Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop were affectionately known as "The Rat Pack."
In 1960, while the gang was in Las Vegas filming Ocean's Eleven, they made appearances at the Copa Room in the Sands Hotel. This era was known as The Summit, and these performances were the stuff legends are made of. They represent an era in entertainment we'll never see again.
music festivals
*The first Newport Folk Festival was held in 1959. At the 1965 festival, Bob Dylan introduced us to the sounds of folk rock when he adopted the use of electric guitars.
*The 1967 Monterey Pop Festival featured performers as diverse as Ravi Shankar and Jimi Hendrix. This three-day event was the first major rock festival.
*In England, the tiny Isle of Wight played host to rock festivals in 1968, 1969 and 1970.
*Three days of rain and mud couldn't dampen the spirit at the 1969 Woodstock Festival. It was a magical event, remembered fondly by everyone who was there.
light shows These stunning visual effects used special lights, colored oils and overhead projectors to simulate the drug experience during psychedelic rock concerts.
on stage
*Between 1959 and 1966, Dick Clark's Caravan Of Stars traveled across the country, bringing the top rock & roll acts to clubs and concert halls. This annual bus tour featured a racially integrated lineup, and was a great way for emerging artists to gain exposure.
*During 1959 and 1960, the Quarrymen played their first gigs in Liverpool at Mrs. Best's new Casbah Coffee Club. In 1960, they changed their name to the Beatles. Between 1960 and 1963, they became the house band at the Cavern Club and appeared in various clubs in Hamburg, Germany.
*At concert halls and nightclubs, you could see traditional vocalists performing pop standards. Blockbuster shows featured the likes of Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Bobby Darin, Sammy Davis Jr., Eddie Fisher, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Nat "King" Cole.
sports tidbits
*61 in '61!....In 1961, Roger Maris hit 61 home runs, breaking Babe Ruth's record of 60 home runs set in 1927.
*The Houston Astrodome opened in 1965. In April of that year, it was the site of the very first indoor baseball game. When the natural grass died, it was replaced by the first Astroturf in 1966.
*The first Super Bowl was played in 1967. At the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the AFL and NFL champions faced each other in front of 61,946 fans. The Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 35 to 10.
*Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers joined the Chicago Bears in 1965. Their friendship broke racial barriers and inspired everyone who knew them. In the fall of 1969, Piccolo was diagnosed with cancer. Despite chemotherapy and several surgeries, he passed away in June 1970. In an eloquent acceptance speech, Sayers dedicated his Most Courageous Player Award to Piccolo. In 1971, the movie Brian's Song brought their story to the world.
*In the 1960s, the 500 Home Runs Club welcomed Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, Eddie Matthews, Willie Mays and Ted Williams.
music festivals
light shows
concert posters
*Between 1959 and 1966, Dick Clark's Caravan Of Stars traveled across the country, bringing the top rock & roll acts to clubs and concert halls. This annual bus tour featured a racially integrated lineup, and was a great way for emerging artists to gain exposure.
teams of yesteryear