Photos illustrate the famous Rat Pack
By Joanne Fox Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, November 09, 2007
Sioux Cityan George Lindblade photographed members of the Rat Pack, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin when he worked in California. His photos will be displayed at the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra concert on Saturday. (Staff photo by Tim Hynds.
Dean, Frank and Sammy may not be physically present Saturday at the Sioux City Symphony, but their images will be there for concert-goers, courtesy of one Sioux Cityan who has spent over 50 years behind the lens.
George Lindblade, long-time owner of G.R. Lindblade & Co. is providing images of the Rat Pack that will be on display for patrons attending the performance which showcases the tunes of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.
Lindblade, a graduate of Heelan High School, attended the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. He lived in California and worked as a free-lance photographer in the 1960s. As a contract cameraman for NBC in Burbank, he had the opportunity to take pictures of the rich and famous.
"I'd heard about Sinatra," he said. "I'd heard stories about him kicking and beating up photographers."
When Lindblade first met Sinatra at the Canyon Country Club, that bad-boy image was dispelled.
"He like me and I like him," Lindblade recalled.
Lindblade, a virtual newbie to the Hollywood production scene, served as Sinatra's photographer from 1962-65 and took photos that others would never see. One is the 51st wedding anniversary photo of Sinatra's parents, Anthony and Natalie.
"Look," he said gesturing to the black and white picture. "Frank's a dead ringer for his dad."
A favorite photo of Lindblade's features Sinatra, with a cigarette, casually dressed and wearing a baseball cap.
"That's a great one," Lindblade said. "It speaks more to who Frank was than the more posed photos."
And it's often those posed photos that never do illustrate the true individual, Lindblade said.
"What I remember most about Sammy Davis Jr. is his laugh and that he was always laughing," he recalled.
Most folks don't know that the dancer/singer/actor was also a camera buff, Lindblade said.
"He always carried a couple of cameras around with him," he said. "So most of our conversations were about photography."
People might also not be knowledgeable that Davis knew about Sioux City, Lindblade added.
"Sammy approached me one time and asked me about buildings in Sioux City, because he was scouting out scenes for a movie about a prizefighter," he said. "When I asked him again about his progress, he laughed and said the buildings had been torn down. I realized that was probably the result of urban renewal."
Although Dean Martin's persona in performances and his television show portrayed him as fun and gregarious, Lindblade said the Italian celebrity was quiet.
"He never spoke much and was quiet and reserved," he said.
"But I never saw him without a drink," Lindblade continued, with a grin. "What struck me was that he would hold on to the same drink for three hours at a time."
The pictures represent three performers with three very distinct stage personalities which were dramatically different from their true personalities, Lindblade said.
"They were one person on stage and off stage, they were totally different," he said, showing the three together at the Riviera in Las Vegas. "If you didn't know who they were and started a conversation with them, they would strike you as average, normal guys."
After returning to Sioux City, Lindblade worked for television stations KMEG and KCAU. He opened his business, G.R. Lindblade & Co. in 1982, which provides video production, still photography, design and graphics services and large format printing to area and regional businesses.
Lindblade will be in the lobby of the Orpheum, starting at 7:15 the night of the concert, to speak with concert goers about his experiences and the photos.
Eric Jordan Young has appeared in the Broadway companies of "Chicago" (Billy Flynn), "Seussical, the Musical," "Ragtime," and "The Look of Love." His most recent credits include Ahrens & Flaherty's "Dessa Rose" at Lincoln Center, Stephen Sondheim's "Opening Doors" at Carnegie Hall, and the world premiere of his one-man musical "Sammy & Me." Young toured nationally with "Chicago" and "Ragtime," played Vegas in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Starlight Express" and performed off-Broadway in "Little Fish, Mr. President" and the ENCORES! 60th anniversary bash. Regional credits include "Ain't Misbehavin' and "Sideshow" for which he received the Helen Hayes Award. He has appeared in ABC's "Ugly Betty and NBC's "Law and Order."
Sal Viviano earned his bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University. He began his career in Chicago, in commercials and theater before moving to New York City for a Broadway debut in "The Three Musketeers." He continued his theatrical career on Broadway in such shows as "Romance/Romance," "City of Angels," and "The Full Monty," He appeared in the off-Broadway productions of "Beau Jest," "Cather Country," and "The Opera." Viviano was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for his portrayal of the title character in "Sunday in the Park with George." He starred in two films "Black Roses" and "The Jitters." He has recorded over two dozen CDs of theatrical and old standard songs.
Nat Chandler enjoys a multifaceted career on Broadway and the concert stage. On Broadway he appeared in the role of Percy Blakeney in "The Scarlet Pimpernel." He starred as Raoul in "The Phantom of the Opera," directed by Hal Prince and toured the U.S. opposite Sarah Brightman in "The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber." Chandler has played the role of Rapunzel's Prince in Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods," and Lun Tha in "The King and I" with Yul Brynner. Barrymore Award nominated for his work in the roles of Phantom in the Yestin/Kopit "Phantom!" and Lancelot in "Camelot." His appearances include symphonies in Minneapolis, Arizona, and Kansas City.
George Lindblade, long-time owner of G.R. Lindblade & Co. is providing images of the Rat Pack that will be on display for patrons attending the performance which showcases the tunes of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.
Lindblade, a graduate of Heelan High School, attended the Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles. He lived in California and worked as a free-lance photographer in the 1960s. As a contract cameraman for NBC in Burbank, he had the opportunity to take pictures of the rich and famous.
"I'd heard about Sinatra," he said. "I'd heard stories about him kicking and beating up photographers."
When Lindblade first met Sinatra at the Canyon Country Club, that bad-boy image was dispelled.
"He like me and I like him," Lindblade recalled.
Lindblade, a virtual newbie to the Hollywood production scene, served as Sinatra's photographer from 1962-65 and took photos that others would never see. One is the 51st wedding anniversary photo of Sinatra's parents, Anthony and Natalie.
"Look," he said gesturing to the black and white picture. "Frank's a dead ringer for his dad."
A favorite photo of Lindblade's features Sinatra, with a cigarette, casually dressed and wearing a baseball cap.
"That's a great one," Lindblade said. "It speaks more to who Frank was than the more posed photos."
And it's often those posed photos that never do illustrate the true individual, Lindblade said.
"What I remember most about Sammy Davis Jr. is his laugh and that he was always laughing," he recalled.
Most folks don't know that the dancer/singer/actor was also a camera buff, Lindblade said.
"He always carried a couple of cameras around with him," he said. "So most of our conversations were about photography."
People might also not be knowledgeable that Davis knew about Sioux City, Lindblade added.
"Sammy approached me one time and asked me about buildings in Sioux City, because he was scouting out scenes for a movie about a prizefighter," he said. "When I asked him again about his progress, he laughed and said the buildings had been torn down. I realized that was probably the result of urban renewal."
Although Dean Martin's persona in performances and his television show portrayed him as fun and gregarious, Lindblade said the Italian celebrity was quiet.
"He never spoke much and was quiet and reserved," he said.
"But I never saw him without a drink," Lindblade continued, with a grin. "What struck me was that he would hold on to the same drink for three hours at a time."
The pictures represent three performers with three very distinct stage personalities which were dramatically different from their true personalities, Lindblade said.
"They were one person on stage and off stage, they were totally different," he said, showing the three together at the Riviera in Las Vegas. "If you didn't know who they were and started a conversation with them, they would strike you as average, normal guys."
After returning to Sioux City, Lindblade worked for television stations KMEG and KCAU. He opened his business, G.R. Lindblade & Co. in 1982, which provides video production, still photography, design and graphics services and large format printing to area and regional businesses.
Lindblade will be in the lobby of the Orpheum, starting at 7:15 the night of the concert, to speak with concert goers about his experiences and the photos.
Eric Jordan Young has appeared in the Broadway companies of "Chicago" (Billy Flynn), "Seussical, the Musical," "Ragtime," and "The Look of Love." His most recent credits include Ahrens & Flaherty's "Dessa Rose" at Lincoln Center, Stephen Sondheim's "Opening Doors" at Carnegie Hall, and the world premiere of his one-man musical "Sammy & Me." Young toured nationally with "Chicago" and "Ragtime," played Vegas in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Starlight Express" and performed off-Broadway in "Little Fish, Mr. President" and the ENCORES! 60th anniversary bash. Regional credits include "Ain't Misbehavin' and "Sideshow" for which he received the Helen Hayes Award. He has appeared in ABC's "Ugly Betty and NBC's "Law and Order."
Sal Viviano earned his bachelor's degree from Eastern Illinois University. He began his career in Chicago, in commercials and theater before moving to New York City for a Broadway debut in "The Three Musketeers." He continued his theatrical career on Broadway in such shows as "Romance/Romance," "City of Angels," and "The Full Monty," He appeared in the off-Broadway productions of "Beau Jest," "Cather Country," and "The Opera." Viviano was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for his portrayal of the title character in "Sunday in the Park with George." He starred in two films "Black Roses" and "The Jitters." He has recorded over two dozen CDs of theatrical and old standard songs.
Nat Chandler enjoys a multifaceted career on Broadway and the concert stage. On Broadway he appeared in the role of Percy Blakeney in "The Scarlet Pimpernel." He starred as Raoul in "The Phantom of the Opera," directed by Hal Prince and toured the U.S. opposite Sarah Brightman in "The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber." Chandler has played the role of Rapunzel's Prince in Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods," and Lun Tha in "The King and I" with Yul Brynner. Barrymore Award nominated for his work in the roles of Phantom in the Yestin/Kopit "Phantom!" and Lancelot in "Camelot." His appearances include symphonies in Minneapolis, Arizona, and Kansas City.
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Gary Anderson wrote on Nov 12, 2007 10:15 AM:
dino martin petters wrote on Nov 9, 2007 8:29 AM: