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Was being in The Rat Pack a blessing or a curse?

posted 6 years ago by Otter (24464)
15 replies | jump to latest

Or both?

Because Frank was The Chairman of the Board, the Boss, the alpha male, and he expected all the other mebers of the Rat Pack* to do his bidding and dance to his tune. If he ever considered that a member had "betrayed" him in any way, he'd kick them out of the pack and destroy their career the way he famously destroyed Peter Lawford.

So frankly, the rest of the Rat Pack must have been afraid of Sinatra, and kept in line through fear. Which must have been as stifling as all hell, if they bowed out of the gang there would be hell to pay.

* Dean Martin excepted. Martin wasn't afraid of Sinatra, he was a big star in his own right, and he was one of those self-contained people who was always slightly apart from the group. He didn't *need* Sinatra, even if he liked him and enjoyed his company.

[–] gcarras (2782) 5 years ago

Very good point.. A curse most likely (I ALWAYS prefered DEAN..)

[–] BuckSwope (3511) 5 years ago

Deano was my favorite as well.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

Dean was COOL. He also warned Frank that JFK was only using him. He was right.

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

What kind of a person thinks that a politician ISN'T using them?

[–] BuckSwope (3511) 5 years ago

No shit!

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

One who believes that JFK is going to help him become a Senator; in other words, a guy in heat.

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

I had not heard that Sinatra wanted to go into politics, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit. It fits so well into my opinions about Sinatra's ego and amorality.

[–] R_Kane (15828) 5 years ago

Face it: Frank drank enough to fit right into the Senate. Ringa-ding-ding!

[–] R_Kane (15828) 3 years ago

C’mon, Otter, like Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, Frank was a Made Guy puppet, and that’s not an exhaustive list. In the 50s and 60s, any singer whose family name ended in a vowel was connected, whether s/he liked it or not. Made guys have their own moral code. They also help young Democrats win the Presidency by making a lot of voting booths in, say, Chicago disappear for awhile.

[–] Otter (24464) 3 years ago

I've read that anyone who came up during the NYC club scene in that era was "connected", because who owned the clubs in NYC in those days? You had to deal with the wise guys if you wanted to work there, and if you wanted to get ahead, you did your best to be their best pal. Do them favors.

As for the 1960 election, I've heard "Oh, the Illinois downstate Republicans were stuffing ballot boxes just as fast as the made guys in Chicago, it all balanced out". It might even be true!

[–] BillySlater (4281) 3 years ago

I think you are overstating him "destroying" Peter Lawford´s career.

[–] kwestmo (4385) 3 years ago

Not throwing Lawford a bone (association with Frank) would be enough to destroy Lawford's meager career. You were both correct

[–] Gd5150 (11961) 3 years ago

It didn’t hurt Sammy’s career.

Lawford went out with Franks ex wife. He deserved what he got.

[–] Otter (24464) 3 years ago

Actually, Lawford failed to deliver a social relationship with his brother-in-law, President Kennedy. Lawford was supposed to arrange for Kennedy to stay at Sinatra's Palm Springs place, but when Kennedy heard a bit more about Sinatra's associations, he went to stay with Bing Crosby. Sinatra was PISSED!

And so what if Lawford went out with a pal's ex. The relationship is over, the ex can date whom they like, and only a possessive psycho would think otherwise.

[–] Gd5150 (11961) 3 years ago

That’s right their relationship ended after The whole JFK staying with Bing debacle.

An ex can date who they like, but your buddy’s better not be on the list.

“there's one thing about these old-timers. They don't like any fucking around with the other guys' wives. It's bad for business”