YOUR AD HERE »

Weather Window | Frank Sinatra sings Tahoe blues

Mark McLaughlin
Special to the Sun
The Reno Evening Gazette trumpets Frank Sinatra, Jr.'s kidnapping in the Dec. 9, 1963 edition.
Courtesy author’s collection |

Editor’s Note: The Storm King has written several articles about Frank Sinatra in the Tahoe area. For more click here and here.

It’s been 50 years since Frank Sinatra was forced out of his ownership of the North Shore’s Cal-Neva Casino in late 1963, but that wasn’t the legendary crooner’s only problem in his troubled years at Lake Tahoe. Old Blue Eyes’ questionable relationships with criminals, politicians, and celebrities made for some rough sailing during his reign at Tahoe.



Sinatra’s troublesome history at Lake Tahoe started in 1951 with an intense argument with his lover, Hollywood sex siren Ava Gardner. Both were on extended residencies in Reno, Nev., to process divorces from their respective spouses so they could marry each other.

Sinatra and Gardner spent Labor Day Weekend at the Cal-Neva drinking and gambling. While enjoying a boat ride in Crystal Bay, Gardner revealed that she had had a recent affair with a co-star and Sinatra flew into a rage. His business manager, who was driving the boat, became so upset he ran the boat aground near the Cal-Neva pier, tearing a hole in the hull and sinking the boat. That night Sinatra was so despondent he ingested an overdose of sleeping pills, but his valet called a physician who quite possibly saved Sinatra’s life.



In late July 1962, actor and Rat Pack member Peter Lawford, along with his wife Patricia Kennedy, President John F. Kennedy’s sister, invited Marilyn Monroe to party with them at the Cal-Neva Lodge. Monroe had been an occasional lover of Sinatra’s and he used his private plane to fly her from Southern California to Tahoe.

MISFITS

During the 1960 filming of “The Misfits” in western Nevada, Monroe had frequently visited Sinatra at the Cal-Neva and the couple’s romance had blossomed. Although the events of what actually happened at the Cal-Neva that July weekend are confusing and controversial (Monroe did meet with performer Dean Martin as well as her ex-husband, baseball great Joe DiMaggio), it would be the sex goddess’ last visit to Big Blue. Some accounts claim that Peter Lawford had told Monroe privately her romantic relationships with the Kennedy brothers (President JFK and U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy) had been terminated.

A week later Monroe was found dead in Los Angeles at the age of 36, a tragedy the coroner ruled as suicide but under mysterious circumstances. A half century later rumors persist that Monroe was killed because she had threatened to expose her sexual liaisons with the two Kennedy brothers. Stories about a sexual tryst between Marilyn Monroe and JFK at the Cal-Neva are unfounded.

MOBSTERS

In August 1963 Nevada’s Gaming Control Board accused Sinatra of allowing known mobster Sam Giancana to stay at one of the Cal-Neva cottages. Permitting Giancana, a notorious Chicago hoodlum of national repute, to stay at his casino led Nevada’s Gaming Commission to threaten Sinatra with revocation of his gaming licenses in the Silver State. Sinatra countered with his own threats of retribution, but the evidence was overwhelming and the “Chairman of the Board” surrendered his licenses in October 1963.

Sinatra’s personal and business life had its ups and downs, but that autumn 50 years ago there was more trouble brewing. Less than a month after Sinatra lost control of his Nevada casinos, his personal friend President Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 22.

The shock of the Kennedy assassination still lay heavy on Sinatra, when on Dec. 9 he received shocking news that his son Frank Jr. had been kidnapped from Harrah’s Lodge at South Lake Tahoe. Sinatra Jr., an aspiring singer, and John Foss, a trumpet player in the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, were eating dinner when two parka-clad gunmen barged into their room. They blindfolded the 19-year-old Sinatra, threw an overcoat over his shoulders and forced him into a white Chevrolet Impala.

Once Foss worked himself free of his bonds he called the police. Officers from the nearby Zephyr Cove substation arrived within minute, while FBI agents from Reno quickly swarmed into the Tahoe Basin.

Sinatra, Sr. was at home in Palm Springs, Calif., when word arrived of his son’s abduction. A snowstorm had shut down the South Lake Tahoe airport so he flew to Reno. After a failed attempt to drive to Tahoe over storm-swept Spooner Summit, Sinatra set up headquarters at Reno’s Mapes Hotel.

Roadblocks were thrown up on every highway in the region, but the criminals somehow managed to slip through the dragnet. Sinatra had publicly offered one million dollars for the safe return of his son. Inexplicably, the kidnappers asked for only $240,000 in unmarked bills, which an FBI agent delivered to a location in West Los Angeles.

Two hours later, Frank, Jr. was released by his captors. He had been held for 54 hours, but was unhurt. When the good news swept the nation, a still grieving Robert Kennedy called to congratulate the Sinatra family. The next day, Dec. 12, Frank Sr. celebrated his 48th birthday at his Las Vegas casino, the Sands, telling friends that “Getting Frankie back is the best birthday present I could ever have.”

Tahoe historian Mark McLaughlin is a nationally published author and professional speaker. His award-winning books are available at local stores or at http://www.thestormking.com. Mark can be reached at mark@thestormking.com. Check out his blog: http://www.tahoenuggets.com.


Support Local Journalism

 

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and beyond make the Sierra Sun's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.