Thursday, July 25, 2024
Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Thursday, July 18, 2024
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Sunday, June 30, 2024
Roma
"So please meet me in the plaza near your casa, I am only one and that is one too few, On an evening in Roma, Don't know what the country's coming to But in Rome do as the Romans do, Will you on an evening in Roma?"
Friday, June 21, 2024
Friday, June 14, 2024
Thursday, June 13, 2024
Dean Martin & Barbara Eden
"I Dream of Jeannie," Barbara Eden stood next to me waiting for her sketch w/Dean. She caught me staring, embarrassed I looked away for a second. I looked back and saw that beautiful smile. As an NBC Page, I was surrounded by beauty, Elke Sommer, Raquel Welch, Lannie Kazan, Angie Dickinson, Joey Heatherton, Goldie Hawn, the Golddiggers, to name a few. I was a lucky guy, standing next to Dean. I vividly remember spending those Sunday's working on The Dean Martin Show. "Let's have a Vino for Dino!"
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Brothers From A Different Mother
Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra were brothers from a different mother. They found each when Hollywood was seeping with glitz and glamor. They had a natural chemistry. Dino with a perpetual twinkle in his eyes and Frank with a mischievous grin. Dean's daughter Deana once said “To watch them on stage together was brilliant because you could see the love in their eyes, the respect for each other.” The Desert Sun.
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Sunday, June 9, 2024
Friday, June 7, 2024
"The Dean Martin FedEx Caper "
"The Dean Martin FedEx Caper '' I delivered a package to the Fed Ex Store in LaQuinta this afternoon. As soon as I walked in, "Ain't that a Kick in the Head" started playing store wide. I told the girl handling my package "It's Dean Martin's Birthday Today!" She said who's Dean Martin? I was shocked !!!!" I almost "smacked her, but she was bigger than me!"
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Sunday, June 2, 2024
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Saturday, June 1, 2024
Thursday, May 30, 2024
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Alberto's Rancho Mirage
"The Rat Pack" Once upon a time in "Beautiful Downtown Burbank," I happened to be in the midst of "Old Blue Eyes," "The King of Cool," and the "Candy Man." Little did I know decades later I would be sitting in Alberto's Restaurant Rancho Mirage where my "Pallies" once enjoyed Calamari, Oso Buco, or Chicken Cacciatore. The bartender in that back room had plenty of stories, I relished them all. Alberto's is now closed, who bought that legendary booth?
Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Sunday, May 26, 2024
Saturday, May 25, 2024
"Happy Wife Happy Life"
"Jeannie and I have a secret to making a marriage last. Two times a week, we go to a nice restaurant and have a little wine and good food. She goes on Tuesday's, I go on Fridays."
Friday, May 24, 2024
Sunday, May 19, 2024
Friday, May 17, 2024
Thursday, May 16, 2024
Friday, May 10, 2024
Dean and Frank
Dino..." "“I want to be remembered as a damn good entertainer, nothing spectacular. A good entertainer who made people enjoy themselves and made them laugh a little. I want them to think 'He was a nice guy. He did pretty good and we loved him.'"
Frank.."The big lesson in life, baby, is never be scared of anyone or anything. You may be a puzzle, but I like the way the parts fit. I'm gonna live till I die. Basically, I'm for anything that gets you through the night - be it prayer, tranquilizers or a bottle of Jack Daniels.
Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Monday, May 6, 2024
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
When our Eyes Met!
Dean and Frank "Two Legends!" I was picking up material one Sunday afternoon from graphic arts, when I noticed Frank entering from the back parking lot with his entourage. Frank was in the lead, heading toward Dean's Studio. He's moving toward me....as I passed Frank, rather than "Hi Frank" I lifted my eyebrows to acknowledge him. I'll never forget, as Frank's eyes met mine with my eyebrows half way up my forehead, Frank returned the hello, our eyes and eyebrows met, did I know Frank Sinatra?..... Yes, I traded eyebrows with Frank Sinatra.
Monday, April 29, 2024
"Dino's Shadow"
Dino's Shadow! If you were Dean Martin's shadow in the mid 1960's think of folks you would have rubbed shoulders with. Sinatra, Sammy, Joey, Rowan and Martin, Lanie Kazan, Dom DeLuise, Pat Henry, Jackie Vernon, Johnathan Winters, Kenny Lane, Buddy Ebsen, Smothers Brothers, Vic Damone, Producer Greg Garrison, Paul Keyes, Harold Kemp, George Jessel, Johnny Carson, among others, The Marquis Chimps. And Yes, Mike Colonna, your loyal NBC Page. More to follow.
Monday, April 15, 2024
Sunday, April 14, 2024
My Favorites!!!
Dino was my favorite, as an NBC Page in Burbank, "back in the day," Frank on his way to studio 4 gave me a wink, Dino, I got to hold his drink while he did his monologue during my days on the Dean Martin Show, and Sammy? BS'd with him one Thursday nite at the Artist Entrance. He was there to see Dean, "but Sammy, Dean only works on Sunday's!" Three super memories!
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Elke Sommer meets Dean.
The 1st "Celeb" I met at NBC Burbank's Artist Entrance was Elke Sommer. Beautiful! She needed help getting to her dressing room for her appearence on the Dean Martin Show. She asked "where's Dean?" I replied ' he'll be here on Sunday." As usual for two seasons I finagled a way to stand next to Dino. That Sunday, Elke stood next to me waiting for her sketch w/Dino. It doesn't get better than that!
Sunday, April 7, 2024
Monday, April 1, 2024
Sunday, March 31, 2024
Sunday, March 24, 2024
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Saturday, March 16, 2024
Monday, March 11, 2024
The Dean Martin Show
Mike Colonna
Walked by this set for many years. Since I worked on the show, standing next to Dino, my only regret was not chasing it down before NBC Burbank moved to Universal. The blueprints, for the set starting from the "fire pole" down to the set your viewing was legendary. It's sitting somewhere, would luv to chase it down.
Mike Colonna
It's now embeded on my desktop. Who could forget those days working on the Dean Martin Show.
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Gary Messerschmidt
I grew up around that set.
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Mike Colonna
Your dad was a great guy. Talked to him many times during Dino's show and ditto for KNBC News w/Tom Brokaw and all the other big shows taped in Burbank.
Sunday, March 10, 2024
Saturday, March 9, 2024
Friday, February 16, 2024
Saturday, December 2, 2023
"Breaking Wind"
"Breaking Wind." Yep it happens to all of us!!! Could it be true? It was a busy Sunday on the Dean Martin set during an afternoon taping in the late 60's. Dean did a short monologue then finished singing "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You," then we went to a commercial. I was standing within a few feet of Dean with the cue card and makeup guy, Dean scooted up on his bar stool, we heard "squeak," Dino "cut one." I looked at the cue card guy, and the makeup guy, they looked at me, then I looked at Dean, and he winked. "The King of Cool" and the four of us "burst in laughter." "Let's have a Vino for Dino!
Friday, November 24, 2023
"The King of Cool"
Dino never seemed uncaring. During Sunday rehearsals and tapings I never saw Dean in a lousy mood. To say he was "menefreghista," a person who didn't give a damn about anything, was an opinion PR people needed to "besmirch" "The King of Cool." He was under a lot of pressure. Hanging out on Sunday's watching him work with Directors, Stage Managers, and the crew that surrounded him, Dean never raised his voice, or uttered a disparaging word to anyone working on his show. That's the way I remember Dino. Cool, calm and collected. "Let's have a Vino For Dino!"
Monday, November 20, 2023
Sunday, November 19, 2023
Monday, November 6, 2023
Sunday, November 5, 2023
Dean's Uncle Leonard Barr!
Working the Dean Martin Show. Dean's Uncle Leonard Barr (Barra) appeared several times on the show. His uncle's comedic schtick was one-liners; told with a straight face, and deliberately repeating a punchline. He's best remembered for his appearance in the 1971 James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever with Sean Connery in which he played Shady Tree, a stand-up comedian and smuggler in Las Vegas. Other credits included The Odd Couple, M*A*S*H as a USO comedian. He also made numerous guest appearances on The Tonight Show.
Tuesday, October 31, 2023
Saturday, October 28, 2023
Dean Martin Blog "Scripts? What Scripts?
The Dean Martin Show. "Scripts? What Scripts?" Thursday nights were made for "Dino." Looking back it took an exceptionally talented personality to come in on a Sunday Morning, do a quick "run through" during rehearsals, then tape a Top Rated show for millions of viewers. . Talented people like Greg Garrison's "Girl Friday, " Janet Tighe, made the show click. She adored Dean. Always wondered what happened to her. I digress. It could be said, Dean instilled a little bit of himself in all of us. Again, thanks Paisan! "Let's have a Vino for Dino."
Thursday, October 26, 2023
"The King of Cool"
The Dean Martin Show. The drive from Beverly Hills was no more than 15 minutes. His convertable arrived in the back lot almost every Sunday morning during the season. I was not one of the lucky guys to meet Dean when he arrived that was Greg Garrisons job. My guess it was his son Craig or one of the Stage Managers. Arriving casually dressed, Dino was led to his dressing room from a back door hallway to studio 4. His makeup, and wardrobe assistants were waiting to transform Dino into "The King Of Cool!" His grand entrance was always an exciting event. Everyone stood glued to the walls as Dean walked by. "The King" had arrived. "Let's have a Vino for Dino!"
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Dino "Re-Incarnated!"
In a 2022 article. " Iconic's, " Jimmy Edwards says, “ he wants to make sure Dean Martin's legacy is preserved.” "Edwards has been thinking a lot about Dean Martin’s place in the modern media landscape — some 28 years after his death at age 78, and where he ought to be, last month, Edwards acquired an equity position in the rights held by the Dean Martin estate, which includes his music, vast amounts of work across the audiovisual spectrum, — and will use all that material to put Dean back in front of the whole world again." Dino Fans, What Say You? Mike Colonna
Guy Marks Roasts Michael Landon
You've heard that "Laughter is the best medicine," To watch Dean laugh was a site to remember. Only a few comics could make Dino physically "cry '' during a sketch. After witnessing Foster Brooks bring Dean to tears, during one Sunday afternoon taping then watching Dino and Don Rickles almost fall out of their chairs, during a Dean Martin Roast, in my view, was an unforgettable site!!! In my view, Guy Marks was the funniest of them all. He was born Mario Scarpa. Of course Dean loved him. Guy was the youngest of 11 children born to Ermelindo and Adelina Scarpa. Take a few minutes and watch this Roast, it'll make a believer out of you!
"The Butterfly Diaries"
"The Butterfly Diaries." You have to admit, no one, I mean no one, could wear a tux and butterfly bow tie like Dean! One Sunday during the taping of the Dean Martin Show, during a commercial, while sitting on his signature bar stool, Dean went to "twiddle" his "fluffy bow tie wings," forgetting he had a cigarette between his fingers he almost burned the bottom of his chin. He caught himself, lifted his eyebrows, then winked. "Let's have a Vino for Dino!"
Monday, October 16, 2023
Saturday, October 14, 2023
"Dino Lived Here"
The Dean Martin Show. Fate or Coincidence? My sis Carol's been living on Mariscal Road in Palm Springs in "Little Tuscany" for more than 20 years. Not long ago, I learned that Dino's second home was just across the street. Everytime I visit her now, another great memory from my days working on the Dean Martin Show crosses my mind. I was fortunate to be on set for this video. The ending tells the whole story about our pal Dean Martin.
Monday, October 2, 2023
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
The Dean Martin Show though the lens of an NBC Page.
Greg Garrison and Dean had a unique relationship. Unlike other TV Shows, Carson, Laugh-In, Hollywood Squares, Let's Make A Deal, Andy Williams, rehearsals were relaxed, no rush, just get it right! Dean arrived on Sunday, prepared, his guests worked all week on sketches, and all that was needed on Sunday tapings were "lights, camera, action!" Watching all of this, through the lens of an NBC Page, was like attending "graduate school" for TV Production. The only difference was instructors were real life Producers, Directors and of course the one and only Dean Martin!! "Let's Have a Vino for Dino." Obsolete Videos.
Saturday, September 23, 2023
Dean Martin: Wine, Women and Song - documentary part 1 of 3
"a life lived hard, fast, and without apologies." No one really new Dino," he was a great entertainer, father, and never looked back! I think the word "charisma" was created for Dino Crocetti from birth. All of these "flashback's" keep reminding me of how lucky I was working on the Dean Martin Show. "Let's Have a Vino for Dino!"
Friday, September 22, 2023
Return To Me - Perry Como and Dean Martin
"Dean's Favorite Paisan" I looked forward to Sunday's when we taped the Dean Martin Show. During the week, we managed audiences on Let's Make a Deal, Hollywood Squares, Hope and Benny Specials. Standing outside of NBC w/ticket holders was an experience. They would often ask for our autographs. I guess they thought we were destined for "stardom," wearing our NBC Page blazers. It was late fall when I caught up to another childhood idol, Perry Como. He was leaving Studio 4 after taping his traditional Christmas Show, I caught him as he was walking toward the Artist Entrance with his agent. "Mr. Como, I've loved you since I was a young kid watching the Perry Como Show." Told him my name, like a long lost uncle he wrapped his arm around my shoulder, as we walked, he smiled, and said "that means a lot to me." "Let's have a Vino for Dino!"
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Dean Martin - “Just Say I Love Her”
The Dean Martin Show. Dino was never a man to mince words. Watching him on and off set you got the feeling that he was a genuine person. I remember this song, "Just Say I Love Her" sent chills up my spine. The song was an Italian melody written by Neapolitan composer Rodolfo Falvo in 1930. You know when Dean sang it was from the heart. I put this video together knowing that maybe, just maybe, there was something tugging in Dean's heart that reminded him of Jeannie. Deep Breath. "I'm ready for a Vino with Dino!"
"Non Dimenticar"
"Non Dimenticar, although you travel far my darling
It's my heart you own, so I'll wait alone Non Dimenticar"
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
The Birth of The Golddigers.
The Golddiggers and The Dean Martin Show. Leaving Belmont Shore in Long Beach, driving up the Long Beach Fwy, the Santa Ana Fwy, to the Ventura Fwy, Getting off on Hollywood Way, passing Disney and St. Joe's Hospital was one way to get to NBC Studio's. The Hollywood Fwy, to Barnham, driving past Hanna Barbera and Warner Bros. was my 2nd choice, you entered the world of "makebelieve." Loved it! One morning I arrived at NBC and around the corner and down the street, lines of `beautiful women' were waiting to audition for the Dean Martin Show. It was 1968, The Golddiggers were born! They soon became part of Dean's Shows in Vegas. One more reason it was a "gas" to work on The Dean Martin Show. "Let's Have A Vino for Dino."
Thursday, September 14, 2023
The Best Job Ever!
The Best Job Ever! I didn't make a lot of $$$ but 7 years working at NBC Burbank, as a page on The Dean Martin Show and Laugh-In, with two great talented producers, Greg Garrison and George Schlatter, was like earning a PHD in TV Production. Every big star from Carson, Andy Williams, Hope, Benny, Pat Boone, Monty Hall, Hollywood Squares was a bonus. Another great memory included working News Production at KNBC w/Tom Brokaw, Jess Marlow, and Ross Porter. Daydreams keep those days alive. "Let's Have a Vino for Dino!"
"An Evening in Roma"
mo
"Down each avenue or via, street or strada, You can see 'em disappearing two by two, On an evening in Roma. Do they take 'em for espresso, Yeah, I guess so On each lover's arm a girl I wish I knew, On an evening in Roma."
Monday, September 11, 2023
Dean Martin Blog, Dean, Dan Rowan, Dick Martin
Dean's Show, during the 60's, was the best Comedy Show on TV. Laugh-In, Carson, Andy Williams Shows were all just a cut below "The King of Cool's" comedy show Thursday nights. Not a day went by that Dean's name wasn't the topic of conversation around NBC
in "Beautiful Downtown Burbank." Dan Rowan and Dick Martin loved Dino. I know they were in "awe" of the man. You could see the admiration in their eyes when they appeared on the show. They held their cigarettes like Dean, they copied Dean's swagger, tried to talk like Dean, anytime they were on with Dean it seemed they couldn't keep their eyes off the man. I guess you could call Dino one of the most charismatic performers that ever lived. Flashbacks of those two seasons standing next to Mr. Crocetti, help me kickstart the day! Let's have a "Vino for Dino!"
Friday, September 8, 2023
Dino and "The Fire Pole"
Claustrophobia was not Dean's friend. Two seasons of watching him slide down the fire pole made me nervous. It was an accident waiting to happen. The Cue Card, makeup guy and yours truly were the closest in the event he twisted an ankle or??? Dean was a "Daredevil!' Jumping on pianos, sliding down fire poles, no problem. "Let's have a Vino for Dino!"
Sunday, September 3, 2023
Riccio's Palm Springs, The "Pallies" met there!
Dino and his pals were regulars at the old Riccio's, up the street, in Palm Springs "back in the day." According to Danny, when his dad owned it, the " Rat Pack" were regulars. We ate at the new Riccio's last night, on N Palm Canyon Drive, and had a fabulous meal chased w/a Grey Goose "Dirty Martini." We shared some great stories about the "Great old Days" with Dean, and his "pallies." "The Ghosts of Palm Springs keep following us everywhere we go."
Monday, August 28, 2023
Jay Regas and Dino
We played each day with Don Cherry and a Las Vegan named Joe Snow whose father ran the Baccarat game at Caesars. There were other people that we played with when one of them didn't show up but I don't remember their names.. Dean had a favorite on the tee... LFF (Let the F'er Fly).
He was off the wall funny all day long. I think he used it to get us off our game.
Write to Jay Regas
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During the early 50s I was a street urchin selling newspapers on Reno’s casino row at two in the mornings and one of the joints I would hustle papers was owned by Sam Sarlo. Sam had grown up with and delt craps with Dean Martin in Steubenville, Ohio. Steubenville was a gaming and prostitution Mecca before the War and after the war gambling and bordellos were closed in those communities tolerating vices. Like Forth Worth, Texas; Butte, Montana; Fort Smith, Arkansas; Anchorage, Alaska; Chicago, New York, and Steubenville the gamblers headed to Nevada.
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlTgvyG7xDUhYyjzm5yT0w6NFDDtQbA73oKHFRpJO5VppjS9mbwh5s1LohZ3o3XkKQCXuN2JQzeLep9QuPFx-WrvJCqWeu0CYPOaLNdZCIgpyjuJ0uodtS0-9iXrJ2BIASUni4hXfuxMJIfYvcQweCKhjNGumBxMJskxhRC3aG9IvYEDsdzf1JGzR-XKu/s838/blackjag100.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; ">Dino and Uncle Miltie!
"The King of Cool" meets "Uncle Miltie." Dino..."Milton is an inspiration to every young person that wants to get into show business. Hard work, perseverence, and discipline, all the things you need if you have no talent." Berle, "If opportunity doesn't knock build another door." Dino and Uncle Miltie, two of the "show biz" legends I felt proud to be the brunt of their jokes!
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Dean Martin Behind the Scenes
Dean couldn’t care less. He never looked nervous unless he was putting for a birdie. So I heard. He could have been the writer for that famous quote "frankly my dear i don't give a damn!" Nothing seemed to bother him before, during or after his show. Someone once wrote a piece that described Dean with one word in Italian menefreghista. I remember the only time he looked PO'd was when I answered a call from Danny Thomas in our hallway phone bank, he wanted to talk to Dean, I knocked on his dressing room door, told him who it was, and I immediately got the picture, "Dean can't talk to you right now." Let's have a Vino for Dino!"
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Saturday, August 5, 2023
Thinking about Dean
Thinking about Dean. Dino was a proud representation of his Italian heritage, He was a classic example of the American dream – the son of Italian immigrants who became one of the most recognizable and beloved entertainers of his time. His relaxed, casual singing style endeared him to audiences and made his songs instantly recognizable. Dino appeared in films, from dramas to comedies. He demonstrated his acting range and his ability to hold his own against other Hollywood heavyweights. "The Dean Martin Show," was a hit, due to Dino's humor and charm. His off-the-cuff wit and natural ease made him a legend. The camera loved him! He truly was an inspiration for those who aspire to succeed in the entertainment world, showing that talent, hard work, and authenticity can lead to great success. I was thrilled to work alongside Dean for two seasons which I will never forget! Let's have a Vino for Dino!
Monday, July 31, 2023
Friday, July 21, 2023
Dean and Tony. My last season working on the Dean Martin Show Tony Bennet was one of the guest stars. Two legends. Back as a kid growing up in Chicago, everywhere we drove my dad would sing Tony Bennett songs. "Because of You '' was his favorite. It's 1968 before getting promoted to NBC and KNBC News Production, I witnessed an historic event. My two childhood idols, Martin and Bennett, join together for a Sunday afternoon taping. Standing next to Tony before he was introduced was a thrill. Then the magic began when Tony and Dean "ad libbed" and sang together. Tony's 97th birthday was right around the corner. God Bless Tony and Dean, they were the greatest! DeanMartinBlog.com (No ads)
Wednesday, July 19, 2023
Beverly Hills sign.
"You Know the Beverly Hills Police Commissioner did a really nice thing. He put a sign on my block that said "Crawl and Don't Crawl"
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