(From Nancy's book online and the Guestbook page)

JUNE 8-12, 1983: Again at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City.

MAY 27-JUNE 19, 1982: Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, then a week in Palm Springs and 10 days at Resorts International in Atlantic City.

JUNE 10-17, 1981: He headlined a benefit for the University of Nevada at the Aladdin Hotel before opening at Caesars Palace.

MAY 31-JUNE 10, 1977: Continuing his short tour with Dean, Dad returned to the Latin Casino, then went on to the Saber Room in Hickory Hills, Illinois.

JUNE 6-19, 1974: Dad performed in a second run at Caesars. From the stage at one of his sold-out performances, he raised a toast to his newborn granddaughter: "I wish her a hundred times the fun I've had—and one hundred times as many guys as I've had broads." Some wish. Some grandfather!

JUNE 4-22, 1973: In four sessions, Sinatra, along with producer-arranger Don Costa and arranger Gordon Jenkins, recorded 11 songs, including "Send in the Clowns," "Winners" and "Let Me Try Again."

JUNE 8-12, 1983: Again at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City.

MAY 27-JUNE 19, 1982: Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, then a week in Palm Springs and 10 days at Resorts International in Atlantic City.

JUNE 10-17, 1981: He headlined a benefit for the University of Nevada at the Aladdin Hotel before opening at Caesars Palace.

JUNE 11-17, 1979: Back at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

JUNE 6-19, 1974: Dad performed in a second run at Caesars. From the stage at one of his sold-out performances, he raised a toast to his newborn granddaughter: "I wish her a hundred times the fun I've had—and one hundred times as many guys as I've had broads." Some wish. Some grandfather!

JUNE 4-22, 1973: In four sessions, Sinatra, along with producer-arranger Don Costa and arranger Gordon Jenkins, recorded 11 songs, including "Send in the Clowns," "Winners" and "Let Me Try Again."

JUNE 11, 1967: FS performed at an all-star rally for Israel at the Hollywood Bowl.

JUNE 8-12, 1983: Again at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City.

MAY 27-JUNE 19, 1982: Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, then a week in Palm Springs and 10 days at Resorts International in Atlantic City.

JUNE 10-17, 1981: He headlined a benefit for the University of Nevada at the Aladdin Hotel before opening at Caesars Palace.

JUNE 11-17, 1979: Back at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

JUNE 6-19, 1974: Dad performed in a second run at Caesars. From the stage at one of his sold-out performances, he raised a toast to his newborn granddaughter: "I wish her a hundred times the fun I've had—and one hundred times as many guys as I've had broads." Some wish. Some grandfather!

JUNE 4-22, 1973: In four sessions, Sinatra, along with producer-arranger Don Costa and arranger Gordon Jenkins, recorded 11 songs, including "Send in the Clowns," "Winners" and "Let Me Try Again."

JUNE 12, 1967: Another of Dad's heroes passed away, and he served as a pallbearer at Spencer Tracy's funeral in Los Angeles.

JUNE 12-14, 1962: He recorded eleven songs in three sessions in Bayswater, England, for an album entitled Great Songs from Great Britain, which was never released in the United States. Included were "London by Night," "We'll Meet Again" and my favorite, "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square."

[Album cover from the Ric Ross collection,
photographed by Berliner and Rowe]

MAY 27-JUNE 19, 1982: Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, then a week in Palm Springs and 10 days at Resorts International in Atlantic City.

JUNE 10-17, 1981: He headlined a benefit for the University of Nevada at the Aladdin Hotel before opening at Caesars Palace.

JUNE 13-26, 1980: Frank played two solid weeks at Carnegie Hall. Tickets for the entire engagement sold out in one day, breaking all previous sales records in the landmark theater's 90-year history.

JUNE 11-17, 1979: Back at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

JUNE 13, 1979: The Italian Consul General presented FS with the Cavaliere Officiale, the highest award from the Italian government.

JUNE 6-19, 1974: Dad performed in a second run at Caesars. From the stage at one of his sold-out performances, he raised a toast to his newborn granddaughter: "I wish her a hundred times the fun I've had—and one hundred times as many guys as I've had broads." Some wish. Some grandfather!

JUNE 4-22, 1973: In four sessions, Sinatra, along with producer-arranger Don Costa and arranger Gordon Jenkins, recorded 11 songs, including "Send in the Clowns," "Winners" and "Let Me Try Again."

JUNE 13, 1971: Surrounded by family and friends, he appeared at the Los Angeles Music Center in a benefit for the Motion Picture and Television Relief Fund that raised $800,000. Dad declared that this performance would be his farewell appearance. Life magazine made the event its cover story: "Sinatra Says Good-by and Amen, a farewell to 30 very good years." In deciding to step out of the spotlight, wrote Tommy Thompson in Life, he has "capped a career that included 58 films, 100 albums, nearly 2,000 individual songs." "I'm tired," he told Thompson. "It's been a helluva 35 years. I always sang a tough book. It's wrung me out." Said his friend Rosalind Russell, "He wanted to pause and think things over, to be without pressure for the first time in his active life."

Before the Music Center show, Life reported, he was entertaining a parade of celebrity pals in his dressing room, including Cary Grant, Don Rickles and the 77-year-old Jack Benny, who strolled in playing his violin. "This man," he deadpanned, waving a hand at Dad, "endorsed Ronald Reagan for governor of California. Now I would have endorsed Reagan quietly, but Frank did it first. So I come out second with a little endorsement, and what do I get from Frank Sinatra the next day but a one-word telegram. It says, 'Copycat."' Benny, master of timing, paused for effect. "Now I would like to retire," he said, starting to sputter, "only I can't!" Dad fell off the couch, holding his sides. The fun continued—all at my father's expense. Moments before showtime, as he was about to slip into his tuxedo jacket, Don Rickles called out, "Somebody help the old man on with his coat. Make way for the old-timer. Help him go out in a blaze of glory. You're gonna be great out there. People love pity, Frank."

Roz Russell introduced him to the crowd that night: "He's worked long and hard for us with his head and his voice and especially his heart. But it's time to put back the Kleenex and stifle the sob, for we still have the man, we still have the blue eyes, those wonderful blue eyes, that smile; for one last time we have the man, the greatest entertainer of the 20th century." Dad said simply, "Might as well begin at the beginning." And then he sang "All or Nothing at All," "I've Got You Under My Skin," "I'll Never Smile Again," "The Lady Is a Tramp," "Ol' Man River" and his frequent closer, "My Way." And everybody offered up the deafening applause with which they would honor the end of his career. Then the world's greatest entertainer, the master tugger of heartstrings did one more-arousing "That's Life." Again, the applause to usher out his era. But with the clear call for encores, perhaps for neverending encores, and in the tradition of respecting the audience, the song, the composer, the lyricist, the arranger, he did one last piece of work. Wrote Thomas Thompson: "He had built his career, he said softly, on saloon songs. He would end quietly on such a song. He slipped from his words into 'Angel Eyes,' surely a song for the short hours. He ordered the stage dressed in darkness, a pin spot picking out his profile in silhouette. He lit a cigarette in mid-sentence and its smoke enveloped him. He came to the last line. 'Excuse me while I ... disappear.' And he was gone. It was the single most stunning moment I have ever witnessed on a stage."

[3rd photo by George Sidney] "Excuse me while I disappear..." Lyrics from "Angel Eyes."

JOURNALIST THOMAS THOMPSON ON THE RETIREMENT CONCERT: He was nervous. He had carefully orchestrated this finale. And being the most meticulous of men, he wanted it played with style and grace. He took the typewritten list of the 14 songs he would sing and he looked at it over and over again. He threw it down on the table and began doodling. His felt pen created a house, then he filled it with black strokes, covering the windows and doors, as if no one lived there anymore. He took a look back at the days he sang for cigarettes in Jersey: "So here I am tonight, 40 years later, going out the same way I came in—singing for nothing." He took exception to reports that he was retiring because of his health: "My health is spectacular. In fact, it's never been better. That's why those goddamn rumors burn me. It shows the irresponsibility of the American press." Is there anybody whose voice does for him what his has done for us, all of us over 30, all of us who recollect Sinatra drifting over from the phonograph in the corner of the living room, the fire low, the wine spent, Sinatra murmuring reassurances?. Sinatra, every man's advocate in seduction. Sinatra, every man's ally in romantic defeat.

JUNE 12-14, 1962: He recorded eleven songs in three sessions in Bayswater, England, for an album entitled Great Songs from Great Britain, which was never released in the United States. Included were "London by Night," "We'll Meet Again" and my favorite, "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square."

[SinatraIsLove]

What a great piece on Mr. Sinatra's retirement! In a way, I wish I could have been there, though I know my heart would break.

[Ace917]

From the stage at one of his sold-out performances, he raised a toast to his newborn granddaughter: "I wish her a hundred times the fun I've had—and one hundred times as many guys as I've had broads." Some wish. Some grandfather!

I missed this when I read the book!

Was this before or after Soliloquy?!

[Dan]

Very touching article indeed

Originally Posted by Ace917

Was this before or after Soliloquy?!

Frank first sang "Soliloquy" in 1946.

[Nancy]

Originally Posted by dan white

Very touching article indeed

It's not an article. It's from my book, dammit.

(Dan may have been referring to the Tommy Thompson article.)

[Dan]

Yes Bob, that is correct. I should have been specific, Sorry Nancy

The 1971 excerpt that Bob posted from your book is ofcourse beautiful and touching, but to me, that's legend, and certainly goes without saying.

Yes, that Thompson article is a fabulous one in writing and in photos. I'll have to dig out that magazine tonight and read it in honor of the anniversary.

Hopefully, we'll soon see that fabulous concert on DVD.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by paulmock

Hopefully, we'll soon see that fabulous concert on DVD.

Can't wait for that!

[SinatraFan]

I'm looking forward to seeing that concert on DVD too!

MAY 27-JUNE 19, 1982: Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, then a week in Palm Springs and 10 days at Resorts International in Atlantic City.

JUNE 10-17, 1981: He headlined a benefit for the University of Nevada at the Aladdin Hotel before opening at Caesars Palace.

JUNE 13-26, 1980: Frank played two solid weeks at Carnegie Hall. Tickets for the entire engagement sold out in one day, breaking all previous sales records in the landmark theater's 90-year history.

JUNE 11-17, 1979: Back at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

JUNE 6-19, 1974: Dad performed in a second run at Caesars. From the stage at one of his sold-out performances, he raised a toast to his newborn granddaughter: "I wish her a hundred times the fun I've had—and one hundred times as many guys as I've had broads." Some wish. Some grandfather!

JUNE 4-22, 1973: In four sessions, Sinatra, along with producer-arranger Don Costa and arranger Gordon Jenkins, recorded 11 songs, including "Send in the Clowns," "Winners" and "Let Me Try Again."

JUNE 12-14, 1962: He recorded eleven songs in three sessions in Bayswater, England, for an album entitled Great Songs from Great Britain, which was never released in the United States. Included were "London by Night," "We'll Meet Again" and my favorite, "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square."

JUNE 14, 1957: At the end of a long and rocky road with Ava, his attorneys finally filed for divorce in Mexico City.

[Jeffrey Simmons]

Originally Posted by Bob

JUNE 12-14, 1962: He recorded eleven songs in three sessions in Bayswater, England, for an album entitled Great Songs from Great Britain, which was never released in the United States. Included were "London by Night," "We'll Meet Again" and my favorite, "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square."

Superb stuff Bob.

I think that "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square." is also my favourite recording from that set. I also like very much The Very though Of You.

The interesting thing about this entire Great Songs from Great Britain album, talking retrospectively, is that despite the oft heard comments that FS' singing was suffering, as a result of his very heavy World Tour schedule, from a tired and somewhat unrested voice at the time of the Recording Sessions, this album is still, in my view, surprisingly good and Bob Farnon's orchestration arrangements are nothing less than excellent throughout. I am sure that Frank perhaps knew at the time that his vocal limitations were affecting some of his personal ambitions for these recordings during these Sessions, but on the whole he still did a very good job and, taking this album as a whole, I find it hard to criticise any of the performances. For me they all sound good.

Benny Green, the English musician, writer and broadcaster who spent time going around with FS when he was recording this album and then did the liner notes on the album cover, made a point of saying in one of his Radio 2 programs, some years later, that when he attended the Great Songs from Great Britain sessions he could not help but really enthuse over Frank's performances at the time. Subsequently, perhaps like FS himself when the decision was made not to release the album in the USA, he said that when he listened to the album over time he felt somewhat less enthusiastic over all, possibly because other earlier and subsequent vocal perfomances when FS was in tip-top vocal form would overshadow these, but he still felt that this was a relevant album. I think that today, this album has found considerable favour and appreciation among Sinatra enthusiasts and the overall view is that really it is a gem. I subscribe to that view.

JUNE 15-19, 1983: At the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles with the Buddy Rich Orchestra.

MAY 27-JUNE 19, 1982: Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, then a week in Palm Springs and 10 days at Resorts International in Atlantic City.

JUNE 10-17, 1981: He headlined a benefit for the University of Nevada at the Aladdin Hotel before opening at Caesars Palace.

JUNE 13-26, 1980: Frank played two solid weeks at Carnegie Hall. Tickets for the entire engagement sold out in one day, breaking all previous sales records in the landmark theater's 90-year history.

JUNE 11-17, 1979: Back at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

JUNE 15-25, 1978: Another midwestern road tour took him on a series of one-nighters in Cleveland, Kalamazoo, Cincinnati, Washington, D.C., Huntington (West Virginia) and Terre Haute.

JUNE 6-19, 1974: Dad performed in a second run at Caesars. From the stage at one of his sold-out performances, he raised a toast to his newborn granddaughter: "I wish her a hundred times the fun I've had—and one hundred times as many guys as I've had broads." Some wish. Some grandfather!

JUNE 4-22, 1973: In four sessions, Sinatra, along with producer-arranger Don Costa and arranger Gordon Jenkins, recorded 11 songs, including "Send in the Clowns," "Winners" and "Let Me Try Again."

JUNE 15, 1944: Kicking off his new career at MGM with a bang, Dad began shooting Anchors Aweigh with musical-comedy superstar Gene Kelly. Partnered with Kelly as a pair of fun-loving sailors on shore leave, Dad not only sang a few songs—including "I Fall in Love Too Easily"—but learned a few steps from the master. The routines were so strenuous that Dad lost four pounds in the first rehearsal alone, so he drank six malted milks a day for two weeks until he gained eight pounds. "There were those who suggested that the word dancing was loosely used in connection with what I did in the film," my father later remembered. "Once, after working very hard on a sequence, I asked Gene Kelly what he thought of it. 'Frank,' he said solemnly, 'you may have set dancing back 20 years.' Pamela Britton, who played a waitress from Brooklyn, was kinder. After I stepped on her toes and quickly apologized, she smiled bravely and said, 'Oh, that's all right. You're very light on my feet."'

Dad's Hollywood career really took off
when he debuted with MGM in the hit
musical Anchors Aweigh. With tireless
tutoring from co-star Gene Kelly, he
even learned how to dance.

[Photo by CBS photos]

FRANK ON HIS DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO GENE KELLY: When I arrived at MGM, I was a nobody in movies. What was I? - just a crooner. A guy who got up and hung on to a microphone in a bad tuxedo and brown shoes. Because I didn't think I was as talented as some of the people who worked there, I went through periods of depression and I'd get terribly embarrassed. I was born with a couple of left feet, and I didn't even know how to walk, let alone dance. It was Gene who saw me through. We became a team only because he had the patience of Job, and the fortitude not to punch me in the mouth because I was so impatient. Moviernaking takes a lot of time, and I couldn't understand why. He managed to calm me when it was important to calm me, because we were doing something that we wanted to do. Apart from being a great artist, he's a born teacher, and he taught me how to move and how to dance. We worked hard and he was a taskmaster. Rehearsal for each routine took eight weeks every day. I couldn't dance exactly like he danced so he danced down to me. He taught me everything I know. He's one of the reasons I became a star. He's always been one of my great friends.

Since Frank was known as "The Voice,"
MGM picked up on it, naming Gene Kelly
"The Feet."

SAMMY CAHN ON ANCHORS AWEIGH: Joe Pasternak called Frank in and asked his advice on who might do the score—Kern, Gershwin, Rodgers and Hart? Frank said casually, "Sammy Cahn." You can't imagine the stunned reaction: Sammy Cahn? Who is he? Well, MGM wasn't ready yet to let young Sinatra pick the writers for this million-dollar production, and the first of the many Sinatra scenes started! It came to such an impasse that Lew Wasserman of MCA came to me and said, "Unless Frank gives in, he will lose the picture." Would I talk to Frank? I, of course, went to Frank and said, "Frank, you've done me more honor than I can handle. Why don't you pass this one, and there will be others." He looked at me and said, "if you're not there Monday I'm not there Monday." Any night you happen to catch Anchors Aweigh you will notice it says: Songs by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne.

[Nancy]

< Superb stuff Bob. >

[Stranger56]

Originally Posted by Nancy

< Superb stuff Bob. >

What can I do, Nancy? I start my first post on every page of 20 with the notice:

(From Nancy's book online and the Guestbook page)

and some still don't get it.