Useless knowledge
I recently finished my third biography on Frank Sinatra. I'm the type of person where once I become interested in a subject - whether it's a type of music, a person, a sport, or whatever it may be - I immerse myself in it. I'm not really much of a casual observer. I'm usually all or nothing. And you wonder why I don't gamble?
I don't know useful stuff, like carpentry or plumbing or electricity or computers or cars. You know, "guy stuff." Knowledge that would make me handy around the house. A "jack of all trades" I am not.
I'm not big on politics (I think every politician is in it for their own personal agenda and none has the country's best interest in mind. Those who are halfway honest are quickly corrupted or run out of office by an inherently corrupted system). I know nothing about accounting, other than black is better than red. Insurance confuses me - all I know is you gotta have it.
So with the few spare minutes I have (when I'm not working or chasing children), I like to spend reading about useless things and gaining useless knowledge... and lately, that has included expanding my education on the subject of Frank Sinatra.
Believe it or not, that whole, wordy preamble leads me to the point of this blog. A very funny - and true - story of Frank "The Chairman of the Board" Sinatra and Dean "King of Cool" Martin.
Most of you (but sadly, probably not all of you) know that Sinatra and Martin made up part of the "Rat Pack" of the '50s and '60s. I love their attitude, music, the whole package. These guys partied like rock stars before such words were even invented (best of all, they were all my age and older in the '50s and '60s, so I can't be that old, right?).
During their legendary shows at the Sands Casino in Las Vegas, the Rat Pack would drink, sing and joke away the night on stage and then take it to the pub after the show.
However, the onstage antics weren't exactly as they appeared. It wasn't until later in his life that Sinatra admitted that Dino was not the drinker everyone thought he was while performing (Dean was introduced nightly: "Ladies and gentlemen, direct from the bar... Dean Martin!"). Usually, the "bourbon" in Dean's low ball was nothing more than apple juice. And when you listen to and watch those shows, Martin's timing and intonation is perfect - he obviously wasn't under the influence, but he played the part well.
It wasn't until later in the show, when the "lunch cart" came out that Martin actually had a drink.
Sinatra was a different story. He was famous for staying up all night carousing around the Vegas strip. Dino did his share of partying too, but he often went to bed early so he could get up and play golf in the morning. He also was not nearly as promiscuous as Sinatra.
So one night after a show, Martin was about to retire early (alone) so he could hit the links the next morning. Sinatra, thinking Martin was a prude, decided to pull a prank by paying a showgirl $1,000 to go up to Martin's room, take off her clothes, climb in Martin's bed and wait for him.
When Martin arrived to his room, he was surprised to find a young, naked woman laying in his bed. It didn't take long for her to divulge to Dino the joke Sinatra was pulling.
Without blinking an eye, Martin actually paid the woman $2,000 in cash to put her clothes back on, go back down to the lobby bar and tell Sinatra how good Martin was in bed!
When Sinatra saw Martin the next day, all he could do was shake his head and say, "You crazy bastard!" which was Sinatra-speak for the ultimate approval.
And yes, that's a true story.
Another great story - Sinatra had a large group of friends over one evening for a party in Palm Springs, which included Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. After discussing dinner plans over a few drinks, it was decided everyone was in the mood for Mexican. Sinatra announced, "I know just the place!" and excused himself to go make a phone call.
Thirty minutes later a fleet of limousines arrived at this home, drove the group to the airport and that evening they dined at Frank's favorite restaurant.... in Acapulco. And Sinatra put it all on his tab.
And yes, that's another true story.
Like Dino used to say during their Rat Pack shows, "It's your world, Frankie, baby. We're just living in it."
I don't know useful stuff, like carpentry or plumbing or electricity or computers or cars. You know, "guy stuff." Knowledge that would make me handy around the house. A "jack of all trades" I am not.
I'm not big on politics (I think every politician is in it for their own personal agenda and none has the country's best interest in mind. Those who are halfway honest are quickly corrupted or run out of office by an inherently corrupted system). I know nothing about accounting, other than black is better than red. Insurance confuses me - all I know is you gotta have it.
So with the few spare minutes I have (when I'm not working or chasing children), I like to spend reading about useless things and gaining useless knowledge... and lately, that has included expanding my education on the subject of Frank Sinatra.
Believe it or not, that whole, wordy preamble leads me to the point of this blog. A very funny - and true - story of Frank "The Chairman of the Board" Sinatra and Dean "King of Cool" Martin.
Most of you (but sadly, probably not all of you) know that Sinatra and Martin made up part of the "Rat Pack" of the '50s and '60s. I love their attitude, music, the whole package. These guys partied like rock stars before such words were even invented (best of all, they were all my age and older in the '50s and '60s, so I can't be that old, right?).
During their legendary shows at the Sands Casino in Las Vegas, the Rat Pack would drink, sing and joke away the night on stage and then take it to the pub after the show.
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| Dino and Frank with the famous "lunch cart" on stage at the Sands Casino, Las Vegas. |
It wasn't until later in the show, when the "lunch cart" came out that Martin actually had a drink.
Sinatra was a different story. He was famous for staying up all night carousing around the Vegas strip. Dino did his share of partying too, but he often went to bed early so he could get up and play golf in the morning. He also was not nearly as promiscuous as Sinatra.
So one night after a show, Martin was about to retire early (alone) so he could hit the links the next morning. Sinatra, thinking Martin was a prude, decided to pull a prank by paying a showgirl $1,000 to go up to Martin's room, take off her clothes, climb in Martin's bed and wait for him.
When Martin arrived to his room, he was surprised to find a young, naked woman laying in his bed. It didn't take long for her to divulge to Dino the joke Sinatra was pulling.
Without blinking an eye, Martin actually paid the woman $2,000 in cash to put her clothes back on, go back down to the lobby bar and tell Sinatra how good Martin was in bed!
When Sinatra saw Martin the next day, all he could do was shake his head and say, "You crazy bastard!" which was Sinatra-speak for the ultimate approval.
And yes, that's a true story.
Another great story - Sinatra had a large group of friends over one evening for a party in Palm Springs, which included Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. After discussing dinner plans over a few drinks, it was decided everyone was in the mood for Mexican. Sinatra announced, "I know just the place!" and excused himself to go make a phone call.
Thirty minutes later a fleet of limousines arrived at this home, drove the group to the airport and that evening they dined at Frank's favorite restaurant.... in Acapulco. And Sinatra put it all on his tab.
And yes, that's another true story.
Like Dino used to say during their Rat Pack shows, "It's your world, Frankie, baby. We're just living in it."
