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Exotic Dancers Explain How They're Getting By During The Pandemic

This is an unprecedented period in history. Life as we know it has ground to a halt. We are trapped inside our houses until further notice.

Nobody is making an income. We are faced with the possibility of an unchecked epidemic. We want to know when life will return to normal.

For now, this is all we have.


u/sincerelycelery asked:

Strippers of Reddit, how are you getting by?

Here were some of those answers.

Boobers

A couple of clubs in Portland are doing Boober Eats - topless food delivery by dancers.

I am not a dancer. A few of my friends are though and this is going to save them during all this.

korbendaIIass

Never The Same

Male stripper here. Mostly dance for private events (and a few clubs), but the virus will definitely affect business, probably for quite a while.

DerekT1986

We Are Freaking Out

Most of us are freaking out. My city did an 8 week closure of all the bars.

I actually file my taxes but was injured in late 2017 and did not have income for 2018 to file taxes, so I probably don't get the stimulus check, which is not great.

WickedPrincess_xo

Weather The Storm

I am a stripper with an actual answer. There are three clubs in my city, the one I work in just closed it's doors for good due to non-virus-related issues so I've been out of a job for over a month. All the girls from my club flocked to the other two clubs, one of which just closed for the virus. The one club left is still open for now but is likely to close soon.

I'm lucky that I'm very good with my money and gave myself several fall-back accounts with enough money to last a few months on. A lot of my friends didn't and are very very scared. If clubs don't open soon and I can't find any work I'll likely join a phone sex line (yes they still exist) or do Uber eats driving. I can't do camming or only fans because I'm extremely private about my identity.

Stripping is basically the second oldest profession and isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Ladies who do sex work will ALWAYS find ways to make money and are some of the most enterprising people I know. We will be fine and we will always be fine. I have no doubt when this blows over the clubs will reopen and I'll be working again soon.

it5th3m1ckster

21st Century Solutions

Local one that's normally open 7 days a week finally closed as of today through the end of the month. I was wondering that myself. Can't see as this would be a good opportunity to make up for it in house calls. Maybe camming instead?

xaradevir

A Little Bit Of Help

Stripper here! Everything went into lock down on Saturday and our club shut... I'm self isolating at the moment, I'm anxious though as I was in such close contact with so many people before we shut. I'm going to be relying on admireme (like onlyfans) and help from kind friends!

lilpibon

At Least There's An Alternative

Serious answer, wife is a stripper and the clubs here closed down, the last few days they were open they were really dead anyways though understandably. She has an onlyfans account, but also trying to find work with something that's still open.

Personally I urged her to stop going when this all started, rubbing up on strangers is a sure way to get sick right now imo

drcubes90

How Long Will It Go?

I was a stripper for awhile, but I've been away from it for a little over a year now. No one I've talked to is worried. One of the women I worked with was posting that she was looking to rent a house with a private beach to wait this whole thing out.

Given the amount of cash that passes through their hands on a nightly basis, a few weeks off really isn't going to hurt them. It's a common stereotype that strippers aren't financially smart, but that wasn't true at all in my experience.

The only thing that's a little iffy is rent -- I live in a city where basically everyone rents, and a lot of my old coworkers live in really nice places because they can afford them. Like I said, I'm sure everyone has savings, but to be fair, I'm not sure if they have enough to pay 3 months of 10k in rent without working, depending how long this thing lasts

idontusereddit989

The Government Won't Help

The owner of my club is going to keep it open until she legally can't anymore, which would be great if there were any actual spending customers still coming in. I was supposed to work this week but I've come down with something, likely the pandemic but I don't meet the testing requirements (despite being in close physical contact with travellers frequently) so I guess we'll never know. Making webcam preparations with my best friend/housemate/coworker. I am trying very hard not to panic.

claris-waluigi

Anything We Can To Survive

I'm probably going to test the waters of a shift at a club I had regulars before it gets locked down and shut but expect it will be unprofitable.

I'm selling off my dead car in pieces, seeing what I can sell on eBay. Looking for a warehouse job asking my friends for office or warehouse Jobs.

And worst case scenario, paying a massive fee to access the over payments on my mortgage.

And the guy who made a joke about live streaming, well yeah that's definitely an option I am heavily considering. 😊

Kaylani711911

Married People Reveal What They Hate Most About Their In-Laws

"Reddit user fuzzyloulou asked: 'Married people of Reddit, what's something you just hate about your in-laws?'"

A woman yells in frustration with white wire wrapped around her head
Photo by Noah Buscher

Blending families is always a roll of the dice.

Sometimes people get lucky... because their in-laws are dead.

I jest.

Sometimes lovers and in-laws get along famously.

But a lot of the time significant others have to deal with in-laws that can be a lot.

Just because someone has become instant family doesn't mean you have to adore them.

They can still be horrible people, that you learn to live with.

Chosing a partner comes with strings.

And some of those strings are chains.

You have figure out how much you can bare.

Redditor fuzzyloulou wanted to see who was brave enough to call out what they despise about their in-laws, so they asked:

"Married people of Reddit, what's something you just hate about your in-laws?"

I've never had in-laws.

And I have a feeling, that was a blessing.

The Horror

never ending wash GIF by Oggy and the CockroachesGiphy

"My in-laws are nearly perfect. But if my MIL comes over and there are clean dishes in the sink drying, she will dry them and put them away. Even if she doesn't know where it goes, she will just guess. My life is horrible."

meyerjaw

Family Matters

"My FIL called my wife and her 3 sisters wh*res all while standing I’m MY house. The reason you ask? They all got married outside of the Catholic faith. We haven’t spoken in 6 years. Best 6 years of my life."

Patrick2337

"I could have had things turn wrong the moment I handed back the baptism contract to my mil and told her I wouldn't sign it."

"She asked why and I proceeded to tell her about how and why I dropped out of college. I took business and accounting, I don't f**k around with contracts or numbers. Then I told her about my Catholic upbringing. Changed her mind real quick. It pains me to know that my time is now limited with this woman."

KnowItOrBlowIt

Not into you...

"My MIL isn’t too nice to the kids. Granted, she has 15 grandkids, you can tell which ones she likes more. And less. My kids are in the middle."

wclure

"That sucks. I was one of those kids the grandparents liked less too. If it’s any consolation, I wasn’t too upset it just meant we weren’t as close so when they died I wasn’t super torn up."

whitepangolin

Overloaded

"The way they travel. The constant need to overpack, shop for s**t to take home, etc always results in like half a dozen overweight suitcases and carryons that they then ALWAYS have to re-organize to handle the weight and they ALWAYS expect everyone in the group to pack light to accommodate in case they have to dump s**t on you. I hate it and it pisses me off every time."

Sorry-birthday1

Not Real

Sashay Away GIFGiphy

"How fake they are. They just care about their image and how they appear to others, very little, if anything, is genuine about them."

Unhygienictree

Why don't fake people know we see the fake?

No matter if they're strangers or family... the transparency is real.

Be Quiet

Amy Schumer No GIF by Saturday Night LiveGiphy

"I absolutely love my inlaws, but compared to my family they are REALLY loud. Like instead of taking turns talking they just talk louder over each other until someone listens. I leave with a headache, and that's including times I sneak to an empty room for peace."

kannakantplay

Just About Everything

My MIL? Love her, she's great. My FIL? Cheated on my MIL with her sister, and still sees said sister on a weekly basis while somehow still remaining married to my MIL. Bought himself and the sister a new car while my MIL drives a 20-year-old F-150. When he is home all he does is drink Budweiser from 11 am on while watching TV. And complains about everyone else in the family."

"Doesn't come to his grandkids' birthday parties and just hands us some cash to go buy something and to say it's from him. On several occasions, he's been at nice dinners and gets drunk and belligerent to the point of embarrassing everyone with him. So when it comes to my FIL, to answer the question... just about everything."

Tiberius_Jim

This Christmas Sucks!

​"Oh God, do I have stories? My MIL is one of the cheapest people I have ever met and a hoarder. For my son's first birthday, she gave him a roll of paper towels because... 'Look! He loves it, doesn't even know whether it is a toy or not!' At age 3 for Christmas, she gave him some random toiletries and cleaning supplies she bought at the dollar store, wrapped them, and everything. Now I have to give my boy credit on those... after he opened them he said 'This Christmas Sucks!' which caused major drama for my wife and I."

who519

Vampires

"Oh man, how much time do you have? The number one thing is that they are drama vampires. They can’t live without it. Everything is about them, and if it isn’t, it will be soon. They are cartoonishly childish and it’s as ridiculous as it is sad. I feel terrible for my spouse and her siblings. Every family get-together is a sh**show. Number two is that they can’t make a plan without overcomplicating the ever-loving sh*t out of it, which my wife has inherited."

Studlum

Toxic

music video britney spears toxic GIFGiphy

"My sister-in-law is one of the most toxic people I know. Total narcissist. Everything must be all about her at all times. And her husband is a codependent simp who enables her behavior. The rest of my in-laws are cool though."

celiacsunshine

Well if there was any reason to stay single, all of this it!

In-laws sound like a lot.

Person reading a book on the beach
Photo by Chen Mizrach on Unsplash

Some people absolutely dream of the weekend each week, and don't even get us started on how people dream of the perfect vacation.

But sometimes even the most thought-through trips wind up being a total mess, and some of the reasons why can be really surprising.

Redditor UndercoverSports asked:

"What's the worst way to ruin a vacation?"

Getting Laid Off

"Getting an email from your boss, scheduling you for a disciplinary meeting as soon as you're back from vacation."

- theassassintherapist

"A buddy of mine got a call from his HR department saying he was laid off in the middle of his vacation."

"With his family. At Disneyworld. Right in front of the Cinderella Castle."

- Whizbang35

Different Strokes for Different Folks

"Traveling with people who aren’t on the same travel 'vibe' as you."

"If you’re super active and want to see all the sites, go with people who are looking for the same experience. If you want to lounge and spend days being lazy, you’re going to be miserable and vice versa."

- RandomValentina1980

A Vacation Is What You Make It

"Something I realized as an adult is that a good vacation is 75 percent just willingness to have a good vacation. If you want to have a bad time, you'll find a way to make that happen."

"Relaxing? Say it's boring."

"Eventful? Say it's chaotic."

"Busy schedule? Complain about how stressful it is."

"Fun evening out? Say you're tired, have a headache, and be cranky."

"Beautiful walk? Think of it as an exhausting hike."

"So basically, always look for the worst in everything and be loud and vocal about it."

- Cody6781

Too Real.

"Usually my period."

- motorgurl86

"I know, right? I feel like my body actually plans it out to annoy me, because even if I organize a holiday a week and a half after my period is due on short notice, then that is the month that my period is a week and a half late (and the same goes for early)."

- xa12349

The Worst Kind of Company

​"My ex-FIL had... unreasonable expectations. Any experience less than 'perfect' in his opinion was ruined."

"The worst way to ruin a vacation was to be on one with him."

- midOrWild65

Inconvenient Injury

"I twisted my ankle and messed up my foot the night before flying to France."

"Just so happened to be a trip where we had planned to visit many small towns and villages."

"It didn't exactly ruin the vacation, but let's just say being on crutches with a swollen, f**ked up foot while hobbling through many old cobblestone roads and paths isn't all that fun."

- DevappaJi

Any Plans in 2020

"A pandemic."

- TheGreatGamer1389

"I was helping my SO (significant other) with a photo shoot in Vegas in March 2020. It didn't get canceled. We still had fun."

"But when we got there and turned on the news, we saw reports of a melee breaking out at a Costco over toilet paper."

"I had no idea this was happening everywhere until I got back home."

- flibbidgygibbit

A "Lit" Friday Night

"Having your car burst into flames next to a 300-year-old pub on a Friday night."

"It makes the firefighters hate you because they can't go to the pub. The whole village hates you because they can't go to the pub. The pub owner hates you for ruining his pub."

"The recovery dude hates you because the fire was so hot the remains of the car are sunken into the asphalt which has hardened again overnight. The owner of the parking lot hates you for ruining his parking lot."

"Your insurance hates you because you just bought the car an hour before with the intention of driving it back and importing it into your own country and you managed to insure it on the VIN so they have to pay for all the damages. Local police hates you because it was a V5 vehicle but still on English plates and with foreign insurance."

"Source: Friends and me."

"(To be honest. The townsfolk were absolutely amazing when they got over the fact that they didn't get their Friday night beers and fish 'n chips. We had a place to stay before the fire was out and got an amazing breakfast the next morning.)"

"Other than that, I really need some like-minded people around me when traveling. The way I travel it happens all the time that strangers are part of the group and as an introvert that can be quite tiring. It can be nice to just sit apart from the others with one or two others for an hour or so after a long day of having to interact with many, many people."

- akamsteeg

Too Tight of a Budget

"I don't understand people who aren't willing to spend money at all during international vacations. You already paid good money to be in this place you're visiting, and it may be the only time in your life you see it, so why not experience it?"

"Obviously, you can't splurge on everything but spend money on things that spark joy. For me, I like treating myself to good food and live music when I travel. I also don't mind spending a bit extra to get around quickly and comfortably. It's different for everybody."

- KWONdox

Poor Money Management

"Going across the United States and getting stranded on your way home because you ran out of money and you have to hitchhike all the way back home."

- Aries_Forever

"I knew a girl who did this in college. Didn't account for any expenditures and blew her money on souvenirs. Didn't plan for hotel fees or gas and severely underestimated the cost of food."

"She had to get a waitressing job somewhere one-third of the way into what was supposed to be an incredible road trip vacation because she just had no concept of not blowing every cent she had to her name."

"She was really irritating, stuck-up, and awful, so I thought it was hilarious."

- coconut_greek_yogurt

The Vacation Patch

"Just do what my dad did and quit smoking a week before every vacation."

"By the time you're traveling, you'll be such a f**khead from jonesing for a smoke that you'll make everyone's lives miserable until you have a massive, blowout fight."

"Then you give up, start smoking again, and wait for the next vacay!"

- bellrunner

Don't Forget the Essentials

"Just do what I did, and lose your wallet/phone/passport. You won't be able to go anywhere, and you'll be panicking the whole time. A great trip!"

- Jimmy_whispahs

Simply a Safe Environment

"The worst vacation I ever experienced was as a young teen (only child) accompanying my parents from Texas to Florida by car."

"Dad drank and raged and parents fought the whole time. I was miserable, lonely, and frankly, frightened, for the whole trip."

"So the way they ruined our vacation was by being selfish, narcissistic, dramatic, drunk, and lacking empathy for their child."

"Think of others, be nice, and keep your self-centered, moody attitudes to yourself if others are with you."

- peachesswearengen

Pack Extra Drama

"Make every possible thing go wrong."

"Book the wrong date for when you have to leave or the place you're staying at."

"When you're going somewhere for fun, like maybe a boat ride, make sure you make everyone wait for you so you're all late."

"Pretend to or actually get sick."

"If there's someone on the trip you don't like, try excluding them. Bring someone everyone doesn't like."

"There are so many more options, lol (laughing out loud)."

- anonymousgirlonhere

A Positive Spin

"I've never had a bad vacation."

"I can say, though, that if I went on vacation with someone that was negative or poking holes in everything, etc, I’d probably straight up tell them to shut the ever living f**k up, and that would be the end of that relationship (if friend or boyfriend) or hamper it (if a family member)."

"I don’t care about your misery on vacation. Suffer in silence for one week or however long the vacation is. Start up your s**t when we get back to our day-to-day lives. Though I always get tired of victims/oh-woe-is-me people so HA."

- Inside_Scheme_2883

Though vacations are meant to be fun, it seems there are countless ways to ruin them.

But there are ways to save trips, too, if everyone can be accountable for their own behavior and consider what they are bringing to the trip emotionally.

Dean Martin was one of a kind. The child of working-class Italian immigrants, this shy, stammering boy grew up to be a boxer, a comedian, a singer, an actor, and everything in between—but it didn't all come easy to the King of Cool. Dean Martin faced simmering feuds, rocky marriages, and life-altering tragedies on his road to the top.

1. He Came From Humble Beginnings

Dino wasn't a nickname. Dean Martin was born Dino Paul Crocetti on June 7, 1917, in Steubenville, Ohio. His father was an immigrant, recently arrived from a small commune in the south of Italy. His mother's origins are more mysterious, but she was likely from a similar region. Pops worked as a barber, and the working-class parents instilled a sense of Italian pride in their son.

But while he had a loving home life, Martin faced torment at school.

2. His School Years Were Miserable

Dean Martin didn't actually speak English until he was five years old. Before that, it was all Italian, all the time. He eventually enrolled in Steubenville's Grant Elementary, where he had to face the cruelty of other kids his age. He was the only one who spoke broken English, and his classmates pestered him ceaselessly about it.

School turned out to be completely miserable for young Martin. Maybe that's why he didn't stick around too long.

3. He Didn't Finish

File:Dean Martin Billboard.jpg - Wikimedia Commonscommons.wikimedia.org

School just wasn't it for Dean Martin. He made it to the 10th grade before finally dropping out for good. He'd overcome his strong Italian accent and won over the bullies, but he still thought education was a complete waste of time. It didn't help that he thought he was smarter than all of his teachers. Just like that, the teenaged Martin set out in the world to try and make a name for himself.

But he didn't end up in the spotlight right away. He had to tread a dark path first.

4. He Found An Illicit Career

Martin tried out the working-class life like his father, landing a job in a steel mill—but can you picture Dean Martin working in a steel mill? He quickly moved on to other gigs. They just happened to be on the wrong side of the law. He bootlegged liquor for a time (Prohibition was a heyday for ambitious, uneducated young men like Martin), which put him into contact with some shady characters.

It also landed him his most dangerous job yet.

5. He Knew How To Use His Fists

All throughout school, Dean Martin had to defend himself from bullies who singled him out for the way he talked. It must have been a nightmare—but at least it taught him how to defend himself. Right around the time he dropped out of school, he started prizefighting under the name Kid Crochet. The career choice bought him a broken nose, a torn-up lip, and shattered knuckles (he couldn't afford the tape boxers usually used to wrap their hands).

But fighting in the ring was one thing—he soon found an even more brutal way to make a quick buck.

6. He Needed Money

File:Dean Martin 1948.jpg - Wikimedia Commonscommons.wikimedia.org

Dean Martin struck out on his own while young and moved into an NYC apartment with another young Italian man named Sonny King. Both of them dreamed of a life in show business (King later became a lounge singer and unofficial Rat Pack member), but for now, they were just two young punks who needed rent money.

They had limited skills, but both of them could take a punch. So they came up with an idea...

7. He Made It The Hard Way

Roommates Martin and King ran a secret fight club out of their apartment. They'd charge New Yorkers to come and watch them bare-knuckle box—and they made sure to put on a show. Each night, they fought until one of them knocked the other out. I have to imagine there were easier ways to make a quick buck, but fighting was all Dean Martin knew at that point.

After a while, he realized getting beaten up for a measly sum every night probably wasn't the best career choice. But he wasn't ready to go on the straight and narrow just yet.

8. He Found Where He Belonged

After boxing, Martin landed a gig working in an illicit speakeasy/casino behind a smoke shop. He worked roulette tables, dealt cards, and entertained the guests. Now that sounds a little more like the Dean Martin we know! The shady lounges of speakeasies showed this tough Italian-American teenager a new world—and he liked it.

It was time for the tough guy to take the stage.

9. He Hit The Stage

File:Dean Martin 1958.jpg - Wikimedia Commonscommons.wikimedia.org

Dean Martin was used to putting on a show, and he quickly learned that singing was a lot more fun than getting punched in the face. He started singing at whatever clubs he could, legal or not. He started off mimicking other crooners like Perry Como, and the people liked it. Soon, he sang with a popular local band, earning steady paychecks and making a name for himself.

The only problem was, he was making the wrong name...

10. He Needed A New Name

The world didn't yet know Dean Martin. They barely even knew Dino Crocetti. The crooner started going by Dino Martini, but the same anti-Italian sentiment that ruined school for him once again reared its ugly head. Sadly, the name Dino Martini was holding him back—and bandleader Sammy Watkins knew it.

Watkins told young Dino he should go by Dean Martin, and the rest is history. He was ready to shoot to stardom. Unfortunately, that came with some serious complications in his personal life.

11. He Got Hitched

Martin married for the first time at 24 years old. Her name was Betty McDonald, and she married Dino Crocetti, the young and upcoming lounge singer. The pair of them had four children together, but this was no fairy tale marriage. As Dino Crocetti became Dean Martin, their relationship started to tear at the seams.

It only got worse when a new face hit the scene.

12. He Met Someone Who Changed His Life

Lewis & Martin | Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis, 1956 | Insomnia Cured ...www.flickr.com

In the mid-1940s, Dean Martin found himself in the same lineup as a boisterous young comic at New York's Glass Hat Club. The kid's name was Jerry Lewis, and right away Martin could tell there was something special about him. Neither of them knew it at the time, but this was the start of a beautiful friendship—and a terrible feud.

13. Their First Show Went Horribly

The pair decided to work together, and they debuted Martin and Lewis in Atlantic City in 1946. It was the birth of one of the greatest duos show business had ever seen. It was also a total, unmitigated disaster.

14. They Had To Think Facts

Whatever Martin and Lewis prepared, the crowd wasn't having it. The pair bombed so hard that the club's owner told them they had to come up with a better act before their second show of the night or he'd fire them. That's how Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis ended up huddling in a dark alley behind the club, frantically trying to think up anything that could save them.

Eventually, they both just said, "Screw it," and went for broke.

15. They Struck Gold

Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis | Singer, actor, comedian, and f… | Flickrwww.flickr.com

It's not like Martin and Lewis could just write an entire act before their second show. So instead, they just threw everything they had at the audience. Martin sang songs, Lewis performed skits, and the pair of them ad-libbed banter throughout. Now, if these were two normal performers, that sounds like a complete train wreck.

But this was Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. The crowd went nuts—and the duo never looked back.

16. They Made It To The Copa

This complete Hail Mary quickly transformed into a successful act that sent Martin and Lewis all over the Eastern seaboard. They eventually brought their act to New York's legendary Copacabana. This was no small-time club; they'd reached the big time. After the Copa, there was only one place to go next. It was about time the whole world discovered Dean Martin.

17. They Hired A Legend

Martin and Louis made their TV debut in 1948 on The Ed Sullivan Show, to a rapturous reception. They were both ready to take their act out of nightclubs and into TV and film, so they hired a pair of young comedy writers to craft material with them. One of those young writers happened to be Norman Lear, who'd go on to create some of the most popular shows in television history.

But while Dean Martin's career was rising, his marriage was going up in flames.

18. His Wife Didn't Like The New Him

File:Dean Martin-Anna Maria Alberghetti 1956.JPG - Wikimedia Commonscommons.wikimedia.org

It seems that Betty McDonald preferred the struggling Dino Crocetti to the successful Dean Martin. The paid divorced in 1949, with Martin gaining full custody of their four children. McDonald, it seems, wasn't cut out for the spotlight; she lived out the rest of her days in obscurity in San Francisco. Meanwhile, Dean Martin's star continued to rise—and he wasted no time finding a new woman to share his bed.

19. He Moved On Really Fast

Though Martin and McDonald divorced in 1949, their marriage was probably over long before that. By the time they split, he was ready to move on again—and that he did. He married Jeanne Biegger, a former Orange Bowl Queen, mere months after his divorce from McDonald. Jeanne proved to be Martin's longest love, and they remained married for nearly 25 years, though it wasn't all wedded bliss.

For now, Martin had his career to focus on—and he was about to enter a whole new world.

20. He Made A Genius Deal

1949 was a busy year for Dean Martin. He got divorced, got married, and appeared in his first movie: My Friend Irma. Though he and Lewis earned just $75,000 between them for the film, that was peanuts compared to what was coming next. Their agent negotiated one of the best deals in Hollywood history, allowing them to produce one film a year, over which they'd have complete control.

They also had final say over all nightclub, radio, TV, and record appearances. That deal netted both Martin and Lewis millions. This dynamic duo was quickly on their way to conquering Hollywood—but this was when the cracks started to show.

21. He Resented His Partner

File:Dean Martin Jerry Lewis 1955 Colgate Comedy Hour.JPG ...commons.wikimedia.org

No one could deny the chemistry between Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis on stage—but when the curtain fell, it was a different story. While Lewis always got to be the funny man, Martin felt trapped by always playing the straight man. He wanted to mix up their formula, but both Lewis and their producing partner refused. Martin grew more and more bitter. The relationship grew tense and uncomfortable.

The camel's back was strained—but what would be the last piece of straw?

22. Critics Dragged Him

Dean Martin played second fiddle to nobody, but that was quickly becoming how people saw him. Critics heaped praise on Jerry Lewis and claimed that he was the real talent behind the duo, saying anyone could have played Martin's part in the team. Martin seethed, while Lewis basked in the adulation, unconcerned and unsympathetic.

Finally, while promoting their latest film, 1954's Living It Up, something happened that finally pushed Martin too far.

23. They Cut Him Out

Even Dean Martin grew jealous sometimes, and the critics weren't helping matters—but after the duo's 1954 photoshoot for Look magazine, he'd finally had enough. The pair of them posed for the promotional shoot, but when Martin saw the final cover, his blood ran cold. They'd completely cropped him out of the photo!

Martin was officially done with Lewis—except he still had one big problem.

24. They Wouldn't Speak to Each Other

File:Dean Martin Jerry Lewis Colgate Comedy Hour 1955.JPG ...commons.wikimedia.org

Martin was completely ready to move on, but the pair still had to finish making their last movie together, Hollywood or Bust. Despite their playful attitude on screen, the set became excruciatingly awkward. Martin and Lewis both refused to speak to the other whenever the cameras weren't rolling. So, was Martin just being a baby, or was Lewis being a diva? Well, years later, Lewis would finally reveal the truth.

25. It Was Lewis's Fault

The Martin and Lewis feud has gone down in history, and fans all wanted to know one thing: Whose fault was it? Well, in his memoirs, Lewis placed the blame squarely on his own shoulders. The 50s saw him become one of the biggest stars in Hollywood, and all that success went straight to his head. His ego grew to the size of Texas, and he treated the people around him like dirt—Martin included.

That would at least explain the cruel words Martin spoke to him, ruining their relationship for good.

26. He Went For The Throat

Hollywood or Bust, while not particularly great on-screen, was even more of a nightmare behind the scenes. Martin was totally done with Lewis and barely even bothered to show up to work. His disinterest led to more and more vicious arguments with Lewis. Finally, Martin snapped. He looked his old partner in the eye and said, "To me, you're nothing but a ****ing dollar sign."

They somehow finished the movie, but the pair was finished too. They broke up for good in 1956, exactly 10 years after they first teamed up. Lewis likely assumed Martin would be lost without him. He never could have imagined what came next.

27. He Found A New Partner

File:Frank Sinatra (1957 studio portrait close-up).jpg - Wikimedia ...commons.wikimedia.org

Lucky for Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis wasn't his only friend in show business. He also happened to know another popular lounge singer, one whom he'd met back in the 40s when he was still struggling. Maybe you've heard of him: Frank Sinatra. Maybe Lewis thought Martin was finished after they split—little did he know, Martin was about to be bigger than ever.

28. He Joined The Rat Pack

From Martin and Lewis to the Rat Pack. With Sinatra and Martin at the center, this legendary group of performers included Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop. Their charm, style, and banter made them legends—and they knew the perfect place to take their act: The City of Sin called to them, and they were ready to answer.

29. They Took Vegas By Storm

The Rat Pack just wouldn't be the same without Las Vegas. On any given night, you might see one, two, or all of them take the stage at one glamorous casino or another, depending on how they felt. Eventually, hotels like the Sands started putting, "DEAN MARTIN—MAYBE FRANK—MAYBE SAMMY" on their marquee. Without Jerry Lewis taking up the oxygen, Dean Martin thrived like never before.

Audiences adored his crooning, his banter, and his slapstick comedy alongside the other Rat Packers. But while America fell in love with the group, they were more scandalous than most of us realize.

30. He Pushed Boundaries

Peter Lawford - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

The Rat Pack reached their height in the 1960s, when America was changing. Despite their clean-cut appearance and charm, the group pushed boundaries in ways no one expected. Their jokes revolved around taboo themes like Martin's heavy drinking and Sinatra's constant womanizing. The group also delved into the world of politics, supporting the civil rights movement and refusing to perform at clubs that barred African-American or Jewish performers.

Martin and the rest risked it all to do what they wanted—and it paid off bigger than they could have imagined.

31. He Took Center Stage

Martin had made his name next to Jerry Lewis, and then next to the Rat Pack—so it was time for him to set out on his own. The Dean Martin Show began its 264-episode run in 1965. But Martin wasn't about to change just for network censors. He completely improvised every show, which often sent him down scandalous tangents. He also used Italian curse words constantly.

To most American viewers, it was just part of his charm—but speakers of the language were furious, sending a deluge of complaints NBC's way. The network tried its best to rein in the incorrigible Martin. They failed miserably. If anything, he got worse.

32. He Had A Ridiculous Contract

Despite the controversies, Martin was so popular he could continue doing whatever he wanted—and what he wanted to do was "less." When he renegotiated his contract, he included one of the strangest clauses in history: He didn't have to show up! Well, at least not for rehearsals. He improvised every show anyway, so he struck a deal that let him spend the whole week on the golf course, only showing up for tapings.

By this point, he had an infamous reputation as a drinker, and his antics only added fuel to the rumors—but audiences didn't know the truth about him.

33. His Act Was All A Lie

Arkivo:Dean Martin - publicity.JPG - Wikipedioio.m.wikipedia.org

Dean Martin was America's most loveable drunk. From the glass of scotch that remained in his hand throughout all his performances to his vanity license plate "DRUNKY," everyone knew that Martin was the Rat Pack's boozehound. But, what people didn't realize was, it was all an act. Martin was actually probably the closest thing the Rat Pack had to a teetotaller.

The drink in his hand on stage was apple juice more often than not, and he was usually the first to call it quits at parties, preferring to spend time at home with his family. That didn't stop the rumor mill from churning, though.

34. He Was Too Good At It

Joe E. Lewis, a comedian from Martin's youth, taught him the loveable-drunk schtick, but the problem was, Martin was too good of an actor. He played the part in his act, but when he started playing drinkers on screen, people began to talk. He played an alcoholic so convincingly in movies like Some Came Running and Rio Bravo that the tabloids started writing about his not-so-secret "addiction."

They were completely wrong, of course, but Martin still took advantage of the rumor. He still had his fair share of quirks, though...

35. He Had A Crippling Fear

Whenever Martin checked into a hotel, he required them to give him a room on the first floor, no matter what. Most people probably assumed he was just a diva—but there was actually a darker reason for the request. Even into adulthood, Martin suffered from crippling claustrophobia, and more than anything, he hated stepping into an elevator. He once even walked up 18 flights of stairs rather than take one of the "coffins," as he called them.

Since Martin always kept a certain mystique around him, quirks like this started to give him a reputation. His crumbling marriage only made it worse.

36. He Had A Terrible Year

The Rat Pack from 'Ocean's 11' (1960) | From L to R: Sammy D… | Flickrflickr.com

For decades, Dean Martin seemed on a constant upward trajectory. In 1972, however, he began to fall back to Earth. He filed for divorce from his wife of over 20 years. Just a week after that, the Riviera in Las Vegas canceled their contract with him because they thought he was too demanding. Now 55, Martin was in the midst of a full-blown mid-life crisis.

And what do men in mid-life crises do? They make terrible mistakes, of course!

37. He Got Married Ridiculously Quickly

Dean Martin was clearly a big wife guy. He'd married Jeanne less than a year after his first divorce, and this time around he wasted even less time. Less than a month after his 24-year marriage ended, he wed Catherine Hawn, the receptionist at a Beverly Hills hair salon. He was 55, and she was 26; a rebound from the most serious relationship of Martin's entire life.

Do you really think they got a happily ever after?

38. He Made A Series Of Bad Decisions

Unfortunately, the star-cross'd Martin and Hawn weren't so star-cross'd after all. They divorced less than three years after tying the knot. After that, Martin still hadn't learned his lesson. He proposed to Gail Renshaw, a beauty queen and former Miss World contestant. I guess he finally came to his senses, though, because they cut off the engagement before they could actually get married.

Clearly, Martin was having some trouble with the ladies—but just as his love life was crashing and burning, he was about to rekindle one of the most important relationships of his entire life.

39. He Stunned His Old Friend

File:Dean Martin Jerry Lewis Colgate Comedy Hour early 1950s.JPG ...commons.wikimedia.org

Anyone who thought the Dean Martin/Jerry Lewis feud was just a brief tiff had another thing coming. After performing together for a decade, the pair hadn't spoken in private once in 20 years. So Frank Sinatra came up with a devious plan to change that. During a telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Sinatra utterly stunned Lewis by bringing Martin out on stage.

The pair hugged, the crowd went wild, and the money started pouring in—but not everyone was happy about the reunion.

40. Lewis Wasn't Thrilled

Sinatra did a good job completely keeping Lewis in the dark about the surprise—and not everyone likes surprises. Before Martin crossed the stage to embrace him, you can hear Lewis mutter, "You son of a ****..." to Sinatra under his breath. He eventually recovered from his shock, and while the duo never again became as close as they'd once been, they maintained a healthy friendship for the rest of Martin's life.

It was a happy moment, and one to remember—especially in light of the horrible tragedy that would eventually derail Dean Martin's entire life.

41. His Son Was A Golden Boy

Despite his on-stage persona, Dean Martin was a family man, first and foremost. He had eight children whom he loved and supported through all the ups and downs of his career. He named his first son with his second wife after himself, and young "Dino" Martin soon grew into the apple of his father's eye. The golden boy of the family, Dean Paul Martin took after his dad and then some.

He sang and acted, just like his pops. He also played professional tennis. As if that wasn't enough, he even became a fighter pilot and joined the California Air National Guard. Dino brought immeasurable joy into Martin's life—which made his terrible end all the more devastating.

42. His Boy Went Missing

X-24 Image Gallery | NASAwww.nasa.gov

On March 21, 1986, the 35-year-old Dean Paul Martin took part in a routine training mission over the California desert. During the exercise, Martin's plane disappeared from the radar over a particularly cloudy mountain range. Urgent calls were sent out over the radio, and yet no response was forthcoming. The son of one of America's most popular entertainers was missing, and the search was on.

43. He Started Falling Apart

Search helicopters and planes spent several tense days scouring the mountains for any sign of Dino's plane, yet came up with nothing. Ronald Reagan, then President but also a longtime friend of Martin's, even sent the nation's most advanced spy plane to join in the search. Meanwhile, Martin sat at home, frantically burning through one smoke after another, praying for the news that the search parties had found his son alive.

His worst nightmare had come to life—and he felt a pain that his close friend, Frank Sinatra, knew all too well.

44. His Friend Knew His Pain

It must have been nearly impossible for anyone to know what Martin was going through, but if someone did, it was Sinatra. A decade earlier, his mother had lost her life in a plane crash—eerily in the exact same area where Dino's plane had disappeared. Sinatra remained by Martin's side as they anxiously waited for news. Martin's daughter recalled Sinatra, voice shaking, saying, "If there's anything I can do, pal. Anything at all..."

But despite his shared grief, there wasn't anything he could do. All they could do was wait for the phone to ring. When it finally did, Martin got the news he'd been fearing this whole time.

45. He Was Willing To Try Anything

File:Dean Paul Martin.jpg - Wikimedia Commonscommons.wikimedia.org

Martin was willing to do anything to find his son. He even hired two psychics to help in the search. One touched Dino's flight suit and recoiled, saying that he was dead. The other pointed them towards San Gorgonio Mountain—the very same peak where Sinatra's mother had met her fate. Three days after the plane went down, the search party approached the mountain and found what they had been looking for.

Dean Paul Martin's aircraft lay demolished on the mountainside. There were no survivors. The news devastated Martin, obviously. Still, no one could have imagined the dark spiral it sent him down.

46. His Friend Tried To Help

Anyone close to Martin could tell that he just wasn't the same man after his son passed. He was depressed, demoralized, and defeated. His longtime friend Sinatra, still seeking any way to help him, dragged him along on a massive stadium tour, hoping to take his mind off his grief. Unfortunately, his plan backfired horribly.

47. He Went On A Disastrous Tour

Sinatra had the best intentions, but his way of "helping" just made things worse. He thought the adoring crowds and late-night parties would shake Martin out of his stupor, but they had the opposite effect. Martin vastly preferred smaller, nightclub audiences, and the sea of faces in large stadiums made him miserable. He also butt heads with Sinatra almost every night.

Old Blue Eyes still wanted to party until dawn as they had in the 60s, but Martin was old, tired, and depressed. The entire tour was miserable—and that's when the public saw a side of Martin that they'd never seen before.

48. His Performances Were Disturbing

File:Dean Martin, screenshot from the trailer for the film Ada.jpg ...commons.wikimedia.org

Dean Martin had spent decades cultivating a persona as a loveable boozehound—well, on this infamous tour, he dropped the loveable part. His behavior stunned the crowds who showed up to see their beloved Dino. He forgot the lyrics to his songs, stumbled through his lines, and apparently once even flicked a lit smoke into the audience in disgust.

You don't have to be a genius to tell that this wasn't going to last.

49. He Didn't Last

The tour had barely begun and Martin was already at his breaking point. After a show in New York City, the Pack returned to their hotel. Frank was ready to party, so he dragged his aging friends out of bed and down to the bar. Or at least, he tried to. Sammy Davis Jr. joined him, but Martin had had enough. Sinatra begged him to come downstairs, but Martin gave a flat, "No," and slammed the door.

Later that same night, Martin got on his private jet and flew back to LA. He'd had enough.

50. He Had Changed

Sinatra's grand plan to cheer Martin up failed spectacularly. After just a handful of miserable shows, Martin abruptly quit and went home, leaving his friends to continue the tour without him. This sort of behavior was completely unlike the King of Cool America had come to love, but as we said, his son's passing changed him forever.

Believe it or not, crooning with Sintara like the old days wasn't going to solve his woes. At least he found some solace in his remaining family.

51. His Family Kept Growing

File:Carl Wilson.jpg - Wikipediaen.m.wikipedia.org

Losing Dino hurt unbearably, but Martin still had seven other children whom he adored—and now that they were growing up, his family grew with them. He gained several famous sons- and daughters-in-law, including the Beach Boys' Carl Wilson, actress Olivia Hussey, and even Lou Costello's daughter Carole.

After his son's passing, Martin put his career on the back burner and spent as much time as possible with his growing family—unfortunately, he didn't have that much time left.

52. His Received A Terrible Diagnosis

Martin may have walked the stage with apple juice in his glass, but the smokes were real. In September 1993, doctors at Cedars Sinai diagnosed him with lung cancer. They told him that he needed surgery immediately to prolong his life. Martin's response was tragic. Maybe the man he was before losing his son would have said yes, but that man was gone.

To his family's dismay, Martin refused the surgery and resigned himself to his painful fate—which wasn't that far off.

53. He Ran Out Of Time

Martin retired from public appearances at the start of 1995 and spent his final year with family and friends. He succumbed to acute respiratory failure at his Beverly Hills home on Christmas Day, 1995. In a strange coincidence, he gave his last breath 29 years—almost to the second—after his mother had passed. He was 78.

Dean Martin, the King of Cool, would never croon again.

54. The Strip Dimmed For Him

Las Vegas Nevada billboard under white and blue skyPhoto by Sung Shin on Unsplash

Not much can dim the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip, but the passing of Dean Martin did it. The casinos where he'd tread the stage for so many years all brought their lights low in his honor, a fitting tribute to the King of Cool.

55. He Had Shady Fans

When he became a singer, Dean Martin left his shady past as a bootlegger and bare-knuckle boxer behind—but that life still stalked him at every turn. His pal Frank Sinatra had mob connections all across the country, and the Rat Pack often performed for these kinds of disreputables. Though the gangsters intimidated most of the Rat Pack, Martin was a different breed.

He'd been on the wrong side of the law before, and he knew how to hold his own.

56. He Stood Up To The Mob

Martin hated the mob shows they performed, and he didn't try to hide it. After one show, a group of wiseguys approached him and said, "We want to thank you for helping us out." Most performers would be intimidated, but not Martin. He looked them square in the eye, pointed to Sinatra, and declared, "No, I did it for Frank," then stalked off.

After the illicit activities of his youth, it seemed like Dean Martin had left that life behind for good—or maybe he was just hiding something.

57. A Shocking Secret About Him Came Out

Sharon Tate,Dean Martin,and Mia Farrow (1968) | Sharon Tate fan ...www.flickr.com

One of the most infamous mobsters with whom the Rat Pack interacted was Meyer Lansky, and Lansky had a beautiful daughter, Sandra. Though Martin managed to maintain a squeaky-clean reputation throughout most of his life, years later, Sandra dropped a bombshell in her memoirs. She claimed to have had a passionate affair with longtime family-man Dean Martin.

The details that emerged were some of the most scandalous of Martin's entire life.

58. He Was A Machine

In her memoir, Sandra Lansky wrote rapturously of Martin's, ahem, abilities. "I had never seen anything like Dean Martin’s masculinity. We made love six times in a night that wouldn’t stop. I counted." She clearly didn't hold anything back in this book. In fact, she went even further: "With me he wanted to be fully conscious and savor every moment. Between rounds of lust, we’d split a Coke."

But that's not even the most shocking part of Lansky's account. The timing makes it so much worse.

59. He Strayed From His Family

According to Lansky, her affair with Martin occurred while his wife was pregnant with/gave birth to their daughter Gina. Lansky claimed that the pair had an "unspoken pact" to never discuss their families when they were together, so she didn't learn about this until later.

60. He Has A Connection To The Manson Family

Sharon Tate in Valley of the Dolls (1967) Screenshot | Flickrwww.flickr.com

Dean Martin also has a surprising connection to one of the most chilling crimes in the history of Hollywood. Throughout the 1960s, Martin delighted audiences as the loveable secret agent Matt Helm. Martin starred in four Matt Helm movies, culminating in 1969's The Wrecking Crew alongside up-and-coming starlet Sharon Tate.

Not long after the film's release, Tate infamously became one of the Manson Family's victims on Cielo drive. The chilling slaying evidently shook Martin so deeply that he retired the Helm character for good.

A "Love is Love" wall mural
Yoav Hornung/Unsplash

When it comes to defining our sexuality, we all have our different journeys.

For some, it's not about arriving at a destination. It's about a constantly evolving state of being and the individual they find along the road to self-discovery and love that dictates who they are in the moment.

Nothing is ever set in stone.

And for others, it's about an innate conviction that informs their sexual identity, even at a premature age prior to having any sexual experiences.

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