(From the Guestbook page and the online book Frank Sinatra: An American Legend by Nancy Sinatra )

NOVEMBER 17–21, 1993: My father appeared at the Foxwoods Hotel and Casino... [See November 17th]

NOVEMBER 20, 1983: "The Variety Clubs All-Star Party" for FS was taped at NBC studios in Burbank and was produced by Paul Keyes. It was announced that all the funds Dad had raised for Variety Clubs International over the years had made it possible for them to build a wing at the Seattle Children's Orthopedic Hospital called the Sinatra Family Children's Unit for the Chronically Ill. Cary Grant, Milton Berle, Danny Thomas and many more headliners attended, honoring Frank Sinatra's music and humanitarian works.

With words written by Paul Keyes, Richard Burton movingly acknowledged the man called "Mr. Anonymous":

MR. ANONYMOUS

"I have never sung song with Frank Sinatra. Never acted with him, shared his stage nor been a member of an orchestra under his baton.

"We are, however, old friends of some thirty years and I have risen to my feet to applaud his blazing artistry, at numerous charity performances raising countless millions for the victims of the world.

"Frank is a giant. Among the givers of the world, he stands tallest. He has more than paid rent for the space he occupies on this planet, forged as he is from legendary loyalty and compassion carefully hidden...hidden because he has ordered it. Mr. Anonymous you have asked to be; Mr. Anonymous you shall be called. At risk of further offending you, I appear as the herald of grateful multitudes who have opened those unexpected envelopes...special-delivering answers to their prayers...those awakened by late-night phone calls which remedied their problems only on condition they share your covenant of secrecy...those who were surprised by signed checks with amounts not filled in...those performers down on their luck, who suddenly landed that role they never expected and still don't know whom to thank...and for untold beneficiaries of the caring and kindness of this splendid man who truly is his brother's keeper. And they are legion...those whose lives took a turn for the better...because of this man.

"A street corner poet burnt to the bone with the fury of his own ambition. Hoping someone would notice you. And they did notice you, Maggio. Thank you, Blue Eyes. God bless you, Mr. Anonymous."

—Paul Keyes, as recited by Richard Burton

And a medley entitled "Sinatra from A to Z" was performed by Steve Lawrence and Vic Damone, with an orchestra led by Nelson Riddle—from "All or Nothing at All" to "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart."

All or Nothing at All
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
Come Fly with Me
Day In, Day Out
Embraceable You
A Foggy Day
Get Happy
Here's That Rainy Day
I'll Never Smile Again
Just One of Those Things
A Kiss Goodnight
The Lady is a Tramp
My Kind of Town
New York, New York
Oh, Look at Me Now
Put Your Dreams Away
Quiet Nights
Ring-A-Ding-Ding
Strangers in the Night
This Love of Mine
Under a Blanket of Blue
Violets for Your Furs
When You're Smiling
EXactly Like You
Young at Heart
Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart

...And that's "Sinatra from A to Z"

The Variety Clubs tribute was a great night in Frank's life. Here he is surrounded by: Top: Foster Brooks, Ricardo Montalban, Julio Iglesias, Richard Burton, Bob Newhart, Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart. Middle: Tommy Lasorda, Monty Hall, Steve Lawrence. Bottom: Vic Damone, Carol Burnett, Florence Henderson and Michele Lee.

NOVEMBER 19–25, 1979: He was back at Resorts International... [See November 19th]

NOVEMBER 20–21, 1977: Filling in for Paul Anka, FS performed at Caesars Palace.

NOVEMBER 13–20, 1975: The London Palladium... [See November 13th]

NOVEMBER 20, 1971: In New York, though retired, he sang 12 songs at a fund-raiser for the Italian-American Civil Rights League at Madison Square Garden.

NOVEMBER 20, 1970: He performed a one-nighter at the Felt Forum in New York.

NOVEMBER 20, 1969: FS hosted a tribute to Jack Warner at the Burbank Studios.

Warner, Jack Valenti and Sinatra

JACK WARNER, 1969: I have been actively associated with Frank for approximately 15 years and I have always found him to be honorable, straightforward and with an abundance of integrity. Also, he is extremely charitable and never turns down any group, irrespective of race, creed or color, not only in the United States but in Mexico, Italy, Israel...as a matter of fact, worldwide. He is a gentleman and an important member of the human race.

NOVEMBER 20, 1968: Lady in Cement was released by 20th Century-Fox.

NOVEMBER 20, 1966: He performed at a charity benefit at the Hilton in Las Vegas for Danny Thomas' St. Jude's Children's Research Center.

NOVEMBER 20, 1965: In anticipation of my father's 50th birthday in December, he was honored with a special 100-page section of Billboard.

NOVEMBER 20–22, 1961: During a 14-song recording session in Hollywood for the album Sinatra & Strings, Neal Hefti and Skip Martin produced a breathtaking Don Costa arrangement of "Stardust." Other songs recorded include "It Might as Well Be Spring," "Prisoner of Love," "Night and Day," "All or Nothing at All" and "Come Rain or Come Shine."

NOVEMBER 13–DECEMBER 3, 1947: Dad played up to eight shows a day in a 17-day engagement at New York's Capitol Theater.

NOVEMBER 7–DECEMBER 17, 1945: Back in New York, Dad ran the gamut of audiences... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[Dan]

It's nice to read this thread now knowing I have the actual prints in my hand.
It adds more of an attraction to it for me.
There really is nothing better than a real book just like there is nothing better than an LP.

[SinatraFan]

NOVEMBER 20–22, 1961: During a 14-song recording session in Hollywood for the album Sinatra & Strings, Neal Hefti and Skip Martin produced a breathtaking Don Costa arrangement of "Stardust." Other songs recorded include "It Might as Well Be Spring," "Prisoner of Love," "Night and Day," "All or Nothing at All" and "Come Rain or Come Shine."

Sinatra & Strings is one of the greatest albums ever recorded by anyone! All the songs choices were perfect and to me, it's the best album that Frank and Don Costa made together. My favorite song from the sessions is As You Desire Me, even though it didn't appear on the original LP.

(From the Guestbook page and the online book Frank Sinatra: An American Legend by Nancy Sinatra )

NOVEMBER 17–21, 1993: My father appeared at the Foxwoods Hotel and Casino... [See November 17th]

NOVEMBER 21–22, 1986: Back at work, he did four shows at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, and on the 21st he performed at the Night of Stars at Caesars Palace for the benefit of St. Jude's.

NOVEMBER 21, 1985: Dad attended a Doubleday cocktail party at Nicky Blair's restaurant for my book.

NOVEMBER 19–25, 1979: He was back at Resorts International... [See November 19th]

NOVEMBER 20–21, 1977: Filling in for Paul Anka, FS performed at Caesars Palace.

NOVEMBER 20–22, 1961: During a 14-song recording session in Hollywood... [See November 20th]

NOVEMBER 13–DECEMBER 3, 1947: Dad played up to eight shows a day... [See November 13th]

NOVEMBER 7–DECEMBER 17, 1945: Back in New York, Dad ran the gamut of audiences... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

NOVEMBER 20, 1983: With words written by Paul Keyes, Richard Burton movingly acknowledged the man called "Mr. Anonymous"

I meant to post this link yesterday:

The Generosity of Frank Sinatra

[Nancy]

NOVEMBER 21, 1985: Dad attended a Doubleday cocktail party at Nicky Blair's restaurant for my book.

I miss Nicky; he died way too soon. He was the guy who had the famous last line in Ocean's 11. Do you remember the line?

"Da' deceased is bein' cremated."

[George Lyons]

(From the Guestbook page and the online book Frank Sinatra: An American Legend by Nancy Sinatra )

NOVEMBER 21–22, 1986: Back at work, he did four shows at the Golden Nugget... [See November 21st]

NOVEMBER 22, 1981: NBC aired Sinatra: The Man and the Music, produced by Paul Keyes.

NOVEMBER 19–25, 1979: He was back at Resorts International... [See November 19th]

NOVEMBER 22, 1967: Frank and Mia's separation was mentioned in the press.

NOVEMBER 22, 1963: President Kennedy was murdered in Dallas. My father was finishing the film Robin and the 7 Hoods in a Burbank cemetery not far, eerily, from a gravestone bearing the name "Kennedy." Stunned when he was told the news, Dad got very quiet, then began to walk. And think. And walk. "Get me the White House," he ordered an aide. After a brief conversation with a presidential staffer, he returned to the waiting crew and said sadly, "Let's shoot this thing, 'cause I don't want to come back here anymore."

Dad went to Palm Springs after that and virtually disappeared—even I couldn't reach him. For three days while the Kennedys and the nation publicly mourned, my father grieved alone, locked away in his bedroom, the only part of the house that was still the same as when his friend, the president, had visited him.

Said my father, after the president of the United States—his friend—was
gone: "For a brief moment, he was the brightest star in our lives. I loved
him." To this day, it still causes him pain to speak about it.

NOVEMBER 20–22, 1961: During a 14-song recording session in Hollywood... [See November 20th]

NOVEMBER 13–DECEMBER 3, 1947: Dad played up to eight shows a day... [See November 13th]

NOVEMBER 7–DECEMBER 17, 1945: Back in New York, Dad ran the gamut of audiences... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

(From the Guestbook page and the online book Frank Sinatra: An American Legend by Nancy Sinatra )

NOVEMBER 19–25, 1979: He was back at Resorts International... [See November 19th]

NOVEMBER 23–30, 1975: Former vice president Agnew accompanied Dad and Barbara Marx to Tehran, where Frank was to perform. Then it was on to Israel for two charity shows on behalf of the Frank Sinatra Youth Center for Arab and Jewish Children.

NOVEMBER 13–DECEMBER 3, 1947: Dad played up to eight shows a day... [See November 13th]

NOVEMBER 7–DECEMBER 17, 1945: Back in New York, Dad ran the gamut of audiences... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

(From the Guestbook page and the online book Frank Sinatra: An American Legend by Nancy Sinatra )

NOVEMBER 19–25, 1979: He was back at Resorts International... [See November 19th]

NOVEMBER 23–30, 1975: Former vice president Agnew accompanied Dad... [See November 23rd]

NOVEMBER 24, 1965: Dad did his one-man tour de force A Man and His Music, on NBC. The show won not only an Emmy Award for Outstanding Musical Program but also a Peabody Award for Distinguished Achievement in Video Programming.

NOVEMBER 13–DECEMBER 3, 1947: Dad played up to eight shows a day... [See November 13th]

NOVEMBER 7–DECEMBER 17, 1945: Back in New York, Dad ran the gamut of audiences... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[SYLMML]

After viewing this wonderful program, I wrote to Frank to tell him how much I enjoyed it. I received a reply and was thrilled! I still have the letter.

Thanks Bob you are terrific

(From the Guestbook page and the online book Frank Sinatra: An American Legend by Nancy Sinatra )

NOVEMBER 25–28, 1983: Worcester, Massachusetts, Hartford, Connecticut, and Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York.

NOVEMBER 19–25, 1979: He was back at Resorts International... [See November 19th]

NOVEMBER 23–30, 1975: Former vice president Agnew accompanied Dad... [See November 23rd]

NOVEMBER 25–27, 1971: Spiro Agnew and his family spent Thanksgiving weekend with Dad in Palm Springs.

NOVEMBER 25, 1968: His fourth annual television special, Francis Albert Sinatra Does His Thing, was aired on NBC, guest-starring Diahann Carroll. It was another ratings winner.

"As I approach the prime of my life,
I find I have the time of my life..."

NOVEMBER 13–DECEMBER 3, 1947: Dad played up to eight shows a day... [See November 13th]

NOVEMBER 7–DECEMBER 17, 1945: Back in New York, Dad ran the gamut of audiences... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

(From the Guestbook page and the online book Frank Sinatra: An American Legend by Nancy Sinatra )

NOVEMBER 26, 1984: The Boy Scouts of America honored FS with the Distinguished American Award at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.

NOVEMBER 25–28, 1983: Worcester, Massachusetts, Hartford, Connecticut, and Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York.

NOVEMBER 23–30, 1975: Former vice president Agnew accompanied Dad... [See November 23rd]

NOVEMBER 25–27, 1971: Spiro Agnew and his family spent Thanksgiving weekend with Dad in Palm Springs.

NOVEMBER 26–DECEMBER 19, 1968: Returning to Las Vegas for the first time since his fight with Carl Cohen at the Sands, Frank moved down the Strip to his new home, Caesars Palace. The big Circus Maximus at Caesars offered him the opportunity to reach a bigger audience and to command a bigger salary. Caesars must have added rooms every time Sinatra appeared there. The place always seemed to be under construction. The marquee occasionally read "Guess Who." This finally evolved to a simple "He's Here." Nothing else needed to be said. The waiters, the bellmen, the guests, the whole place took on 10,000 volts of energy with each new Sinatra appearance. They called him "The Noblest Roman of Them All," and said so on the medallions they gave the guests. He packed every show, sometimes to the distress of the Las Vegas Fire Department, whose inspectors were constantly moving people out of the aisles and off stairways. And the bedlam spilled over to the other hotels. When Frank was in town, the whole town felt it.

NOVEMBER 26, 1963: A benefit for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. starring Dad, Frank Jr. and the Count Basie band at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium was canceled in the aftermath of the Kennedy assassination.

NOVEMBER 26–DECEMBER 2, 1962: Frank, with Dean and Sammy, played the Villa Venice in Northbrook, Illinois, a nightclub owned by Sam Giancana. The shows were Dad's way of paying back Giancana for the help he provided to the Kennedy family. During the engagement, 10 shows and several comedy skits were recorded on 59 reels of audiotape for an album to be called At the Summit, but the entire project was scrapped until much later when two bootleg CDs appeared in the stores.

THE RING-A-DING-DING SIXTIES: Dad's sometimes rowdy inner circle, in addition to Jilly Rizzo, included actors Henry Silva, Brad Dexter and Dick Bakalyan. Dick once laughingly told me, "You travel with your dad, you see every jail in the world." He once recalled the time he accompanied my father to Cortina, Italy, on a film project: "I made the mistake of going to bed early. Frank said, 'No, no, we must stay up.' I said, 'You stay up, I'm going to bed.' The next day, while I was at work, Frank and the others broke into my room and threw all my clothes out the window." Dad bought him an entire new wardrobe. Soon afterward, ensconced in a Rome villa, Brad Dexter kept talking about needing a new pair of shoes. Tired of hearing about these shoes, Jilly conspired with Dad to rig Dexter's old pair with cherry bombs. He blew them 20 feet in the air! When the gang arrived by yacht at Portofino, Dexter decided to get even. He whispered to Dad. "I'm going to get Jilly in the water, and when I do, blow up his shoes." Dad agreed that it was a great idea. But when Dexter gave the signal, my father blew up Brad's shoes—again! He replaced them with even better shoes, of course—but he'd made his point.

NOVEMBER 26, 1950: He did another guest shot on The Bob Hope Show, which was a holiday special.

NOVEMBER 13–DECEMBER 3, 1947: Dad played up to eight shows a day... [See November 13th]

NOVEMBER 7–DECEMBER 17, 1945: Back in New York, Dad ran the gamut of audiences... [See November 7th]

NOVEMBER 26, 1938: After his closing set at the Rustic Cabin, Frank was arrested by two constables from Hackensack, New Jersey, and taken to the county courthouse, where he was released after posting $1,500 bail. The charge was breach of promise. According to FBI files later released under the Freedom of Information Act, the claim read: "On the second and ninth days of November, 1938, under the promise of marriage, Frank Sinatra had a sexual relationship with a single female of good repute named Antoinette Della Penta." The complaint was quickly dropped when it was learned that Della Penta was in fact already married to a man named Edward Franke. She filed a new complaint on December 22, this time charging Frank with "committing adultery." He posted a bond of $500 and the case was sent to a jury.

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

The marquee occasionally read "Guess Who." This finally evolved to a simple "He's Here." Nothing else needed to be said.

See also: Sinatra at Caesars Palace

(From the Guestbook page and the online book Frank Sinatra: An American Legend by Nancy Sinatra )

NOVEMBER 27, 1984: Dinner at the White House with President and Mrs. Reagan.

NOVEMBER 25–28, 1983: Worcester, Massachusetts, Hartford, Connecticut, and Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York.

NOVEMBER 23–30, 1975: Former vice president Agnew accompanied Dad... [See November 23rd]

NOVEMBER 25–27, 1971: Spiro Agnew and his family spent Thanksgiving weekend with Dad in Palm Springs.

NOVEMBER 26–DECEMBER 19, 1968: Las Vegas and his new home, Caesars Palace... [See November 26th]

NOVEMBER 27, 1966: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Sinatra were the guests on CBS' What's My Line, hosted by John Daly.

NOVEMBER 27–DECEMBER 10, 1964: Back at the Sands in Las Vegas for the first time in more than a year, Dad did two weeks to turnaway business with Count Basie and his band and Quincy Jones conducting.

QUINCY JONES ON WORKING WITH SINATRA: "I remember when I arranged the album for your Dad and Basie," recalled Quincy Jones (here with his wife, Ulla, in 1969). [See June 1964]

"We worked out at Warner Bros. Frank was in a bungalow, and next door was Dean's dressing room. Your dad put me in there to write arrangements. I stayed in one weekend, working. I fell asleep about seven o'clock on Monday morning. At about eight o'clock there was a knock on the door. And it was your dad in an Army uniform, saying, 'How do you like your eggs?' I'll never forget that. It was like waking up in a dream, Sinatra asking me, 'How do you like your eggs, Q?' "

For the speed at which it all worked, Q admired Dad's concentration and Basie's economy. He also felt the Basie band was a cohesive group that could not be touched by a studio band. Each time they wrote an arrangement they liked, "they just took it from there." They added a distinctive personality to the score. Quincy explained why he hired extra horn players for the album. "By having extra men on reserve, we don't have to disturb the singer's groove. There are times when a singer who is building a groove and building a picture on a song might have to stop until the blood comes back into the trumpet players' lips." About Basie and Sinatra, Jones noted that both have "the remarkable ability to eliminate the negative." And about my father, Q said, "So far as I can put the essence of Frank into words, I'd just say that he makes everything work. He makes everything fit."

NOVEMBER 26–DECEMBER 2, 1962: Frank, with Dean and Sammy, played the Villa Venice... [See November 26th]

NOVEMBER 13–DECEMBER 3, 1947: Dad played up to eight shows a day... [See November 13th]

NOVEMBER 7–DECEMBER 17, 1945: Back in New York, Dad ran the gamut of audiences... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

(From the Guestbook page and the online book Frank Sinatra: An American Legend by Nancy Sinatra )

NOVEMBER 25–28, 1983: Worcester, Massachusetts, Hartford, Connecticut, and Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York.

NOVEMBER 28, 1976: Another of Dad's dearest friends, Rosalind Russell, passed away in Los Angeles, and he delivered the eulogy at her funeral. The last time I saw Rosie, as Dad called her, was in Palm Springs. When I asked how she was feeling, she said to me, "Nancy, just don't ever get old. It's no fun."

NOVEMBER 23–30, 1975: Former vice president Agnew accompanied Dad... [See November 23rd]

NOVEMBER 26–DECEMBER 19, 1968: Las Vegas and his new home, Caesars Palace... [See November 26th]

NOVEMBER 27–DECEMBER 10, 1964: Back at the Sands in Las Vegas... [See November 26th]

NOVEMBER 26–DECEMBER 2, 1962: Frank, with Dean and Sammy, played the Villa Venice... [See November 26th]

NOVEMBER 28, 1950: He appeared with Milton Berle on the hugely popular Texaco Star Theatre.

NOVEMBER 13–DECEMBER 3, 1947: Dad played up to eight shows a day... [See November 13th]

NOVEMBER 7–DECEMBER 17, 1945: Back in New York, Dad ran the gamut of audiences... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[David]

NOVEMBER 28, 1976: Another of Dad's dearest friends, Rosalind Russell, passed away in Los Angeles, and he delivered the eulogy at her funeral. The last time I saw Rosie, as Dad called her, was in Palm Springs. When I asked how she was feeling, she said to me, "Nancy, just don't ever get old. It's no fun."

This is a wonderful and fascinating entry for me. I've said it here before: I didn't know until I joined this site that FS and Rosalind Russell were so close. I love her so much. And from this entry I just learned for the first time that FS gave the eulogy at her funeral, called her Rosie, and to top it all off, Nancy shares a personal quote from her directly to our Nancy!

(From the Guestbook page and the online book Frank Sinatra: An American Legend by Nancy Sinatra )

NOVEMBER 29, 1987: He performed during a telethon for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation at the Universal Sheraton.

NOVEMBER 23–30, 1975: Former vice president Agnew accompanied Dad... [See November 23rd]

NOVEMBER 26–DECEMBER 19, 1968: Las Vegas and his new home, Caesars Palace... [See November 26th]

NOVEMBER 29–30, 1965: He recorded 10 moon songs. Among them: "Moonlight Serenade," "Moonlight Becomes You," "The Moon Was Yellow" and "Oh, You Crazy Moon" for the 1966 album Moonlight Sinatra.

NOVEMBER 27–DECEMBER 10, 1964: Back at the Sands in Las Vegas... [See November 26th]

NOVEMBER 26–DECEMBER 2, 1962: Frank, with Dean and Sammy, played the Villa Venice... [See November 26th]

NOVEMBER 29–DECEMBER 2, 1961: Back in Australia, he performed for record crowds in a four-day series of concerts at Sydney Stadium. He was named Playboy magazine's Top Male Vocalist in their jazz Poll, and had a few top 10 albums: Sinatra's Swinging Session, All the Way, Ring-a-Ding Ding, Come Swing with Me and Sinatra Swings.

NOVEMBER 13–DECEMBER 3, 1947: Dad played up to eight shows a day... [See November 13th]

NOVEMBER 7–DECEMBER 17, 1945: Back in New York, Dad ran the gamut of audiences... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]