Christmas at "the Summit"

I have never experienced December in Las Vegas. But let's perform a mind experiment and picture Frank, Dean and Sammy in the big room at Sands, 11 PM, December 23, 1961. The marquee outside says "Dean Martin - Maybe Frank, Maybe Sammy" and sure enough, the boys and their pals have all congregated, to share a few laughs, a little holiday cheer, a bit of Egg Nog (light on the egg), for the assembled crowds. Legend has it that in the late 50s, Russian premier Khruschcev, the USA's Ike and France's DeGaulle were planning a Summit Conference to discuss world affairs, and Frank came up with the idea of the boys having their own "Summit" conference.. The extended crowd, led by Pack Leader/Chairman of the Board Frank, with Dino, Sammy, Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford (until JFK banned Frank from the White House for his reputed mob ties), and honorary members Shirley Maclaine, Angie Dickinson and Norman Fell (yes, Norman Fell) would henceforth be known as "the Summit" or "the Clan" although to the public, they would always be "the Rat Pack" based on a comment by Lauren Bacall when she surveyed the wreckage of a party attended by Frank and another founding member, Humphrey Bogart, in Vegas and declared "You look like a goddamn rat pack."

But aside from the hard partying, pursuit of wine, women, song, and cool, the guys could still get warm, silly and even sentimental around the holidays. So let's order another bourbon and branch water, sit back and find a moment to enjoy the few days of general merriment leading up to the holidays, and more specifically the End-of-Another-Year when it is time to sing auld lang syne and roll up the sleeves for 2008.

Dean Martin & Frank Sinatra: "It's a Marshmallow World" :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV6OI6IBemA

Frank: "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E19PzsLRMNY