To All My "Golf Pallies!"

Mike Colonna Blogcast Greg Garrison

Greg Garrison interview.... Dean Martin

Lee Hale Interview Dean Martin Music Director 2011

Dean Martin Blogcast

Dean Martin Lived Here.

I want one of these!!!!!

Dino's Lodge

Vintage Los Angeles: What Ever Happened to Dino’s Lounge? In the summer of 1958, Dean Martin and his business partner, Maury Samuels, opened a restaurant on Sunset Boulevard. Here’s what happened after that By Alison Martino -November 15, 2013 

Patrons at Dino’s Lodge Back in High School my pal Johnny Gillette ventured up to Hollwyood to visit "hot spots" we had heard and read about, Dino's Lodge was at the top of our list! Take a look at the prices on this original Dino’s Lodge Menu. The quote at the bottom sums it all up. I’ve have been lucky enough to track down these very rare collectibles through the years. Now all I have to do is dump some Dino’s Lodge soil into one of those ashtrays…

The razed site of Dino’s Lodge Remember the L.A.-based private eye series 77 Sunset Strip? The 1950s show was filmed entirely on the Warner Brothers lot, but the opening 30-second sequence was filmed in front of Dino’s Lodge, located at 8524 Sunset Boulevard. In the summer of 1958, Dean Martin and his business partner, Maury Samuels, bought a former restaurant called The Alpine Lodge. They hired Dean’s brother, Bill, to manage the place, and immediately renamed it Dino’s Lodge. Out front they placed an enormous neon sign featuring Dean Martin’s handsome face and it became one of Hollywood’s campiest novelties. The “suit and tie” jazz joint was instantly hip, serving home-style Italian cuisine, steaks, and breakfast until 4 a.m. 

The interior included dark wood paneling and comfortable leather booths meant to replicate Martin’s personal den. Continuous entertainment was provided in a separate cocktail lounge that promoted female singers—perhaps ole Dino didn’t want any male competition—but by 1960, he had flown the coop for the Sands in Las Vegas and sold the restaurant to new owners who kept the name and neon sign for 27 additional years. Visitors flocked to the restaurant in hopes of getting a glimpse of Dino, but his neon face is as close as they got. By the early ’70s, the swanky restaurant that had once hosted parties for Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor descended into a tourist trap and was abandoned by its celebrity clientele. During the Miami Vice era, the block on which the restaurant sat suffered a devastating makeover. 

What was left of Dino’s Lodge, the Tiffany Theatre, North Beach Leather, and the 1960s dance club the Sea Witch were all stuccoed over, leaving them unrecognizable, then replaced with bland looking offices. A 77 SUNSET STRIP dedication was later engraved on the sidewalk in front of the original entrance to Dino’s. This September, the entire block was demolished to make way for a massive development. I’m not sure if the plaque will survive, but the new parking attendants should carry a comb in their back pocket in honor of Ed “Kookie” Byrnes. All photographs courtesy Alison Martino Collection

Dino Show Credits

Joey Heatherton 101 Dean Martin and Joey Heatherton Medley

Dino Knocks off The Beatles!

Dean Martin- "I'm gonna knock your pallies off the charts!" Ricci Martin, Dean's son, back in 1964 was a Beatles freak. As were we all. As a Long Beach State Sigma Chi, Beatles records kept us dancing at every Sig Party. That August, Dino, who hadn't had a hit record in years, "kicked" the Beatles out of Billboards #1 spot with "Everybody Loves Somebody." Fast forward, in 1980 my "pallies" and I traveled to the Monaco Grand Prix. The late Whitey Littlefield, (Sinatra's Budweiser go to guy), Johnny 'Smooth" Morris, (owner of Legends and now The Boathouse Restaurant in Long Beach) Bruce Hershey and I were invited to spend the afternoon with George Harrison and Ringo Starr. Dean's name never came up, but there we were, with two of the Beatles "that played second fiddle" to "The King of Cool!" We BS'd all afternoon. You would have loved being a fly on the wall. Ringo did not want pictures taken but Hershey snuck out and took one anyway. You can see his image on the yacht door. Guess you can say "Memories Were Made Of This!"

The Dean Martin Show - First episode

Dean Martin Show Intro (1)

A Short Tour of NBC Burbank "This Could Be the Start of Something Big"

The Golddiggers.

It was 1968, Greg Garrison, Producer/Director of the Dean Martin Show, came up with a "wild idea." "Let's get a small chorus line of singers and dancers to showcase all of Dean's talents." A small ad in Daily Variety that read, along the lines, "Looking for talented female singers and dancers to audition for the "The Dean Martin Show." Not exactly word for word, the tryout day was posted. On my drive to the studio from Belmont Shore, Long Beach, my usual 35 minute drive on three different freeways doing 80 in my VW Bug, I arrive at NBC. Low and behold, wrapped around the entire block were females of all ages. Dancers, Singers, you name it. Ready for their "Auditions" with the producers of  The Dean Martin Show. Months later, viewers were treated to the birth of the "Golddiggers!" DeanMartinBlog.comMike Colonna

Stan Zieve

Stan Zieve, what can I say, he hired me as an NBC Messenger, back in the day. I smashed up one of his prize motorbikes, the first day, in the back lot after I "fibbed" telling him I knew how to ride a motorcycle. He kept me on got me a job as an NBC Page. I spent 7 great years in Guest Relations and NBC News. Prayers are in order. RIP

The "Schnoz"

Afternoon's were crazy around NBC Studio's in Burbank during the late 60's. One day Perry Como's strolling down the hall. James Garner walks through the Artist Entrace looking for his dressing room on the Carson Show, Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Roger Miller and all of the "Zany" Laugh In stars politely wave as they search for their dressing rooms. Never a dull moment. One afternoon I was leading a tour past the Carson and Let's Make a Deal studios, we stopped midway and opened up one of the rehearsal halls on our left, sitting alone behind a piano in the back of the room, was the one and only Jimmy Dirante. He waved to the group, they were thrilled. Legendary moments as an NBC Page in Burbank. "S

chnoz"

Swingin Country

Thinking about my old NBC Burbank Page days. One of the first shows we worked on..."Swingin Country." Molly Bee, Rusty Draper, Roy Clark. Late 60's!

Raquel

She was beautiful. Before the Carson Show, standing next to her when I was an NBC Page, I knew she was someone special. Original Airdate: 06/19/1968 Johnny Carson

"You Don't Say

Back in late 60's my NBC Page pal Bob Gould, Jim Overman and I worked on this "fab show!" We loved being a part of it.

Elke Sommer

First day on the job as an NBC Page in "Beautiful Downtown Burbank" behind the Artist Entrance Counter, this beautiful actress with no make up, a scarf wrapped around her head, asked me where her dressing room was for the Carson Show. Elke Sommer

I Gotta Be Me....Sammy

"I gotta be me..."  It was a Thursday night. Sammy Davis Jr. walked through the "Artist Entrance" looking for Dean.   The Artist Entry  lot was private parking for NBC star's and guests..  All the big stars from the "Golden Age of Television," Dino, Hope, Benny, Berle  passed through the AE's hallowed doors on their way to their dressing rooms.  It's early evening and Sammy walks in, top hat, tan suit, cane, dapper as ever.  I'm  behind the Artist Entrance desk. He checks out my name tag, "Hey Mike, how do I get to Dean's dressing room?" I figured we were on a first name basis,  I said, 'Sammy, Dean tapes on Sunday's. His show's on national TV later tonight, he's not here. " He was embarrassed,  "I knew that." He gave me a big smile, spun around, and walked out through the AE doors. I'll never forget, "The Candy Man."

NBC Page Stuff

Standing next to Dino was quite a feat. My dad always said, "act like you own the place." That I did. Instead of ushering audiences outside of NBC I tried my best to get "close and personal" w/as many "big stars" as possible during my days as an NBC Page. Sneaky, you bet! BS'ing with the 2000 year old man Mel Brooks, and Carl Reiner during a break in rehearsal for the Colgate Comedy Hour, but my biggest claim to fame was working my way next to my childhood idol, the "King of Cool," for two seasons. Lot's of stories to tell. DeanMartinBlog.com

Bob Hope Comedy Specials

In the late 60's, Bob Hope was rehearsing for a Chrysler Comedy Special, during a break I strolled past a group of at least a dozen comedians. They were laughing their "tushes" off. Don Adams, Jonathan Winters, Dom Deluise, Flip Wilson, George Gobel, Sid Caesar, Red Buttons, Jack Carter, Shelley Berman, Buddy Hackett, Nipsey Russell, Shecky Greene, Jack E. Leonard, and this little guy they had surrounded was picking off each one of them with hilarious insults. It was another legendary moment during my NBC Page days. DeanMartinBlog.com See less