In the summer of 77 Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra did something they had never done before - they went on tour together. This is a little known fact, I've never read about the experience in any of the books on the guys. If you want to read in detail about it check out my oral history of the time, Beyond Our Wildest Dreams wherein the Alberici Sisters and other former Golddiggers share stories working with Dean Martin (and Frank Sinatra on this tour).
Sinatra was on the road a great deal but Dean stayed put in Las Vegas, he had no desire to travel, he lived to play golf.
As a request from the owner of The Latin Casino in Cherry Hill, NJ Frank asked Dean to accompany him for a month of shows starting with 2 weeks at the Westchester Premier Theater in Tarrytown, New York on May 17, 1977. Next they performed a week at The Latin Casino and ended the tour at Chicago’s fabled Sabre Room.
Both entertainers were at the top of their game, though people complained that Sinatra had lost his voice at the time he sounds amazingly vigorous here. These selections were recorded from the table at the Latin Casino & Westchester Premier.
Dean from the 1977 Rat Pack tour: “Here’s a song that maybe six or seven of you might remember. And I hope I’m one of ’em.”
Here from the Westchester is Dean's opening comedy monologue:
Frank sings his favorite 'saloon song' Here's That Rainy Day - he never sounded better than he does here. This is an incredible performance from the Westchester Premier.
From The Latin Casino Dean clowns around, sings his signature tune - then Frank buts in.
Dialogue from the 1977 Rat Pack tour:
Frank: I want to ask you a question. What the hell were you doing drinking 7-Up? How dare you, you’re out of the club.
Dean: I wasn’t drinking 7-Up.
Frank: What were you cleaning with it? Your lighter?
Dean: No, I was pouring it for Rocky.
Frank: Oh, Rocky. I didn’t know he drank 7-Up either. You go out with him now?
Dean: Yeah, what the hell? I’m gettin’ tired of them girls.
(Dean was dating a girl named Rocky at the time.)
From The Latin Casino Dean & Frank do their Rat Pack schtick for the show's conclusion. Boy is Dean drunk here, they did 2 shows a night.
While Dean stuck to the same songs every night Frank switched things up a bit as the tour progressed. Sinatra began the engagement opening with a disco version of 'All Or Nothing At All,' a tune he introduced on Sinatra and Friends, his TV special from April of that year. He must have realized the song was a stiff because by the time you arrived at the Latin Casino he dropped 'All Or Nothing At All' and replaced it with a more traditionally arranged 'I've Got You Under My Skin' which was a real crowd pleaser.
The Westchester Premier Theater was where Frank Sinatra was photographed backstage with the area’s most notorious mafia figures. That picture, taken in 1976, would haunt him for the rest of his life after the FBI got a hold of it.
For more on classic Las Vegas Entertainment go to VegasLegends.net
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