Two Different Packs
In addition to the story of Bacall calling out her husband and his antics, there are other speculations of where the origin of the Rat Pack name comes from. In the 1950s, Bacall and Bogart lived in a neighborhood called Holmby Hills, and their home was a watering hole for the group. Apparently, people started calling them the “Holmby Hills Rat Pack,” which was eventually shortened to “Rat Pack.”
Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall 1945. Photo by Warner Bros / Kobal / Shutterstock
I guess it didn’t matter where they were for people to know who they were. But there were actually two different Rat Packs. One was more prevalent in the 1950s, and the other one emerged in the 1960s – the one most people think of when they hear “Rat Pack.”