Regarding the concert at Lorton Prison on this date, I think it’s interesting
to recall there was a time when entertainers regularly played concerts at
prisons, Johnny Cash perhaps most notably. It seems there was a different
culture back then, both in terms of how to rehabilitate the incarcerated and in
terms of how entertainers chose their charitable venues. Maybe I just don’t
read about such things these days, but the prison concert doesn’t seem so
common now.
Note the description of the Lorton gig states it was “near Baltimore.”
Actually, Lorton prison was 20 miles from Washington, DC, and about 60 miles
from Baltimore. The former prison is now the site of an upscale residential
development.
_____________
Jim Johnson
Rehoboth Beach, DE
On Jul 15, 2021, at 9:23 AM, Scott Henderson <scott@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
56 years ago today, Sinatra & Jimmy Hoffa went to prison! Sinatra, Ella
Fitzgerald, Count Basie performed at the Lorton Penitentiary in Virginia.
Jimmy Hoffa was along for the ride, so to speak.
----------------------------------------------------------
Studio
1941 New York City
BS066923 Blue Skies
w/Band Chorus
(Irving Berlin)
Irving Berlin Music Co. (ASCAP)
Arranged bu Sy Oliver
-1 (3:15) CD: 07863 66353-2 "The Song Is You" 5CD set Vol 3
CD: RCA 8324-2-R
LP: SD 1000
78: 27566
Saxes: Heinie Beau, Don Lodice, Manny Gershman, Bruce Snyder, Fred Stulce;
Trumpets: Ziggy Elman, Jimmy Blake, Chuck Peterson, Al Stearns; Trombones:
George Arus, Lowell Martin, Dave Jacobs; Piano: Joe Buskin; Guitar: Clark
Yocum; Drums: Buddy Rich; Bass: Sid Weiss
NOTE: Sinatra Scholar Ed O'Brien points out that Sinatra recorded the Berlin
song three times with three different arrangements. The July 15, 1941
arrangement, listed above, was done with Tommy Dorsey[s band (16 musicians)
and a Sy Oliver chart.
The recording done on the MGM soundstage, December 18, 1941, was for the film
I’ll Take Manila," later retitled, for obvious reasons, "Ship Ahoy" has a
Paul Weston arrangement and another 16-piece Dorsey group.
The Columbia effort of July 30, 1946 had a 34-piece orchestra and Alex
Stordahl received credit for the arrangement, though there is a darn good
chance that it was either Oliver or Siravo. Sinatra loved the song and sang
it in concert and on the radio throughout the 1940s.
Sinatraphile Eugene Lo Curto writes that "Blue Skies" is one of his all-time
favorite Sinatra recordings. It's impossible not to feel good when listening
to this track. He much prefers it to the Columbia version. It definitely
sounds like the 40s, yet it remains as fresh and vibrant today as it was 68
years ago.
1955 MGM studio soundstage
Recording session for the movie "The Tender Trap"
Orchestra conducted by Jeff Alexander
1. Bow Ye Faithful 2 takes, runs 50 seconds, not used in film.
2. The Tender Trap Bill Miller, solo piano accompaniment - Seven takes, runs
2:04.
1. The Tender Trap - Debbie Reynolds, 7 takes, runs 1:13
2. The Tender Trap - Lena Horne, 1 take, runs 1:50, not used in film.
Including orchestral intros 7:54 was recorded in 2 hrs and 55 mins.
Johnny Green was the producer
Radio
1944 Your Hit Parade
Network: CBS
Program #478
Time: 9:00-9:45 P.M. (Rebroadcast July 16, 1944 12:00-12:45 A.M.)
Sponsor: Lucky Strike
Script By: Robert Paul Smith
Script (Final As Broadcast)
1. Milkman Keep Those Bottles Quiet (6) - Frank Sinatra
2. My Blue Heaven - Orchestra
3. Time Waits For No One (7) - Hit Paraders
4. San Fernando Valley (8) - Joan Edwards
5. commercial
6. Strike Up The Band - Orchestra
7. Swinging On A Star (6) - Joan Edwards & Hit Paraders
8. Goodnight Wherever You Are (9) - Frank Sinatra
9. For Me And My Gal - Orchestra & Hit Paraders
10. station break
11. I'll Get By (4) - Joan Edwards
12. After You've Gone - Orchestra
13. commercial
14. Amor (3) - Hit Paraders
15. Long Ago And Far Away (2) - Joan Edwards
16. commercial
17. I'll Be Seeing You (1) - Frank Sinatra
Notes: Sinatra portion from Hollywood.
1949 The Bill Stern Colgate Sports
Network: NBC
Time: 10:30 PM - 10:45 PM
Sponsor: Colgate Shave Cream.
Host: Frank Sinatra (substituting for Bill Stern)
Announcers: Robert Lawrence, Bob Warren
Notes: Confirmed aired on WNBC. TT: 15mins. Audio condition: Excellent.
Complete. Frank tells the story of "Tinkers to Evers to Chance," who made
baseball history while never speaking to each other..
1951 Here's Frank Sinatra
Show #38
Network: CBS
Sponsor:
4:30PM - 5:30PM (EST), Sunday
Producers: Mark Goodson, Bill Todman
Musicians: Graham Forbes and His Quartet
Announcer: Hal Sims
Writers:
Guest: no guests listed
Notes: Confirmed aired on WCBS.
Television
1989 Mike Tyson: A Portrait of the Peoples Champion (1989)
(syndicated)
Ed O'Brien:
TV special, was aired on this date in 1989. Sinatra's comments on Iron Mike
are heard on tape during the show.
FILM
1959 "A Hole In The Head" (USA Release: July 15, 1959)
Starring: Frank Sinatra, Edward G. Robinson, Eleanor Parker, Keenan Wynn,
Carolyn Jones, Thelma Ritter, Dub Taylor, Ruby Dandridge, Joi Lansing, Eddie
Hodges
Produced & Directed by: Frank Capra
Widower Tony (Sinatra) is trying to keep a small Miami hotel afloat while
raising a 12-year-old son (Hodges). He's forced to ask his harried brother
Mario (Robinson) for help,
but he'll only bail Tony out if he quits his bohemian lifestyle and marries a
sensible woman (Eleanor Parker).
The film introduced the song "High Hopes" by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van
Heusen, a Sinatra standard used as a campaign song by John F. Kennedy during
the presidential election the following year.
Wynn plays a wealthy former friend of Sinatra's character who expresses
interest in his plan to build a Disneyland in Florida (the film predates
Disney World)until he notices that Sinatra seems too desperate as he cheers
for a dog upon which he'd bet heavily. The movie ends with Tony, Eloise and
Ally singing "High Hopes" on the beach. Sinatra sings "All My Tomorrows,"
another Cahn/Van Heusen song, under the opening titles.
--DVD Release: 2001-09-18 - Blu-Ray Release: 2015-01-27
<image001.jpg>
Concerts
1939 Roseland Ballroom, New York
Harry James and his Orchestra with Frank Sinatra
1. Melancholy Mood
1940 (May 21 thru August 28)
Hotel Astor, N.Y.C.
Tommy Dorsey & Orch.
Connie Haines, Frank Sinatra, Jo Stafford,
The Pied Pipers, Bunny Berigan, Buddy Rich,
Joe Bushkin, Sy Oliver
note: 5-21 to 8-28, 14 week run, was the longest engagement ever for the
Dorsey band
1941 The Astor Roof, Astor Hotel, New York, New York (May 20 - July 15)
Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra w/Frank Sinatra
Note: Dorsey's 8-week run at the Hotel Astor, drew 37.350 patron at 75 cents
and $1.00
--Ed
1942 Michigan Theatre, Detroit , Michigan (July 10 - July 16)
Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra w/Frank Sinatra
1950 Palladium, London (July 10 - 23)
1965 Lorton Penitentiary, Lorton, Virginia
Performers: Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald
Count Basie & His Orchestra: Al Aarons, Sonny Cohn, Wallace Davenport, Phil
Guilbeau (trumpet); Henderson Chambers, Al Grey, Grover Mitchell, Bill
Hughes, (trombone); Marshall Royal, Bobby Plater, Eric Dixon, Eddie Davis,
Charlie Fowlkes (saxophone); William "Count" Basie (piano); Freddie Green
(guitar); Norman Keenan (bass); Sonny Payne (drums); special guest: Harry
Edison (trumpet). Orchestra Conducted By: Quincy Jones
Arrangements credited to: Quincy Jones
Notes: "James L. Hoffa gave the prison chaplin $3,500 to cover some of Count
Basie's travel expenses in the big Frank Sinatra benefit at a Virginia
reformatory" Show was for both men of women, Near Baltimore
known songs performed:
1. Luck Be A Lady
2. Fly Me To The Moon
3. I've Got You Under My Skin
Note: A segment of Sinatra singing “Fly Me To The Moon” at Lorton was used in
the 1965 documentary “A Very Good Year”
1967 Civic Center, Baltimore, MD
Saturday
w/Buddy Rich
1. Summer Wind
2. At Long Last Love
3. Day In, Day Out
4. The Shadow of Your Smile
5. Moonlight in Vermont
6. A Foggy Day
7. This Is All I Ask
8. Fly Me to the Moon
9. I've Got You Under My Skin
10. Nancy (With the Laughing Face)
11. You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You
12. Ol' Man River
13. Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars
14. My Kind of Town
15. That's Life
16. Strangers in the Night
17. The Lady Is a Tramp
18. That's Life
Note: Baltimore show grossed $129,000 The nine day tour took in $1,172,565
1974 Horden Pavillion, Sydney, Australia
Key Musicians: Al Viola (guitar), Irv Cottler (drums), Gene Cherico (bass),
Billy Byers (trombone), Marvin Stamm (trumpet), Bud Shank (saxophone), Bill
Miller (piano).
Orchestra Conducted By: Don Costa
1. overture
2. You Will Be My Music (walk on instrumental)
3, I Get A Kick Out Of You
4. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
5. You Will Be My Music
6. Don't Worry 'Bout Me
7. If
8. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown
9. Ol' Man River
10. monologue I
11. saloon medley: Last Night When We Were Young / Violets For Your Furs /
Here's That Rainy Day
12. I've Got You Under My Skin
13, My Kind Of Town
14. monologue II
15. Let Me Try Again
16. Send In The Clowns
17. The Lady Is A Tramp
18. introductions
19. My Way (gap at end)
Notes: TT 79mins.
NOTE: Ed O'Brien says this was a very good performance. Sinatra had a few
comments about his problems with the Australian press and unions but most of
the 85 minute show was devoted to singing and Sinatra was in fine form. The
following evening, the final concert of the three night engagement, was
televised throughout Australian and Sinatra was not in good musical form at
all.
Indeed, he wasn't, Sinatraphile Lo Curto agrees. Throughout the concert, he
sounds like a man who had been screaming at the top of his lungs for a couple
of days, which indeed he had been. Lo Curto says he has often wondered why a
video tape of this concert has yet to surface. You'd think that in all of
Australia there'd be one wealthy Sinatraphile who owned a VCR in 1974.
O'Brien responded by pointing out that BETA video was introduced in April of
1975 and VHS in May of 1976. Australia did not have either until the late
70s. O'Brien doesn't believe the VU Max was available Down Under in 1974.
Sinatra's lawyer insisted the tape of the show be erased within 24 hours of
the broadcast. Of course, Thorton Wilder had the same provision for "Our
Town" in September of 1955, but it was ignored.
Lo Curto wondered, then, how the line tap surfaced. O'Brien explained that it
was taped from the TV broadcast.
1977 Forest Hills Tennis Stadium, Forest Hills, New York
Time: 8:00 PM
Orchestra Conducted By: Bill Miller
Key Musicians: Al Viola (guitar), Gene Cherico (bass), Charles Turner
(trumpet), Irv Cottler(drums), Bill Miller (piano).
Orchestra Conducted By: Bill Miller
1. Night And Day (disco)
2. Where Or When
3. For Once In My Life
4. Spring Is Here
5. Here's That Rainy Day
6. My Funny Valentine
7. I Love My Wife
8. I Sing The Songs
9. My Kind Of Town 10. See The Show Again
11. Everybody Ought To Be In Love
12. My Way
13. I've Got You Under My Skin
14. Send In Clown
15. All Or Nothing At All (disco)
16. It Was A Very Good Year
17. The Lady Is A Tramp
Notes: TT 59mins.
NOTE: Ed O'Brien says that Sinatra was in New York City in July shooting
"Contract on Cherry Street." His only concert work during the shoot was a
two-night stop at Forest Hills on a Friday and Saturday. It had been 12 years
since his last appearance there and the place obviously agreed with him. It
may not have been comparable to his 1965 Forest Hills efforts, but it was
damn good. Joe Malin led the orchestra and Sinatra had his usual sidemen. One
night the saloon number was "Clowns" and the next it was "One for my Baby."
Arguably these are Sinatra's two best concerts of 1977.
Sinatraphile Bob Waldman reports that he attended the Forest Hills concert
when Sinatra performed "One for my Baby." What made it even more dramatic
was the sound of a Long Island Railroad train passing as he sang.
Waldman adds that because of traffic the concert he attended was performed
without an intermission. Milton Berle finished and Sinatra immediately came
on stage.
Lo Curto agrees that this was a good concert for the period and points out
that a decent audience recording exists. He believes the concert took place
around the time of the New York City blackout.
Sinatraphile Richard Warwick writes that it was strange seeing Milton Berle
as the warm-up act for Sinatra at this concert. Berle had been a big star in
the early days of television but now was reduced to the opening act for
Sinatra. But that's the way it was in 1977.
Eddie Gen:
I was also at the July 15th Forest hills concert and I remember that right
after Milton Berle, the orchestra had a quick minute to tune up again and
Sinatra came right out. I have some photos of that evening. I remember
Sinatra looking in good physical shape. He came out to the disco beat of
"Night and Day". I also remember a nice rendition of "I Love My Wife" from
the Broadway show of the same title. It was a warm NYC summer evening and
the atmosphere was exciting. I also saw The Beatles at that same venue in
1964. I am a very fortunate person to have seen these artists live on stage.
1984 The Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco, California
Benefit for AT&T
Orchestra Conducted By: Joe Parnello
Key Musicians: Joe Parnello (Piano), Don Baldini (Bass), Irv Cottler
(Drums),Tony Mattola (Guitar)
Other Musicians: Doug Clark, Dana Watson, Jeff Solkens, Andy Gravish
(trumpet); Mike Davis, Dave Panichi, George Gesslein (trombone); Mark
Lopeman, Oliver Peters, Steve Marcus, Andy Sterman, Keith Bishop (saxophone).
1. Fly Me To The Moon
2. The Lady Is A Tramp
3. L. A. Is My Lady
4. How Do You Keep The Music Playing?
5. Come Rain Or Come Shine
6. This Is All I Ask
7. Pennies From Heaven
8. My Way
9. New York, New York
10. monologue
11. Luck Be A Lady
12. Teach Me Tonight
13. Here's That Rainy Day
14. Mack The Knife
15. Stormy Weather
16. Here's To The Band
1989 Bally's Grand, Reno, Nevada
Orchestra Conducted By: Frank Sinatra, Jr.
Saturday evening
closing night
1. Come Fly With Me
2. It's All Right With Me
3. My Heart Stood Still
4. I've Got You Under My Skin
5. Summer Wind
6. Something
7. Mack The Knife
monologue
8. The Best Is Yet To Come
9. The Lady Is A Tramp
10. My Way
11. Strangers In The Night
12. One For My Baby
13. New York, New York
1993 Desert Inn, Las Vegas, Nevada
Orchestra Conducted By: Frank Sinatra, Jr.
1. I've Got The World On A String
2. My Kind Of Town
3. All Or Nothing At All
4. For Once In My Life
5. Come Rain Or Come Shine
6. I've Got You Under My Skin
7. Where Or When
8. Luck Be A Lady
9. What Now, My Love?
10. My Funny Valentine
11. Mack The Knife
12. Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry
13. The Best Is Yet To Come
14. My Way
15. New York, New York
Notes: TT 66mins.
-----------------------------------------------
EXTRA:
1941 The Astor Roof, Astor Hotel, New York, New York (May 20 - July 15)
Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra w/Frank Sinatra
DORSEY BREAKS ASTOR RECORD
“New York - Tommy Dorsey’s band has broken all records at the Hotel Astor and
is doing the
most sensational business of any band in the greater New York area, according
to Bob
Christenberry, manager of the Astor. While Gene Krupa fared poorly at the
Penn, and with hotel
business, generally speaking, seriously off, Dorsey’s terrific draw has kept
the ropes up every
night without a single miss since he opened late in May. Tommy is pretty well
satisfied with his
lineup now, although he has been seeking a clarinetist to fill the chair he
left empty when
Johnny Mince pulled out two months ago. Will Bradley’s crew will follow
Tommy’s at the Astor in
July.”
<image008.png>
TD Receives An Amusing Telegram At The Hotel Astor.
--thanks to Carl R for above photo and information.
--------------------------------------
1956 "A Hole In The Head" (USA Release: July 15, 1959)
Starring: Frank Sinatra, Edward G. Robinson, Eleanor Parker, Keenan Wynn,
Carolyn Jones, Thelma Ritter, Dub Taylor, Ruby Dandridge, Joi Lansing, Eddie
Hodges
Produced & Directed by: Frank Capra
<image009.png>
<image002.png>
<image003.png>
---------------------------------------------------------------------
1965 Lorton Penitentiary, Lorton, Virginia
Performers: Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald
Count Basie & His Orchestra: Al Aarons, Sonny Cohn, Wallace Davenport, Phil
Guilbeau (trumpet); Henderson Chambers, Al Grey, Grover Mitchell, Bill
Hughes, (trombone); Marshall Royal, Bobby Plater, Eric Dixon, Eddie Davis,
Charlie Fowlkes (saxophone); William "Count" Basie (piano); Freddie Green
(guitar); Norman Keenan (bass); Sonny Payne (drums); special guest: Harry
Edison (trumpet). Orchestra Conducted By: Quincy Jones
Arrangements credited to: Quincy Jones
Notes: "James L. Hoffa gave the prison chaplin $3,500 to cover some of Count
Basie's travel expenses in the big Frank Sinatra benefit at a Virginia
reformatory" Show was for both men of women, Near Baltimore
known songs performed:
<image006.jpg>
<image007.jpg>
-------------------------------------------------
1967 Civic Center, Baltimore, MD
Saturday
w/Buddy Rich
<image004.png>
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