MARCH 18, 1984: He appeared with Luciano Pavarotti, Diana Ross, Buddy Rich and Montserrat Caballe at Radio City Music Hall for another benefit performance for the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. "The reason I and other Italian opera singers admire Frank Sinatra," Pavarotti was quoted as saying, "is not just for his star quality and the beauty of his voice, but because his phrasing is very close to Italian bel canto."

FS, Diana Ross, Pavarotti and Montserrat Caballe
performed at a benefit for Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
[Photo by Sam Siegel.]

MARCH 12-18, 26-30, 1981: Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Frank canceled his last night's appearance when President Reagan was shot. Nancy Reagan: "When my husband was shot, your father was playing an engagement somewhere—I've forgotten where—perhaps in Vegas...Frank never called to say, 'Do you want me to come?' He just came. He shut down his show and just came. The next thing I knew, he was in Washington to be of support and help to me. It meant a great deal to me, and I'll always be grateful."

MARCH 15-21, 1979: He returned for a week at Caesars in Las Vegas.

MARCH 17-31, 1977: A week at Caesars was followed by a week at Harrah's.

[Canela]

March 18, 1984...I was very fortunate to have been there that nite at Radio City ...it was a wonderful performance ...
Luciano., Diana Ross, Montserrat Caballe ..and Buddy Rich

There were other Sloan-Kettering benefits..
1979 -there was one at the Met with FAS and Beverly Sills.
1981 -this one with Count Basie and Sarah Vaughn
1982- Radio City George Shearing Orchestra and again Luciano.
1983- Radio City again with Victor Borge

I missed the 1979 benefit...but I attended all the others!
These benefits were thrillling and Frank was absolutely wonderful!
New York loved Frank...he was so good to us...I miss him!!

[SinatraIsLove]

Oh, how I would have loved to hear Frank and Luciano together! How fortunate you are to have heard them more than once, Canela!

MARCH 15-21, 1979: He returned for a week at Caesars in Las Vegas.

MARCH 17-31, 1977: A week at Caesars was followed by a week at Harrah's.

MARCH 19-20, 25, 1969: Dad's recording of A Man Alone was a symbiotic partnership between singer and songwriter. Arranged by Don Costa, with lyrics written by poet Rod McKuen, the album is a good example of what happens when the writer knows his singer. McKuen: "I would like to point out that your dad was given the latitude for some acting on this album—he is a fine actor." FS: "Real singing is acting. I sang well because I felt the lyrics here, here and here [pointing to head, heart and gut.] Whatever the man was trying to say in the song—I'd been there and back. I knew what it was all about." Dad had been in a state of flux when he and Rod started planning this project. He and Mia had parted, his father was ill, he was troubled and lonely.

MARCH 19, 1966: Cast a Giant Shadow was released, starring Kirk Douglas and guest-starring Frank Sinatra, Yul Brynner and John Wayne.

MARCH 19, 1958: FS starred in the first of Dean Martin's four Timex specials on NBC. Unlike Dean's previous live shows, which were kinescoped (filmed by focusing a 16-millimeter camera on a screen while the show was in production), these were on a new storage medium called videotape.

MARCH 19, 1958: The Federal Communications Commission approved the purchase of three radio stations by the Essex Corporation, a Sinatra company, for $2 million: KXL in Portland, Oregon, KJR in Seattle and KNEW in Spokane.

[Nancy]

Too bad we didn't hang on to those radio stations!

MARCH 20, 1987: Dean Martin's son, Dean Paul, died when his Air Force Phantom jet crashed into the side of Mount San Gorgonio in the San Bernardino National Forest. It was the same mountain on which Dolly Sinatra died in a private plane crash 10 years earlier. Dino's funeral was held at the Veterans Cemetery in West Los Angeles. My sister and I were cautioned by Dean's manager Mort Viner not to show any emotion at the funeral because Dino's family was devastated and trying desperately to stay calm and show courage in this public tribute. Tina and I sat two rows behind Dino's mother, Jeannie, her other children and Dino's son Alex. We squeezed each other's hand when one of us would start to cry, but managed to retain our composure until the flyover with the "Missing Man" formation (an incomplete V). We broke down. Jeannie, who didn't turn around but heard the soft sobs said later, with her arms around both of us, "I just knew it was the Sinatra girls." I believe this tragedy changed big Dean's life forever.

MARCH 20, 1984: In New Haven he performed at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

MARCH 15-21, 1979: He returned for a week at Caesars in Las Vegas.

MARCH 20-28, 1978: He vacationed in Barbados.

MARCH 17-31, 1977: A week at Caesars was followed by a week at Harrah's.

MARCH 19-20, 25, 1969: Dad's recording of A Man Alone was a symbiotic partnership between singer and songwriter. Arranged by Don Costa, with lyrics written by poet Rod McKuen, the album is a good example of what happens when the writer knows his singer. McKuen: "I would like to point out that your dad was given the latitude for some acting on this album—he is a fine actor." FS: "Real singing is acting. I sang well because I felt the lyrics here, here and here [pointing to head, heart and gut.] Whatever the man was trying to say in the song - I'd been there and back. I knew what it was all about." Dad had been in a state of flux when he and Rod started planning this project. He and Mia had parted, his father was ill, he was troubled and lonely.

MARCH 20-26, 1946: Embarking on a cross-country tour of extended engagements around the country, he appeared for a week at the Golden Gate Theater in San Francisco and went on to Philadelphia in April, Detroit in May, New York's Madison Square Garden and Chicago Stadium in June and the Hollywood Bowl in July and August.

Marquee, Golden Gate Theater, San Francisco, March 1946
[Photos by William Farrell Murray, Cal-Pix]

[Nancy]

March 20, 1987 was a very dark day.

MARCH 19-20, 25, 1969: Dad's recording of A Man Alone was a symbiotic partnership between singer and songwriter. Arranged by Don Costa, with lyrics written by poet Rod McKuen, the album is a good example of what happens when the writer knows his singer. McKuen: "I would like to point out that your dad was given the latitude for some acting on this album—he is a fine actor." FS: "Real singing is acting. I sang well because I felt the lyrics here, here and here [pointing to head, heart and gut.] Whatever the man was trying to say in the song - I'd been there and back. I knew what it was all about." Dad had been in a state of flux when he and Rod started planning this project. He and Mia had parted, his father was ill, he was troubled and lonely.

One of the greatest moments I had re: Mr S was running into Rod McKuen in the parking lot of Pavilion's Market on Santa Monica one afternoon. I introduced myself and before we knew it, almost an hour had gone by as we two discussed "A Man Alone". Rod was charming and quite reverent of Mr.S. I'll always remember that meeting.

MARCH 23-24, 1984: At the Premier Entertainment Center in Detroit.

MARCH 20-28, 1978: He vacationed in Barbados.

MARCH 17-31, 1977: A week at Caesars was followed by a week at Harrah's.

MARCH 23, 1971: Dad was 55. A good time to pause and think. To think about the changes in the world at large and in his world—especially the loss of his father, his own priorities and his own mortality. For a long time he had been saying, "Will somebody please get me the hell off the road?" He was sick and tired of the traveling. So it didn't surprise me when he informed us that he would soon announce his retirement. The announcement to the public stated that although he'd enjoyed the exciting three decades of work, there had been "little room or opportunity for reflection, reading, self-examination and that need which every thinking man has for a fallow period, a long pause in which to seek a better understanding of changes occurring in the world."

MARCH 20-26, 1946: Embarking on a cross-country tour of extended engagements around the country, he appeared for a week at the Golden Gate Theater in San Francisco and went on to Philadelphia in April, Detroit in May, New York's Madison Square Garden and Chicago Stadium in June and the Hollywood Bowl in July and August.

See also: March 23, 1971 - FS Announces His Retirement

MARCH 23-24, 1984: At the Premier Entertainment Center in Detroit.

MARCH 20-28, 1978: He vacationed in Barbados.

MARCH 17-31, 1977: A week at Caesars was followed by a week at Harrah's.

MARCH 24, 1948: He performed on radio's Maurice Chevalier Show in New York and was interviewed later that evening at the Copacabana by disc jockey Jack Egan.

MARCH 20-26, 1946: Embarking on a cross-country tour of extended engagements around the country, he appeared for a week at the Golden Gate Theater in San Francisco and went on to Philadelphia in April, Detroit in May, New York's Madison Square Garden and Chicago Stadium in June and the Hollywood Bowl in July and August.

MARCH 24, 1941: Las Vegas Nights was released nationally.

The following entry would not normally appear in the date-specific posts of this thread, but it caught my eye. Since the Spring season began this past week, I thought it would be appropriate to post today. (The actual date for the one-nighter at Ricker Gardens in Portland, Maine was March 18, 1941.)

SPRING 1941: After a one-nighter at Ricker Gardens in Portland, Maine, the band was having dinner at a Howard Johnson's when a 17-year-old high school student named Paul Keyes—later a presidential speechwriter and television producer—approached Dorsey at his table with an autograph book in hand. He didn't know he was violating the privacy of a section of the restaurant Dorsey had ordered closed off to everybody except band members, and Tommy had him physically removed from the premises. As Paul Keyes recalls, "A few minutes after Dorsey threw me out, I saw Frank Sinatra leave the private room and followed him to the men's room to get his autograph. He was very friendly. 'What's your name, kid?' he asked, signing my book to me personally. I mentioned that I wanted to get the autographs of the rest of the orchestra but that Mr. Dorsey had had me thrown out of the room. Frank took me back and introduced me warmly to Ziggy Elman, Jo Stafford, Buddy Rich and all the others. They all signed my book. Then he took me over to Tommy and said, 'This is my friend Paul, and I want you to write something nice in his book. He's a good kid.' Mr. Dorsey, recognizing me but not batting an eye, did as Frank requested and signed my book. Frank then invited me to pull up a chair and have a bite with the band."

[PatrickC]

Nice story, Bob! Thanks for sharing.

Thanks are due to Nancy for her book, Frank Sinatra: An American Legend, Patrick.

Just a reminder to all: The book is available online here (Nancy's Book), and the daily "Today In History" entries may be found on the Guestbook page (link at right of top toolbar). There is much more information available than is shown in this thread. Be sure to check out the photo captions and the quotations, also.

[PatrickC]

Originally Posted by Bob

Thanks are due to Nancy for her book, Frank Sinatra: An American Legend, Patrick.

Ah yes, its been a few years since I've taken it off the shelf. I might have to read it again in the near future.

[SinatraFan]

Great story!

[Nancy]

Originally Posted by Bob
Thanks are due to Nancy for her book, Frank Sinatra: An American Legend, Patrick.

Originally Posted by PatrickC

Ah yes, its been a few years since I've taken it off the shelf. I might have to read it again in the near future.

Thanks, for the credit where it's due, Bob. "How quickly they forget."

MARCH 25, 1982: Dad and Perry Como sang at a White House state dinner in honor of President Sandro Pertini of Italy.

MARCH 20-28, 1978: He vacationed in Barbados.

MARCH 17-31, 1977: A week at Caesars was followed by a week at Harrah's.

MARCH 19-20, 25, 1969: Dad's recording of A Man Alone was a symbiotic partnership between singer and songwriter. Arranged by Don Costa, with lyrics written by poet Rod McKuen, the album is a good example of what happens when the writer knows his singer. McKuen: "I would like to point out that your dad was given the latitude for some acting on this album—he is a fine actor." FS: "Real singing is acting. I sang well because I felt the lyrics here, here and here [pointing to head, heart and gut.] Whatever the man was trying to say in the song - I'd been there and back. I knew what it was all about." Dad had been in a state of flux when he and Rod started planning this project. He and Mia had parted, his father was ill, he was troubled and lonely.

MARCH 25, 1954: At the long-awaited Academy Awards show, Dad's dream finally came true: With Frankie and me in the audience, he won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. It was the greatest moment of his professional life, and one of the most dramatic comeback stories in entertainment history. But almost as precious to him was the gift presented to him before the ceremony by Mom, Frankie, Tina and me—a gold medallion with a miniature Oscar in bas relief on one side, inscribed: DAD, ALL OUR LOVE FROM HERE TO ETERNITY, and on the other side a bust of St. Genesius, the patron saint of actors. When his name was announced, he kissed me on the cheek, kissed Frankie on the cheek and sprinted to the stage. Remembering the fight scene and the bully, Frankie turned to Dad after the Oscar ceremony and said, "You know, Dad, when I see that man, Fatso, I'm gonna kill him!" "No, son, you don't kill him," Dad said, "you kiss him. He helped me win the Academy Award."

FS with fellow Academy Award winner and co-star Donna Reed.
Dad literally ran down the aisle to get his Oscar.
[Photo by Daily Newslife]

MARCH 25, 1948: On another Frank Sinatra Day, amidst 24 hours of continuous Sinatra songs—the first of what would later be called Sinatrathons—he appeared as a guest DJ at New York's radio station WINS. It was also my mother's birthday, and my sister was due in ten weeks.

MARCH 20-26, 1946: Embarking on a cross-country tour of extended engagements around the country, he appeared for a week at the Golden Gate Theater in San Francisco and went on to Philadelphia in April, Detroit in May, New York's Madison Square Garden and Chicago Stadium in June and the Hollywood Bowl in July and August.

One more (not in the book):

MARCH 25, 1917: Nancy Barbato was born in Jersey City, New Jersey.

And from the book page for 1946:

"I'm not much to look at, nothin' to see
Just glad I'm livin' and lucky to be
I got a woman crazy for me
she's funny that way."

Lyric from "(I Got A Woman, Crazy For Me) She's Funny That Way"
by Neil Moret and Richard Whiting. Used by permission.

[SinatraIsLove]

Originally Posted by Bob

MARCH 25, 1954: At the long-awaited Academy Awards show, Dad's dream finally came true: With Frankie and me in the audience, he won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. It was the greatest moment of his professional life, and one of the most dramatic comeback stories in entertainment history. But almost as precious to him was the gift presented to him before the ceremony by Mom, Frankie, Tina and me—a gold medallion with a miniature Oscar in bas relief on one side, inscribed: DAD, ALL OUR LOVE FROM HERE TO ETERNITY, and on the other side a bust of St. Genesius, the patron saint of actors. When his name was announced, he kissed me on the cheek, kissed Frankie on the cheek and sprinted to the stage. Remembering the fight scene and the bully, Frankie turned to Dad after the Oscar ceremony and said, "You know, Dad, when I see that man, Fatso, I'm gonna kill him!" "No, son, you don't kill him," Dad said, "you kiss him. He helped me win the Academy Award."

I love this movie! I am SO glad that Mr. Sinatra got the recognition he deserved for his role. He played such a wonderful part in this movie!