Frank Sinatra would’ve celebrated his 100th birthday on December 12th, 2015. As one of the most beloved and admired entertainers of the 20th Century you certainly will find no shortage of tributes dedicated to Ol’ Blue Eyes. Well, here’s another one.
I dedicated this to the man and his music, the extraordinary voice I never tire of listening to and offer fun examples of his work on radio and television as a remembrance. I promise these are all well worth your time.
On the Radio
To start – America’s new singing sensation guest stars on Fred Allen’s Texaco Star Theater
As Rocky Fortune Sinatra plays a “footloose and fancy-free,” but tough young man who takes on a number of odd jobs and always runs into trouble. A B-grade, but enjoyable private eye show. Here are two episodes:
“Hepcat Kills The Canary”
“Murder on the Isle”
Next is a Screen Guild Theater production of “Too Many Husbands” starring Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball.
Just for fun – a comedy routine with Hope and Crosby
Some of my all-time favorite of the classic radio shows are of the variety variety and “Command Performance” had some of the best. Following are a few doozies featuring Sinatra alongside some other notables:
With Doris Day and Jim Backus:
With Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Victor Borge
With Elizabeth Taylor and Margaret O’Brien
With Carole Landis and Jimmy Durante
I’ve listened to many of Sinatra’s own “To Be Perfectly Frank” show from the 1950s, but couldn’t find one with acceptable audio quality except the following:
Frank as guest on “The Ginny Simms Show”
I must include at least one episode of “Your Hit Parade” featuring Sinatra and a swooning audience.
And here we have Frank as guest host of “The Bill Stern Show” during which he tells sports stories as was the show’s theme:
On Television
From 1951 “The Frank Sinatra Show”
”The Frank Sinatra Show” with guest Natalie Wood
Frank’s show welcoming Elvis Presley home from the Army:
Frank’s show featuring guests Dean Martin, Mitzi Gaynor and Bing Crosby.
♦
For much more Frank Sinatra you might want to check the TCM schedule as the network features many of Frank’s best movies as part of its December tribute to the entertainer. And getTV is dedicating December 13th to Frank’s birthday. To end I offer a link to this lovely tribute my friend Rob wrote some time ago on the anniversary of Sinatra’s death.
Here’s to you!
Once upon a screen... 
Great links. Thanks.
Enjoy them. Such fun! 🙂
Over the years, I’ve come to admire Sinatra as an actor. He wasn’t just a song-and-dance man. He made films that ran the gamut from war films like “From Here To Eternity” to dramas like “Some Came Running” to film noir like “Suddenly” to comedies like “The Tender Trap”. TCM is having a slew of Sinatra films this month so worth a look.
Tam
I’m not a big fan of Frank in the movies, but enjoy the films.
Ooo! Thanks for all of these! (Welcome home 😉
Wow, your links are concert and comedy, everything to make a Sinatra evening! I love Sinatra, in all venues. I find it a unsettling that younger generations hear mostly his autumn years songs, which do not represent the many years of his fabulous voice. We love them, because we love him, but he needs to be known for the golden years of his voice. What a great tribute to him, Aurora. I have put this post in my favorites list so I can come back again and again to enjoy the links.
Thanks for the mention partner……and may I add one last comment…..”Everyone is compared to Frank Sinatra, Frank Sinatra is compared to no one”
Merry Frankmas to everyone…….
I’ll reply with words from the man himself. “There’s Judy Garland. Then there’s everyone else.” Happy Judymas.
Reblogged this on goosepimply all over and commented:
I just purchased another Sinatra Christmas CD. I need to hear that snappy little groove of, “Jingle Bells”, when I want! My daughter’s due date was originally Dec 12, years ago – she decided to say “Hello” – a few days earlier instead 🙂 but I always remember it was to be on his birthday! She knows too. My dear friend, Aurora, has an absolutely beautiful post with some incredible links the Maestro’s earlier works including radio! I had to share it! The one with Bogey, Bacall, and Borge is bound to be hoot. Years ago, we had a cat named Ava, as spunky as Ms. Gardner, and she too knew the music that played from my many Sinatra albums and cassettes. From that, my son has always loved “Come Fly with Me”… come to think of it, I want to hear him sing it now. I’ll ask him later. When my husband belted it out one day when we were dating, I knew I had a keeper. Thanks, Aurora, for this post and for sharing that again of your friend, Rob. He and my grandfather we the same age. We both had tears when i told he’d passed away. And I clearly remember him saying, “They don’t make ’em like they used to”. No, Papa, they don’t… they don’t.
Gee… now I’m hearing set ’em up, Joe, in my head…. Please read all about the Sinatra Celebration below!