In 1965 'That's Amore' song crooner man Dino Paul Crocetti used a new media to entertain his fans - television - and hosted one of the most successful TV series in history. It was watched by many, won a Golden Globe Award and 'The Dean Martin Show' lasted until 1973. 'Everybody Loves Somebody', his own hit, became the theme song and the series rolled along 264 times.
In the same year he renamed it 'The Dean Martin Comedy Hour', and from 1974 to 1984 it was renamed again as 'The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts'. It became so popular that big guns appeared on his show. It included Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, James Stewart, George Burns' Milton Berle, Don Rickles, Phyllis Diller and many more.
While he was at the peak of his career Martin was invited to come to Singapore in the middle of 1980 to shoot a film for his series. He was invited to sell our little island by the local tourist promotion board who had noticed its immense popularity.
The special Christmas extravaganza would be on its hour long show featured on NBC. It was to highlight the island's tourist attractions and a special children's church choir. The board had wanted to promote Singapore to the American public and thought it was the best way to do so. Production and manpower costs were high and the programme would have amounted to approximately $200,000. Don't forget it was in the 80's.
The idea came to an end when Martin wrote to explain that he would not be able to make it because of internal reasons at his production company. But he had a solution and explained that he hoped to use video-tape clips sent by the board for his future programmes.
He ended his letter by explaining that he was most impressed by the professionalism of the officers in the organisation when he was dealing with them. Many viewers were disappointed because his show was so popular it ran twice a week over R.T.S. (Radio Television Singapore).
Although some pop stars like Willliam Holden, Cliff Richard, Acker Bilk, Shirley Bassey, Rita Coolige, Sergio Mendes, Helen Reddy, Johnny Tillotson and The Rolling Stones had visited our shores and appeared on our stages, Dean Martin had not.
Here's a suggestion. Bring back the show on Singapore's Channel 5. I am sure audiences, both young and old, will love a re-run. Nothing like real entertainment.
Lay some happiness on me
So the brighter side you'll see
No more loneliness to me
Lay some happiness on me...
*(In 1968 Dean Martin brought together twelve beautiful young girls who could sing, dance and act, and gave them the name The Golddiggers.)W
