The Tragedies That Destroyed the Rat Pack

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Back in the late 1950s and the early 1960s any young guy who wanted to be seen as cool by his friends and potential girlfriends copied the Rat Pack. The five guys who made up the Rat Pack and their cronies were the Kings of Cool. They dressed smartly, talked the talk and lived life to the full.

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It was the Rat Pack that made Las Vegas into the entertainment destination that it became in the 1960s. They made Las Vegas fashionable and people went there just to see them in action. Today we remember them as legendary figures that set trends and might now be called the influencers' of their time.

Here at Facts Verse we love the idea that a group of friends in the entertainment business could become influential enough to make a town into a go-to destination. In this video you will find out just how the Rat Pack came about and also what happened to them.

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The Tragedies That Destroyed the Rat Pack
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[BaronSemediLive]

Sammy was and is still the benchmark for an entertainer.

[ovepayne]

Frank was the best singer of them all in my opinion, just listen to his Capitol and Reprise recordings. But they were all of course superb singers and entertainers. I got to see Frank live in Stockholm, Sweden in 1990 and I will always remember that concert for sure. It´s hard to describe how he held us all in his hand and dominated the concert hall completely. Talk about charisma, voice and talent even at 74 (he turned 75 later that year)! And I might add Frank JR was the conductor and leader of the orchestra.

[gregsimon]

I was born in 52, these guys were great and Frank and Sammy were the best.

[canuckaccountability]

Sammy could sing pop, soul, jazz, country, blues and rock and roll...best singer by far

[lilivonshtup]

Frank, All The Way. Also, the other big male singing stars of the 50's that shouldn't be left off the list and were arguably more popular than Bing Crosby and Frankie Lane were Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole and Johnny Mathis.

[igniteexport]

There was also Frank Sinatra and how he helped Sammy Davis because there were many hotels that would not allow Sammy Davis Junior to stay there because he was black in fact many of them didn't even want him eating in their public restaurants. Sinatra was relentless and tireless in his demand that every entertainer was treated equally he is insistence on fair treatment mirrored his on stage acceptance of Sammy Davis Junior. Sinatra told Ebony magazine in 1958 "a friend to me has no race, no class and belongs to no minority. My friendships are formed out of affection, mutual respect, and a feeling of having something in common. These are eternal values that cannot be classified ".

So without Frank Sinatra it might've been much longer before black entertainers like Sammy Davis might have been able to eat perform and stay at many of the places in Vegas.

[honestlyyours]

I wish I could have been able to see the Rat Pack during their heyday in Las Vegas. It must have been a wonderful experience to have seen them perform then.

[poffpoff]

Sammy was great too! He really knew comedy and dance. Great voice❤️

[jerrysowah]

Magnificent Awesome Story Group…. ❤🌈🙏👌❤️🙏

[jackiereynolds]

The Rat-Pack was always a big part of Los Vegas identity.

[poffpoff]

Love Sinatra❤️👍🏻 Still listen to his music. Seeing him live was on my bucket list. Missed my chance.

[kevinbergin]

Sammy's tragedies included his injury when he lost one of his eyes.

[Panwere]

The saddest part of it was that Frank was the last to pass.. and he missed his friends deeply at the end of his life.

[kennethbreuhl]

All three were the best 👌💕 of entertainment.

[dextec]

Both were great singers. Frank Sinatra was more sociable than Bing Crosby. The Rat Pack is so missed, they has style, glamour and the power to bring people together in Las Vegas. Also Frank Sinatra also made Palm Springs a destination. Perhaps Frank Sinatra is the greatest entertainer along with Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. In the 20th Century. Their legacy is set and no one hasn’t been closed to what they’ve achieved. Thanks Rat Pack RIH. Also to Peter Lawford for his contribution RIH, Joey Bishop RIH

[honestlyyours]

I will always feel bad about Peter Lawford being ousted from the Rat Pack over the misunderstanding regarding where President Kennedy was going to stay. I really felt sorry for him about that and having to deal with his good friend Marilyn Monroe's tragic death.

[deannamcbride]

Wrong, on the reason Jack Kennedy didn't go to Sinatras house.

[harperstacey]

Frank Sinatra stood up for Sammy Davis Jr when Sammy wasn't allowed in white establishments.

[janetdear]

Interesting story, may they all rest in peace 🙏, great video thanks 💖😁

[margielee]

I was born in 64 but I still remember them very well an although I was very young I enjoyed them greatly.