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CasinoMan Blog - Category Articles: entertainment history

Peter Lawford Biography

Peter Lawford’s role in American celebrity history is a bit different from others like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin – all members of the same entertainment troupe, The Rat Pack. Lawford was a British-born actor whose rise to fame in America was rumored to be more for his marriage to Patricia Kennedy, John F. Kennedy’s sister, and less for his actual talent. Nonetheless, Lawford was a key element in the Rat Pack during its inception, playing off the mega-fame of Sinatra, Martin and Davis, Jr.

Peter Sidney Lawford was born September 7, 1923 in London, England. His father was a knighted vet of the First World War and actor. A young Peter wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, and at the age of 8, he got his chance in the film Poor Old Bill. As the years passed, Lawford grew from an awkward young boy to a suave and debonair young man. In Britain, his fame would skyrocket and during the ‘40s, MGM managed his career very well.

Lawford’s acting experience is something of legend in the business circle. He was the first actor to kiss the hard-to-keep Elizabeth Taylor. But as tragedy to the triumph, Lawford was also the last person to ever see screen idol Marilyn Monroe alive.

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Dean Martin Biography

Dean Martin, the man simply known as “Dino,” was a worldwide success. Martin starred in movies, sang Swing Era classics and also introduced America to Italian classics with a new-age twist, and even hosted a hugely popular variety show, The Dean Martin Show.

These are just a few things that Dino did in his entertainment life. He was “second in command” behind Frank Sinatra during the affluent years of the Rat Pack. Martin’s story is the true American dream.

“Dino,” contrary to popular belief, isn’t a nickname. Born to Italian immigrants in Steubenville, Ohio on June 17, 1917, Dean Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti. Steubenville is directly on the Ohio-West Virginia line – not a lot of Italian immigrants had made the trek that far south from New York and New Jersey.

Dino stood out in this environment, only speaking Italian for a lot of his childhood, and quit school at the age of 16 to work in a steel mill. Dino ran liquor for bootleggers and worked as a croupier for the local speakeasy before deciding to follow in his idols’ – Bing Crosby’s – footsteps.

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Sammy Davis Jr, the World's Greatest Entertainer

Earning the title of “World’s Greatest Entertainer” is no small feat, even in the 1950s. Sammy Davis, Jr., an unmistakable talent who would break down many walls for African-Americans in the entertainment world, earned and kept that title for nearly 30 years.

As a singer, dancer and actor, Davis was the quintessential showman. Even without the success of The Rat Pack in the 1960s, Davis’ solo shows drew in thousands of fans, eager to see him tap-dance his way through a song before breaking out into a comedy routine.

Sammy Davis, Jr. was born December 8, 1925 in Harlem, New York City. Davis would live with his father exclusively after his parents were divorced when he was only 3-years-old. Davis then began tap-dancing lessons and always inspired to be an entertainer.

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Biography of Joey Bishop of the Rat Pack

Joey Bishop’s life can quite possibly read as a “how-to” manual when dealing with fame. Even though he was one of the least noted members of the famous Rat Pack, Bishop outlived the other members (Sinatra, Martin, Lawford, Davis, Jr,) by years.

The other men had been worn down by years of hard partying; Bishop made it to 89 years of age. Bishop was an accomplished comedian in his heyday. He also starred on the silver screen in some of Hollywood’s earliest knee-slapping classics.

Joseph Abraham Gottlieb was born February 3, 1918 in the Bronx, New York. His family would then move to South Philadelphia a few years later. Bishop, the son of Jewish parents, found humor in his family’s behavior compared to some other families in the neighborhood.

He developed a sense of humor a very young age, and was always performing. By the time Joey entered high school, he already knew comedy was the career for him. After graduating, he went on to experience minor success on the stand-up circuit; but like thousands of young Americans during the time, he enlisted in the Army during World War II.

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The rise and fall of Elvis Presley

Of the billions of people born throughout history, only a select few will be remembered through the times. Of those select few, most will be forgotten in generations to come. But for the rest, a very small and select group, their legacy and names live on forever.

One of these names near the top of everyone’s list is Elvis Presley. Whether or not you are a fan of his music, his fame is undeniable. For millions of people worldwide, he was and always will be the King.

Elvis wasn’t born into fame or riches. Like so many of us, his beginnings are humble, to say the least. Born January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis Aaron Presley was one of two sons born that day to Gladys Presley.

His twin brother, Jesse Garon Presley, was stillborn. Elvis spent his youth in a rundown shack with only one electrical outlet. Rather than let their son starve, Vernon and Gladys Presley worked hard to ensure that Elvis wanted for nothing. Elvis lived the quintessential Southern-American life. He went to church, respected his elders, and began singing and playing instruments in church.

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Top 5 James Bond Villains

Throughout the history of cinema, few movies have had an impact quite like the James Bond series. 007’s legacy is unwavering, and even in 2008, the Bond character is kept alive by Daniel Craig. The universe loves symmetry and always finds a way to pit hero against villain as a way to even things out.

For every great James Bond mission, there has been an impressive villain there attempting to stop Her Majesty’s top agent from saving the day.

In no particular order, here are the top 5 James Bond villains of all time.

1 – Jaws. This 7-foot giant with the metal mouth was introduced first in The Spy Who Loved Me, and became an instant hit. The sheer size of this bad-guy made for an impressive showing on the silver screen. Able to chew through everything from bone to steel, Jaws was a worthy adversary for Bond, giving this super-spy all he could handle. Because of the popularity of Jaws, he made yet another appearance in Moonraker. But brawn did not prevail in the end. It was Jaws’ lack of brainpower which always left him defeated. In the end, Jaws found love and abandoned his life of crime.

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Where did Burlesque and Cabaret Dancing Come From

Cabaret is a form of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the particular performance venue: restaurants and nightclubs. This form of entertainment is nothing new at all. Civilizations as early as the Greeks and Egyptians held forms of plays and theater, what we might call “Sketch Comedy.”

The word itself, “Cabaret,” is a French word for the taprooms or cafes where this form of entertainment was born. It is derived from Middle Dutch “cabret”, through Old North French “camberette”, it essentially means “small room.”

The performers are in close quarter with their audience, who are usually dining and/or drinking while enjoying the show. As the word suggests, the venue itself can also be called Cabaret. The turn of the 20th century introduced and revolutionized the cabaret culture.

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