Doonesbury by Garry Trudeau for October 08, 2015
October 07, 2015
October 09, 2015
Transcript:
Frank Sinatra: Whadda ya mean, ya gotta shuffle? Deal, sister! Dealer: I'm sorry, Dr. Sinatra, those are the house rules. Frank Sinatra: Read my lips, honey! I said deal the cards! Dealer: I could lose my job, Dr. Sinatra... Frank Sinatra: You're damn right you could lose your job! Get me your (expletive) boss! Dealer: But... Frank Sinatra: Get me your (obscene gerund) boss, you little (anatomically explicit epithet)! Dealer: Obscene gerund?
A couple of people, including my amigo Gweedo, asked yesterday, how I knew from experience about Sinatra’s reprehensible behavior. I will try to make this as brief as possible.
Back in the early 70’s , I was managing a private security company that provided personal protection for celebrities who came to Hartford, Ct. to perform at the Hartford Civic Center and other venues and/or were staying at one of the area hotels.
When Sinatra came to town, we were contracted to provide a six person team to cover him for his stay and performances ( on and off the stage ) for a week. This space is too short to list the amount of abuse he heaped upon my staff – particularly the head of the security team who was African-American. No amount of money and ‘tips’ could make up for all the aggravation and insults we were all subjected to. To a man, they all wanted to quit after the second day.
I was used to dealing with temperamental, difficult personalities but Sinatra strained the limits of my professional civility to a point I vowed I would never work with him again.
Rock stars were bad, but Sinatra made them look like choirboys.
Even some “wise guy” acquaintances of mine in Hartford, were embarrassed by the way he acted.