It's January 1960, a time of shiny suits and narrow ties, the space race, JFK and rumbles in the jungle. Gray clouds may be gathering ninety miles off the coast of Florida but a full-blown storm is already roaring through the City of Las Vegas, way out West.

Frank Sinatra has swept into the neon playground to make a movie called 'Ocean's Eleven' and to do more than his fair share of hell raising while he's at it. Joined by his Hollywood pals Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop, the glamorous quintet of singers, dancers and comics are officially known as 'The Clan' and somewhat less respectfully as 'The Rat Pack'.

Just for laughs, the boys have also decided to treat the guests of the Sands Casino to a series of adlib stage shows. With the playful celebs filming by day and clowning in the Sands 'Copa Room' by night, the whole crazy get-together is being referred to as 'The Summit' by members of the international media who simply can't get enough of the eminently newsworthy goings-on.

And it's into this heady mix of thundering showbands, cigar smoke, tuxedos and riotous laughter that author Shawn Levy takes us on a personally guided tour. Not only do we get to enjoy the legendary club act but we also get to take a peek behind the big velvet curtain to catch a glimpse of the private partying that went on after hours. And boy, oh boy ... if only those red, blue and yellow 'feature walls' of the Sands were still standing, what a story they could tell. But we do have an excellent substitute in the form of Mr Levy who, provides a whiz-bang recap of the Rat Pack's life and times over the 300 plus pages that follow.

There's a look back at the group's early days together with a collection of short biographies about each of its members and the story of how they all came together. Interesting background information is also supplied about the making of the movie as it was undertaken in both Las Vegas and LA. There's a humorous, if slightly cynical, description of the 'Summit' performances as well as some incisive probing into the internal dynamics of the Clan and how each personality played a clearly defined role.

Sinatra's preoccupation with power and control is effectively contrasted against Dean Martin's casual indifference while Peter Lawford is portrayed, yet again, as being a classic nice guy who finished last. Always a curious outsider who never really fitted-in, Lawford's eventual slide from the lofty heights of fame and fortune into the murky depths of virtual poverty and drug abuse represented a sad end for the former MGM star.

Martin also gets shoved in front of the X-Ray machine for a reasonably thorough going-over. A troubling tendency to dishonour agreements seems to have been Dino's primary short-coming.

In a refreshing change of pace, comedian Joey Bishop is given plenty of time to take a long overdue bow at center stage. Having remained a seemingly well balanced and stoic individual to this day, Bishop's particular brand of deadpan joking provided plenty of laughs and always acted as a pleasant counter point to Sinatra's intensity.

Particularly noteworthy is Levy's astute observation in regard to Frank's child-like attempts at doing impersonations - something at which Sammy Davis was a recognized master. And, indeed, it is Sammy's epic journey from the slums of Harlem to the absolute pinnacle of world stardom which is, by far, the most inspirational story contained in this book. What that man had to endure and overcome was utterly shameful. However, Sinatra's steadfast loyalty to Davis right to the end was commendable.

The author rounds out his trip down memory lane by following the individual lives of each key player up to the mid-1990s by which time we had said farewell to Peter, Sammy and Dean. In the year the book was published we also lost Frank. When Joey finally floats away to that big nightclub in the sky it will truly be the end of an era.

Many of the anecdotes and most of the quotes will be familiar to readers who have had an interest in the subject for some time. Still, as Levy clearly points out in his acknowledgements at the end of the book (which would have been much more useful at the beginning) he was not trying to split the atom or deliver a startling batch of revelations. The project was merely intended to articulate his personal observations of the Clan and the wider careers of its various members.

But his theory that the arrival of the Beatles somehow had a serious impact on the careers of such towering middle of the road performers as Sinatra and Martin is decidedly shaky. If anything, the 'British Invasion' may well have given these long-established stars a substantial boost, certainly in the eyes of the adult public, as they provided a comforting thread of continuity in rapidly changing times. Of course, they had already stared-down the potential threat of Elvis Presley and his many imitators. It needs to be noted that Sinatra went on to score at least three gold records long after the Beatles had appeared on the scene. In fact, years after the Fab Four had gone their separate ways 'Old Blue Eyes' would come back with a vengeance and lob what may well have been his biggest ever hit "New York, New York" into Top 40 charts across the globe.

In some ways, the 1970s saw the likes of Sinatra, Martin and Bob Hope reaching the very apex of their popular acclaim and, quite possibly, taking home the biggest pay checks of their entire careers. Apart from anything else, their additional talents as top flight TV hosts meant that they always had the edge over the generally inarticulate peddlers of rock 'n roll ditties. It was only the on-set of old age that forced these Herculean figures into retirement.

'Rat Pack Confidential' is essentially a collection of highlights from previously published books. However, Levy has cobbled the whole thing together with considerable panache and added an all-important touch of humor to the final mix.

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Bruce Corneil : Pop culture historian

An all class act

Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2004

Many of us who appreciate the work of truly great non-fiction writers were deeply saddened by the recent passing of Alistair Cooke.

Although best remembered for his long running radio commentary "A Letter from America" and his various television shows of earlier years, it makes for a pleasant change to go back and rediscover some of Mr Cooke's more substantial literary efforts.

A graduate in English literature from Cambridge University and a print journalist of considerable experience, Cooke managed to perfect a difficult balancing act. Throughout his long and prestigious career he steadfastly adhered to the highest professional and intellectual standards yet still managed to enjoy enviable success within the mass media. In many ways he raised the bar in his field by proving that there was, indeed, a solid market for quality work if it was cleverly presented in an entertaining and accessible style.

In this book the veteran newspaper man draws upon his impressive array of observational and descriptive skills to create a striking collection of penetrating celebrity profiles. Cooke wrote with the deft, light hand of a popular scribe but also with the probing incisiveness of a psychology professor. At all times he examined the inner workings of his subjects with an almost clinical thoroughness and a commendable sense of fairness. When it came to creating word pictures, the man was an old master.

Alistair Cooke was a consummate journalist, an all class act and a credit to his chosen calling .

12 people found this helpful

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Bruce Corneil : Pop culture historian

Lacks the master's touch

Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2004

Alistair Cooke lived for nearly one hundred years and that's about how long it will take you to read this book.

On the plus side, author Nick Clarke has certainly been thorough. He does provide an insight into the subject's career, his personal life and his complex personality.

Unfortunately, the whole thing moves along at a snail's pace and at well over five hundred pages you'll need the dedication of a Tibetan monk in order to stick with it. Should have been trimmed back and sharpened up considerably with a lot more pace being injected into the text during the editing process.

Cooke, a veteran journalist and prolific author himself, was a master at creating bright and colorful profiles of famous people, places and events. I only wish that he had written a comprehensive autobiography in order to tell the story of his own life in detail.

This publication is, definitely, worth adding to your bookshelves if you are a fan of "Alistair the Great". It does the job but it lacks the master's touch.

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Products

Nikon COOLPIX S3500 Camera

Customer Review

Bruce Corneil : Pop culture historian

Hit and Miss

Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2014

Color: RedStyle: New

An attractive, easy to use and reasonably priced pocket camera. That's the good news.

Unfortunately, the image quality varies considerably. Sometimes it's quite OK. But, all too often it's decidedly soft with poor detail and washed out colors. Of course, you can make adjustments using the photo editing program on your PC. However, you really shouldn't have to do all this just to get decent, basic snaps. Indeed, the fact that such doctoring is required indicates that something is terribly wrong. Put simply, the camera is failing to capture the true and accurate appearance of the subject.

The problem seems to be caused by the Nikon's inability to perform consistently well in changing light conditions. Also, I've noticed that when I'm taking a lot of photos in rapid sequence, every second shot appears to be slightly out of focus which possibly indicates that there's a problem with the auto focus failing to reset quickly enough. As other reviewers have mentioned, this camera operates very slowly

And while you might be able to add a touch of zing to improve the look of flat pics, you'll never know, for sure, if the end result bears much, if any, resemblance to the real thing.

In summary : Hit and Miss

2 people found this helpful

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Veho Slide & Negative Scanner

Customer Review
Bruce Corneil : Pop culture historian
Not so good for slide scans
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2014
Verified Purchase
Just bought one from amazon.

Seems to handle negatives much better than slides. Colors and detail are both quite good on the former but only fair (and sometimes utterly lousy) on the latter. Also, it appears to work best with straight forward, evenly lit photos. Doesn't seem to be quite so happy with under exposed images, ones that feature deep shadows (i.e were taken in very bright sunlight) or night shots. Although, there may be some adjustment that you can do. Easy to install and use. Scans upload quickly on to Flickr and Facebook without any problems.

This is a very simple, basic product - hence the price. Much will depend on the nature of the scanning job that you have to do. If it's going to be mainly negatives, this little gadget will produce perfectly acceptable results. But if you've got a large number of slides to get through, you should , perhaps, look elsewhere.

Quick delivery

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eBay Buying Guide

View Master : The Reel Story

(eBay Buying Guide) November 14, 2014

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for dropping by and welcome.

Since 1939, View - Master has produced a vast range of 3-D related products including viewers, reels, projectors, stereo cameras and many different accessories.

As the buying and selling of the company's more collectible reels from the 1950s, '60s and '70s is the most active and popular part of the hobby, that's what I'll be concentrating on.

The main purpose of this Guide is to give you an idea of what's available. But, most importantly, I want to pass on some buying tips.

This page does not contain information about View-Master's more recent products. Such data is readily available elsewhere on the internet.

To learn more about the current market value of View-Master reels and other collectibles you should check eBay's Completed Listings archive. This handy search facility provides full details of all auctions which have recently ended on eBay internationally. To find out more, simply click on the Help tab at the top of the eBay home page. Then enter the words "completed listings" in the search window. However, be sure to check worldwide activities not just Australian transactions.

What is View-Master ?

View-Master is the registered brand name of the photographic industry's most popular and enduring range of three dimensional slide viewers, reels and accessories.

What is 3-D ?

Three dimensional (also known as "3 - D" or "stereo") images, whether they are generated using still photographs or movie film, simulate normal human vision with the various fields of foreground, middle distance and background being noticeably separated. This differs from standard pictures which can only reproduce a single, "flat" image. When projected, the 3-D effect can be quite startling with objects appearing to jump off the screen into the audience.

How does View-Master create the 3-D effect ?

View-Master manufactures its own circular cardboard discs known as "reels" which have small colored slides (or "scenes") mounted around their perimeter. Each reel contains two copies of seven different photos. Matching slides (also known as "transparencies") are placed diagonally opposite each other (see illustration below). The reels are then loaded into hand-held viewers that have left and right eyepieces (lenses) and the reel is rotated by pushing a lever or button. When twin copies of the same photo stop simultaneously in the viewing position (i.e when copies of the same photo stop in front of the left and right eyepieces) they merge together to make a three dimensional image. However, the actual illusion is created in your brain, not in the viewer.

View-Master reel and a viewer

What's the history of View-Master ?

View-Master was invented in the late 1930s by William Gruber, an American organ builder, who formed a manufacturing partnership with Sawyer's Incorporated; a postcard distribution company of Portland, Oregon. Sawyer's View-Master was launched at the 1939 New York World's Fair as a souvenir of the event with the first viewers being sold in camera and stationary shops together with slides of the fair.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb1WgskNMLQ

Disney Bonanza

In 1951 Sawyer's bought out their major competitor, the Tru-Vue Company of New York which produced stereo views on 35 mm film strips. Tru-Vue held the license to use Walt Disney characters and Sawyer's quickly exploited this valuable asset by producing many top selling reels which featured images of Disney's animated and live-action characters, their movies, TV shows and, later, their famous theme park. It was to be the beginning of a long and extremely successful association.

View-Master has undergone many changes of ownership since its inception and its products have been made in various parts of the world including Belgium and Australia (1958-61). Sixty-seven years later, however, this amazing little gadget is still going strong.

Inducted into America's National Toy Hall of Fame, View-Master is now marketed under the Fisher Price label.

Did View-Master invent the 3-D process ?

No. William Gruber simply took an old idea and improved it. Stereoscopic photography and stereo viewers had been around since the nineteenth century. Somewhat appropriately, the 3-D process was pioneered by three learned men of the day - namely, David Brewster, a Scottish scientist (who also gave us the kaleidoscope), Charles Wheatstone, an English inventor (both of whom were knighted) and Oliver Wendell Holmes, an American doctor.

Buying : Some General Comments

View-Master collecting has been well established in the US for some time but the hobby is still gathering momentum in Australia.

As retro buyers and sellers have become better organized and more methodical, however, the growth of cross-over collecting has seen an increasing number of people looking for single subject reels which relate to their specific areas of interest. For example, some reels that feature cult TV shows and movies, pop stars and super heroes from earlier times are now making premium prices on eBay.

Condition

Condition is the all-important factor when buying most collectibles and View-Master products are no exception. Junk is junk in any language. You should never pay top dollar for anything that is not complete, in good condition and preferably comes with all the original packaging (see below).

The Importance of Original Packaging

The availability of original packaging, particularly for older goods (made prior to the 1980s) can make a substantial difference to market values. Some classic and unusual box art from the 1950s, '60s and '70s, for instance, is now highly prized by collectors. Indeed, some boxes can be worth as much, if not more, than the actual product that they contained. Why? Because most people threw the packaging away. Packaging is particularly important when you consider buying some of View-Master's more substantial items such as viewers and projectors.

REELS

The buying and selling of reels is the most active and affordable part of the hobby. And remember that all reels fit all viewers not matter how old or new they may be.

How were they sold?

Initially, most reels were sold individually. Since the 1950s, however, they have usually been offered in packets of three with each set being devoted to a specific subject.

What's available ?

General :

Being a postcard distribution company, Sawyer's initial marketing decision was to concentrate on what they knew best when it came to producing slides for View-Master - namely, travel related "scenic" reels. After enjoying outstanding success with their early Disney releases, however, the company diversified into film and TV subjects. But this was just the tip of the iceberg.

Famous international tourist destinations, important historical events, scientific and educational topics, scenes from movies and TV shows and pop stars have all been featured. In short, you'll find all sorts of interesting things to look at ranging from photos of Disneyland through to the Apollo moon landing, the wonders of the deep, movies such as the Poseidon Adventure and TV shows like the "Beverly Hillbillies" . Even pop music milestones such as Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album have also made it onto reels.

Many hundreds of packets have been released with some containing story booklets as well (examples of which can be found here on eBay, sometimes being shown with reels).

Corporate Advertising Reels :

Major companies have also utilized the novelty and training value of View-Master with a number of specially branded viewers and reels having been manufactured to promote a wide range of products as diverse as Mustang Cars, Coca Cola and Barbie dolls. There was even a viewer and reel set produced to train the staff at eBay a couple of years ago. As most of these were not issued to the public, they are now quite rare and collectible.

Movie Preview Reels :

In the 1950s, View-Master issued movie preview reels to cinema operators to promote the upcoming release of a number of 3-D and "flat image" films. View-Master photographers were allowed onto the sound stages of several studios to snap pictures. The reels together with special, custom-built viewers were set up in cinema foyers for patrons to enjoy.

Such movies as Creature from the Black Lagoon, House of Wax and Kiss me Kate were promoted in this way.

Again, these items are particularly sought after by collectors today because they were never released to the public.

To learn more about what reels have been released check the well named View-Master Ultimate Reel List - a non commercial, research website which is maintained by the University of Texas.

The Current Market

One of the great things about this hobby is that you can get into it for under $10. Good pre-loved viewers can be picked up for around $5. Most packets of the more common "scenic" (travel), Disney, TV related and other reels can still be bought for a couple of dollars each. Such evergreen titles as Disney's Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs, Mary Poppins and 101 Dalmatians sold in huge quantities and are still plentiful.

There are only a handful of reels that make big money on a regular basis.

As mentioned above, those that feature some of the more quirky and cult TV shows of the 1960s consistently do well on eBay, particularly in the US. A check of eBay's recent completed listings archive by yours truly revealed that the following winning bids were accepted for the items indicated below (prices are in US dollars) :

The Munsters $79
Banana Splits $42
Lost in Space $31

All were in very good to mint condition.

Interesting corporate advertising and promotional reels also find a ready market and generate plenty of interest. A couple of examples in this category have recently done well.

A set of reels which promoted Beechcraft Bonanza aircraft sold in England for the around $70 (Aus).

A packet from 1980 featuring the glam rock group Kiss found a new home at $111 (US).

But genuine star money came the way of one lucky seller in the States who found a special, single reel promoting Barbie outfits from around 1960. Believed to have been used as a counter-top display item in toy stores, it sold for $156 US. Yes, indeed, those fabulous Barbie dollars just keep rolling in

A scene from the Barbie reel
that recently sold for $156
in the US

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzqCSyRtryc

Movie preview reels are always eagerly sought and usually make well in excess of $100 (US). A reel promoting the 1953 horror classic House of Wax sold some time ago for $300.

Perhaps the most collectible of all reels is View-Master No:1305 entitled President Kennedy's Visit to Ireland from 1963.Quickly withdrawn after JFK was assassinated, this item has sold for more than $400 in America.

What to look for

Once more, I need to stress that only quality merchandise is worth buying. With this in mind, please check the following points before you bid on reels :

* Packets should be well presented with no rips or scribbling on them. Also, all four flaps should be intact and reels should still be in the original inner sleeve (see below)

* If a packet contained three reels and a booklet (it will say so on the packet) make sure that everything is present and accounted for. Also ensure that all reels contain different slides of the same subject and that you are not buying multiple copies of the same reels.

* From about the 1980s reels were sold in blister packs and these should be in mint condition to be considered collectible. Damaged hang holes or evidence that price tags have been removed decrease the value of packs.

* View-Master discontinued the use of Kodachrome film stock in the 1960s and some images after that time turn red.

* During the 1960s and '70s, the type of glue that was used on the reels can blister and bubble up. This can cause reels to jam in you viewer.

Damaged reels are worth nothing. If slides are missing use what's left as a drink coaster.

One final word....

Don't become too preoccupied trying to corner the market in regard to buying potential investments. If you happen to find a gem at a rock bottom price then you've kicked a goal. As a rule, simply buy what you are going to personally enjoy having in your collection.

If you have never taken the time to peer into the darkened fantasy world of View-Master you're missing out on a visual treat as well as a wonderful form of escapism. Why not give it a try. The pleasure will be all yours !

Happy hunting and buy with care

Motralabouch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyca0sHKkJ8

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Web Resources: The Australian View-Master & 3-D Page; National Stereoscopic Association of the USA; Victorian 3-D Society; The Ultimate View-Master List (Keith Baird, University of Texas) ; The View-Master Homepage (Mary Ann and Wolfgang Sell) ; 3-D Web Ring ; A Different View of the World ; View-Master Resource ; North Carolina School of Science ; Stereoscopic Society of Britain ; eBay Completed Listings ; Adventures in CyberSound: “A Tale of Two Images” – A History of 3-D Photography ; Stereoscopy.com

Books: View-Master Viewers: An Illustrated History, Mary Ann and Wolfgang Sell (3D Publications, 1994) ; View-Master Memories, Mary Ann and Wolfgang Sell (self published,2000); Stereo Views : An Illustrated History & Price Guide, John Waldsmith (Wallace Homestead Book Company, 1991); Collectible View-Mastre : An Illustrated Reference & Value Guide, Brad and Julie Welsch (self published, 2000).

The Time Tunnel....

Sunday, January 19, 2025

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