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Palisades News Page 22 November 18, 2015 A Sinatra Lover’s Dream Exhibit Text and Photos by LAURIE ROSENTHAL Staff Writer Ol’ Blue Eyes. The Voice. The Chairman of the Board. Whatever you call him, Francis Albert Sinatra was one of the wonders of the 20th century. His contribution in so many varied arenas is unparalleled. Music, movies, politics, civil rights and more were all bettered after Sinatra’s involvement. In honor of what would have been his 100th birthday, the Grammy Museum, with the help of the Sinatra family, has mounted “Sinatra: An American Icon.” The scrappy kid from Hoboken, New Jersey, burst into the world on December 12, 1915, the only child of Marty and Dolly Sinatra. Marty came from Sicily as a boy, whereas Dolly was a baby when her family emigrated from Genoa. It was in their saloon, Marty O’Brien’s (it was located in the Irish part of town), where Sinatra first sang. A stroll through Sinatra’s life is a walk through the last century. The country grew, he grew, the country suffered, he suffered personal setbacks, the country prospered and so did he. Sinatra had so many successes in his career—which spanned nine decades—that to list them all would take up much more room than this article, or newspaper, would allow. Highlights are hard to pick, and could be deemed somewhat subjective, so suffice it to say the exhibit touches on highlights from every Sinatra era. The passage of time is evident in pictures alone, seeing him go from a skinny singer in his salad days, to a cool and suave middle-aged, mid-century hipster, to a beloved grandpa hugging his granddaughters. It’s his song, “September of My Years,” about life and aging, come to life. A man whose entire life from about age 20 was played out in public, Sinatra perhaps Frank Sinatra, arguably the first teen idol in history, is seen here with his fans, known as bobby-soxers. had higher highs and lower lows than most mere mortals. He went from being the first teen idol to contemplating suicide to winning an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in From Here to Eternity to much-publicized divorces. But through it all, he remained dedicated to his craft, at home in the recording studio, working on his television show, hanging out with his buddies on the sets of various films, including Ocean’s 11, killing it on a Las Vegas stage or puttering around in the desert (Frank Sinatra Drive remains a ma - jor thoroughfare in Rancho Mirage). The exhibit shows us every side of Sinatra: Frank, the family man with his wives, children, grandchildren and dog; Frank, leader of the Rat Pack that included good friends Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr.; Frank, Hoboken’s number-one son. An eclectic mix of memorabilia, much of it still owned by the Sinatra family, the journey through his musical, film and personal life is well documented. Film reels, gold records, costumes, album covers, a tuxedo, personal items, dancing shoes from Take Me Out to the Ball Game (Gene Kelly’s too), Al Hirschfeld caricatures, and original paintings (one is signed Grandpa) are all included. The early part of Sinatra’s life and career is represented by ephemerae featuring his hometown of Hoboken as well as Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday and Bing Crosby, all three major influences on a young Sinatra. Crosby’s pipe, Holiday’s passport, a 1929 letter from Armstrong to Okeh Records, even an earnings statement from 1941 that shows Sinatra’s Social Security number are part of the collection, as is a famous mug (Continued on Page 23) One of the Al Hirschfeld caricatures exhibited includes American Popular Song: Great American Singers, featuring Sinatra alongside Tony Bennett, Lena Horne, Nat “King” Cole and others. Sinatra hanging out with his dog, Ringo, at home in the desert. He’s wearing orange, his favorite color. (detail) Artwork created in Sinatra’s Rancho Mirage studio. Sinatra’s private copy of his film, The Manchurian Candidate.
November 18, 2015 Palisades News Page 23 Sinatra at the Sands features Quincy Jones conducting the Count Basie Orchestra. The album earned a gold record. Sinatra (Continued from Page 22) shot from 1938 (was there ever a more handsome and talented man arrested?). Other highlights include video of Sinatra singing with jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald (one of her gowns is on view), and a karaoke booth where you can sing “New York, New York” along with The Voice himself. It could be argued that the pièce de résistance is a recreation of Capital Records’ Studio A, A recreation of Capitol Records’ Studio A includes sheet music for “Nice ‘N’ Easy” (inset). complete with a microphone, sheet music and a drink resting on a stool. With session outtakes playing in the background, it gives the viewer a glimpse of what a Sinatra recording session was like. A commemorative American flag given posthumously to the Sinatra family by President Bill Clinton is on display (Sinatra died on May 14, 1998), as are an honorary Academy Award for The House I Live In and his Congressional Gold Medal. Exiting the exhibit, visitors are left with a quote from Sinatra, the painter, located on a wall above the escalator: “Orange is the happiest color.” And with that, the journey into the Sultan of Swoon’s life is over. Visit: grammymuseum.org. The muse - um is part of the L.A. Live complex located near the Staples Center. Pam Bruns to Speak on Human Rights, Education Pam Bruns, a longtime public education reform activist and human rights advocate, will be the Palisades Presbyterian Church “Food for Thought” speaker tomorrow, November 19, in Janes Hall, off Sunset on El Medio. The title of her talk is “From the PTA to Moscow: Witness to the Struggle for Human Rights.” The public is invited to enjoy a complimentary lunch (donations welcome) at 11:30 a.m., followed by the talk at noon and questions from the audience. Please RSVP to (310) 454-0366 to ensure there is enough food. In 1992-93, Bruns helped lead the campaign to obtain charter status for the five public schools in Pacific Palisades. She later served as Director of Human Rights Watch in Southern California (1996-2002) and founded the Student Task Force (STF) in 1999. A Palisadian since 1972, Bruns is currently the volunteer executive director of the STF program in more than a dozen Los Angeles-area high schools and is helping to develop human rights education across the country. Broker Associate Fine Home Specialist 30+ Years Experience KATY KREITLER THEATRE PALISADES presents Ken Ludwig’s The Game’s Afoot; — OR — Holmes for the Holidays Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. NOVEMBER 6- DECEMBER 13 2015 Fri. & Sat. at 8 p.m. Sun. at 2 p.m. Tickets: Adults $20 Seniors & Students $18 PIERSON PLAYHOUSE 941 Temescal Cyn Rd. (at Haverford Ave.) (310) 454-1970 www.theatrepalisades.com www.facebook.com/theatrepalisades www.twitter.com/theatrepalisade Originally Produced by Cleveland Play House • Michael Bloom, Artistic Director • Kevin Moore, Managing Director
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