His Way_ The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra - Kitty Kelley [319]
CHAPTER 30
Material in Chapter 30 was obtained from published articles in The Washington Post, Evening Star, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News, Newsweek, Variety, Washington Star, Women’s Wear Daily, Chicago Sun-Times, and numerous Associated Press stories. In addition, the author consulted transcripts of Sinatra’s remarks at Caesars Palace on January 25, 1974, and June 6, 1974, Rona Barrett’s autobiography, Miss Rona, Los Angeles, Ca.: Nash Publishing, 1972, and interviews with Vic Gold, Rona Barrett, and Marvin Lewis on July 25, 26, 30, 1983. In an interview with Jim Mahoney, Mahoney said, “Do you know what death is? It’s a phone call from Mickey Rudin.” The author also reviewed the depositions and trial record in Frank Weinstock’s lawsuit.
CHAPTER 31
The author interviewed Joan Cohn Harvey, Edith Mayer Goetz, Peter Malatesta, Mr. Blackwell on April 23, 1984, Arthur Marx on April 16, 18, 20, 1984, Frank Weinstock on December 6, 1985, Celia Pickwell on March 30, 1984, Gratsiella Maiellano on July 10, 1985, Joyce Haber on July 22, 1983, and March 9, 1984, Robert Pack on January 11, 1983, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Steven Green on January 21, 1984, Bahman Rooin on June 3, 1983, Sister Consilia, Phyllis McGuire on July 8, 1985, Richard Condon, Nick Sevano, Thomas F. X. Smith on January 25, 1983, and June 5, 1985, Anita Colby Flagen on October 17, 1985, and Kitty Kallen.
In an interview with Charles Blakely on March 31, 1984, the author was given the following information about Zeppo Marx’s will:
When Zeppo died in November 1979, he left his diamond ring and gold belt buckles to his adopted son, Bobby Marx. He also left him $25,000 in trust to pay for his law school education. Shortly before he died, Zeppo changed his will and left his Rolls-Royce ($65,000) and interest in a Safeway store ($160,000) to Barbara’s sister, Patricia Jo Welch. Barbara was so angry that her sister received what she felt belonged to her son, Bobby, that she never spoke to Pat again. “It breaks Irene’s heart that Barbara and Pat don’t speak,” said Barbara’s father, Charles Blakely, “but she can’t do anything about it.” The next month, December 1979, Frank offered to adopt Bobby, but his children reacted so negatively that he dropped the idea.
In an interview with Phyllis McGuire, she told the author that when Sinatra’s mother died, she sent a plane to Texas for Dr. and Mrs. Michael DeBakey to come to Palm Springs to be with him. “Johnny Carson and I filled in for Frank at Caesars Palace and do you know that son of a bitch never even thanked us?”
The author also read numerous newspaper and magazine reports of the Sinatra-Marx marriage, including those in the Ladies’ Home Journal, Las Vegas Desert Sun, Modern Screen, Chicago Sun-Times, National Enquirer, New York Daily News, and The New York Times.
In addition, the author consulted several books, among them Ovid Demaris’s The Last Mafioso.
CHAPTER 32
In the Westchester Premier Theater case, the author read transcripts of wiretaps and depositions and reviewed trial and other court records as well as the news coverage in papers such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, New York Daily News, Riverside (Calif.) Press-Enterprise, and Newsday. In addition, the author interviewed law enforcement officials, who requested anonymity.
Other material in this chapter was obtained from numerous other newspaper and magazine articles.
With respect to Sinatra’s feuds with newspapers, he had previously forced hotels in Nevada not to advertise