Sinatra

by James Kaplan

  “He projects the ex-cop”: Los Angeles Times, Nov. 8, 1968.

  “As he has proved”: New York Times, Nov. 21, 1968.

  “Frank Sinatra has had it”: Dorothy Manners, syndicated column, Nov. 7, 1968.

  In early November: United Press, Nov. 6, 1968.

  “The most surprising”: Joyce Haber, syndicated column, Nov. 24, 1968.

  “The Nehru jacket seems”: Jack O’Brian, syndicated column, April 19, 1968.

  “Nobody would explain”: El Paso Herald Post, Nov. 23, 1968.

  “And don’t look now”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sC6-TlT1JJg.

  Two days before Thanksgiving: Variety, Nov. 27, 1968.

  After purchasing the Desert Inn: Drosnin, Citizen Hughes, p. 473.

  “Vegas in the old days”: Polly Bergen, in discussion with the author, Jan. 2011.

  “When Frank went”: Rob Fentress, in discussion with the author, June 2011.

  “Frank Sinatra’s return”: Variety, Nov. 27, 1968.

  “The electricity of the Sands”: Fentress, discussion.

  “I was like eighteen”: Rolling Stone, June 25, 1998.

  “The little Arab”: Summers and Swan, Sinatra, p. 335.

  “Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin”: Anka, My Way, p. 2.

  “and a couple of mob”: Paul Anka, interview by Neil McCormack, Daily Telegraph, Nov. 8, 2007.

  “I thought it was”: Ibid.

  “all him”: Newsweek, May 25, 1998.

  “I’ve got something really”: Ibid.

  “really had nothing”: Frank Sinatra, interview by Sid Mark, WWDB (Philadelphia), Dec. 31, 1979.

  “I know it’s a very big hit”: Granata, Sessions with Sinatra, p. xvii.

  Still, his inner circle: Lee Herschberg, in discussion with the author, May 2006.

  CHAPTER 26

  “Just before Christmas”: Suzy Knickerbocker, syndicated column, Jan. 10, 1969.

  “Sinatra is much much”: Ibid.

  “Out in the garden”: Ibid.

  Pleasantly surprised to see: Nancy Sinatra, My Father, p. 225.

  Anthony Martin Sinatra: Summers and Swan, Sinatra, p. 401.

  “Sometimes I’d be lying awake”: Hamill, Why Sinatra Matters, p. 84.

  Her grandfather’s funeral: Nancy Sinatra, My Father, p. 225.

  “pure bedlam”: Ibid.

  “Frank was pissed”: Taraborrelli, Sinatra, pp. 379–80.

  Twenty-five limousines: Kelley, His Way, p. 389.

  “Marty, Marty”: Taraborrelli, Sinatra, p. 380; Nancy Sinatra, My Father, p. 226.

  Back at her grandmother’s: Nancy Sinatra, My Father, p. 226.

  “But when his father died”: Ibid.

  “I don’t want to move”: Kelley, His Way, p. 391.

  “He became a little”: Tina Sinatra, My Father’s Daughter, p. 153.

  “In his down periods”: Wilson, Sinatra, pp. 250–51.

  “had charted quite respectably”: Friedwald, Sinatra!, pp. 430–31.

  “Somebody didn’t like”: Lee Herschberg, in discussion with the author, May 2006.

  “Paul told me”: Granata, Sessions with Sinatra, p. 190.

  “Putnam will publish”: Jack O’Brian, syndicated column, Sept. 23, 1968.

  Putnam refused: Puzo, Godfather Papers, p. 53; Variety, Sept. 25, 1968.

  “The Godfather is a work”: Winona (Minn.) Daily News, April 27, 1969.

  The public had also bought: Friedwald, Sinatra!, p. 438.

  “Edgar Guest with”: “Notable New Yorkers: Bennett Cerf,” Columbia University Libraries Oral History Research Office, www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/digital/collections/nny/cerfb/transcripts/cerfb_1_21_1024.html.

  “the most important guest”: Ibid.

  “I had tried for years”: Friedwald, Sinatra!, pp. 437–38.

  One source says: Marcucci, Where or When.

  “Sinatra had watched”: Mo Ostin, in discussion with the author, Aug. 2012.

  The 45 rpm single: Marcucci, Where or When.

  The man who had once been: Cornyn, Exploding, pp. 128–29, 137.

  “When he started chasing”: Ostin, discussion.

  My Way, the album: Havers, Sinatra, p. 309.

  The LP, released: O’Brien and Sayers, Sinatra, p. 261.

  Both the single: Havers, Sinatra, p. 309.

  “I met Barbara”: Betsy Hammes, in discussion with the author, June 2011.

  “a $150-a-week”: Barbara Sinatra, Lady Blue Eyes, p. 37.

  “she was stunningly”: Ed Walters, in discussion with the author, Dec. 2014.

  “a well-tailored”: Barbara Sinatra, “Sinatra, My Jekyll and Hyde Husband: His Fourth Wife Lays Bare His Terrifying Mood Swings and Sadistic Manipulation,” Daily Mail, June 6, 2011, www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1394161/Frank-Sinatra-Jekyll-Hyde-husband-4th-wife-Barbara-sadistic-manipulation.html.

  Zeppo was also a gifted mechanic: Homer, Born in the USA, pp. 176–77.

  Despite Zeppo’s ingenuity: Kelley, His Way, p. 434.

  “She was like a racehorse”: Hammes, discussion.

  “was an inveterate card player”: Kelley, His Way, pp. 433–34.

  “were always sharing”: Hammes, discussion.

  “nod a hello”: Barbara Sinatra, Lady Blue Eyes, p. 68.

  “Then, one day”: Barbara Sinatra, “Sinatra, My Jekyll and Hyde Husband.”

  “On Saturday evening”: Fremont (Calif.) Argus, Dec. 13, 1968.

  “those who drank”: Barbara Sinatra, “Sinatra, My Jekyll and Hyde Husband.”

  “who liked to turn”: Barbara Sinatra, Lady Blue Eyes, p. 69.

  “I was on the opposing”: Ibid., pp. 3–4, 99.

  “He hated her”: Summers and Swan, Sinatra, p. 358.

  “Zeppo was in his sixties”: Jacobs and Stadiem, Mr. S, p. 255.

  once more at a Circus: Dorothy Manners, syndicated column, Nov. 11, 1968.

  “no longer lean”: Variety, May 12, 1969.

  “McKuen was a star”: Gay Talese, in discussion with the author, May 2007.

  From June through: Marilyn Beck, syndicated column, Aug. 12, 1969.

  He watched the Apollo 11: Drew Pearson, syndicated column, July 21, 1969.

  he took the Cerfs: Lowell (Mass.) Sun, July 25, 1969.

  he sailed back: Fort Pierce (Fla.) News-Tribune, Aug. 12, 1969.

  He had Mickey: Associated Press, Oct. 15, 1969.

  Two days later: O’Brien and Sayers, Sinatra, p. 267.

  “For the second time”: Tina Sinatra, My Father’s Daughter, pp. 153–54.

  “He told Sinatra they”: Friedwald, Sinatra!, p. 440.

  The LP was a resounding: Warner, True Story of the Jersey Boys, pp. 29–30.

  “And then”: Watertown liner notes.

  “Jake and I discussed”: Ibid.

  “In a series of soliloquies”: Ibid.

  “I don’t think he was”: Ibid.

  “The only album we ever did”: Herschberg, discussion.

  “He didn’t know the songs”: Friedwald, Sinatra!, p. 441.

  The LP was a worthy try: Ibid., p. 443.

  “That was unheard-of”: Ostin, discussion.

  “Mr. Sinatra left”: Associated Press, Oct. 15, 1969.

  “He went yachting”: Associated Press, Oct. 16, 1969.

  The commission rattled: United Press, Oct. 29, 1969.

  “For many years every”: Associated Press, Oct. 24, 1969.

  Actually it was only three: Nancy Sinatra, American Legend, p. 212.

  On October 19: Ibid., pp. 212–13.

  Around the same time: United Press, Oct. 14, 1969.

  “But don’t get your”: Norma Lee Browning, syndicated column, Nov. 8, 1969.

  CHAPTER 27

  Not long afterward: Film Bulletin, Vol. 38, 1969, p. 63.

  Instead, a few days: Santopietro, Sinatra in Hollywood, p. 410.

  “Frank took such good care”: Kelley, His Way, pp. 431–32.

  Then, one night: “Part III: Hollywood Lives, The Sister
s Final Installment,” New York Social Diary, www.newyorksocialdiary.com/legacy/socialdiary/2005/08_17_05/socialdiary08_17_05.php.

  In January 1970: United Press, Feb. 4, 1970.

  “organized crime had”: New York Times, Feb. 4, 1970.

  “shortly after he flew”: New York Times, Feb. 18, 1970.

  Though the hearing: Nancy Sinatra, American Legend, p. 214.

  “Under questioning”: New York Times, Feb. 19, 1970.

  Though nothing of what Frank: New York Times, Feb. 18, 1970.

  “Q: Do you know”: Kelley, His Way, pp. 393–94.

  Nancy Sinatra wrote that: Nancy Sinatra, American Legend, p. 214.

  “a high [commission]”: New York Times, Feb. 19, 1970.

  “he had an engagement”: Oakland Tribune, Feb. 12, 1970.

  “bipartisan, short on speeches”: Associated Press, Feb. 28, 1970.

  “He appeared tired”: Arizona Republic, April 19, 1970.

  “FRANK SINATRA, FOREIGN”: Kuntz and Kuntz, Sinatra Files, pp. 209–10.

  “Sinatra’s affiliation over”: Ibid., pp. 210–11.

  “As a cabaret blockbuster”: Variety, April 23, 1970.

  “Frank Sinatra at Caesars”: Las Vegas Sun, April 24, 1970.

  It was all true: Variety, May 6, 1970.

  “They applauded”: New York Times, May 9, 1970.

  It should be rerecorded: www.watertownology.com/forum.html.

  “I have a funny feeling”: Marcucci, Where or When.

  “There are few occasions”: Ibid.

  “It is my duty”: Associated Press, July 9, 1970.

  “He made it clear”: Oakland Tribune, July 9, 1970.

  But for Frank to join: Jacobs and Stadiem, Mr. S, p. 238.

  “The divine Francis”: Joyce Haber, syndicated column, July 14, 1970.

  Two weeks earlier: Associated Press, June 29, 1970.

  “It looks like I held”: Joyce Haber, syndicated column, July 14, 1970.

  At the end of July: Norma Lee Browning, syndicated column, July 23, 1970.

  “Dad’s convalescence”: Tina Sinatra, My Father’s Daughter, p. 154.

  “the topper on Saturday”: Variety, Aug. 10, 1970.

  “Miss Sinatra is an uneven”: Ibid.

  “Dear Frank”: Steve Allen, But Seriously…, p. 378.

  “Only a few thousand”: Ibid., p. 379.

  “Wherever Frank is”: Norma Lee Browning, syndicated column, Dec. 2, 1970.

  “When he arrived”: George Schlatter, in discussion with the author, May 2006.

  “GUESS WHO”: Nancy Sinatra, American Legend, p. 209.

  In the summer of 1970: Variety, Oct. 1, 1969.

  Jerome Zarowitz: Ed Walters, in discussion with the author, Dec. 2014.

  When Zarowitz left the job: New York Times, Sept. 28, 1980.

  In case the name: United Press, April 25, 1956.

  “a major guy in New York”: Ed Walters, in discussion with the author, Dec. 2014.

  “That’s when we knew”: Kelley, His Way, p. 398.

  “We were concerned”: Ibid.

  They said Sinatra was losing: Los Angeles Times, Sept. 8, 1970.

  In 1970, the U.S. median: web.stanford.edu/class/polisci120a/immigration/Median%20Household%20Income.pdf.

  “What’s the matter”: Kelley, His Way, p. 398.

  her father reacted coolly: Nancy Sinatra, American Legend, p. 215.

  “If Sinatra comes back”: Los Angeles Times, Sept. 8, 1970.

  “He was coming right”: Ibid.

  Sinatra had witnesses: Los Angeles Times, Sept. 11, 1970.

  “As for the remarks”: Vernon Scott, syndicated column, Sept. 21, 1970.

  “I wasn’t in the baccarat game”: Ibid.

  According to Joyce Haber: Los Angeles Times, Sept. 17, 1970.

  Never was a long time: Marcucci, Where or When.

  “I just believed he was”: Puzo, The Godfather Papers, p. 53.

  “However, the movie”: Ibid., pp. 53–54.

  “a famous millionaire”: Ibid., pp. 54–56.

  “Francis, I’d play”: Ibid., p. 57.

  “The audience at”: Associated Press, Oct. 5, 1970.

  “he won’t stand still”: Norma Lee Browning, syndicated column, Oct. 24, 1970.

  But he developed cold feet: Marilyn Beck, syndicated column, July 27, 1970.

  “I still want to make”: Dorothy Manners, syndicated column, Nov. 20, 1970.

  a story in which: Dorothy Manners, syndicated column, Feb. 25, 1969.

  a Sinatra and Goldie: Dorothy Manners, syndicated column, Aug. 5, 1969.

  even a picture: Sheilah Graham, syndicated column, Feb. 24, 1969.

  For one reason: Marcucci, Where or When.

  “one of the best love songs”: Concert for the Americas (Shout Factory, 2010), DVD.

  This was nice of him: Schneider, Long and Winding Road, p. 122.

  “ ‘Dirty Dingus Magee’ is as shabby”: Chicago Tribune, Nov. 23, 1970, www.rogerebert.com/reviews/dirty-dingus-magee-1970.

  referring to The Stranger Returns: Lang Thompson, “The Stranger Returns,” www.tcm.com/this-month/article/91156%7C0/The-Stranger-Returns.html.

  “youth wig”: New York Times, Nov. 19, 1970.

  “He needed this silliness”: Nancy Sinatra, American Legend, p. 214.

  “Frank Sinatra also admired”: Malatesta, Party Politics, p. 15.

  “pusillanimous pussyfooters”: Safire, Before the Fall, p. 323.

  “These two gentlemen”: Malatesta, Party Politics, p. 16.

  “He said he would like”: Ibid., pp. 17–18.

  “Although long ago”: Ibid., p. 18.

  “DIRTY DINGUS MAY”: Norma Lee Browning, column, Dec. 2, 1970 (first published in late November elsewhere).

  “Schwartz is now”: Ibid.

  “He may become more”: Ibid.

  “since Daddy likes”: Associated Press, Dec. 14, 1970.

  The area’s Mexican-American: Nancy Sinatra, American Legend, pp. 216–17.

  When Frank learned: Ibid.

  “What they saw”: Joyce Haber, syndicated column, Dec. 27, 1970.

  But Wagner: Marilyn Beck, syndicated column, Feb. 11, 1972.

  “There were four”: Joyce Haber, syndicated column, Dec. 27, 1970.

  “where agents arrested”: Associated Press, Dec. 13, 1970.

  Upon opening: United Press, Feb. 23, 1971; New York Times, Sept. 28, 1980.

  Peter Malatesta knew: Malatesta, Party Politics, pp. 21–22.

  “a private world”: Ibid., p. 32.

  Ava had been sighted: Norma Lee Browning, syndicated column, Dec. 15, 1970.

  “Says Suzy”: Norma Lee Browning, syndicated column, Dec. 11, 1970.

  “strolling into”: Marilyn Beck, syndicated column, Dec. 19, 1970.

  And though Frank: Bailey, Cheever, p. 435.

  CHAPTER 28

  “a Leviathan”: Oakland Tribune, Jan. 5, 1971.

  That night, Frank dined: Oakland Tribune, Jan. 4, 1971.

  After Jimmy Stewart: Marcucci, Where or When.

  a woman he had once: Jacobs and Stadiem, Mr. S, p. 238.

  She beamed: Gloria Vanderbilt, in discussion with the author, April 2011.

  “He’s here”: Norma Lee Browning, syndicated column, Jan. 22, 1971.

  “Frank is married”: Dorothy Manners, syndicated column, Feb. 3, 1971.

  “As you will recall”: Kuntz and Kuntz, Sinatra Files, pp. 212–13.

  Nancy wrote that she felt: Nancy Sinatra, My Father, p. 228; Nancy Sinatra, American Legend, p. 217.

  On Monday evenings: Nollen, Jilly!, p. 81.

  In mid-February: Norma Lee Browning, syndicated column, Feb. 11, 1971.

  “Everything we have done”: Life, March 19, 1971.

  Jim Mahoney had massaged: Jim Bishop, syndicated column, April 5, 1971.

  “It didn’t surprise me”: Nancy Sinatra, American Legend, p. 219.

  “His record history”: Mo Ostin, in discussion with the aut
hor, Aug. 2012.

  “You read it here first”: Associated Press, March 24, 1971; Norma Lee Browning, syndicated column, March 31, 1971.

  “I look forward to enjoying”: Associated Press, March 24, 1971.

  “His fade-out”: Browning, syndicated column, March 31, 1971.

  Starlets wore hot pants: Associated Press, April 18, 1971.

  “Sinatra, Frank”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_dGbyb7p0o.

  Coretta Scott King: Associated Press, April 18, 1971.

  Some said he was quitting: Jim Bishop, syndicated column, April 5, 1971.

  others, that he was secretly: Life, June 25, 1971.

  “There are people”: Paul Corcoran, syndicated column, April 7, 1971.

  “He was nervous”: Life, June 25, 1971.

  “Everybody wants to be Cary Grant”: Newsweek, March 12, 1990.

  “We warmed ’em up”: Ibid.

  “when the vibrato”: Ibid.

  “Somebody help”: Ibid.

  “So I figure”: Associated Press, June 14, 1971.

  “Jump on it”: Ibid.

  “I’m tired”: Life, June 25, 1971.

  CODA

  “Barbara had a fetching”: Tina Sinatra, My Father’s Daughter, pp. 146, 151–52.

  “relentless strategist”: Ibid., p. 150.

  “I don’t want no”: Ibid., p. 152.

  “From Jilly came a story”: Ibid., pp. 152–53.

  “appeared to be”: Kuntz and Kuntz, Sinatra Files, p. 213.

  “It is apparent”: Ibid., p. 216.

  “Bravo”: Ibid., p. 220.

  “by invitation, not demand”: Kelley, His Way, p. 409.

  “My hair was on fire”: Tina Sinatra, My Father’s Daughter, pp. 141–42.

  “You know Miss Cheshire”: Kelley, His Way, pp. 412–13; Cheshire, Maxine Cheshire, Reporter, pp. 123–25.

  At the end of the night: Nancy Sinatra, American Legend, p. 219.

  “Mr. President,” Sinatra replied: Ibid.

  “hinted that he might”: Malatesta, Party Politics, p. 88.

  Three days after: Los Angeles Herald Examiner, April 20, 1973.

  Reprise’s art director: Los Angeles Times, Aug. 21, 2006.

  “I said, ‘You’re kidding’ ”: Nancy Sinatra, American Legend, p. 230.

  Along with Watergate: Ibid., p. 322.

  “record an album every”: Havers, Sinatra, p. 323.

  Along with “Come Fly with Me”: Marcucci, Where or When.

  “Congress should give”: Kelley, His Way, p. 423.