Between 1960 and 1965, when all-American beefcake was giving way to suave, sophisticated, and cool, The Rat Pack ruled Las Vegas. They were five actors and singers, performing regularly at casinos like the Sands. They were famous for living the Cool Life, drinking, gambling, sporting, chasing dames, and having fun. They were famous for their connections to the mob and the Kennedys. But mostly they were famous for being friends. When one appeared, he was asked about the others. Their spats and reconciliations made front page news.The homoerotic subtext of the Rat Pack bond is obvious -- today, anyhow. They were all about male bonding, with the intensity and physicality of romance. And audiences cheered them for it.
Some of them were bisexual in real life. Others were homophobic -- even more than what one expects in the homophobic 1960s. In order, from least to most gay-friendly, they were:
5. Frank Sinatra, age 45 in 1960 (top photo), The Chairman of the Board, a teen sensation of the 1940s, still releasing old standbys and finding a whole new generation of fans. He starred in one of the more homophobic movies of the 1960s, The Detective (1968), and was reputedly so homophobic in real life that he threatened reputedly-gay Johnny Mathis.
4.Joey Bishop, 42-year old comedian, sitcom star, later talk show host. Married during the days of the Rat Pack womanizing, kept to himself a lot. Bff of future talk show host Regis Philbin.
3. Dean Martin (left), age 43, whose comedy act with Jerry Lewis in the 1950s had distinctive, perhaps intended homoerotic undertones. In the 1960s he released some popular songs, had a comedy-variety show and starred in the detective-spoof Matt Helm series. No evidence that he was aware that his son, Dean Paul Martin, was bisexual.
