His Way_ The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra - Kitty Kelley [73]
7/17:
Sinatra arrived from New York but reported he was ill and didn’t work.
9/4:
Sinatra telephoned in to say he was ill but we were later informed that he had left for New York without permission.
9/10:
Bobby Bums phoned 9/10 and said Sinatra arrived from New York that morning, but was tired and would not report, that he would broadcast on Wednesday and report on Thursday.
9/12:
Called Sinatra for rehearsal but didn’t report. He had an appointment to rehearse with Jack Donohue at 10:30 A.M. but didn’t come in. Publicity Department also had made appointment with him to shoot magazine cover still. He finally arrived on lot at 2:20 P.M., shot the poster still, and then went to Stage 10 and ran through number once with Mr. Donohue. Sinatra said it was a “cinch,” said he had an appointment and had to leave, which he did, without further rehearsing, at 2:45 P.M.
9/23:
Sinatra only worked part of day. He worked from 11:22 A.M. to 12:05, when dismissed for lunch. He was called back to rehearse at 1:05, but he did not report.
10/7:
He did not report. He was called to rehearse but because Durante was not available, Sinatra said he would not come in as he didn’t see any point in rehearsing by himself. Mr. Donohue felt that he could have used Sinatra’s services to good advantage, but Sinatra said he would not be in.
10/12:
Sinatra refused calls to come in and rehearse even though Mr. Durante was available.
11/7:
Left at 2:30 to appear on Burns & Allen broadcast.
In September, when Frank called in sick and left for New York without permission, he was flying to a friend in need. Phil Silvers was scheduled to open at the Copacabana on September 5 with Rags Ragland, who had died suddenly two weeks before. Besides being dearest friends, Phil and Rags were comedy partners from burlesque days, and Phil did not think he could do his act without him.
“He informed the Copa that because of Rags’s death he could not carry out the contract,” said Jo-Carroll Silvers, “but the Copa insisted he be there. He called Frank to help him out, but Frank said he was in the middle of a movie and couldn’t leave MGM. Phil was heartsick and also scared to death. He’d never played the Copa before, and he felt that if he bombed there, his career would be over. He was panicked and so he called Frank again and begged him, but Frank said he just couldn’t get away.
“On opening night, Phil was sitting in his dressing room after a bad dinner show when Frank stuck his head through the door and said, ‘Here’s your stooge.’ ”
With renewed confidence, Silvers strutted back onstage for the late show, with Frank sitting at a ringside table. “Turn on the lights,” he said. “If there’s anybody here who’s famous, I’ll introduce them.” He looked directly at Sinatra. “Okay, turn down the lights,” he said.
A few minutes later, he touched his tie, which was the prearranged signal for Frank to walk onstage and play the stooge. They repeated their highly successful USO routine in which Silvers slapped Frank, tweaked his nose, and pulled his ears while giving him singing lessons. The crowd gave Frank a standing ovation as he took his seat at ringside. Afterward, Phil called him back and they took their bows together. Then Phil stepped forward. “May I take a bow for Rags?” he asked.
The next day Variety headlined its story: “Sinatra’s Stoogery for Phil Silvers NY Nitery Preem an Inspired Event.”
It said: “That appreciative gesture by Sinatra understandably sets him in a niche all his own in the big, sentimental heart of show business.”
With such positive publicity, MGM could hardly make an issue, but within weeks Frank had challenged them again by demanding that shooting be completed by a certain date so that he could do the Burns and Allen radio show. The director refused to accommodate him, and so Frank again left the lot without permission.
An MGM conference was called with studio head Louis B. Mayer presiding. Mr. Mayer ordered that Frank be officially notified by telegram of