From left: Peter Lawford, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Dean Martin

The Rat Pack was a nickname given to a group of 1950s entertainers, which included Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford. The Rat Pack often performed in Las Vegas and were part of the reason that Las Vegas became such a popular entertainment destination.

Often, when one of the members was scheduled to give a performance, the rest of the Pack would show up for an impromptu show, causing much excitement and return visits. They sold out almost all of their appearances.

The Rat Pack made several movies together which include: Ocean's Eleven (1960) and Robin and the Seven Hoods (1964).

The term "rat pack" was assigned to the group by Lauren Bacall, after seeing them return from a night of partying. (The term rat is presumably meant in the sense of a dubious person or scoundrel). Shirley MacLaine was considered an honorary member of the Rat Pack and the only female to be considered "one of the boys."

According to rumor, the Rat Pack wasn't Bacall's, or even Sinatra's, idea. It had started with Humphrey Bogart, a pal of Sinatra's, who named a group of his drinking buddies the Holmby Hills Rat Pack.

See also: Brat pack, Liberal Party of Canada Rat Pack

External link

• The Ratpack Story Everything you want to know