Letters to the Dead: Things I Wish I'd Said - Ann Palmer

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studios. You were shooting a film with Deborah Kerr. Mervin LeRoy was directing or producing and had let me come on the set with my Mother. I didn’t want to disturb you, so I said nothing and you didn’t seem to remember me as we stood on the sidelines watching the filming.

      Having lost my daughter years later, I could identify with your pain when your son, Dino, was killed in an airplane crash. Until a person looses a child, especially one who is just beginning their adult life, they cannot understand the pain and grief involved. It is never easy to loose a child at any age, even a new born baby but when you have put years into the development of another human being and see the results turned out well, it is an even greater loss.

      My blind date with you was pre-Rat Pack days. Your friendship with Sinatra, Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis Jr. with Joey Bishop, the only one left today, created a lasting legendary team. What appeared to be impromptu shared performances in Vegas thrilled audiences for years. John F. Kennedy, Lawford’s brother-in-law, was an honorary member. I met both Peter and Frank. I had a date with a reporter that was interviewing Peter for an article in a paper. We sat in a booth in a bar in Beverly Hills for an evening of drinks and conversation. Upon your death, Sinatra was quoted as saying “Dean was my brother – not through blood, but through choice. Good times and bad, we were there for each other. Our friendship has traveled down many roads over the years and there will always be a special place in my heart and soul for Dean.”

      With my firm belief in life after death, I am sure you are all there together having a ball. Perhaps you, Sinatra and others are still doing your “Rat Pack” thing in the life after. When I first arrived in Hollywood, I could never imagine meeting you, Frank, Peter Lawford and so many other celebrities.

      Today, infomercials sell video tapes of your TV Variety Shows. So sad that television has lost so much great entertainment as your shows and your guest provided for millions of people’s entertainment. You are missed. What a talent you gave to us. I was fortunate to spend time with you, finding you to be a gentleman, down-to-earth and enjoyable.

       DEAN MARTIN’S WIVES:

      Catherine Hawn (1973 - 1976) (divorced) 1 stepdaughter

      Jeanne Biegger (1949 - 1973) (divorced) 3 children

      Betty MacDonald (1940 - 1949) (divorced) 4 children

      Dean Paul Martin (Dino), his son, killed in the plane crash

      Father of Deana Martin, Father in law of Carole Costello, married to Craig Martin, his oldest son & daughter of Lou Costello. Son-in-Law was the late Carl Wilson of The Beach Boys, married to Dean’s daughter Gina.

       TRIVIA:

      Trade mark Cigarette and a glass of booze whenever he was doing his night club act. Although born in Ohio, he spoke only Italian until age 5. Dean had a fear of elevators and a love of comic books, which he read his entire life. Died exactly 29 years to the day, December 25th, 1995, of his mother’s death, Angela Crocetti, December 25th, 1966. Dean’s career as a boxer was summed up by him as follows, “I won all but 11 of 12 fights.” He fought under the name of Kid Crochet. Much of the “booze” that he drank on stage during his famous “Rat Pack” performances was really apple juice. Despite the name changes in his television shows, Dean’s television career lasted 19 years: from 1965 to 1984. Dean is one of few actors that have received TWO, stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: one for Motion Pictures at 6519 Hollywood Blvd., and one for Television at 6651 Hollywood Blvd. Underwent rhinoplasty (nose job) when he was 27.

       GENERAL INFORMATION:

      Few people today would ever know that Dean was a steel mill laborer, gas station attendant, a prize-fighter, and card shark before seeing the first glimmer of fame. It came when he teamed up with comedian Jerry Lewis in 1946. Films such as “At War with the Army” sent the team of Martin and Lewis skyrocketing to fame. After splitting with Lewis in the mid 1950s, Martin became a fine dramatic actor and the star of his own long-running television variety show. After the breakup of Martin and Lewis, Dean went on to achieve surprising solo success and won critical acclaim for his role in “The Young Lions” with Marlon Brando and Montgomery Clift. A succession of films followed for the singer-actor, including “Some Came Running” with Shirley MacLaine and Frank Sinatra. Even Shirley was accepted into the notorious “Rat Pack.”

      Successful films followed throughout the 1960s with films such as “Bells are Ringing” and “Robin and the Seven Hoods”, again with Rat Pack pals ‘Sammy Davis Jr.’ and Sinatra. During much of the ‘60s and ‘70s Martin’s movie persona of a boozing playboy prompted a series of films as secret agent Matt Helm and his own television variety show. “Airport” followed, featuring Martin as a pilot. He also played a phony priest in “Cannonball Run”. Martin’s last public role was a return to the stage, for a cross-country concert tour with Davis and Sinatra. He spoke affectionately of his fellow Rat Packers. “The satisfaction that I get out of working with these two bums is that we have more laughs than the audience has”, Martin said. Dean host the “Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts” from 1973 to 1984, one of the most classic television series of all time. Dean and his panel of actors and comics would shower the guest of honor with insults. This series contained the most famous names in the history of entertainment, such as Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, George Burns, James Stewart, Orson Welles, Jack Benny, Phyllis Diller, Milton Berle, Gene Kelly, Don Rickles, Rich Little, John Wayne, and Foster Brooks.

       PERSONAL QUOTES:

      “If people want to think I get drunk and stay out all night, let ‘em. That’s how I got here, you know.” “People ask me if Dean drinks any more. I’ll tell you this: He doesn’t drink any less.”—Dom DeLuise “I’ve got seven kids. The three words you hear most around my house are ‘hello,’ ‘goodbye,’ and ‘I’m pregnant.”

      To those who felt he joked his way through songs during concert and nightclub appearances: “You wanna hear it straight, buy the album.” Upon filing for divorce from his second wife: “I know it’s the gentlemanly thing to let the wife file. But, then, everybody knows I’m no gentleman.” “I drink because my body craves, needs alcohol. I don’t drink, my body’s a drunk.” On Joey Bishop: “Most people think of Joey Bishop as just a replacement for Johnny Carson. That’s NOT true. We in show business know better: we don’t think of him at ALL.” On Phyllis Diller: “Phyllis is the women of about whom Picasso once said, “Somebody throw a drop cloth over that.” On Frank Sinatra: “In high school, Frank never Participated in extra-curricular activities, like nature study, paintings or ceramics. Frank’s hobby was a most interesting one: he was an amateur Gynecologist.” On James Stewart: “There’s a statue of Jimmy Stewart in the Hollywood Wax Museum, and the statue talks better than he does.” On Orson Welles: “What can you say about Orson Welles that Don Rickles hasn’t already said about him?!” On Bob Hope: “As a young boy, Bob didn’t have much to say. He couldn’t afford writers then.” On Don Rickles: “Don’s idea of a fun evening is to show home movies of the attack on Pearl Harbor...with a laugh track.” On Johnny Carson: “Johnny Carson is a comedian who is seen every night in millions of bedrooms all over America...and that’s why his last wife left him.” On Milton Berle: “Milton Berle is an inspiration to every young person that wants to get into show business. Hard work, perseverance, and discipline: all the things you need...when you have no talent.”

       DEAN MARTIN’S FILMS & TV:

      Nightclub Years, The (2001), Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days (2001), Encounter in the Third Dimension (1999), The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts (1998), Dean Martin: The E! True Hollywood Story (1998), Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen’s (1998), Bob Hope: Celebrity Bloopers (1997), Las Vegas: Gamble in the Desert and House of Cards (1996), Marilyn: Something’s Got to Give (1990), Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration (1990), Classic Comedy Teams (1986), Half Nelson (1985) TV Series, That’s Dancing! (1985), The Great Standups (1984), Terror in the Aisles (1984), Unrehearsed Antics of the Stars (1984), The Cannonball Run II (1984),

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