabeth.

Sunday night in Chicago, Charlie Sheen didn’t hurt anyone. (Except for a few ticket scalpers). He answered questions. Yelled at the audience a few times. People screamed every now and then. A bit like a family gathering of 3,000 where the beer is warm, the good appetizers have already been eaten, and nothing much happens.

When we left, it was raining in Chicago. A brilliant spring storm blowing in from the west. Lightening dancing and cracking across the sky. Thunder booming straight to your heart.

And somewhere Dean Martin is doing a little soft shoe slide step. His shoes so polished you can see them shine from the balcony. He is smiling. Winking and letting you in on the joke.

He takes another bow and the applause is just like the thunder. Booming straight to your heart.

While Dean Martin just smiles.



Author tags:show business, talent, what lasts?a

"However, he put the mic down when it came time for the couples' first dance to "Everybody Loves Somebody” by Dean Martin."

Hey pallies, likes the highest compliment one singer can gives to 'nother is usin' the other's music. Today's Dino-reflections is a case in point. From CNN Entertainment's "Marquee Blog" comes news of crooner Michael Bublé recent marriage to Luisana Lopilato outside Buenos Aires.

Nows likes we knows that Bublé loves our Dino and other crooners from the Dino-era. So, likes as you will read below after he sang his own tune that he wrote for his bride, Michael chose to dance his first dance with Luisana to the croon of our beloved Dino singin' his signature "Everybody Loves Somebody, Sometime."

Likes there simply couldn't be a better way of Michael Bublé payin' homage to our great man then usin' our Dino's greatest hit. Certainly Bublé's honorin' of our Dino in this way will draw many more to deep, pure, and true Dino-devotion!

ilovedinomartin sez our thanks to the pallies at CNN Entertainment's "Marquee Blog" for sharin' this cool vignette with the wider world, and to our great pallie Danny G. who likes first puts us on to this information. To view this in it's original format, please clicks on the tag of these Dino-words. Dino-loved, DMP





Michael Bublé gets hitched in Buenos Aires

Michael Bublé has plenty to sing about.

The Canadian crooner wed Argentine model Luisana Lopilato outside Buenos Aires on Saturday, his publicist told CNN.

At the reception, Bublé sang “Haven’t Met You Yet” - the tune he wrote for his bride who appeared in the music video with him – to Lopilato and the 300 guests in attendance. However, he put the mic down when it came time for the couples' first dance to "Everybody Loves Somebody” by Dean Martin. Perhaps an unsurprising choice, as Bublé has covered the "Rat Pack" member's tunes in the past.

Lopilato wore a tiered gown by Argentinean designer Sylvie Burstin before changing into a Marchesa gown.

Bublé’s ex, British actress Emily Blunt, who was not in attendance, wore a Marchesa Bridal custom gown when she married “The Office’s” John Krasinksi in July 2010.

Dino-style

Hey pallies, likes gotta 'fess up that I loves to find others who are of like Dino-mind, and so dudes I am thrilled to present the thoughts of Brit Mr. Andrew Williams and his reflections on our Dino's style.

From the pages of the stylish Londonaire pad "MEN'S FLAIR....men's style as seen by those living it" comes Mr. Williams thoughtful ruminations on "An Alternative View of Style." Seems that Andrew doesn't agree with the Mark Twainian thought that "clothes makes the man."

As his case in point Williams points to a famous picture of our Dino and the frankie arriving at Heathrow Airport. Both are extemely well groomed and dressed, but as Andrew points out it is our Dino that truly has "style" while the frankie is "merely a pretender." "True style" as Mr. Andrew Williams states so profoundly, "is as much about behaviour, or attitude, as it is the clothes you wear."

Both our Dino and the frankie are always so well dressed, but when it comes to behaviour and attitude, it is truly our great man with the great style!

ilovedinomartin sez our grateful thanks for this wonderful way of liftin' up our beloved Dino and leadin' others to wanna be more likes our great man. Thanks to the pallies at "MEN'S FLAIR" and particularly Mr. Andrew Williams for his Dino-sensitivity. To view this in it's original format, likes just clicks on the tagg of this Dino-gram. Dino-loved, DMP

An Alternative View of Style

By Andrew Williams April 4, 2011

This is a slightly different article to the one I’d intended to write. Originally I was going to highlight a rather unfortunate, and extremely irritating, problem with new online retailer Mr Porter. However, on the brink of having to take them to Court they did what they should have done in the first place and all is now well. Come on guys. It was a credit to a photo, I wasn’t asking you to splice DNA together!

But it got me thinking. We frequently talk about style on this website, and attempt to define it. So many people, media folk and retailers bandy about the word ‘style’ as though merely saying it often enough made it so. Slick expensive advertising campaigns mean nothing to me. A retailer may stock some beautiful clothes but its ‘all the gear, no idea’ if they can’t conduct themselves in a manner that matches the rhetoric.

I’m sure we’re all familiar with the famous quote by Mark Twain that “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society”. No pun intended, but Twain was very wide off the mark.



When British actor, raconteur and man of style David Niven died the porters of Heathrow Airport sent a wreath of flowers to his funeral. Attached was a note that read:

“To the finest gentleman who ever walked through these hall’s. He made a porter feel like a king”.

True style is as much about behaviour, or attitude, as it is the clothes you wear. Some of the most unpleasant people I’ve ever encountered had wonderful tailors. Take, for example, the famous photo above of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra arriving at Heathrow Airport. I’m sure we agree both men look suburb, and their talent, exploits and dress are celebrated. They are adored, and both are regarded as icons of style. But by all accounts Frank Sinatra had a fierce temper and would frequently threaten hotel porters and the like with a visit from his gangster mates when displeased. Conversely, Dean Martin - that womanising drunk we all know and love - drank apple juice on stage and slipped away from parties early to watch TV in his bedroom, like the happily married and faithful man he was. Changes the nature of that picture doesn’t it. Well it does for me; one has style the other is merely a pretender.

Too often when we talk about ‘style’ our terms of reference hone in on the kit and that alone. It is an affliction shared by individuals, magazines and retailers alike. That’s why, for example, I’d rather read The Rake magazine over GQ, or shop at an independent retailer.

Last week I visited Erlend at Stephan Shirt’s. He really is a lovely man of infinite good grace, for whom nothing is too much trouble. Everybody who comes in is made to feel special and treated with the utmost care and attention. I’ve recommended him to friends and they all share that opinion. For me a visit to Stephan Shirts is a pleasant hour spent discussing men’s clothing and world affairs. Something similar could be said of Nino Santoro and his sister Angelica at Nino’s Shirts. Such things are easier for bricks and mortar businesses, but online retailers could certainly take a leaf out of Adrian Herring’s book at Herring Shoes. He, for example, likes to handle complaints and queries personally, despite selling shoes all over the World. Each pair of shoes is cleaned before posting and arrives complete with complementary shoe horn, bags and polish. People who care about people, selling beautiful things fairly priced. The way it should be done.

I suppose what I’m saying is that in my view ‘style’ is and must be the tangible and intangible; and it isn’t something you can buy, sell or fake.

this CD is my homage to Mr. Martin

Hey pallies, likes there musta be likes thousands of Dino-emulators 'cross this whole wide Dino-planet, and likes I coulda spend all my time here at ilovedinomartin reportin' on all of 'em. Today's Dino-gem is 'bout one Dino-homager tagged Steven Palumbo. Caught his interview by Miss Charlene Arsenault for the Northborough Patch of Northborough, Mass.

Likes what grabbed my attention pallies was the fact that Mr. Palumbo has devoted his third CD release to the homagin' of our beloved Dino. Likes how cool is that to have this Dino-impersonator lovin' on our Dino in this way...sure to bring many more to the knowin' and lovin' and diggin' of our King of Cool. To read the entire interview and to click on a link to Palumbo's web pad, just clicks on the tag of this Dino-post.

Thanks to the pallies at Northborough Patch, particularly Miss Arsenault...and of course to Steven Palumbo for liftin' up the name of our Dino in this way and drawin' others to deep, pure, and true Dino-devotion! Dino-loved, DMP


The Jazz Singer: Palumbo Brings Back 'Martini Music'

Steven Palumbo will perform at Bistro Limoncello on Saturday night.

By Charlene Arsenault

In 1993, when Steven Palumbo was 21, he tried out for a band. It was to be the singer's first professional gig, with a Providence-based Motown quarter called Twyce. For the audition, Palumbo planned to sing Luther Vandross' "Here and Now" and Jeffrey Osborn's "In Your Eyes."

"Just as I was about to start singing the second song, guess who walked in the door of the venue?" Palumbo said. "Jeffrey Osborne! It turned out that he and Manny [from the band] were friends since childhood and Osborne decided to surprise Manny that night. It was unreal. Thankfully, I got the job."

During his seven years with Twyce, Palumbo, who now lives in Providence, RI, had the chance to perform with such names as Tavares, Roberta Flack, The Temptations and Sean Paul. He also does stints on cruise ships, this month sailing to Aruba, the Bahamas and Curacao on Holland America.

But in the meantime, he'll be in Northborough this weekend, playing 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday at Bistro Limoncello. Northborough Patch caught up with him recently for a question and answer session.

Northborough Patch: Do you play solo or with a band?
Steve Palumbo: I am a solo artist at the moment. Occasionally, I perform with the Strictly Sinatra Big Band, which is usually fronted by the great Sinatra guy Mike Dutra.

Patch: How do you describe your sound/your show?
Palumbo: I always describe my sound as “Martini Music." It’s a sound that makes you feel good and has an element of maturity and sexiness to it—like a good martini. Think of the James Bond films when Sean Connery played Bond. “Shaken. Not stirred." Classic!

Patch: Do you have any CDs?
Palumbo: Over the past several years, I have recorded three CDs. The first is Timeless Classics. It contains some of the greatest songs ever written, including Jerry Vale’s “Mama” and Bocelli’s “Time to Say Goodbye." The second CD is More, which is the title track and was made famous by Bobby Darin. On that one I perform jazz standards by Sinatra, Harry Connick Jr. as well as impressions of Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong and Natalie Cole. The third CD is my tribute to Dean Martin. I perform as Dean Martin in a Rat Pack show and this CD is my homage to Mr. Martin. I also write songs and have recordings of my original material.

Danny G.'s Sunday Serenade with Dino: "In A Little Spanish Town"

Hello again pallies! Back for nother' Sunday Serenade featurin' the star of the show...direct from the bar...DEAN MARTIN!!! Our incredible host, Mr. Dean Martin Peters, has asked me to lend a Dino-hand with the Sunday patterin' and of course I was more than THRILLED to oblige! He definately has his hands full keepin' us Dino-holics happy with the daily bloggins'!

So let me say "Grazi" to him and get right to today's tune. I picked "In a Little Spanish Town" from the "Dino Latino" alyum, I mean ALBUM, ALBUM, I just had my nose fixed and now my typin' fingers don't work! Ha ha! Anyway, I picked this upbeat little number for two reasons. 1) Great song. and 2) Great Youtube vid.

Some cool cool Dino-holic has taken the time to put some B-U-Tiful art workins' to this fun, saucy little Dino-ditty! They fit the song perfectly and actually seem to follow the flirtatious natures of the lyrics..."I whispered, Be true to me... and she sighed...SI Si Si!" "Man the skies have turned to gray, because we're far apart, Many moons have passed away but still she's in my heart."

Pure Dino-poetry pallies! No one puts that Dino-accent on a lyric like Dean! Between the music and the vid, one could think they were actually in a little Spanish town! BTW, is it just me, or are the male paintins' supposed to be our great man??!!! Perhaps the artist based his work around Dino singin' this paticular tune...maybe pals. Enjoy the Serenade! And remember...keep the vino and the Dino flowin'!

Danny G.





In a little Spanish town it was on a night like this

Stars were peek-a-booing down

It was on a night like this

I whispered be true to me and she sighed si si si

Man the skies have turned to gray because we're far apart

Many moons have passed away and still she's in my heart

We made a promise and sealed it with a kiss

Ah, in a little Spanish town it was on a night like this



I whispered be true to me and she sighed oh si si

Man the skies have turned to gray because we're far apart

Many moons have passed away and still she's in my heart

We made a promise and sealed it with a kiss

In a little Spanish town it was on a night like this

In a little Spanish town it was on a night like this

In a little Spanish town it was on a night like this

Dean Martin's Bourbon Burgers

Hey pallies, likes just in time for your weekend Dino-dinin' pleasure comes a recipe from our Dino for Bourbon Burgers! Straight from the on-line pages of CNN's Eatocracy comes this feature by Eatocracy's managing editor, Kat Kinsman that puts the accent on this Dino-burger!

Dino's classic beef recipe was discovered in the pages of the 1996's "The Celebrity Cookbook, edited by Ms Dinah Shore." As Miss Kinsman notes....." this Rat Packer needed little more than a pan, a pinch of salt, and a shot of Kentucky's finest when he wanted to get his beef on."

So gets out your fryin' pan pallies and have at creatin' this simply cool Dino-eats!
Thanks to Miss Kat Kinsman from CNN's Eatocracy for puttin' us on to this cool culinary creation from our Dino! To view this in it's original format, likes just clicks on the tag of this Dino-post. Dino-loved, DMP



Dean Martin's Bourbon Burgers

The Vintage Cookbook Vault highlights recipes from my insane stash of books and pamphlets from the early 20th century onward. It's a semi-regular thing.

Well, ain't that a kick in the palate? Some of the country may be getting socked with snow, but the lack of a grill wouldn't have gotten in ol' Dino's way if he wanted a burger. No siree. And he didn't need no fancy-schmancy hardwood lump charcoal, grass-fed heirloom bison, artisanal mustard, or even a bun for that matter.

Per his recipe from The Celebrity Cookbook, edited by Ms Dinah Shore in 1996, this Rat Packer needed little more than a pan, a pinch of salt, and a shot of Kentucky's finest when he wanted to get his beef on.

Thee Dean Martin Prophecies

Hey pallies, likes happy April Fools Day! Now, no foolin' I recently found a new Dino-dedicated blog tagged "Thee Dean Martin Prophecies." I have always thought that our Dino's teachin's were quite straight forward, but the dudes at this new Dino-space obviously find our Dino's messages are much more cryptic!

Am sharin' likes the first three posts from "Thee Dean Martin Prophecies" and woulda likes be most interested in your Dino-reflections on this new Dino-pad. Findin' it so very interestin' that the initials of this new Dino-effort are DMP...the same as yours truly...gotta wonder if their is a deeper Dino-meanin' to this!

Certainly will be most interested in more postin' from this Dino-site. Likes to view this in it's original format, just clicks on the tag of this Dino-gram. Dino-loved, DMP




Important!
We are not taking lightly recent finding that a code exists in the works of Dean Martin, particularly in his lyrics.

These facts are not games! We do not find comments of mockery to be a laughing joke!

This site is strictly for honest and intelligent dispersal of our important findings.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The Begining...The End?
A channeled image received by one BZ from unknown space entities...



"Prophecy Single (The old Paramount chronicles under subsection Capitol - 1953?), upon closer inspection we can clearly see Sammy Davis is piloting the moon with what appears to be Dean Martin guiding him to his target with a soft voice and friendly attitude."



The Dean Cipher

"3", commonly known as the "Dean Cipher" can be seen here on some Martin propaganda.

Applying this value along with some other minor values (such as latitude and longitude of his car at the time of any document's official printing, the age of his most recent tryst or the number of tears shed by young ladies in total up to this point) as an encryption seed we can extract new data from all and any media related to Dean.

It's a miracle, and you know it.
Posted by M6502 at 10:42 AM




The Dean Cipher - Experiment 1
The current Dean Cipher in its most rudimentary form is thus:


Dean = 4
Martin =6
DeanMartin=10 10 then becomes our Number of Attunement that we shall use below...
Date Of Birth= 7-6-1917 = 1930 /10 = 193
Date of Death= 25-12-1995 = 2032 /10 = 203
193 + 203 = 396! then /10 repeatedly until we get thee MAGIC NUMBER OF 3!


Using this Magic Number on the Dean Martin song Thats Amore we end up with the following list of Magic Words, or Dean Speak, together forming the Root, or Hidden Scripture, in Deans lyrics:


where king meets what When hits like pizza amore world shine had wine Bells ting a a ling sing Hearts tippy tippy gay make just pasta amore dance street cloud feet love walk you not but back That's the you a pie When seems like too That's will ring a-ling a-ling sing Hearts tay tay gay the you like fazool When down with at love walk down in a dream but you know Dreaming me see, old amore When make just pasta amore dance street cloud feet in you in but you're signore but back Napoli , amore


What we are left with is the true heart of the song, the Hidden Scripture in true Dean Speak.
A further deciphering is obviously needed to gain insight into the mean of our new Magic Text.


This will be posted shortly
Posted by ImmortalYawn at 10:58 AM 1 comments


Labels: dean speak, magic code, thats amore

"Thanks!" Chicago....Dean Martin

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

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

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

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


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


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




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

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

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


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

I'm with "Stupid"

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

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

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


March 27, 2011


I'm with "Stupid"


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

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

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

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

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

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







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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Saturday, March 26, 2011

MOVIE SHOWCASE: BELLS ARE RINGING

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

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



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

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

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



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

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



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



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

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

Sunday Serenade with Dino: "Suposin'"

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

Danny G.

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

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

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


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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

We recently caught up with Paul Thorn to talk about growing up with a pimp and a preacher, Dean Martin, and going toe to toe with Roberto Duran.
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UOTS: Do you strive for a certain balance between comedy and seriousness? You have a bit of variety with songs like "Viagra" and "I Hope I'm Doing This Right."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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




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

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


Getty Images

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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