EDITOR’S NOTE: A fresh installment of “Vegas Myths Busted” is released every Monday, accompanied by a special Flashback Friday edition.This edition was first published on Nov. 20, 2023.
Contrary to popular belief, there was never an official show in Las Vegas featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Joey Bishop, and/or Peter Lawford collectively performing as the Rat Pack.
Sinatra had a strong aversion to the label. During a reunion tour announcement in 1987 with Martin and Davis, Sinatra was visibly upset when a reporter brought up “Rat Pack.” He referred to it as “that ridiculous term.”
The group had their own preferred names. Initially, they referred to themselves as “The Clan,” but that title faded away due to its offensive connotations. The next option was “The Summit,” which stemmed from the title they gave to their renowned performances at the Copa Room at the Sands beginning in 1960: “The Summit at the Sands.”
When only one member of The Summit was scheduled to perform at the Sands, others would frequently appear for surprise collaborations. It was common to see marquees stating “DEAN MARTIN, MAYBE FRANK, MAYBE SAMMY.”
Yet, they were never advertised as “The Rat Pack.” Not even once.
The Origin of the Name
The term Rat Pack initially described a group of Hollywood associates surrounding actor Humphrey Bogart in the late 1940s. Sinatra was part of this crowd, which also included Judy Garland, her husband Sid Luft, talent agent Swifty Lazar, composer Jimmy Van Heusen, along with A-list actors like David Niven, Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, and Cary Grant.
Several honorary members included Errol Flynn, Robert Mitchum, Nat King Cole, Mickey Rooney, Cesar Romero, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Angie Dickinson, Shirley MacLaine, and many regulars at Bogart’s Holmby Hills mansion with his wife Lauren Bacall.
It is said that Bacall forever attached the name to the group when she remarked, “You look like a goddamn pack of rats,” after several members returned home in a disheveled state from a drunken Las Vegas weekend.
Although Sinatra did not love the name, he accepted it once others established a drinking club around it. The Rat Pack had its own crest (featuring a rat gnawing on a human hand) and a motto (“Never rat on a rat”). Members even designated their own titles: Sinatra as Pack Master, Bacall as Den Mother, and Garland as Vice President.
Bogart, whose preferred title was Head of PR, was the uncontested leader of the club. After he lost his battle with esophageal cancer in 1957, Sinatra stepped in as the club leader and became Bacall’s main romantic interest. They were engaged a year later, but Sinatra called it off when Lazar disclosed their wedding plans to the media.
By 1959, Sinatra sought out a new circle of friends. When he gathered with singers Martin and Davis, comedian Bishop, and actor Lawford—whether socially or performing together—songs were shared, and playful jabs were exchanged. (A running joke for Sinatra was that Martin was so sun-tanned because “he found a bar with a skylight.”)
Except for Lawford, every member had their own act across the Strip: Sinatra at the Desert Inn, Bishop opening for him, Davis at the Last Frontier, and Martin alongside Jerry Lewis at the Flamingo. Once their contracts finished, they united at the Summit at the Sands.
Despite having no association with the original Rat Pack, Hollywood gossip columnists began referring to anyone around Sinatra as part of his Rat Pack, as it subtly criticized their close camaraderie and downplayed their cultural influence. Similarly, around 25 years later, another group of young Hollywood stars would be dubbed “The Brat Pack” for this same reason.
By 1960, The Summit had reached the pinnacle of coolness. While filming “Ocean’s 11,” they pulled off two shows at the Sands each night. In the concluding scene of the film, their characters casually stroll past the Sands marquee displaying their actual names.
Busting the Myth
The widespread misconception that Frank and his colleagues embraced the Rat Pack name originates from numerous factors. One of the primary reasons is the over 60 years of sensational tabloid headline coverage.
Albums like “The Rat Pack Live at the Sands,” a live recording from 1963 released only in 2002—well after all members had deceased and Sinatra could not express his displeasure to the Capitol Records executive who named it—have also contributed to the confusion.
The ongoing influence of cover bands and productions, particularly the enduring Rat Pack is Back, established by former ’70s teen idol David Cassidy in 1999, has further muddied the waters.
Finally, in 2015, a bronze plaque was affixed at the Venetian, solidifying the unwelcome nickname for posterity. It honors “The Rat Pack” at the very spot where their famous 1960 photo was taken in front of the Sands marquee, a marquee that, it’s worth reiterating, never once featured the name “The Rat Pack.”
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