Pistol Packing Dino 1980

We are really dating ourselves here with this one. This foto was taken when we had one of the first West Coast based photo agencies, California Features International, Inc. What a name! We had incredible offices and a studio with a full photo lab right on the corner of Beverly Blvd and Martel.

We covered everything that moved in the entertainment industry. That included our staff photographer Janet going to Chasen’s Restaurant every Sunday evening.

At Chasen’s you would see Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr and Dean Martin there all the time. These were the glory days and there was hardly any competition back then. Maybe three photographers tops. That would have included Bob Michaelson, Bill Holtz and Darlene Hammond. The best part was that everyone got along back then. No pushing and certainly no fist fights. The photographers were all PROFESSIONAL!

This is a classic photo that truly told a story. Such a big story that it wound up on the cover of the New York Post.

Dean Martin was a regular at Chasen’s and he would always pose up for the photographers. On this Sunday evening he came out of the restaurant looking happy as always. Just as he was about to climb into his car, our intrepid photographer Janet, noticed something hanging out of his jacket. It was what appeared to be a gun!

That is a tremendous story and timely story. Only a few weeks before this photo was taken, John Lennon was murdered in New York and that started the speculation that celebrities could now be packing heaters on there person.

The photo was a bit hit not only in the USA, but all over the world. The European press was saying things like everyone now has to carry a weapon on them when they go out to a restaurant.

Dino’s press people were all over it was it was a toy gun, but now almost 30 years later, you be the judge. Hey, that is our pal Roger Karnbad from Celebrity Photo about to get Dean’s autograph! Janet and Roger are now part of Hollywood royalty.