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rat pack They had it all. Fame. Gorgeous women. A fabulous playground of a city and all the money in the world.

Purchase Rat Pack Confidential

 

Last remaining Rat-Packer Joey Bishop began his career as part of a comedy act with his brother called the Bishop Brothers. In 1957, he opened up for Sinatra and in 1960, was given a small role in the Ocean's 11 film. Bishop really hit it big several years later by MCing at the Sands for the Rat Pack. He also had some success with a sitcom and as a talk show host.

Andy Williams began his career as the youngest member of the four singing Williams Brothers. He had a standout voice that could soar into a surprisingly crisp tenor. Williams went on to star in his own TV show which ran for nearly 10 years and along with great recordings like "Moon River," he is often remembered for his yearly Christmas specials.

Tips on Tables - By Robert W. Dana - June 12, 1959

Bishop, Williams Head Copacabana Show

Despite a line of girls as youthful and fresh as the girl next door in the old home town, two young joey bishopfellows took the limelight in the show Joey Bishopwhich opened last night at the Copacabana. With Milton Berle at ringside and comedienne Jean Carroll applauding from the terrace, Joey Bishop was a debonair master of funny lines, while Andy Williams sang a round dozen of songs as if he were contending for the title of singer of the year.

Disarming Cushion.

Bishop has a nonchalance that is a disarming cushion for his comic thrusts., When you least expect it, he'll throw out a telling line that has the customers fanning the air with delayed-action laughter when they had been looking for the change of pace. Funny thing about this fellow, different segments of the audience dig him at different times. Those who follow TV are well aware of Bishop's talent for ad lib. It's hard to tell where the memorized material stops and the ad lib begin. While most of his act is a monologue, he slips in a very funny impression of an East Indian. dancer's facial, expressions and sentimentalizes with a take-off of Ted Lewis.

Williams can sing soft of swing a tune with a robust voice and infectious sense of rhythm. Great Andy Williamscredit for assisting his outstanding performance last night is due the Copacabana orchestra, with Sanford Gold conducting. With the exception of "Danny Boy," the oldtime ballad, which he sang to guitar accompaniment at his shoulder, practically all of Andy's numbers conclude with a rousing orchestral finish, with the trumpet player having a field day.

Rhythm Numbers.

My preference is for his rhythm numbers: "Just in Time," "Breezing Along With the Breeze," Bye-Bye Blackbird" (with a big introduction) and "Day In, Day Out." There were other standouts. One is the rock-and-rollish "I Like Your Kind of Love." "Jeannie," which he sings into a hand mike as he strolls around, is tender and winning. "Hawaiian Wedding Song" suggests the undulations of the hula girl, the rhythm of the waves. He sings "Steamboat for New York" from "Porgie and Bess" and Gershwin's "Love Is Here to Stay." Andy Williams was so great last nigh that I'd like to go right back to the Copacabana and hear him again.

 

THE REVIEWS
Andrews Sisters - Latin Quarter 1957
Desi Arnaz - w/Diosa Costello 1948
Count Basie - Lincoln 1943
Tony Bennett - Copacabana 1958
Milton Berle - Latin Quarter 1948
Joey Bishop - w/Andy Williams 1959
Ray Bolger - Wizard of Oz Scarecrow, Empire Room 1956
Cab Calloway - Greenwich Inn 1949
Diahann Carroll - Persian Room 1961
Betty Clooney - Waldorf Astoria 1954
Nat King Cole - Copacabana 1958
Perry Como - Versailles 1944
Copacabana - famous night club restaurant is reviewed 1953
Crosby Brothers - Latin Quarter 1961
Xavier Cugat - Waldorf Astoria 1951
Vic Damone - Riviera 1953
Billy Daniels - Copacabana 1952
Sammy Davis Jr. - Copacabana 1959
Phyllis Diller - w/Bobby Short 1958
Nancy Donovan - Copacabana 1952
Jimmy Durante - Copacabana 1951
Billy Eckstine - Copacabana 1951
Duke Ellington - Basin St. East 1961
Eddie Fisher - Empire Room 1959
Judy Garland -Town & Country 1958
Jackie Gleason - La Vie en Rose 1953
Benny Goodman - Empire Room 1956
Dolores Gray - Waldorf Astoria 1954
Buddy Hackett - Copacabana 1956
Connie Haines - Terrace Room 1951
Dick Haymes - Versailles 1956
Horace Heidt - 30th Anniversary 1954
Florence Henderson w/Bill Hayes 1958
Hildegarde - Pierre 1953
Celeste Holm - Plaza 1958
Eddy Howard - Roosevelt 1955
Burl Ives w/Wally Cox - Persian Room
Lisa Kirk - Persion Room 1958
Frankie Laine - Latin Quarter 1955
Julius La Rosa - Romanian 1958
Peggy Lee - Copacabana 1958
Jerry Lewis - Town & Country 1957
Joe E. Lewis - Copacabana 1945
Ted Lewis - Latin Quarter 1953
Liberace - Persian Room 1947
Guy Lombardo - Roosevelt 1957
Vincent Lopez - Grill Room 1954
Tony Martin - Riviera 1953
Martin and Lewis - Copacabana 1950
Ray McKinley - Glenn Miller Band 1957
Mills Brothers - Latin Quarter 1956
Vaughn Monroe - Astor 1955
Constance Moore - St. Regis 1958
Johnnie Ray - Copacabana 1953
Rowan & Martin - Latin Quarter 1961
Della Reese - Copacabana 1961
Sugar Ray Robinson - French Casino
Dorothy Shay - St. Regis 1961
Frank Sinatra - Wedgewood 1943
Danny Thomas - Copacabana 1949
Sophie Tucker - Latin Quarter 1950
Mae West - Latin Quarter 1956
Julie Wilson - Persian Room 1954
EDITORIALS
Dean Martin - thoughts on Mr. Sauve
Peter Lawford - retrospective
Rise & Fall of the big bands
INTERVIEWS
K Baggelaar- Copacabana author
Don Dellair - cabaret performer
Denny Farrell - big band disc jockey
Hal Turner - Performer/Conductor
B Zickafoose - played in WWII Europe
ASSORTED
Bernie Bierman bio
Sammy Kaye - Roosevelt 1957
Dinah Shore - press release and autograph from the 50's
A Letter about a WWII song
Harbers & Dale - Dance Team
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