His Way_ The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra - Kitty Kelley [0]
THE UNAUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY
OF FRANK SINATRA
The whole story of his childhood, which is far different than the one he invented.
His beginnings as a skinny kid crooner who caused a bobby sox craze.
His relationships with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey.
His climb to the top as a singer and movie star—and the scandal, violence and moodswings that followed.
His trail of broken marriages to Nancy Sinatra, Ava Gardner and Mia Farrow.
His on-going womanizing with the famous and unknown.
The inside story of the rise and fall of the Rat Pack.
His friendships with powerful Mafia figures.
His public and private displays of verbal and physical abuse, both with and without his notorious bodyguards.
His wildly lavish displays of generosity toward friends and charities.
His vast influence that extends into the White House, today more than ever.
The magnetism that still draws huge audiences worldwide.
THE NO-HOLDS-BARRED INSIDE LOOK
AT THE MAN, THE LEGEND, AND THE LIFE
OF FRANK SINATRA
HIS WAY: THE UNAUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY OF FRANK SINATRA
A Bantam Nonfiction Book
Bantam hardcover edition / October 1986
Bantam paperback edition / September 1987
Grateful acknowledgment is made for permission to reprint the following:
“The Man That Got Away (The Gal That Got Away)” by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin. Copyright 1954 Harwin Music Co. © renewed 1982 Harwin Music Co. International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
“Richard Cory” by Edward Arlington Robinson. Originally published by Charles Scribner’s Sons.
The still photograph from the motion picture Ship Ahoy copyright 1942 by Loew’s Incorporated. Copyright renewed 1969 by Metro-Golawyn-mayer Inc.
The still photograph from the motion picture Anchors Aweigh copyright 1945 by Loew’s Incorporated. Copyright renewed 1972 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc.
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1986 by H.B. Productions, Inc.
No part of this hook may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information address: Bantam Books.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Kelley,
Kitty.
His way.
Bibliography: this page
I. Sinatra, Frank, 1915- 2. Singers—United
States—Biography. I. Title.
ML420.S565K4 1986 784.5’0092’4 [B] 85-48264
eISBN: 978-0-307-76796-7
Bantam Books are published by Bantam Books, a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc. Its trademark, consisting of the words “Bantam Books” and the portrayal of a rooster, is Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries. Marca Registrada. Bantam Books, 1540 Broadway, New York, New York 10036.
v3.1
To Stanley Tretick,
whose tireless efforts on behalf of this book
disprove his theory that photographers are a shiftless lot.
“Reputation is what men and women think of us; Character is what God and angels know of us.”
—Thomas Paine
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Author’s Note
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Disgography
Filmography
Author’s Chapter Notes
Bibliography
About the Author
Photo Insert
AUTHOR’S NOTE
I tried several times to interview Frank Sinatra for this book. Over a period of four years, I sent him several letters but received no response. I began calling and writing his publicist, Lee Solters. Again, no response. I then made several phone calls to Mr. Sinatra’s lawyer, Milton Rudin, and sent him several letters. On August 26, 1983, Mr. Rudin wrote me, saying he “would be willing to arrange an appointment” in his law office in