Britannica
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How did the original Rat Pack get its name?
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Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra, 1947.
The original "Rat Pack" was a group of performers who gathered at the Los Angeles home of Humphrey Bogart and his wife, Lauren Bacall, during the 1950s.21
The name originated following a trip the group took from California to Las Vegas to attend the premiere of Noël Coward’s cabaret act at the Desert Inn Hotel and Casino. After several days of partying, Bacall observed the disheveled appearances of the revelers and remarked that they looked like a "pack of rats," which became the group's moniker.21
This original circle, which included Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and David Niven, playfully treated their association as an exclusive club with assigned titles, such as "packmaster" for Sinatra and "den mother" for Bacall.21