Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack Show

Paving the way

Staff Report

Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack Show takes audiences back to 1960s when Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Joey Bishop, known as the Rat Pack, ruled the Las Vegas Strip. Their personalities and iconic showmanship helped make the city what it is today, the Entertainment Capital of the World.

Produced by Buddy Hackett's son, Sandy, the show features stories about the iconic performers that only Sandy could present. A successful actor and comedian Buddy Hackett first met Sinatra when the blue-eyed crooner asked Buddy if he would be his opening act. Buddy refused but became a lifelong friend of Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack. He performed with the Rat Pack in several of their Vegas shows and as well as in Joey Bishop's shows and "The Dean Martin Show." The late Buddy Hackett is also a part of this show.

Before Sandy Hackkett's Rat Pack Show starts, nostalgic photos of the real Rat Pack performers are displayed on a large screen on stage. The men are pictured performing, laughing and partying, reminding everyone of not only their talent, but the memorable personalities that made the Rat Pack such endearing entertainers.

The voice of God, played by the late Hackett, fills the showroom. He reminisces about the good old days of the Rat Pack and says that things haven't been the same since the guys left Vegas.

"I'm sending you fellas back to do one last show," says Hackett.

The screen rises, revealing a live orchestra and four men portraying the Rat Pack. Wearing matching black tuxedos, the four men perform a few songs including "My Kind of Town" while people in the audience clap and sing along. Then Joey takes center stage to tell some jokes, and it's not long before the showroom is filled with laughter. These performers act, sing, dance and remind everyone that the Rat Pack still is one of the hottest acts in town.