Rick Michel's Blog

Frank Sinatra did an excellent job hosting the 1963 Academy Awards, including his short speech on “What’s Wrong with Hollywood,” which I wrote about last week, but the biggest story that night became a chapter in one of the most famous Tinsel town feuds of all time and it involved Joan Crawford and Bette Davis. Read More

Frank Sinatra hosted the Academy Awards in 1963, something he seemed very comfortable doing, respectfully honoring all the chosen nominees, cracking a few jokes, and even delivering a short-but-sweet speech on the troubles with Hollywood.  His soliloquy is poignant in that you could probably jump ahead fifty-plus years and it would still be relevant. Read More

During his lifetime Frank Sinatra was rumored to have a way with the ladies, and with hindsight as it is, we now know that rumor was reality.  When he was only 23 he was arrested for seduction, he was married four times and had a long list of lovers, including some extremely prominent names.  Yet, when Frank’s ladies speak about him, it’s generally praise he receives.  Need some examples?  Let’s look at a few! Read More

Saying you’re sorry can sometimes be one of the most difficult things to do, especially if you don’t think you did anything wrong.  That seems to be the basic premise behind the breakup of one of the biggest comedy duos of all time, Martin and Lewis. Apparently, Dean was upset he wasn’t having much control over their act and Jerry wasn’t about to let up on a good thing and the rest, as they say, is history. Read More

Two things related to Frank Sinatra that I’ve written about on a number of occasions include his favorite drink, Jack Daniel’s whiskey, and his efforts to fight for racial equality.  I’ve recently learned how these two seemingly unrelated subjects are somewhat intertwined: the first master distiller for the iconic liquor was Nathan “Nearest” Green, a former slave.   Read More

Elvis Presley was one of those American icons that shaped the very fabric of our country, be it the music, the films, fashion, and the behavior of our young people, just as Frank Sinatra did it before him.  And even though Frank wasn’t a rock and roll fan, he clearly saw something worthwhile in Elvis, featuring him on his Timex Show titled, “Welcome Home Elvis” after he returned from the army.  Now, the 40th anniversary of The King’s death is nearly upon us, so here’s a snapshot of the style that came to be recognized around the world. Read More

I admire Frank Sinatra for many reasons, but especially for that voice.  His vocal abilities earned him many fans of every age, from bobby soxers to grandmothers, but just how many of his peers admired Ol’ Blue Eyes? It turns out it’s a very long list.   Read More

Imagine you’re in a band and looking for a name, then you see a page in The New Yorker magazine with the words, “Frankie Goes to Hollywood,” and, boom, there it is!  That’s essentially what happened for the Liverpool, England pop group that rose to fame with that name in 1980.  It turned out to be a brilliant move, with the name lending itself to all sorts of marketing possibilities. Read More

When it came to alcohol, Frank Sinatra was really a one-trick pony - it was Jack Daniel’s whiskey all the way.  So, what do you do when you’re selling vodka, but want to class it up a bit?  Bring Ol’ Blue Eyes into the picture.  That’s what happened in 2011, with Sean “Diddy” Combs in charge of marketing and promotion, they took one of Sinatra’s signature songs, Luck Be a Lady, and made a commercial. Read More

“I like intelligent women. When you go out, it shouldn't be a staring contest.”  That’s something Frank Sinatra said and it’s a great line no matter how you look at it.  On the surface, it’s Rat Pack clever and cool, designed to make someone chuckle, but it also tells something about Ol’ Blue Eyes, a man who could, and often did, enjoy the company of nearly any woman, in that he’d rather be able to relate to his companion on a level beyond how they look.   Read More