Sinatra

by J. Randy Taraborrelli

  I also consulted the following books: Marilyn by Donald Spoto; Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe by Anthony Summers; Marilyn Monroe by Maurice Zolotow; Conversations with Marilyn by W. J. Weatherby; The Masters Way to Beauty by George Masters; The Decline and Fall of the Love Goddess by Patrick Agan; The Agony of Marilyn Monroe by George Carpozi; Marilyn Monroe by Norman Mailer; My Story by Marilyn Monroe; Monroe: Her Life in Pictures by James Spada with George Zeno; Marilyn: The Tragic Venus by Edwin P. Hoyt; The Marilyn Monroe Story by Joe Franklin and Laurie Palmer; Marilyn: The Last Take by Peter Harry Brown and Patte B. Barnham; The Secret Happiness of Marilyn Monroe by James E. Dougherty; The Mysterious Death of Marilyn Monroe by James A. Hudson; The Marilyn Conspiracy by Milo Speriglio; The Curious Death of Marilyn Monroe by Robert F. Slatzer; Marilyn Monroe: An Uncensored Biography by Maurice Zolotow; and Norma Jean by Fred Lawrence Guiles. I also used with caution Marilyn Monroe Confidential by Lena Pepitone and William Stadiem, and I reviewed tapes of her appearances on The Mike Douglas Show and The Joan Rivers Show.

  I utilized The Encyclopedia of Hollywood by Scott Siegel and Barbara Siegel; My Lucky Stars by Shirley MacLaine; Dino: Living High in the Dirty Business of Dreams by Nick Tosches; and Peter Lawford: The Man Who Kept the Secrets by James Spada (the latter two being important works for anyone who ever appreciated Mr. Martin and Mr. Lawford). I also referred to Jackie Oh! by Kitty Kelley; The Making of the President by Theodore S. White; The Kennedys: Dynasty and Disaster, 1848–1984 by John H. Davis; The Other Mrs. Kennedy by Jerry Oppenheimer; With Kennedy by Pierre Salinger; Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis: A Portrait of Her Private Years by David Lester; The Joan Kennedy Story: Living with the Kennedys by Marcia Chellis; The Kennedys: An American Drama by Peter Collier and David Horowitz; JFK: The Man and the Myth by Victor Lasky; Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis by Lester David; My Life with Jacqueline Kennedy by Mary Barelli Gallagher; The Kennedy Women by Pearl S. Buck; A Woman Named Jackie by C. David Heymann; My Story by Judith Exner, as told to Ovid Demaris; “The Exner Files” by Liz Smith (Vanity Fair, January 1997); Double Cross: The Explosive Inside Story of the Mobster Who Controlled America by Sam and Chuck Giancana; The Boardwalk Jungle by Paul “Skinny” D’Amato, as told to Ovid Demaris; Mafia Princess by Antoinette Giancana and Thomas C. Renner; Vinnie Teresa’s Mafia by Vincent Teresa with Thomas Renner; Wall Street Swindler by Michael Hillman and Thomas Renner; Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye by Kenneth O’Donnell and David E. Powers; Crime in America by Estes Kefauver; Mickey Cohen: Mobster by Ed Reid; Bugsy by George Carpozi; and The Don: The Life and Death of Sam Giancana by William Brashler.

  Also, Debbie: My Life by Debbie Reynolds; Richard Burton: A Life by Melvyn Bragg; Eddie Fisher: My Life, My Loves by Eddie Fisher; Las Vegas Is My Beat by Ralph Pearl; The Fifty-Year Decline and Fall of Hollywood by Ezra Goodman; Revelations from the Memphis Mafia by Alanna Nash; Bogie and Me by Verita Thompson and Donald Shepherd; and “We Might Call This the Politics of Fantasy” by Frank Sinatra (New York Times, July 24, 1972).

  Sid Mark has been hosting the preeminent radio show about Sinatra, Sounds of Sinatra, for forty-two years, and I utilized transcripts of many of his interviews over the years with the Sinatra family as well as with Sinatra’s producers and arrangers.

  I also reviewed the television program Turning Point’s profile on Sinatra (“The Man Behind the Legend,” December 12, 1996), as well as 20/20’s interview with Judith Campbell Exner.

  And I thank Liz Smith for certain tips and advice to my researcher, Cathy Griffin.

  Hundreds of articles were made reference to, but most helpful were “Is This Really His Life?” by Claudia Puig (Los Angeles Times, July 26, 1992); and Sinatra’s “Me and My Music” (Life, April 23, 1965).

  My thanks to Jimmy Whiting for ten hours of interviews regarding Jilly Rizzo, Frank Sinatra, and Marilyn Monroe. I so appreciate his help and access to his personal notes and records. Please note that the name “Jimmy Whiting” is a pseudonym that he chose to protect his identity. It is the only pseudonym in this book.

  Thanks also to Bea King for her insights into Sinatra’s relationship with Juliet Prowse. Jim McClintick, Marty Lacker, Lamar Fike, Joe Langford, Paula DeLeon, Andrew Wyatt, Mickey Song, and Evelyn Moriarity were also all interviewed.

  I referred to Peter Lawford: The Man Who Kept the Secrets by James Spada and The Peter Lawford Story by Patricia Seaton Lawford. Also, I utilized the Playboy interview with Sinatra (February 1963).

  I reviewed Edward A. Olsen’s oral history, on file at the University of Nevada in Reno, which was helpful as concerns the Cal-Neva incident.

  I also referred to numerous Los Angeles District Court documents—in particular, Frank Sinatra Jr.’s testimony in court during his February 1964 kidnapping trial—and newspaper and magazine accounts. Also, some of Frank Sinatra Jr.’s comments are from the popular Sid Mark weekly radio program devoted to his father, Frank Sinatra. I also utilized the book Miss Rona by Rona Barrett.

  I referred to FBI transcripts of conversations between Sinatra and the kidnappers; thanks also to former FBI agent John Parker for his time and patience.

  I also referred to court documents and newspaper accounts regarding legal action taken by Sinatra against Charles Kraft, Morris Levine, and Gladys Root. George Carpozi’s book Is This Man Mafia? was also helpful. And I utilized my interview with James Wright, Sinatra’s valet, and with Sammy Davis. Nancy Sinatra’s book Frank Sinatra: An American Legend was also referenced.

  I also referred to Ava Gardner’s memoir, Ava: My Story and Sydney Guilaroff’s memoir, Crowning Glory. John Huston’s and Nunnally Johnson’s comments are culled from Charles Higham’s Ava. I also reviewed An Open Book by John Huston.

  My thanks to Theresa Lomax for all of the hours of interviews relating to the Frank-Mia years.

  I also referred to, and used quotes from, transcripts of Mia Farrow’s television appearances on 20/20, Today, and the Oprah Winfrey Show in 1997 to promote her memoir What Falls Away (which I also consulted).

  I consulted The Life of Mia by Edward Epstein and Joe Morella. I utilized the files of Sheila Graham from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

  I referred to and am grateful for my interviews with Deidra Evans-Jackson, Doris Sevanto, and Monica Hallstead.

  Comments from Sidney Furie are also from my interview with him regarding, primarily, Call Her Miss Ross in 1985.

  I viewed the November 16, 1965, CBS-TV Walter Cronkite interview with Sinatra (and I thank Maryanne Mastrodanto for providing me with same) and referred to Jack O’Brien’s comments about it in the Journal-American. I referred to numerous published accounts of Sinatra’s conflict with Frederick R. Weisman and consulted police reports about the incident.

  I referred to published reports regarding the fracas between Sinatra and Carl Cohen at the Sands, to the Howard Hughes files at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and also to Nancy Sinatra’s two books as well as Mia Farrow’s memoirs. I also consulted Confessions of a Hollywood Columnist by Sheila Graham and my interviews with Marjorie Nassatier, Florene LaRue, and Diane Phipps.

  Other important books and miscellaneous material consulted include Sinatra: His Life and Times by Fred Dellar; Frank Sinatra: A Photobiography by George Bishop; The Films of Frank Sinatra by Gene Ringgold and Clifford McCarty; Frank Sinatra by Anthony Scaduto; The Sinatra Scrapbook by Gary L. Doctor; Sinatra: The Entertainer by Arnold Shaw; Sinatra: A Celebration by Stan Britt; Sinatra by Ray Coleman; Sinatra by Robin Douglas-Home; Sinatra: The Pictorial Biography by Lew Irwin; Sinatra’s monologues from Sinatra: A Man and His Music (Reprise Records); “So Frank Is Seventy-Five” by William Kennedy (from Frank Sinatra: The Reprise Collection); “The Legacy” by Nancy Sinatra and “The Capitol Years” by Pete Kline (from Frank Sinatra: The Capitol Years); The Industry by Saul David; Report on Blacklisting by John Cogley; American Entertainment by Joseph Csida and June Bundy Csida; The Encyclopedia of Jazz by Leonard Feather; Elizabeth Taylor: The Last Star by Kitty Kell
ey; Miss Peggy Lee: An Autobiography by Peggy Lee; Shelley: Also Known as Shirley by Shelley Winters; Marilyn Beck’s Hollywood by Marilyn Beck; Grace by James Spada; Grace by Robert Lacey; The Billboard Book of Number-One Hits by Fred Bronson; If I Knew Then by Debbie Reynolds with Bob Thomas; The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946–Present by Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh; The Last Mafioso by Ovid Demaris; Natalie Wood: A Biography in Pictures by Christopher Nickens; Brando: A Biography in Photographs by Christopher Nickens; Brando by Peter Manso; and Iacocca by Lee Iacocca with William Novak.

  Probably the best article about Ava Gardner was written by Rex Reed and published in his book Do You Sleep in the Nude? In it Ava is quoted as saying, “Ha! I always knew that Frank would end up in bed with a boy.” She denied having made the statement later, but most of her close friends believe that she did say it.

  Thanks also to Mary Jenkins for her time and patience and for the interview she gave me in memory of her mother, Choral.

  I consulted copious court documents relating to the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation and Sinatra’s testimony on February 17, 1970, and also conducted three interviews with one of the investigators, who asked for anonymity.

  I reviewed documents and transcripts relating to the House of Representatives Select Committee on Crime Hearings on July 18, 1972, and I also reviewed the Congressional Record.

  I reviewed copious documents and legal paperwork relating to the Westchester Premier Theater case, including transcripts of depositions and wiretaps. I interviewed three attorneys connected with the case, all of whom asked for anonymity.

  Throughout the book, I relied on Larry King’s television interview with Sinatra (May 1988) for certain quotes.

  I also consulted news reports of the conflict between Sinatra and Sanford Waterman and spoke to a number of people involved with Waterman at the time about the fracas, none of whom wished to be named in this book but all of whom provided details not only about this specific incident but also about Sinatra’s general relationship with Caesars.

  Of course, there were many hundreds of published articles reviewed about Sinatra’s “retirement,” some of which were incorporated into the text. The best, of course, is the feature by Tommy Thompson for Life. I also had access to Robert L. Rose’s drafts and transcripts relating to his articles about Sinatra for the Chicago Daily News in 1976.

  I also made reference to “Protecting Sinatra Against the Big Beef Story” by Christopher Buckley (New York, 1971); “My Father, Frank Sinatra” by Tina Sinatra as told to Jane Ardmore (McCall’s, December 1973); “Frank Sinatra: He Still Does It His Way” by Mark Sufrin (Saga, November 1974); “Sinatra: Still Got the World on a String” by Michael Watts (Melody Maker, November 9, 1974); “Kennedy Never Cut Sinatra Ties” by Jack Nelson (Los Angeles Times, January 19, 1976); and “The New Mrs. Sinatra” by Ron Home (Ladies’ Home Journal, October 1976).

  I referred to Once in a Lifetime by Zsa Zsa Gabor with Wendy Leigh; Rags to Bitches by Mr. Blackwell; The Show Business Nobody Knows by Earl Wilson; Sammy Davis: My Father by Tracey Davis; and Life with Jackie by Irving Mansfield and Jean Libman Block.

  I utilized Paul Compton’s radio interviews with Sinatra on KGIL in San Fransisco on June 5, 1970, and December 30, 1973. I also viewed Suzy Visits the Sinatras (May 25, 1977).

  During the five years I lived in Palm Springs (1989–94) I had the pleasure of Dinah Shore’s company on several occasions. She was an extraordinary, giving person, and I interviewed her three times. Comments included in this book are from an interview she gave me in the spring of 1992 during the Dinah Shore Golf Classic.

  Thanks also to Eileen Faith, Nancy Wood-Furnell, Laura Cruz, and Carol Lynley for their insights during interviews for this work.

  I obtained a bootleg copy of Sinatra’s performance at the White House dinner for Giulio Andreotti and consulted it for this work for quotes from that evening.

  My researcher Jim Mitteager interviewed Sinatra’s valet of eighteen years, Bill Stapely, on May 28, 1997.

  1980–97

  My thanks to Mort Viner, Dean Martin’s friend and manager of over thirty years, for his assistance in clearing up certain inaccuracies about Martin, Sinatra, and others.

  Again, Ava Gardner’s business manager of thirty years, Jess Morgan, was tremendously helpful in providing insights into Sinatra’s continued relationship with Miss Gardner. And thanks again to Lucille Wellman, Esther Williams, and James Wright.

  I reviewed a videotape of the press conference Sinatra, Martin, and Davis held in December 1987 at Chasen’s. I personally attended the first date of the “Together Again Tour” with Frank, Dean, and Sammy at the Oakland Coliseum on March 13, 1988. I also obtained a bootleg copy of the Sinatra-Davis concert on March 22, 1988, their first without Martin.

  I am also indebted to the staff of the Department of Special Collections of the University of Southern California, which provided me with much material, including Lew Irwin’s excellent 1981 Earth News radio interview with Sinatra.

  I reviewed videotapes of testimony at the Nevada Gaming Control Board’s hearings regarding Sinatra’s application for a gaming license in February 1981 as well as copious FBI notes, documents, and transcripts relating to the hearings. Thanks also to Stephen Webb and Clarence Newton.

  I had access to the News of the World files on Frank Sinatra in London, which I used judiciously. More than anything, they provided me with leads and the names of sources to verify information.

  Thanks go to Philip Casnoff for his memories of portraying Sinatra in the family’s authorized miniseries, which I studied—and enjoyed.

  I interviewed a number of former White House staff members who requested anonymity.

  Many published accounts were consulted, but most helpful were “The Majestic Artistry of Frank Sinatra” by Mikal Gilmore (Rolling Stone, September 18, 1980); “Doing It Her Way” by Nikki Finke (Los Angeles Times, February 28, 1988); “Under My Skin” by William Kennedy (New York Times Magazine, October 7, 1990); “Frankly, My Dear” by Michael Roberts (Westword, December 5–11, 1990); “Are You Ready, Boots? Start Talkin’ ” by Jeff Tamarkin (Goldmine, March 22, 1991); “Sinatra’s Doubleplay” by David McClintick (Vanity Fair, December 1993); “Secrets of Sinatra—Inside Tales of His Life and Career” by Budd Schulberg (New Choice for Retirement Living, 1993); “Frank Sinatra Jr. Is Worth Six Buddy Grecos” by Tom Junod (GQ, January 1994); “Frank and the Fox Pack” by Julie Baumgold (Esquire, March 1994); “Sinatra’s Last Audition” by Jonathan Schwartz (Esquire, May 1995); “The Voice of America” by Will Friedwald and Jennifer Kaylin (Remember, November 1994); “The Boots Are Back” by Steve Pond (Playboy, May 1995); “A Gold Medal for Ol’ Blue Eyes” by Kitty Kelley (Newsweek, October 2, 1995); and “Frank Analysis” by Gregory Cerios (People, December 18, 1995).

  Thanks to Debra Stradella, Joseph Wilson, Marjorie Hyde, Larry Culler (maîtred’ at Matteo’s), and my anonymous friend in the Sinatra camp who provided me with a copy of Frank’s performance contract. Thanks to Steve Stoliar, Groucho Marx’s secretary and archivist and the author of Raised Eyebrows: My Years Inside Groucho’s House. I also reviewed Sinatra’s radio interviews with Sid Mark (April 28, 1984) and Jonathan Schwartz (on WNEW, 1988).

  Again, thanks to Maryann Mastodonato for providing me with a copy of Bill Boggs’s WNYW interview with Sinatra.

  Thanks to Amanda Bridges, Tina Roth, Felicia Sands, and Betty Monroe for all of their notes, personal papers, and other documents relating to Frank Sinatra’s later years.

  Thanks also to George Carpozi, whose unusual—but useful—book Kitty Kelley: The Unauthorized Biography proved helpful. I also referred to court documents relating to Sinatra v. Kelley et al. I reviewed Reagan by Lou Cannon; The Crime Confederation by Ralph Salerno and John Tompkins; and Sinatra: An American Classic by John Rockwell.

  I must mention Ed Shirak Jr.’s book, Our Way: In Honor of Frank Sinatra, which is an account of Shirak’s three-year journey t
o meet Mr. Sinatra. Shirak, who is from Hoboken, wrote passionately of his experiences related to Sinatra and to the people who knew him in the early days of his life. I found his work fascinating and invaluable to my own research.

  Finally, I made extensive use of the Sands Hotel Papers throughout Sinatra: Behind the Legend. These papers include many interoffice memos (some of which were utilized in this work) as well as newspaper clippings, photographs, negatives, brochures, press releases, audiotapes, news clips, interview transcriptions, and correspondence, all of it stored in forty-nine boxes. The papers were donated to the James R. Dickinson Library of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in December 1980 by the Sands Hotel through the office of Al Guzman, director of publicity and advertising. The collection comprises essentially the files of Al Freeman, director of advertising and promotion for the Sands Hotel from 1952 until his death at the age of forty-eight in 1972. My thanks to Peter Michel, head of special collections of the Dickinson Library, for his assistance with this material.

  2015 SOURCES AND NOTES

  Since the original publication of this volume, all sides of the stormy saga of Nancy and Tina Sinatra versus Barbara Sinatra got a full airing in books authored by the principal players. As well as independent interviews, I utilized these books in researching the new material found in this volume regarding those relationships.

  First, in 1985, Nancy would write Frank Sinatra: My Father. Frank was still alive at the time, so she was discreet about Barbara, and even generous toward her. (This book was referenced in the original edition of Sinatra: A Complete Life.) Then in 1998 she published Sinatra: An American Legend. This volume, more a scrapbook chronology than a strict narrative, is about as comprehensive a look at Frank’s career as anyone will ever find. It’s stunning in its detail. Nancy cannot be accused of sanitizing her father’s story, either. Her books about him are candid; she has always preferred to present him with warts and all rather than in an unrealistic, sycophantic way. “This is a love letter but not a whitewash,” she wrote in her first book. “My Dad doesn’t need—and wouldn’t want—that.”