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The Rat Pack
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Why were those 3 called the Rat Pack and who are they again?
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The original loose connection of showbusiness pals was headed by Humphrey Bogart, and his wife, Lauren Bacall advised them that they looked 'like a rat pack' and the name stuck. After Bogart's death, nominal leadership was assumed by Frank Sinatra, and the gang consisted of Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford, a nominal hanger-on, tolerated for his English accent, still a novelty at the time, and his political connection - Lawford was brother-in-law to future President Kennedy. The only female member of the group was Shirley Maclaine, known as the 'mascot' - times have changed since the early 1950's! Although the 'Pack' presented a buddies-together image, offstage was a riot of egos and racism. Martin was quietly sardonic about Sinatra, knowing that he, Martin, was a far more successful live draw than any of the rest. Sinatra in turn disliked Davis, dismissing him as a 'ni**er Jew' in his absence. Sinatra himself disliked the term 'Rat Pack' and always referred to them as 'The Sumit'. It all sounds quaint and slightlu foolish that mature wealthy adults would pretend such false friendships in the interest of publicity, but that's showbiz!
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