Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Why 'La Bande de Rats' Were in Las Vegas

Hey pallies, likes as a continuation of yester-Dino-day's post on the new Rat Pack expose by French historian Georges Ayache, we presents 'nother installment from the informative "Who 2" blog again written by Mr. Holznagel.

Seems this Holznagel pallie gots intrigued by the shot of our Dino, Peter, and the frankie in 'Vegas that appears on the cover of the new tome. So, checks out what was learned by Holznagel's sleuthin' by readin' "Why 'La Bande de Rats' Were in Las Vegas."

As ever, to read this at the original "Who 2" site, just click on the title of this Dino-message. Likes I said yesterday, loves seein' that our Dino is front and center in this Rat Pack pix...and with his ever present cigarette! Truly shows who was really steerin' this band of Rats!!!!! Thanks to Mr. Holznagel's research that brings more to Dino-light 'bout this cool front cover photo. Dino-learnin' and Dino-growin', DMP

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Why 'La Bande de Rats' Were in Las Vegas

Our recent review of Une Histoire Américain by Georges Ayache included this shot of the book's cover:




That's Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Peter Lawford strolling in old downtown Las Vegas. What we didn't notice until last night was an odd detail above them: a horizontal blank spot. (You can see it blocking the "BINGO" sign above Dean's head.

By tweaking the photo contrast we were able to solve the mystery:


"OCEAN'S 11." That's the movie that the Rat Pack made in 1960, with Sinatra as war veteran Danny Ocean leading a band of 11 swindlers who rob five Vegas casinos one New Year's Eve. (It was remade, of course, in 2001 with George Clooney in the Sinatra role.)

We can't read the rest of the sign except for the word "Downtown," but it looks like it might list dates and times. So presumably this photo is from 1960 and the boys were in town to promote their new movie.

The back page of Une Histoire Américaine identifies the "photo de couverture" as being from mptvimages.com. A quick search there and sure enough: 1960 at the Ocean's 11 premiere.

Just a sidelight for Rat Pack scholars.

The extra contrast doesn't do much for Sinatra's look, though.

See the review of Une Histoire Américaine >>
Labels: Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Georges Ayache, Peter Lawford, The Rat Pack

Posted by Mr. Holznagel at 10:51 AM

2 comments:

Maria Jensen said...

Frank and Dean do look happy! Wonder what they where looking at?

Great post : )
Maria

dino martin peters said...

Hey pallie, well I thinks that the frankie was just happy to have the opportunity to be in our Dino's presence....knows that woulda make me the happiest dude in the whole Dino-world...