In Sammy Davis Jr. and the other side of Vegas: Part 1, we talked about the centennial of Sammy Davis, Jr. He had been part of the Will Mastin Trio, then starred solo in Las Vegas showrooms. But in 1960, he was part of a major quintet. The other members were Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, and Peter Lawford. They comprised the Rat Pack, a name Sinatra hated. Supposedly, he preferred to call them “the clan,” as in a family. Supposedly, Davis told him that the name had certain connotations. Supposedly. Anyway, early in 1960, as they filmed Oceans 11 in Las Vegas, the five of them held what was called the Summit at the Sands. It was a happening.
Davis made other movies, starred on Broadway, and had hit records. But this is Nevada Yesterdays, so we want to talk about his role in our state. Davis himself said of Las Vegas, “This town made me and there ain’t no doubt about it.” He started playing the Sands in 1956, when the boss there, Jack Entratter, offered him 25 thousand a week. After the Summit of 1960, he, Sinatra, and Martin came together in 1963 for what they called “Three Coins in the Copa,” with all three performing in the Sands showroom.
Davis kept performing at the Sands, but he moved across the street to Caesars Palace after Howard Hughes had bought the property and Jack Entratter had left. Davis said he would have stayed at the Sands for nothing if Entratter had still been there. He played at Caesars for a decade but felt out of place. He said he needed a more intimate showroom than the larger Circus Maximus…