The Last of the Rat Pack Era is Gone
Perhaps the least well-known member of the Rat Pack, Joey Bishop passed away last week at his home in Newport Beach at 89 years old. I had meant to mention his passing but it was a hectic week for me, but I wanted to make mention here now. I’m always a bit sentimental when I think about Old Vegas, Classic Vegas, and what it must have been like back then. I rather think I would prefer some things to be how they used to be. I would love to step into the storied Copa Room at The Sands Hotel to hear Dean Martin on a night when the Sands Hotel’s sign read “Dean Martin” and in small letters “Maybe Frank – Maybe Sammy.” It was those iconic images of Las Vegas that really solidified the legend of this place I call home. You have to respect that sort of thing…
When they were filming the original Ocean’s Eleven, the entire Rat Pack crew was on hand at The Sands every night, as legend has it, and Joey Bishop was a regular fixture in that group, being part of the cast for the film. Joey Bishop, as you may or may not recall, had his own television program for a couple of years in the 60’s – well before my time. He was also the guest host of “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” more times than anyone else, according to Wikipedia.org. He was a familiar face on The Hollywood Squares, and according to Frank Sinatra, he was “the hub of the big wheel” in their group on stage. Comedy Central lists him in the top 100 stand-up comics of all time. He might not have a list of classic songs like Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra did, but he was definitely an integral part of what we now remember as a classic era.
It’s a bit odd that the least-known member of the Rat Pack lasted the longest. Perhaps it was in his personality – the flames that burn the brightest tend not to burn as long…
[ Coincidentally to the timing of his death, the other Sands Hotel and Casino in America - in Atlantic City - was imploded to make way for a new development less than a day after his death. ]
A Time Magazine article about Joey Bishop’s death.
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One Comment
Paul Driscoll on February 10, 2008 :
Great tribute to Mr. Bishop. Thanks!