Steubenville: Dean Martin Mecca
Town Revels In Being The Birthplace Of Legendary Crooner And Rat-Packer
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Dean Martin's hometown, Steubenville, Ohio pays homage to him everywhere. (AP)
Martin made 55 films, 16 with Jerry Lewis. He had his own TV variety show. He recorded hundreds of songs and was known as the Beatles buster, able to knock even the Fab Four from the top of the charts.
"The Spot" bar is a Dino landmark where he was the singer and croupier of the craps game in the back room. He sang there and ate at the Naples spaghetti house and his fans still do. Angelica said it's easy to understand why Martin was so cool, just look at where he grew up.
"Everybody in Steubenville's cool," she said. "We're so cool here. This is coolville."
Dino was considered the coolest member of the ultra-cool rat pack. Sinatra: hot. Dean: cool.
"I remember when he introduced me to Elvis Presley, And Elvis says, 'You know, they call me the King of Rock and Roll. But your Father is the King of Cool,'" Martin's daughter Deana Martin said. "And I went 'Oh my gosh! Elvis Presley said that Dad's the King of Cool!' But we all knew that he was the King of Cool. He was cool at home."
There were other royals at the festival, like cousin Archie, who everybody says is the spitting image of Dino.
"I'm older than him I'd say he looks like me," Archie Crochetti said. "He had a pretty big nose at one time then he got it doctored up a little bit."
But it was princess Deana, who reigned over all Steubenville, signing her book and CD at Krogers.
Later, Deana sang her father's songs in a lavish production, performing before a house packed with fans. Angelica said the town is almost a cult of Dino.
"Some people have basically real shrines in their homes," she said. "They have candles with pictures on the walls."
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Great Story. Would love to get the video.