Rat Pack: Difference between revisions
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Their act (always in black tie) consisted of songs in solo, duet or trio, along with much seemingly improvised slapstick and chatter (which was always carefully scripted, primarily by Bishop). Sinatra's infamous womanizing and Martin's drinking were frequent targets, as were Davis's race and religion. It may seem unlikely today that lines like "Hey Sammy, smile so we can see ya!" could somehow be socially acceptable, but the [[N-Word Privileges|obvious good nature and sincere mutual respect]] made it work. Plus, the Rat Pack was largely responsible for the integration of Las Vegas; if Sammy was refused a room, Frank and Dino very publicly refused to perform or even darken the door. It's fair to say that Las Vegas was the first truly integrated city in America, in very large part due to the Rat Pack.
The Rat Pack also campaigned actively for presidential candidate [[John F. Kennedy]], whose sister was married to Lawford (thus Sinatra's nickname for him, "Brother-in-Lawford"). After JFK was elected, Lawford distanced himself from Sinatra due to the latter's supposed Mafia ties; that was a quick ticket out of the Rat Pack for him. By around 1970, the Rat Pack was unofficially disbanded.
In 1987, Dino's son Dean Paul was killed in a plane crash, and Dino took it hard. Frank thought that getting the group back together and going out on the road was just what Dino needed (and Sammy too, who was in dire financial straits). The "Together Again Tour" was announced to great fanfare, but Dino only made it a week then packed it in. Thus was the ignominous end of the Rat Pack.
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