[Gregory]

Originally Posted by SinatraFan

DECEMBER 9–23, 1958: FS recorded the album Come Dance with Me, arranged by Billy May and Heinie Beau and produced by Dave Cavanaugh. All brass, reeds and rhythm. Great album. Great cover.

Come Dance With Me was the very first Sinatra album I ever owned. It was given to me as a gift in 1978 and I have been a fan of Frank's ever since.

Thanks for keep this thread going, Bob and Allen.

[Lourdes]

Come Dance With Me was one of the first albums I've gain from my father. I love this album!
For me it's one of the Frank's best!

[SinatraFan]

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

DECEMBER 17–18, 1979: More recordings for the Trilogy collection, Record 3—The Future: Reflections on the Future in Three Tenses. This suite was composed, arranged and conducted by Gordon Jenkins with a 154-piece Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and mixed chorus. [See also September 17–19, 1979]

McClintick again: "It is difficult to conceive of a more daunting assignment for a composer than being asked to write a suite of music about the future. There can be no question, however, that Future includes the most stirring and imaginative music and lyrics that Gordon Jenkins has ever written. It explores not only dreams like world peace and space travel but also some of Sinatra's most private musings about his own future and, implicitly, about his past."

During the 1979 Christmas season in Palm Springs, my family heard the rough tapes of Trilogy. Four-year-old A.J. and not-quite-three-year-old Amanda snuggled with their "Pop-Pop." Frankie and Tina and I paced the floor of the Great Hall, our projection/game room. We laughed and cried and shared this unequaled gift of talent and music. It was an evening that lingers. Though each record stands on its own, the way to listen to Trilogy is all at once in one sitting.

A.J. comforting her sister Amanda at
Christmas time.

NOVEMBER 26–DECEMBER 19, 1968: Returning to Las Vegas... [See November 26th]

DECEMBER 9–23, 1958: FS recorded the album Come Dance with Me, arranged by Billy May and Heinie Beau and produced by Dave Cavanaugh. All brass, reeds and rhythm. Great album. Great cover.

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 )

DECEMBER 18, 1983: FS and Alan King performed at a benefit for Temple Isaiah in Palm Springs.

DECEMBER 17–18, 1979: More recordings for the Trilogy collection... [See December 17th]

NOVEMBER 26–DECEMBER 19, 1968: Returning to Las Vegas... [See November 26th]

DECEMBER 9–23, 1958: FS recorded the album Come Dance with Me, arranged by Billy May and Heinie Beau and produced by Dave Cavanaugh. All brass, reeds and rhythm. Great album. Great cover.

DECEMBER 18, 1943: In his first acting role in his first important film, Dad played himself in RKO's Higher and Higher with Michele Morgan and Jack Haley. In his first scene, a maid, played by Marcy McGuire opens the door to a grand home, and he says, "Good morning. My name is Frank Sinatra." She faints dead away, but he catches her before she hits the floor. With his young voice at the peak of its clarity and power, he sang five songs in the film, and two became Sinatra standards beautifully orchestrated by Axel Stordahl: "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening" and "I Couldn't Sleep a Wink Last Night," which was nominated for an Academy Award. In a review, the Hollywood Citizen News said, "He portrays himself so naturally that you catch yourself thinking, 'He can act, too.'" The film was a showcase vehicle for him, and the title aptly described the direction of his career.

RKO cast Dad in his first important role—playing himself—in the 1943 musical Higher and Higher, which generated not only big box office but also magazine covers and the sales of sheet music for the hottest new singing star in show business.

DECEMBER 18, 1940–JANUARY 14, 1941: Frank Sinatra returned to New York with the [Tommy Dorsey] band for a second big run at the Paramount.

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[Mike in CT]

Originally Posted by Nick in Toronto

Although he was doing his act long before the 1962 American Scene Magazine starring Jackie Gleason, Frank Fontane, mentioned above pretended to have Down's Syndrome (formerly called Retardation) His character was named Crazy Guggenheim if memory serves.

After some banter with Jackie playing Joe the Bartender, he would drop the act and sing an Irish song in a rich baritone voice.

Imagine how poitically incorrect this would be in 2008! I wonder what happened to him after the show folded even though it and The Red Skelton Show were high in the ratings. The reason given for cancelling these shows was that they were aimed at to old a crowd to attract the desired demographic advertisers.

Great story, Yes I remember that guggenheim and Gleason was some funny stuff !

[SinatraFan]

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

DECEMBER 19–20, 1994: Dad did two shows at Fukuoka Dome in Japan but Frankie recalls, "I had the sense he was very fatigued from the trip over. Plus the fact that one of our men, lead trombone Jim Huntsinger, and his wife Lynne, who was also in the orchestra, could not go to Japan because Jim was suffering from cancer. After the first concert, we received a fax that Jimmy had died. Jim and Lynne had met each other working for Dad and the news left him very down.

NOVEMBER 26–DECEMBER 19, 1968: Returning to Las Vegas... [See November 26th]

DECEMBER 19, 1960: Although his contract with Capitol would not expire for two more years, Dad did his first session for his new, very own record label, Reprise Records. These sessions would eventually produce the album Ring-a-Ding Ding!. He formed Reprise in self-defense against the new technology that was becoming the vogue: overdubbing, multiple tracks, the sterility of studios dominated by machines, not energized by live audiences. It was important for him to have control of his dates, to fight off technicians who wanted to overproduce, to maintain the life and spontaneity of his work.

FRANK ON RECORDING: I adore making records. I'd rather do that than almost anything else. You can never do anything in life quite on your own—you don't live on your own little island. Making a record is as near as you can get to it—although, of course, the arranger and the orchestra play an enormous part. But once you're on that record singing, it's you and you alone. If it's bad and gets criticized, it's you who's to blame—no one else. If it's good, it's also you. I myself can't work well except under pressure. If there's too much time available, I don't like it—not enough stimulus. And I'll never record before eight o'clock in the evening. The voice is more relaxed then.

DECEMBER 9–23, 1958: FS recorded the album Come Dance with Me, arranged by Billy May and Heinie Beau and produced by Dave Cavanaugh. All brass, reeds and rhythm. Great album. Great cover.

DECEMBER 18, 1940–JANUARY 14, 1941: Frank Sinatra returned to New York with the [Tommy Dorsey] band for a second big run at the Paramount.

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[SinatraFan]

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

DECEMBER 19–20, 1994: Dad did two shows at Fukuoka Dome in Japan but Frankie recalls, "I had the sense he was very fatigued from the trip over. Plus the fact that one of our men, lead trombone Jim Huntsinger, and his wife Lynne, who was also in the orchestra, could not go to Japan because Jim was suffering from cancer. After the first concert, we received a fax that Jimmy had died. Jim and Lynne had met each other working for Dad and the news left him very down.

DECEMBER 20, 1974: Frank visited former president Nixon at his home in San Clemente.

DECEMBER 9–23, 1958: FS recorded the album Come Dance with Me, arranged by Billy May and Heinie Beau and produced by Dave Cavanaugh. All brass, reeds and rhythm. Great album. Great cover.

DECEMBER 18, 1940–JANUARY 14, 1941: Frank Sinatra returned to New York with the [Tommy Dorsey] band for a second big run at the Paramount.

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[SinatraFan]

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

DECEMBER 9–23, 1958: FS recorded the album Come Dance with Me, arranged by Billy May and Heinie Beau and produced by Dave Cavanaugh. All brass, reeds and rhythm. Great album. Great cover.

DECEMBER 21, 1946: In a taste of what was in store for him throughout the next decade—despite his countless unreported acts of kindness and consideration—Frank won in a landslide as the Hollywood Women's Press Club voted him "Least Cooperative Star" of 1946 because of his standoffishness with the press. His attitude was misconstrued because many fans and even responsible journalists never saw the sleazy columns attacking him. He had no forum to respond to these false allegations and attacks.

DECEMBER 18, 1940–JANUARY 14, 1941: Frank Sinatra returned to New York with the [Tommy Dorsey] band for a second big run at the Paramount.

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[Nancy]

DECEMBER 21, 1946: His attitude was misconstrued because many fans and even responsible journalists never saw the sleazy columns attacking him. He had no forum to respond to these false allegations and attacks.

This is the sort of thing that led Dad to make statements on stage during the monologue breaks in his shows. He was able to get even - just a little bit, but it didn't make up for the worldwide headlines full of lies. His reputation was always being sullied by one slime ball or another and most of it was politically based.

[SinatraFan]

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

DECEMBER 9–23, 1958: FS recorded the album Come Dance with Me, arranged by Billy May and Heinie Beau and produced by Dave Cavanaugh. All brass, reeds and rhythm. Great album. Great cover.

DECEMBER 18, 1940–JANUARY 14, 1941: Frank Sinatra returned to New York with the [Tommy Dorsey] band for a second big run at the Paramount.

[SinatraFan]

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

DECEMBER 9–23, 1958: FS recorded the album Come Dance with Me, arranged by Billy May and Heinie Beau and produced by Dave Cavanaugh. All brass, reeds and rhythm. Great album. Great cover.

DECEMBER 18, 1940–JANUARY 14, 1941: Frank Sinatra returned to New York with the [Tommy Dorsey] band for a second big run at the Paramount.

[SinatraFan]

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

CHRISTMAS EVE 1973: Hugh and I spent a lot of time in Palm Springs. The glow I had from carrying my first baby added to the ever-present warmth of my family. We finished our late show at the Sahara in Las Vegas, then boarded Dad's plane at 2:30 a.m. We headed to Palm Springs, tired, hoping that Dad's gardener, Angel, would be at the airport to pick us up. Arriving, we saw a small crowd on the runway: Mom, Tina, Frankie, assorted friends and a mariachi band led by Guess Who singing "Jingle Bells." The house was ablaze with Christmas lights outside and in. It was beautiful. We sat by the big fireplace and had hot toddies and sandwiches until 6 a.m.

After a big brunch on Christmas Day, Grandma's birthday, we prepared for a trip to the mountain house. As we left I said, "Where's Grandma?" "She doesn't want to come," said Dad. "And I don't know what to do with her when she gets like that." Hugh and I walked over to Grandma's. "I'm not going up that goddamn mountain," my grandmother said. "I don't care if it is my birthday and Christmas." We pleaded, not wanting to leave her alone, but she had made up her mind. Since the Christmas/birthday had been planned for the mountain house and the presents were already there under the tree, the rest of us had to go without the birthday girl. We were quite accustomed to these little wars between Dad and Dolly, but it still was hard leaving her. For me the most vivid memory of that Christmas is my parents' beaming faces as they sang "Jingle Bells."

DECEMBER 24, 1953: Ava wrote that when he recovered, he chartered a plane from London to visit her in Madrid in a final bid for reconciliation, but she was already preoccupied with a new flame, bullfighter Luis Dominguin, and was reluctant even to see her estranged husband. [See Late November 1953]

DECEMBER 18, 1940–JANUARY 14, 1941: Frank Sinatra returned to New York with the [Tommy Dorsey] band for a second big run at the Paramount.

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[Nancy]

For me the most vivid memory of that Christmas is my parents' beaming faces as they sang "Jingle Bells."

This is still one of my fondest memories.

[David B.]

That's such a great image, Nancy. I like hearing that your Mom and Dad remained close and like family.

[SYLMML]

Originally Posted by Nancy

This is still one of my fondest memories.

Nancy...I am so happy you have all those fond memories to recall. What would we do without our memories recalling our loved ones.

[SinatraFan]

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

Christmas 1961 at Mom's house at 700 Nimes Road in Bel Air: The tinsel took hours to apply. My Dad and his friends would come over late on Christmas Eve filled with Christmas cheer and they'd put the tinsel on the tree. It always looked like it had been thrown on, though, and my mother and I had to redo it. Right: Dad and I share a yuletide hug.

DECEMBER 25, 1951: He guested on Bob Hope's NBC Christmas show.

DECEMBER 25, 1947: On Christmas Day, he sang for the children's ward of a Los Angeles hospital.

DECEMBER 18, 1940–JANUARY 14, 1941: Frank Sinatra returned to New York with the [Tommy Dorsey] band for a second big run at the Paramount.

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[Nancy]

Looking at that picture of our Christmas tree I realized that I haven't seen trees like it in decades. This one was called a "silver tip," I believe. I wonder if they still grow them someplace. The great thing about the "silver tip" was the spaces in between the rows of branches that made it possible to hang tinsel and larger ornaments without making the whole thing look messy and tangled. Kind of like analog music, there was air in it.

[SinatraFan]

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

DECEMBER 26, 1982–JANUARY 1, 1983: On vacation in Acapulco.

DECEMBER 26, 1974: Jack Benny died and my father served as a pallbearer at his funeral.

My "Uncle" Jack Benny, part of my dad's
extended family, was beloved by all of
us—a decent, kind and loving man.

DECEMBER 26, 1949: Dad guest-starred on the radio mystery series, Inner Sanctum.

DECEMBER 18, 1940–JANUARY 14, 1941: Frank Sinatra returned to New York with the [Tommy Dorsey] band for a second big run at the Paramount.

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[SinatraFan]

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

DECEMBER 27–30, 1984: At the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas.

DECEMBER 26, 1982–JANUARY 1, 1983: On vacation in Acapulco.

DECEMBER 27, 1980–JANUARY 1, 1981: FS celebrated New Year's Eve with his audience at Resorts International in Atlantic City.

DECEMBER 18, 1940–JANUARY 14, 1941: Frank Sinatra returned to New York with the [Tommy Dorsey] band for a second big run at the Paramount.

[Dates of new entries highlighted in blue]

[SinatraFan]

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

DECEMBER 27–30, 1984: At the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas.

DECEMBER 26, 1982–JANUARY 1, 1983: On vacation in Acapulco.

DECEMBER 27, 1980–JANUARY 1, 1981: FS celebrated New Year's Eve with his audience at Resorts International in Atlantic City.

DECEMBER 18, 1940–JANUARY 14, 1941: Frank Sinatra returned to New York with the [Tommy Dorsey] band for a second big run at the Paramount.