Continuing the story about how the "Rat Pack" shows got started and how it became "The Summit."

So the engagement of Frank and the guys is a success in the sense of all the publicity it got us. We were the talk of the columns and showbiz world for a while.

Some press referred to it as "The Clan". Again we never used that term here in Vegas. In fact at that time I don't know what Frank called it. I don't think he really had a name for it.

So now how could we make this into something that would benefit the casino. The reason we were in Vegas to begin with. It actually took a few months for the town to calm down over this big event that took place. It actually was more publicity than the town had ever seen. Every hotel benefited from it.

So Jack Entratter gets the showroom back to the regular shows and the usual entertainers. Now every once in a while if you had Dean closing and Frank coming in, then Frank would come in a few days early and go on stage and fool around with Dean. The both loved it. Frank really loved it.

Any combination of Frank or Dean or Sammy completing his engagement and any of the three coming in and you could expect then to overlap. It was rare that you would get all three. They were all very booked up guys.

Late 1961 I think we had all three in for a short run. They did the usual stuff meaning one of them opens and does the major part of the show and then the others come on. They were now developing some sure fire bits that the audience loved. But it was still mostly joking around with each other.

It was at the Sands during this engagement that the off stage mike routine was developed. Can you imagine Sinatra doing his show and in the middle of a song and he is really swinging and you would hear "Hey, hold it down." Frank was surprised because Dean would not tell him where he was coming in, so it really was a sight. The audience would immediately recognize Dean's voice and so it went over well. Frank would continue with the song but Dean would keep it up. "Frank, this is your last night" (meaning of the engagement - Dean is coming in for the next three weeks) "Frank, get off stage," "Frank what day is this?" "If you're here tomorrow then I'm going home."

Sometimes Dean would come on stage, sometimes just play with Frank or Sammy from off stage. It actually depended on whether Dean was dressed or not. It was still in the days of Tux only on stage. Dean would come on stage with a drink, a real drink and give Frank a drink, a real drink. Frank would usually laugh at this because Frank was usually drinking something else and trying to take care of his throat. Those was the days of "Vegas throat." That was caused by the dry climate here in the desert. If Dean walked in on Frank's act or Frank walked in on Sammy or whatever the combination it would be the two of them telling jokes and doing silly stuff and maybe a song or two together.

Of course, if anyone of note was in the audience then they would be invited on stage. I remember seeing Frank and Dean and Judy Garland on stage and doing some stuff together. Frank would ask Judy to sing something with them. Judy hesitaters a bit " Oh, I don't know." Dean will say (an inside joke) "Judy you better. Nobody turns Frank down. You want to get us all in trouble." So Frank and Judy would go into some song and toward the end Dean would join it. The audience just loved it. Judy would be beaming. Dean "I'm exhausted."

I don't think we got them all together at all in 1962. I don't remember it anyway.

By 1963 the guys had done a lot of benefits and played other places and had the basic routine down pretty good.

Dean would open, Sammy would come on and do a lot of stuff. He really made sure the audience would get the money's worth. Frank would come on last and do some songs and then the fun would begin. Lot of jokes about "booze and broads" as Frank would say.

Now Entratter knew this was a big draw for the casino and he started putting together a big meeting of all three in late 63. He wanted to be a great event and something we had control over. Meaning it started and ended on time. All three agree and "The Summit" was born. The casino would invite it's best and highest credit players. Only the best best would be invited. Carl Cohen and Entratter made up the list. Carl knew all the players and how to contact them and Entratter knew everyone in showbiz, movie produces, actors and the rest and of course friends of Frank who would get the chance to see the show. It was the last week of August and the first week in September.

There was special material written for this show by Sammy Cahn. It was first rehearsed here in Vegas then broken in up at Lake Tahoe at Frank's place.

Show opens to invited guests only. The usual agreement to take reservations from other hotels was out. Had to be on Carl's or Jack's list or not get in. The casino had a few seats on hold each show for any big player we needed to get in. It would only be two week show engagement. We didn't want publicity, we wanted all our best players to be here in the casino at one time.

The show was a smash hit. As I remember it, Dean would open and get everyone in a great mood. He did special material and did songs to completion. He was as always, just great. He had a very easy style and the right "is everybody drinking" attitude that the audience loved. This is where he developed the 'I'm almost drunk' routine that he then used for years at the Sands.

Sammy would come out and do his show. In the early days it was mainly to do those great impressions of people that the audience loved. He would do some songs, usually the best of his regular act. He knew he was getting a lot of people who would not usually see him. You see this is 1963 and we had a lot of casino players who would never go and see Sammy or any colored person entertain people. I mean I know guys who thought it wasn't right to have woman in his audience. And these were the type of guys who weren't afraid to say so. If any of these guys were in the casino and playing Blackjack and Sammy would go to sit down and they would tell him "Hit the fucking road." When Sinatra was not in town it could be very tough on Sammy or any black entertainer.

So Sammy comes on after Dean and goes into his show. He would do the impressions and win everyone over and then go into his songs as himself and many would be shocked to find out just how good he was. I mean he floored them. Sammy at full bore is head and tails above anyone who has ever appeared in Vegas. He belts it out till he and you hurt. I've seen him actually let up on a audience just so they have something left for Frank. And Frank knows this. Many times I've seen Frank rib Sammy "Hey leave something for me." Those that think Sammy was insulted by Frank and his jokes, don't know what was going on and how deep the relationship was. These two guys knew what they were doing. I'll discuss that later.

So Sammy introduces Sinatra - a special treat for Sammy. Frank comes out and usually slows things down a bit to settle down the audience. He will do some of regular songs he does in nightclubs. Just a few and then will be into something and Dean will come out and kid with him and they invite Sammy out.

Frank and Dean and Sammy will now do a bunch of songs together and do some material that has been developed from all the shows they have done together. "Booze and broads" stuff that clicks.

The Summit shows were very good shows. Very good singing by each guy and a lot of good fun and joking around together and always ending with the three of them belting out some great songs.

Of course after the shows everyone was in the casino and after a while Frank and Dean and Sammy would be in the lounge drinking and having a good time. the big stars from Hollywood and other famous people would be walking all around the casino.

There was no doubt that Sinatra was the main man and where ever he went everybody followed. If he comes into the casino 21 pit, the crowd comes with him. This is when some of the guys started dealing blackjack to friends. Dean would do this almost every night.

These Summit shows were well done and were the basis of all the shows these three heavyweights did together for the next many years.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about this very interesting time in the history of Las Vegas. I have given it to you as best I remember it.

I understand there is a great CD of this event. I hear it has the whole show and with very good sound quality. [Indian Summer At The Sands, recorded Sept 6, 1963].

There isn't a show now in Vegas, no how many lions and tigers they have, that compares to what just one of these guys could do. The Summit was all three on stage at once. Many times great talents get together and just don't blend in with each. Look at the Dismas House benefit show and see how uncomfortable Johnny Carson looked. Carson just couldn't keep up with these guys.

Frank and Dean and Sammy had great talent and when together it was a joy to watch. I believe it is because when they worked together they shared that love with each other - and with us.