Don't be a square...see ya there!

                                                            

Seeing a picture of a Frank Sinatra album cover on fellow blogger Jimmy's journal was all it took to get my imagination fired up and running. I've mentioned my curiosity about different times and different places--one that I'm especially fascinated by is fifties and sixties Las Vegas. The heyday of the Rat Pack, baby, when the rollers were high--in many ways--and glamour was not only desired, but expected.

While Vegas is certainly more accessible to average joes, it's lost something special while gaining that accessibility. I love seeing images of the crowds in the casinos then. The women wore fabulous evening gowns or cocktail dresses, and sometimes furs, and the men wore suits or tuxedos.

The furniture and architecture was pastel and googie. Everyone flocked to The Sands to see Frank, Dean, and Sammy, along with Joey and Peter.

                                                 

After enjoying that show, the party would continue at the Sahara lounge, where Louis Prima and Keely Smith popularized the Vegas lounge act. The guys might show up there, too, because that was the place to be after the shows on the Strip.

Along the way, you'd play some more Blackjack or Craps, and might encounter Frank or Dean or Sammy standing beside you rolling the dice. (I wonder if Dean would've blown on my dice?)

                                                

The craziness wouldn't end until the sun came up, and after getting some sleep, you'd do it all over again that evening.

Everyone wanted to be glamorous...and everyone was. I can't help but feel a little sad that we've lost that time and place where there was a bit of glitz. Everyone should have a chance to sparkle once in a while.

Tags: Rat Pack, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop, Las Vegas, Louis Prima, Keely Smith, The Sands, The Sahara, blogplugs