[SinatraFan]

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

NOVEMBER 9-16, 1986: Abdominal pains forced my father to cancel a performance at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City. He flew home to Palm Springs and underwent emergency surgery for diverticulitis at Eisenhower Medical Center. Rumors were rampant but untrue. Everything was benign, the margins clean.

NOVEMBER 15–16, 1985: At the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas.

NOVEMBER 14–18, 1984: Five nights at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

NOVEMBER 15, 1981: In Los Angeles, FS led the singing of "America the Beautiful" at a Scopus Award presentation to Nancy Reagan from the American Friends of Hebrew University of Israel.

OCTOBER 21–NOVEMBER 16, 1977: Another week at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe... [See October 21st]

NOVEMBER 13–20, 1975: The London Palladium received 350,000 requests for 15,000 available seats for concerts featuring Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie and Frank Sinatra.

NOVEMBER 15, 1956: This Is Sinatra!, a new album released by Capitol, was partly a compilation that featured "(Love Is)The Tender Trap," "The Gal That Got Away," "I've Got the World on a String," "Learnin' the Blues" and "Young at Heart."

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 from... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[SinatraFan]

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

NOVEMBER 16, 1994: In Toronto, Canada, he did a cameo in Tina's CBS television movie, Young at Heart, starring Olympia Dukakis.

NOVEMBER 16, 1993: Within weeks of its release, Duets sold a million copies and rocketed to the number-one position on the Billboard chart. When Duets reached number one, Dad called me and said, "We're number one! We're number one!" He was so excited. He was like a little kid. By way of recognition, Capitol Records made Dad its first Tower of Achievement laureate. [See also October 1993]

NOVEMBER 9-16, 1986: Abdominal pains forced my father to cancel a performance at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City. He flew home to Palm Springs and underwent emergency surgery for diverticulitis at Eisenhower Medical Center. Rumors were rampant but untrue. Everything was benign, the margins clean.

NOVEMBER 15–16, 1985: At the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas.

NOVEMBER 14–18, 1984: Five nights at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

OCTOBER 21–NOVEMBER 16, 1977: Another week at Harrah's in Lake Tahoe... [See October 21st]

NOVEMBER 13–20, 1975: The London Palladium received 350,000 requests for 15,000 available seats for concerts featuring Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie and Frank Sinatra.

NOVEMBER 16, 1970: Princess Grace of Monaco introduced Dad in the second of two one-man shows in London, which were taped for television by the BBC. That same day, on tape, FS was a guest on The Bob Hope Show. Dirty Dingus Magee also opened nationally, flopping with both critics and the public. Though it ranked as one of the worst pictures my father ever made, Magee at least provided Dad with a wealth of material for self-deprecating jokes.

NOVEMBER 16, 1965: Frank Sinatra was the subject of an hour-long CBS documentary, Sinatra: An American Original, hosted by Walter Cronkite.

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 from... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[SinatraFan]

(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 in Ledyard, Connecticut, which is owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Indian tribe. Dad inaugurated the 1,480-seat showroom with five shows that also marked the opening of the casino's luxury hotel, shopping arcade, ethnic restaurant and entertainment complex. "It says about Foxwoods," commented a journalist who covered the gambling industry, "that it's a real player in the American gambling industry." Foxwoods was already the largest casino in the Western Hemisphere.

NOVEMBER 14–18, 1984: Five nights at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

NOVEMBER 13–20, 1975: The London Palladium received 350,000 requests for 15,000 available seats for concerts featuring Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie and Frank Sinatra.

NOVEMBER 17–18, 1966: At two sessions in Hollywood, Dad recorded eight new songs produced by Jimmy Bowen and arranged by Ernie Freeman. They were destined for the album That's Life. "What Now My Love?," "I Will Wait for You" and "The Impossible Dream" help illustrate the subtitle: "An Assemblage of Songs Which Say Much and to Many..." The album and the title song were Top 10.

NOVEMBER 17, 1958: In a time of nothing but brilliance, how does one album outshine the others? I don't know. It seems to be a personal thing, like knowing exactly where you were and who you were with when you first heard a particular song. But many Sinatra fans feel Only the Lonely was his greatest album or ballads. This album is the one people remember today. Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen, who composed the title song, wrote about Frank and loneliness: "The Frank Sinatra we know and have known (and hardly know) is an artist with as many forms and patterns as can be found in a child's kaleidoscope. A Sinatra singing a hymn of loneliness could very well be the real Sinatra." This album remained at number one for an amazing 120 weeks and prompted the New York Post to name Frank Sinatra "Love Voice of the Century ." The cover won a Grammy.

FRANK JR. ON ONLY THE LONELY: For my money, this is the greatest blues album ever made. This album should be available in drugstores by prescription only—because this is death, this record. Photographer John Engstead, who shot our family portraits, used to have records playing in the background when he was photographing people. When we went to his studio one year, he had Only the Lonely sitting on the pile. I said, "Do you use that?" "No," he said, "I can’t play that record anymore. I’d tell people to smile and nobody wanted to smile when this record was on."

NOVEMBER 17, 1955: Dad starred opposite Debbie Reynolds as a ladies' man in The Tender Trap. In my opinion they should have made more movies together because they made a good team. They were funny and romantic, and it's too bad nobody saw the potential. They never did another movie together. They are still friends.

DEBBIE REYNOLDS ON FRANK'S FATHERLY ADVICE: Frank took me under his wing. I was only 23. It was during the filming that Eddie Fisher and I announced our engagement. Frank took me to lunch. He said, "You know, Debbie, your life may be very difficult if you marry a singer. It's not the individual necessarily, it's the singer's way of life. You have to think very hard about this, Debbie. Please give this very deep and serious thought" I didn't. I should have!

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 from... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[Nancy]

NOVEMBER 17, 1955: Dad starred opposite Debbie Reynolds as a ladies' man in The Tender Trap. In my opinion they should have made more movies together because they made a good team. They were funny and romantic, and it's too bad nobody saw the potential. They never did another movie together. They are still friends.

Debbie speaks fondly of my dad.

[SinatraFan]

(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 18, 1984: Before the closing show at the Universal Amphitheater, FS taped Variety Clubs International's "All-Star Party for Lucille Ball" at NBC studios.

NOVEMBER 14–18, 1984: Five nights at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

NOVEMBER 13–20, 1975: The London Palladium received 350,000 requests for 15,000 available seats for concerts featuring Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie and Frank Sinatra.

NOVEMBER 18, 1973: Ol' Blue Eyes Is Back aired on NBC. Kay Gardella of the New York Daily News wrote: "We thought we were through writing love letters to Frank Sinatra. Here we go again!" Said Dad: "I didn't realize how much I'd miss the business—the records, the movies, the saloons. So here I am for all the young people who wanted to know what I used to work like."

[See also September 20th]

NOVEMBER 18, 1970: Frank guested with Danny Thomas on Make Room for Granddaddy.

NOVEMBER 17–18, 1966: At two sessions in Hollywood, Dad recorded eight new songs produced by Jimmy Bowen and arranged by Ernie Freeman. They were destined for the album That's Life. "What Now My Love?," "I Will Wait for You" and "The Impossible Dream" help illustrate the subtitle: "An Assemblage of Songs Which Say Much and to Many..." The album and the title song were Top 10.

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 from... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[SinatraFan]

(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 19–25, 1979: He was back at Resorts International in Atlantic City. During this engagement he had a reunion with some of the guys from the Rustic Cabin days.

NOVEMBER 19, 1977: Contract on Cherry Street aired on NBC. Critic Leonard Maltin wrote: "Sinatra's first TV movie has him well cast as an NYC police officer who takes on organized crime in his own fashion after his partner is gunned down. Aces to this fine thriller."

NOVEMBER 13–20, 1975: The London Palladium received 350,000 requests for 15,000 available seats for concerts featuring Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie and Frank Sinatra.

NOVEMBER 19, 1955: Dad guested on the Milton Berle television show.

NOVEMBER 19, 1948: Back at MGM, my father was miscast—opposite Kathryn Grayson—in The Kissing Bandit, which opened to dismal reviews that roasted his performance in the starring role. The songs, though, were wonderful.

I remember visiting my father on the set of The Kissing Bandit. He wore the most beautiful costume, beaded and embroidered. I thought he was the handsomest man in the whole world. He may make jokes about this movie and equate sitting through it to a sadistic form of torture, but I think it's adorable.

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 from... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[SinatraFan]

(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 in Atlantic City. During this engagement he had a reunion with some of the guys from the Rustic Cabin days.

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

NOVEMBER 13–20, 1975: The London Palladium received 350,000 requests for 15,000 available seats for concerts featuring Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie and Frank Sinatra.

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 from... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[Lourdes]

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

He had a great heart.

[SinatraFan]

(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 in Atlantic City. During this engagement he had a reunion with some of the guys from the Rustic Cabin days.

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 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 from... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[Nancy]

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.

Such a nice quote from JW.

[Bren]

A very nice quote, thank you Mr Warner

[SinatraFan]

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

NOVEMBER 19–25, 1979: He was back at Resorts International in Atlantic City. During this engagement he had a reunion with some of the guys from the Rustic Cabin days.

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 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 from... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[Nancy]

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.

He was devastated and inconsolable.

[Lourdes]

It was one of the worst day of the world.

[SinatraFan]

(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 in Atlantic City. During this engagement he had a reunion with some of the guys from the Rustic Cabin days.

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 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 from... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[beeshor]

Great posts here. I love the quotes from Jack Warner and Paul Keyes. I also felt touched by Nancy's remembrances of that November day in Dallas all those years ago. Thanks for these terrific posts.

[SinatraFan]

(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 in Atlantic City. During this engagement he had a reunion with some of the guys from the Rustic Cabin days.

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 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 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 from... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[SinatraFan]

(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 in Atlantic City. During this engagement he had a reunion with some of the guys from the Rustic Cabin days.

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 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 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 from... [See November 7th]

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[SinatraFan]

(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 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 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 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 from... [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]

[Nancy]

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.

I love this stuff. They had so much fun.