His Way_ The Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra - Kitty Kelley [74]
“Mr. Mayer stated that he wanted to go on record as to our attitude with respect to Sinatra’s conduct,” stated an MGM legal memo. “After some discussion it was decided that we would end the wire by notifying him that we do not condone or acquiesce in his course of conduct.”
The next day, the telegram was sent, saying, in part: “No consent was given by us to such a radio appearance and your participation in such broadcast was in violation of your obligation and agreement under your contract with us.… These incidents are the culmination of a long series of violations of your contractual obligations to us.”
Days later, an MGM executive gave Louella Parsons the story, which the Hollywood columnist printed in full, saying that Frank was being extremely difficult on the lot. She reprimanded him for his obstreperous behavior and predicted that if he did not improve, his days with MGM would be numbered.
Frank exploded when he saw her column. Without consulting Jack Keller, Frank sent a blistering wire in response:
SUGGEST YOU READ THIS TELEGRAM WITH YOUR ARTICLE IN YOUR OTHER HAND. I’LL BEGIN BY SAYING THAT IF YOU CARE TO MAKE A BET I’LL BE GLAD TO TAKE YOUR MONEY THAT M-G-M AND FRANK SINATRA DO NOT PART COMPANY, PERMANENTLY OR OTHERWISE.
SECONDLY, FRANKIE HAS NOT BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT BOY ON THE LOT. FRANKIE HAS ONLY BEEN HEARD FROM WHEN IT CONCERNS THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE PICTURE WHICH YOU WILL FIND HAPPENS IN MOST PICTURES WHERE YOU USE HUMAN BEINGS. … AS AN ADDED THOUGHT, I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST STALWART DEFENDERS OF THE PHRASE ‘NOBODY IS INDISPENSABLE,’ SO APPARENTLY YOUR LINE ABOUT MY BEING IRREPLACEABLE WAS ALL WET.
LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, IN THE FUTURE I’LL APPRECIATE YOUR NOT WASTING YOUR BREATH ON ANY LECTURES BECAUSE WHEN I FEEL I NEED ONE I’LL SEEK ADVICE FROM SOMEONE WHO EITHER WRITES OR TELLS THE TRUTH. YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION TO PRINT THIS IF YOU SO DESIRE AND CLEAR UP A GREAT INJUSTICE!
FRANK SINATRA
Hollywood columnist Erskine Johnson criticized Frank for the churlish display of temperament and the next day he, too, received a Sinatra telegram:
JUST CONTINUE TO PRINT LIES ABOUT ME, AND MY TEMPER—NOT MY TEMPERAMENT—WILL SEE THAT YOU GET A BELT IN YOUR VICIOUS AND STUPID MOUTH.
Johnson offered to do battle either in a stadium or in his office. “Don’t bother to open the door, Frankie,” he responded. “Just come through the crack.”
Lee Mortimer gleefully saluted both writers. “May I welcome two distinguished members to the charmed ‘Wise to the Verce’ Circle. They are Louella Parsons, movieland’s greatest columnist, who has been receiving nasty letters and wires from Toots Shor’s favorite crooner, and Erskine Johnson, another Hollywood scribe, whom Frank promises to poke on the nose when he sees him.”
Frank complained bitterly about the unfairness of the press. That year, 1946, the Hollywood Women’s Press Club voted him the undisputed winner of their “Least Cooperative Actor” award.
On October 5, 1946, a sobbing Nancy Sinatra called George Evans to say that Frank had walked out of their Toluca Lake home and was looking for an apartment.
“He wants his freedom without a divorce,” she cried, telling Evans about the fight that had split them apart. Nancy had expressed resentment over the $22,000 house that Frank had bought for his parents in Hoboken and he had yelled at her because her five married sisters and their children were always underfoot. George listened sympathetically and decided to sit on the story for forty-eight hours while he tried to persuade Frank to go back home. He warned him of the repercussions, and explained that his fans would not tolerate a separation, but Frank refused to budge.
That night he went to a party given by Sonja Henie, where he danced all night with Lana Turner. The next day, Evans was forced to announce the separation, which he had been trying for years to prevent. “It’s just a family squabble,” he said. “The case of a Hollywood career, plus a man-and-wife fight. There’s no talk of divorce. I think they’ll make up in a few days. Frankie has a