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FRANK SINATRA SPECTACULAR: THE RAT PACK CAPTURED {TAPE 1 OF 2} (TV)

Summary

Part one of two in this unaired benefit concert featuring the Rat Pack -- Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Dean Martin -- in their only joint television performance. This special was televised via closed-circuit from St. Louis to a select group of theaters, where ticket buyers watched the live performance on screen. The concert was organized by Sinatra as a fundraiser for Dismas Clark Half-Way House of St. Louis, the first halfway house for ex-convicts. After Harold Gibbons of the Teamsters makes some opening comments, he turns the hosting duties over to Johnny Carson (filling in for Rat Packer Joey Bishop, unable to attend because of a back injury). Highlights include the following: the four Step Brothers perform three energetic tap numbers, including "The Beat," and are joined by "The Young Steps," a group of four boys who do a fast-paced tap performance with gymnastic stunts; Kaye Stevens sings "I'll Show Them All," "Some People," "The Best Thing For You Is Me," "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," "Et Maintenant," and "I Ain't Down Yet"; singer-guitarist Trini Lopez performs "La Bamba," "Lemon Tree," "Bye Bye Blackbird," "Goody Goody," "America," and "If I Had a Hammer"; Dean Martin (amid offstage chiding from Sinatra and Davis) performs "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On," "King of the Road," "Everybody Loves Somebody," "Volare," "On an Evening in Roma," and "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You"; Count Basie and His Band perform "April in Paris" and another number; Sammy Davis, Jr., backed by the Basie Band, sings "My Shining Hour," "Who Can I Turn To?" "I've Got You Under My Skin," "You Came a Long Way From St. Louis" and "You Are My Sunshine"; and Davis performs singing impressions of Fred Astaire, Nat "King" Cole, Billy Eckstine, Vaughn Monroe, Tony Bennett, Mel TormŽ, Frankie Laine, Louis Armstrong, and Dean Martin -- all crooning "One For My Baby." Continues on T:42250. This program contains minor technical problems. This represents the best copy of this program currently available to the Paley Center.

Details

  • NETWORK: Closed-circuit
  • DATE: June 20, 1965
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:59:28
  • COLOR/B&W: B&W
  • CATALOG ID: T:42248
  • GENRE: Music; Specials
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Music, popular (songs, etc.)
  • SERIES RUN: Closed-circuit - TV, 1965
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Al DeCaprio … Director
  • Harold Gibbons … Speaker
  • George Rhodes … Conductor
  • Johnny Carson … Host
  • Stevens, Kaye (See also: Stevens, Kay) … Performer, Singer
  • Trini Lopez … Performer, Singer, Instrumentalist, Guitarist
  • Dean Martin … Performer, Singer
  • Sammy Davis Jr. … Performer, Singer
  • Step Brothers, The … Dance Company
  • Young Steps, The … Dance Company
  • Ken Lane … Instrumentalist, Pianist
  • Count Basie and His Band … Music Group
  • Basie, William "Count" … Conductor, Instrumentalist, Pianist
  • Sonny Payne … Instrumentalist, Drummer
  • Louis Armstrong
  • Fred Astaire
  • Tony Bennett
  • Nat King Cole
  • Billy Eckstine
  • Frankie Laine
  • Vaughn Monroe
  • Frank Sinatra
  • Mel Torme