They also starred in a number of films together. These shows were extremely popular, and some of the banter has survived to this day thanks to a number of recordings. Shirley MacLain became so closely associated with them that even to this day she is regarded by many as the sixth member of the group’s formation. Occasionally, they would also be joined by other personalities and starlets such as Angie Dickinson and Marilyn Monroe, who became known as the Rat Pack Mascots. Fellow packers Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford rounded up the numbers. These meetings were regular shows put on by the pack that were largely driven by its leaders Sinatra, Martin and Davis Jr., who would sing, tell jokes and do impressions for the audience in attendance. It was here that The Summit held their regular meetings, and in particular in the Copa Room. Of these, one in particular became their home – the Sands Hotel and Casino, which sadly no longer exists but at the time was the coolest spot on the planet.
Throughout the first part of the sixties, they became a powerhouse force, performing regular shows around numerous clubs in Las Vegas. The Rat Pack became one of the most iconic factions of entertainers and symbols of carefree sophistication. In this second and final part, we take a look at the how The Summit became an iconic group of carefree sophistication. Sinatra was the leader of one of the most famous “packs” in the history of entertainment.