DEAN IN LAS VEGAS

FROM RAT PACK TO HEADLINER

 

 DEAN MARTIN WAS, BY FAR, THE MOST POPULAR ENTERTAINER TO HEADLINE A SHOWROOM IN LAS VEGAS. IN THE 1960'S, HISTORY WAS MADE WHEN DEAN, ALONG WITH FELLOW "RAT PACK" MEMBERS, FRANK SINATRA, SAMMY DAVIS, JR.., JOEY BISHOP, AND PETER LAWFORD MADE ENTERTAINMENT HISTORY BY PERFORMING THEIR IMPROMPTU SHOWS NIGHTLY AT THE FAMOUS SANDS HOTEL & CASINO
 
THROUGHOUT THE 1970's, THE RIVIERA HOTEL WOULD BE HOME TO DINO, AS WELL AS THE BRAND NEW MGM GRAND, AT WHICH DEAN PERFORMED OPENING NIGHT (DECEMBER 5, 1973). THE MGM WAS PURCHASED BY BALLY'S IN 1986, WHERE DEAN WAS A MAINSTAY... OFTEN TELEVISING HIS FAMOUS "ROAST" TV SPECIALS FROM THE CELEBRITY ROOM ON THE LAS VEGAS STRIP AT BALLY'S. DEAN HAD PERFORMED MORE CONCERTS IN THE 1400 SEAT SHOWROOM AT BALLY'S THAN ANY OTHER PERFORMER.

 
 ON JUNE 11, 1985, DEAN PLAYED TO HIS ONE MILLIONTH FAN WHILE AT BALLY'S.
 
"I'M NOT TRYING TO PROVE ANYTHING" SAID DEAN... "I'M JUST SINGING AND WORKING AND HAVING A GOOD TIME. AIN'T THAT ENOUGH?"

IN THE 1960'S, DURING DEAN'S "RAT PACK" DAYS, HE MANAGED TO SQUEEZE IN A MOTION PICTURE ABOUT LIFE IN THE GAMBLING CAPITOL. IT WAS CALLED 'OCEAN'S 11', AND WAS SHOT DURING DAYTIME HOURS AT VARIOUS HOTELS AND LOCATIONS IN VEGAS. AT NIGHT, DEAN AND HIS CO-STARS WOULD TAKE TURNS HEADLINING AT THE SANDS HOTEL.

 

 
 THE CROWDS FLOCKED TO THEIR SHOWS, THE NIGHTS BEGAN TO BLEND TOGETHER INTO ONE BIG PARTY. AND EVERYONE WOULD SHOW UP DURING EACH OTHER'S ACTS. IT WAS MAYHEM... BUT IT WAS LIKE NOTHING ELSE BEFORE ( AND NOTHING ELSE EVER SINCE!)

 

 BELOW IS A LIST OF THE DATES DEAN PERFORMED AT THE SANDS HOTEL

 JAN. 20, 1960

 THE RAT PACK : DEAN, FRANK SINATRA, SAMMY DAVIS JR, PETER LAWFORD, JOEY BISHOP
 JUL. 13, 1960

 DEAN MARTIN, THE EBAR LABATO DANCERS
 DEC. 14, 1960

 DEAN MARTIN, BRASCIA AND TYBEE
MAR.. 29, 1961

DEAN MARTIN, THE EBAR LOBATO DANCERS
JUN. 14,1961

DEAN MARTIN, BRASCIA AND TYBEE
 SEP. 27, 1961

 DEAN MARTIN, BRASCIA AND TYBEE
 NOV. 15, 1961

 DEAN MARTIN, THE HALF BROTHERS
APR . 04, 1962

 DEAN MARTIN, BUD AND CECE ROBINSON
 SEP. 05, 1962

 DEAN MARTIN, THE EBAR LOBATO DANCERS
 JAN. 23,1962

 RAT PACK : DEAN MARTIN, FRANK SINATRA, SAMMY DAVIS
 SEP. 06, 1962

RAT PACK (AS ABOVE) WITH, BRASCIA AND TYBEE
 SEP. 09, 1962

DEAN MARTIN, BRASCIA AND TYBEE 
 JAN. 22, 1964

 DEAN MARTIN, FRANCIS BRUNN
 JUL. 15, 1964

 DEAN MARTIN, THE EARL TWINS
 NOV. 23, 1964

 DEAN MARTIN, THE HALF BROTHERS
 MAY 26, 1965

 DEAN MARTIN, AUGIE AND MARGO
 SEP. 22, 1965

 DEAN MARTIN, THE EARL TWINS
 NOV. 03, 1965

 DEAN MARTIN, THE DUNHILLS
 APR. 13, 1966

 RAT PACK : DEAN MARTIN, FRANK SINATRA, JOEY BISHOP
 APR. 27, 1966

 DEAN MARTIN, MAGID TRIPLETS
 MAR. 14, 1967

 DEAN MARTIN, THE STEP BROTHERS
 MAY 30, 1967

 DEAN MARTIN, FRANKIE MICHAELS
 AUG. 09, 1967

 DEAN MARTIN, GAIL MARTIN (HIS DAUGHTER)
 SEP. 03, 1967

 DEAN MARTIN, BUDDY RICH, PAT HENRY
 MAY 01, 1968

 DEAN MARTIN, BRASCIA AND TYBEE
 NOV. 05, 1968

 DEAN MARTIN, BRASCIA AND TYBEE

DINO NOW MOVED ON TO THE RIVIERA, THEN THE NEW MGM GRAND IN 1973, AND FINALLY AT BALLY'S IN 1986

USE BUTTONS BELOW TO GUIDE THRU WEB SITE

 

 

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