"The photo of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. was taken at the Coliseum in Oakland, California. I think in 1988 they decided to get together and do one last tour as Rat Pack. And they were all getting a little old, but it was still an opportunity to see the three legendary guys together. They played the show in the middle of the hall.

Instead of the stage being at one end or the opposite end of the arena, the stage is in the middle of the arena and the stage rotates slowly so that everyone has a chance to see it. At the front line, so to speak, or they just walked across the stage and could face different parts of the audience. From where I was photographing, I had to wait until they looked in my direction again. I just happened to take a picture when Frank Sinatra tapped Dean Martin on the butt.

It was what I like to call a happy coincidence. No one else got that photo and, if you know anything about these guys, this way they looked or how they acted, you can tell exactly who they are, even if you just look at the back of their heads.

This is the Rat Pack. Until the bitter end." - NEAL

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The Story behind the Picture – by Neal Preston