Rat Pack Confidential
Page 34
Las Vegas has been written about with authority by several estimable authors: Ovid Demaris, Alan Hess, Eugene P. Moehring, and Ed Reid. The unpublished work of various historians of the city, Alan Balboni and Roosevelt Fitzgerald in particular, also proved extremely useful.
Finally, I must make special mention of Richard Gehman, a prolific journalist, novelist, playwright, and gourmet of the fifties and sixties. He wrote two books that aided me in this project—one on Jerry Lewis, one on the Rat Pack; unintentionally, but with affection and gratitude, I have followed in those steps by writing two books of my own on those very subjects. (I won’t, however, go so far in his footsteps as to write, as he did, about Gary Cooper, Vincent Sardi, or, most curiously, a cookbook about sausages.)
Among people whom I did meet in the course of working on this book, I must make special mention of those in Las Vegas, employees of the Sands who embraced me with friendship and shared their recollections even as their last hours in the grand old joint were ticking down (a special thank-you is due here to Matt Sjoquist, publicist extraordinaire, who genially paved my way with these folks): Ernie Allegre, Roily Dee, Annie DePergole, Toby DiCesare, Jeannie Gardner, John Getler, Danny Roscoe, Bill Ryff, and Gene Strohlheim. And a million free spins of the wheel to Mike Cohen, who saw so much and was so free and honest with me.
Other Las Vegans who talked with me include Larry Grossman, Don Pack, and Roger Tofoya. A more scattered collection of folks helped me with little things, even if only by listening to me vent. They include Jeff Abraham, Tim Apello, D.K. Holm, Michael Kraus, Cal Morgan, Dewey Nicks, Cameron Stauth, and George Thomassino. Joey Bishop chose not to share his memories, but he did so with such gentlemanly good humor that I thank him all the same.
I availed myself of several research facilities. In Los Angeles, they included the Louis B. Mayer Library of the American Film Institute, the Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and the Cinema-Television Library of the University of Southern California, where Ned Comstock and Stuart Ng provided their usual superlative assistance. In Las Vegas, I worked at both the beautiful Las Vegas Public Library and the treasure-filled Special Collections department of the James R. Dickinson Library of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where Peter Michel and his crack staff were unfailingly hospitable and encouraging. At home in Portland, I made extensive use of the services of the Multnomah County Library, especially the homey Hillsdale branch and the gorgeously remodeled Central Library, long may it live.
For assistance with photos, I’d like to thank Michael Shulman and Chris (T.B.D.P.R.I.T.W.) Koseluk.
For employment during the time I worked on this book, I’m grateful to Karen Brooks and Mark Wigginton (that’s two g’s) of the Oregonian; Virginia Campbell, Wolf Schneider, and Heidi Parker of Movieline; Babs Baker of Pulse!; David Higdon of Rip City; Barry Gewen of the New York Times Book Review; and Hope Dlugozima, Charlie Kawasaki, and Don New of Creative Multimedia.
Bill Thomas, who almost edited my first book, was as supportive and collegial an editor as I could hope for—often proving his skills as much by not interceding as with his judicious suggestions. I don’t think he ever steered me wrong.
Richard Pine, my friend and agent, shot down the idea for a biography of Sammy with the never-to-be-forgotten words, “Why not a book on the whole Rat Pack?” It was a hell of a call.
Mickie Levy, Jennifer Levy, Paul Bartholemy, LouAnn Thornton, and the Italian-American support group in New York provided assurance, affection, free advertising, and such tangible services as dinners and baby-sitting.
Vincent and Anthony, who have learned more about the evil deeds of famous men than sometimes seems right for bright, healthy kids, were always ready to goof off with Dad on the computer, the basketball court, or the golf course. I needed it.
And Mary Bartholemy—what can I say? Patience, insight, wit, craft, diplomacy, warmth, a solid backhand, culinary excellence, smashing looks: Baby, you’re the greatest.
About the Author
Shawn Levy is the author of King of Comedy: The Life and Art of Jerry Lewis and Ready, Steady, Go!: Swinging London and the Invention of Cool. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Sight and Sound and Loaded. He is film critic for the Oregonian and a former senior editor of American Film.
For more information on Shawn Levy visit
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Also by the Author
King of Comedy: The Life and Art of Jerry Lewis
Ready, Steady, Go!: Swinging London and the Invention of Cool
Copyright
First published in Great Britain in 1998 by
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Copyright © Shawn Levy 1998
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Source ISBN: 9781841150017
Ebook Edition © MARCH 2014 ISBN: 9780007383597
Version: 2014-02-26
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