Harder Rat Pack Trivia Quiz

Answer: Both of these

Dean Martin's birth name was Dino Paul Crocetti. Joey Bishop was born Joseph Abraham Gottlieb. Peter Lawford's birth name was Peter Sydney Ernest Aylen.

Answer: 5

The Rat Pack filmed the movie "Ocean's 11" in Las Vegas (at the Riviera and Sands) during the day and then performed on stage at the Sands at night. U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy (then campaigning for the U.S. presidency) could sometimes be spotted in the audience.

The movie opened in Las Vegas on 8/10/60. The casinos robbed in the 1960 original were the Sahara, Riviera, Desert Inn, Sands and Flamingo. Casinos robbed in the 2001 remake were the Bellagio, Mirage, and the MGM Grand.

Answer: Sammy Davis, Jr.

Sammy's habit of smoking so much may have led to his death in 1990 of throat cancer. He was sometimes called "Smokey" while on stage. Dean Martin was also a heavy smoker, but gave up the habit late in life. Dean died of lung cancer and emphysema in 1995.

Answer: All three of these

Joey Bishop dropped out of South Philadelphia High School after only two years, served in the Army during World War II, and then began working in vaudeville as an emcee, and doing stand-up comedy. (Bishop joked in an interview "I never was much of a student.

In kindergarten I flunked sand pile.") Sammy Davis, Jr. began his career as a professional performer at age three, touring with his father and "uncle" Will Mastin. His only education was what he learned crossing the country 23 times by age 15. Frank Sinatra dropped out of high school at age 15. Dean Martin dropped out in the 10th grade at age 16.

Although Peter Lawford never obtained a formal education, he was educated by tutors and became fluent in English, French, Spanish and Italian.

Answer: Reprise

Sinatra left his former record label, Capitol, and founded Reprise Records in 1961. He continued to record for it for over the next two decades, completing nearly 500 songs. The arranger, Nelson Riddle, worked on many of Sinatra's albums, and arranged the soundtracks for the movies "Robin and the Seven Hoods" (Frank, Dean and Sammy) and "Come Blow Your Horn" (Frank and Dean).

In February 1962, Dean Martin did not renew his contract with Capitol Records and started recording for Reprise. His 1964 hit "Everybody Loves Somebody" knocked the Beatles' song "A Hard Day's Night" out of the number-one spot on the charts.

When this happened, Martin reportedly sent a telegram to Elvis Presley that read, "If you can't handle the Beatles, I'll do it for you, pally."

Answer: Sammy Davis, Jr.

In the 19 February, 1972 episode of "All in the Family" (episode number 34, titled "Sammy's Visit"), Sammy Davis, Jr. made a guest appearance on the show (he loved the series and requested his guest appearance). Archie is making some extra money driving a cab and Sammy accidentally leaves his briefcase in the cab.

He later stops by Archie's house to pick it up. Archie displays his typical ignorance and bigotry, but Sammy plays along. Just as a memorial photograph is snapped, he kisses Archie on the cheek and Archie is dumbstruck! British players might recognize "All In The Family" as the American version of the British TV series "Till Death Do Us Part."

Answer: Frank Sinatra

Sinatra's work was later endorsed by veteran editors as "brilliant." Sinatra's father Marty was a full-time fireman and a part-time lightweight who boxed professionally in the 1920s under the name Marty O'Brien.

Answer: Dean Martin

Martin's ring name came from his birth name of Dino Paul Crocetti and he boxed in the welterweight class. Dean summed up his career as a boxer by saying, "I won all but 11 of 12 fights."

Answer: Judith Campbell Exner

By most accounts Exner was a fabulously beautiful woman. Her relationship with Sinatra and Kennedy is described by Mafia turncoat Jimmy "The Weasel" Fratianno in his book, "The Last Mafioso." Exner wrote a book in 1977 about things from her point of view titled "Judith Exner: My Story" (published by Grove Press). Although JFK was assassinated in 1963, it was not until 1975 that the identity of Exner was revealed. She died in 1999 at age 65.

Answer: Joey Bishop

Peter Lawford died in 1984 at age 61, Sammy Davis, Jr. in 1990 at age 64, Dean Martin in 1995 at age 78, and Frank Sinatra in 1998 at age 82. Joey Bishop died 17 October 2007, at age 89, of natural causes, at his Newport Beach, California home.