Bobby Darin introduced his four-year-old son to the packed house at his opening in Las Vegas' Flamingo, and in so doing, broke his firmest rule. From the day he was born to Bobby and Sandra Dee, December 16, 1961, Dodd Mitchell Darin was determinedly kept from public view. "No photographs," said Bobby, and he didn't feel it necessary to give reasons.
The press (and that establishment had found Darin about as easy to get along with as Frank Sinatra) had guessed at reasons -- fear of kidnapping or protecting the child from becoming a celebrity -- but nothing would change Bobby's made-up mind. Not even when they tried to bait him with hints that there was something wrong with the baby. Sometimes Sandra was tempted to give in. After all, she was the mother of "the most wonderful 'kid' in the world," and she was dying to show him off. And, too, she felt a certain sense of loyalty to the interested fans who had made her the star she was, unlike Bobby who felt it was his own hard work that had gotten him there, that he didn't "owe" it to the public to put his child on display. Bobby could be proud in private. In the end, Sandra agreed, saying simply, "Bobby wants it that way."
Then Sandy went to Rome to do A Man Could Get Killed and took Dodd with her. Well, no one can escape the Italian paparazzi and three-year-old Dodd was no exception. He was so cute, and the very image of his parents -- his camera debut made worldwide news.
Then Bobby whisked him back out of the limelight, where he stayed until his opening night. Now that Bobby has gone this far, he and Sandra have clamped a firm "no comment" on Dodd talk. Yet some interesting facts emerge. One is that Sandra had Dodd's black-tie outfit (a miniature of his daddy's) made especially for the opening as a surprise for Bobby. The second is that Bobby, in giving recognition to celebrities in the audience -- as is the custom on opening nights -- simply introduced his wife and child, who were naturally sitting at ringside, all dressed up for the occasion. That Bobby, momentarily overcome with feelings of fatherly joy, spontaneously picked up Dodd, proclaming, "This is my little boy' isn't he dear!" Ready or not, Dodd acted as poised as if he had rehearsed the whole bit.Anyhow, Dodd knows all about opening night now, since he had the following showbiz conversation with his dad: He asked when they were all going to Las Vegas, and Bobby replied, "Opening night is Friday."
"Why is opening night Friday?" Dodd wondered."It just is," said Bobby, in the age-old manner of fathers answering little boys.
"Is every Friday opening night?" Dodd persisted.
"Not necessarily," Bobby sighed patiently.
"Then let's make next Friday night opening night; then I won't miss Wild Wild West !" Ah, the kid's a comedian already.
