Ol' Blue Eyes: Ready for His Close-up | The New York Public Library The New York Public Library Ol' Blue Eyes: Ready for His Close-up by John Calhoun, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman CenterMarch 5, 2015 Share Share Preview this post in our new blog design Frank Sinatra is known first and foremost as a singer and recording artist; after all, before he acquired the nicknames “Chairman of the Board” or “Ol’ Blue Eyes,” he was known as “The Voice.” But his career as a movie actor earned him nearly as much fame and acclaim as did his musical career. In “Ol’ Blue Eyes on Screen: The Films of Frank Sinatra,” a film series presented at the Library for the Performing Arts in conjunction with the exhibition Sinatra: An American Icon and running March 5 through August 17, the spotlight is on the actor. Sinatra appeared on screen as early as 1935 in the short Major Bowes Amateur Theater of the Air, which showcased young talent including the 19-year-old singer.

Several years later, when Sinatra was singing with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra , he had uncredited appearances in the features Las Vegas Nights (1941) and Ship Ahoy (1942). In 1943, he again played himself in Reveille with Beverly , and then made his official acting debut in the RKO musical Higher and Higher . Costarring with Gene Kelly in the 1945 hit MGM musical Anchors Aweigh established Sinatra’s screen appeal, but he was still the skinny kid who loses the girl to Kelly. (Due to a damaged eardrum, Sinatra was classified 4-F during the war; it’s notable over the course of his career how many military and ex-military men he played.) It Happened in Brooklyn Gangly and slightly awkward, Sinatra was a lightweight movie presence through the 1940s in a series of MGM musicals, including the 1947 It Happened in Brooklyn ( which opens the “Ol’ Blue Eyes” series , along with the short The House I Live In) and On the Town (1949).

The latter, again teaming Sinatra with Gene Kelly, was very popular, but the focus was once more on Kelly (who co-directed with Stanley Donen) in this tale of three sailors on shore leave in New York. Sinatra was Chip, a sidekick whose romantic interest was a comically aggressive cabbie played by Betty Garrett. He turned 34 around the time of On the Town’s release, and he hadn’t quite become a leading man. Sinatra’s career took a downturn in the early 50s. He left Columbia Records for Capitol, and after leaving MGM he had trouble getting decent movie roles. Some credit second wife Ava Gardner with convincing Columbia Pictures chief Harry Cohn to cast Sinatra in Fred Zinnemann’s film version of From Here to Eternity ; perhaps the mogul didn't take much convincing, because the actor so wanted the role of Maggio that he agreed to do it for a mere $8,000. As the scrappy army private who meets a tragic end, Sinatra was very engaging—still boyish at 37, but with more than a hint of defiant swagger. He won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar, and never looked back.

Man with the Golden Arm His status was solidified with his lead performance as heroin addict Frankie Machine in Otto Preminger’s The Man with the Golden Arm (1955). The film, which was considered very strong stuff and initially denied a Motion Picture Association of America seal, completely rests on Sinatra’s performance (and the Elmer Bernstein score ). His Frankie has a haunted look, and he enacts the key drug withdrawal sequences with a harrowing persuasiveness. Sinatra earned a Best Actor Oscar nomination, and for the next few years he remained a top dramatic star in movies like The Joker Is Wild (1957) and Some Came Running (1958). But he also continued to make musicals, such as Charles Walters’s High Society (a 1956 musical remake of The Philadelphia Story with Sinatra in the Jimmy Stewart role) and George Sidney’s Pal Joey (1957). The difference from his 1940s musicals is that Sinatra is now fully in charge, a filled-out, mature leading man to beauties like Grace Kelly and Kim Novak.

In Pal Joey, he even takes Gene Kelly’s signature stage role , with the title character changed from a hoofer to a singer to accommodate him. The boyishness is gone; in fact, at 41, Sinatra seems too old for Joey, who is supposed to be a callow young heel. His singing career was, of course, in high gear at this point, and even when a movie he appeared in wasn’t a musical, the actor sometimes contributed a song. One of the most popular was the Oscar-winning “High Hopes,” written by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy van Heusen for Frank Capra’s 1959 sentimental comedy A Hole in the Head . In the 1960s, Sinatra embarked on several laid-back comedies with his cronies in what came to be known the Rat Pack—primarily, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop.

First and most familiar (partly due to the 2001 remake and its sequels) was Ocean’s 11 (1960), directed by Lewis Milestone and starring Sinatra as Danny Ocean, who recruits some of his old army buddies to knock over a slew of Las Vegas casinos in one night. The movie was a big hit, and during the decade the actor also made his mark in action films (such as Von Ryan’s Express , in 1965), western comedies (the 1962 Sergeants 3 , another Rat Pack caper), and romantic comedies (1963’s Come Blow Your Horn , from the Neil Simon play). He also directed a film, the 1965 World War II drama None But the Brave . But in the midst of all this highly commercial fare, Sinatra starred in what is probably his finest film, John Frankenheimer’s 1962 The Manchurian Candidate . This political thriller took detours of form and tone that foreshadowed movie experiments later in the decade, with Angela Lansbury etching a bold Oedipal cartoon as ostensible hero Laurence Harvey’s mother.

Sinatra, playing an army intelligence officer investigating Harvey’s character, is a mooring force of gravity throughout, ending the movie on a memorable note of anguish. He never again seemed quite so committed to a film. In the late 60s, around the time he was married to Mia Farrow, Sinatra had some success in the PI/detective genre with Tony Rome (1967) and its sequel Lady in Cement (1968). These were both directed by erstwhile journeyman Gordon Douglas, as was The Detective (1968), which is interesting for its forays, however dated, into subjects like homosexuality, nymphomania, and police corruption and brutality. Thick-bodied and toupeed, Sinatra continued to exude the relaxed authority (with a hint of menace) that had become his trademark as performer and public figure. His last movie acting credit came in the 1980 cop drama The First Deadly Sin , although for a time in the 1980s, there were rumors of him appearing in a film version of the Broadway musical La Cage aux Folles.

The Detective For those who wish to do further research on Frank Sinatra’s movie career, the Billy Rose Theatre Division offers volumes of material—four boxes of newspaper clippings on Sinatra along with clippings, photographs, and reviews of all his films, the scripts for From Here to Eternity and The First Deadly Sin (in the David Dukes Papers ), a few posters, and biographies. Consult the NYPL online catalog and the Theatre Division card catalog on the 3rd floor of the Library for the Performing Arts under both “Sinatra, Frank” and film title for more details. A number of Sinatra films are also available to borrow on DVD from New York Public Library. Something for everyone, and to match every Sinatra nickname.

Revealed: First Ol’ Blue Eyes is 7,000 years old and was a caveman living in Spain | The Independent Science Revealed: First Ol’ Blue Eyes is 7,000 years old and was a caveman living in Spain DNA analysis of the man’s tooth has also disclosed that he had the dark-skinned genes of an African Sunday 26 January 2014 18:03 BST Click to follow The Independent Online The 7,000-year-old skeleton; experts were astonished to find a combination of African and European genes in the ancient hunter gatherer J.M. Vidal Encina/PA A Stone Age man who lived about 7,000 years ago and whose buried bones were discovered in 2006 has turned out to be the earliest known person with blue eyes, a physical trait that evolved relatively recently in human history, a study has found. A DNA analysis of the man’s tooth has also revealed that although he was more closely related to modern-day Scandinavians that to any other European group, he had the dark-skinned genes of an African, though scientists do not know his precise skin tone.

The man, who was about 1.7m (5ft 7in) tall and aged 30-35, was a Mesolithic hunter-gatherer rather than a farmer. He did not have the “lactose-tolerance” genes that allowed him to digest milk as an adult – a key sign that he had little or no contact with domesticated livestock. His well-preserved skeleton was one of two discovered in 2006 in a deep cave system called La Braña-Arintero near León in north-west Spain, which is 1,500m above sea level and cold enough to limit the bacterial decay of DNA. Dating has placed the skeletons in the middle of the Mesolithic period, which lasted between 5,000 and 10,000 years ago and represents the interlude between the older Palaeolithic and the more recent Neolithic, when agriculture and livestock farming spread from the Middle East and became widespread across Europe.

Artist's impression of the 7,000 year-old man Artist's impression of the 7,000 year-old man 1/5 La Brana 1 An artist's impression of the face of a 7,000 year-old man, reconstructed from his skeleton as experts were astonished to find a combination of African and European genes in the ancient hunter gatherer, who they christened La Brana 1 2/5 La Brana 1 Hollywood could not have conjured up a more striking looking movie character.

The 7,000-year-old Spaniard whose DNA has been deciphered by scientists had dark, possibly black, hair and skin coupled with blazing blue eyes 3/5 La Brana 1 His remains were discovered in a cold subterranean cave 5,000 feet below sea level in the Cantabrian mountains of north-west Spain, where conditions are ideal for preserving DNA 4/5 La Brana 1 Results from an analysis of the genetic material, taken from a tooth, appear in the latest online edition of the journal Nature 5/5 La Brana 1 La Brana 1, with his combination of African and European genes, had dark brown - or black - hair and skin, along with striking blue eyes The study, published in the journal Nature, sequenced fragments of DNA extracted from the man’s tooth, revealing that he carried an unusual combination of genes for blue eyes and dark skin – as well as for slightly curly, dark-brown hair and lactose intolerance.

“The biggest surprise was to discover that this individual possessed African versions of the genes that determine the light pigmentation of the current Europeans, which indicates that he had dark skin,” said Carles Lalueza-Fox of the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Barcelona. “Even more surprising was to find that he possessed the genetic variations that produce blue eyes in current Europeans, resulting in a unique phenotype [physical type] in a genome that is otherwise clearly northern European,” Dr Lalueza-Fox said. “Blue eyes in modern humans are related to the same mutation in a gene called HERC2. If you have this mutation in both copies of the chromosome, you will have blue eyes for sure. This was the case with this man, who is so far the oldest known individual with blue eyes,” he said. Previous research published in 2008 found that the earliest mutations in the eye-colour genes that led to the evolution of blue eyes probably occurred about 10,000 years ago in individuals living in around the Black Sea.

This study suggested that everyone with blue eyes today can trace their ancestry back to the same family in which this mutation first arose – and that the gene had travelled across Europe before the shift from hunting to farming, which is known to have spread from the east to the west. It is not clear why blue eyes spread among ancient Europeans. One theory is that the gene could have helped to prevent eye disorders due to low light levels found in European winters, or that the trait spread because it was deemed sexually attractive. More about: 10 Things You Don't Know About Ol' Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra 10 Things You Don't Know About Ol' Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra It's Fun Friday -- time for some fun for the weekend. Enjoy today's post and I'll see you back here on Monday with more philatelic news and notes. United States Frank Sinatra On March 13, 2008, the United States Postal Service issued a 42-cent stamp depicting world-renowned entertainer, Frank Sinatra. The stamp for "Ol' Blue Eyes" was issued one day prior to the tenth anniversary of his death. It features a wonderful depiction of a young Sinatra wearing a fedora and flashing those trademark blue eyes.

The stamp is certain to be popular, especially with non-collectors, and it might be a good thing to go ahead and purchase the stamp now. Sinatra is probably best classified as entertainer extraordinaire. In addition to his mellow crooning voice, he acted in several well-received movies, including The Manchurian Candidate, From Here to Eternity, and The Man with the Golden Arm. He also acted in several TV shows including the critically acclaimed Our Town. The legend of Sinatra is larger than life. Here are some lesser-known facts about the "Chairman of the Board" that you may not be aware: At birth, baby Frank was thought to be stillborn until he was thrust under cold water and began to move about. Forceps used during his birth caused permanent damage to his left earlobe, cheek and neck. Early in his career, Sinatra was asked to change his stage name to Frankie Satin, an obvious play on words for his smooth, crooning voice. He refused. During his short-lived marriage to actress Mia Farrow, Sinatra stunned Farrow when he served her with divorce papers in front of cast and crew of Rosemary's Baby.

In the early 1990s, when Mia Farrow was publicly humiliated by her long-term lover's, Woody Allen's, marriage to their adopted daughter, Sinatra offered to have Allen's legs broken, an obvious connection to Sinatra's Mafia relationships. Sinatra's final and longest-lasting marriage was to Barbara Marx, the ex-wife of the comedy troupe The Marx Brothers member, Zeppo Marx. The son of a Democratic-party ward boss, Sinatra was a fervent supporter of the Democrats, ostensibly until being snubbed by President John F. Kennedy, when Kennedy stayed at Bing Crosby's house, instead of staying at Sinatra's house. Within a few short years, Sinatra switched his alliance to the Republican party. Sinatra refused to play in Las Vegas, Nevada, hotels and casinos where African-Americans could not entertain nor patronize. He was such a money-maker for the entertainment industry and had such clout that his efforts spurred increased racial desegregation in the state.

When his only son, Frank, Jr., was kidnapped and the kidnappers demanded that Frank, Sr., call from untraceable pay telephones, he began a life-long habit of carrying a roll of dimes (the cost of a pay-phone call at that time) in his pocket. He is reputed to have been buried with a small roll of dimes. The song title "The Best is Yet to Come" is engraved on his tombstone. Ironically it was also the last song he sang in public, at the age to 79. And, as a bonus, a bit of trivia only tangentially related to Sinatra: Sinatra was a member of the Rat Pack, a group of famous entertainers including Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop. Unknown by many, is that Norman Fell, who portrayed the penny-pinching, wisecracking, goof-ball, landlord Stanley Roper on the late 1970's sitcom Three's Company was also included in the Rat Pack for a period of time.

Previous Fun Friday Posts 1000+ images about Frank Sinatra-Ol Blue Eyes-the Legend Lives on on Pinterest | The rat pack, Ava gardner and Tina sinatra Pinterest • The world’s catalog of ideas Frank Sinatra-Ol Blue Eyes-the Legend Lives on Frank Sinatra was known as the voice. He packed a hell of a lot of living into his years. A man of contradictions he fought for racial equality and gave over a billion to charity over the years, but at the same time he had Mafioso for friends. He was a loving father and an awful husband. The only woman he honestly loved had her own demons also-Ava. Gardner. This board is dedicated to my father, Larry Friedman, for having me grow up listening to his greatest hits. I love you daddy.

1.58k Pins178 Followers Ol’ Blue Eyes returns to ‘Stamping Ovation’ Ol’ Blue Eyes returns to ‘Stamping Ovation’ Postal Service offers exclusive Sinatra CD May 13, 2008 Download PDF WASHINGTON, DC—The “Chairman of the Board’s” children joined the Postal Service’s Chairman to celebrate the achievements of “Ol’ Blue Eyes” by dedicating the Frank Sinatra commemorative stamp in the first of three ceremonies taking place in New York City, Las Vegas and Hoboken, NJ, today. All 120 million Frank Sinatra 42-cent First-Class stamps become available nationwide today. To celebrate the iconic entertainer’s legacy, the Postal Service is offering exclusive Sinatra memorabilia available at and at select Post Offices. “Today, the Postal Service is proud to deliver its own special tribute to the ‘Chairman of the Board,’” said Postal Service Board of Governors Chairman Alan Kessler. “On Frank’s 80th birthday, the City of New York turned the Empire State Building blue. Starting today, we’re going to try to do New York City one better — by turning America’s mail a beautiful shade of blue.

One hundred twenty million portraits of ‘Ol’ Blue Eyes’ will carry our cards, letters and packages to their destinations all around the world.” Nancy Sinatra, her daughter, A.J. Lambert, and Frank Sinatra Jr., accompanied Kessler and Rep. José E. Serrano (D-NY) in dedicating the stamp during a 10 a.m. first-day-of-issue ceremony in New York City’s Gotham Hall. Serrano is a long-time admirer of Sinatra and learned to speak English from listening to his father’s Sinatra records. Tina Sinatra will join Postal Service Governor James Bilbray at a first-day-of-issue ceremony in Las Vegas at the Bellagio Fountains main alcove at noon PT (3:00 p.m. ET) to dedicate the stamp. At 2:30 p.m. PT, she and Frank Sinatra stamp artist Kazuhiko Sano will participate in an autograph session at the Wynn Las Vegas. The Sinatra stamp will be available for sale at the Wynn Las Vegas’ Restaurant and Show Reservation kiosk located on the Esplanade from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT. Also at 3 p.m. ET, Frank Sinatra Jr.

will join Postal Service District Manager Maria Morse and Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ) in a first-day-of-sale ceremony near the Frank Sinatra Post Office in Hoboken, NJ, at Pier A Park. “Our father loved this country,” said the Sinatra family, represented by Nancy, Frank Jr. and Tina Sinatra. “This would have been one of his happiest days.” Sinatra left his mark on American culture with his amazing vocals and romantic style. To celebrate the life of this great entertainer, the Postal Service is offering limited quantities of specially designed Sinatra shipping supplies, Sinatra musical greeting cards, classic Sinatra artwork and a new Sinatra Nothing But the Best CD. Unique to CDs sold in music stores under the same title, the Postal Service limited edition offers an exclusive bonus track featuring “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter,” — a one-time hit parade tune of particular interest to the Postal Service. The CD also includes a collectible commemorative Frank Sinatra stamp bearing the official USPS first-day-of-issue postmark. Customers visiting and select Post Offices can also enter a sweepstakes to win an ultimate entertainment system, Sinatra music, movies and more.

Art director Richard Sheaff of Scottsdale, AZ, worked with stamp artist Kazuhiko Sano of Mill Valley, CA, to create the image based on a 1950s photograph of the entertainer. The stamp depicts Sinatra’s charismatic smile, trademark fedora and striking blue eyes that earned him the nickname “Ol’ Blue Eyes.” Sinatra’s autograph also appears on the stamp. In a 60-year career studded with accolades, Sinatra won several Grammys, received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1971, and was recognized at the Kennedy Center Honors in 1983. Sinatra gave generously to many charities and was noted for his philanthropy. President Reagan awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985. Sinatra was born in Hoboken, NJ, in 1915. He died in 1998 (see attached backgrounder). How to Order first-day-of-issue Postmark Customers have 60 days to obtain the first day of issue postmark by mail. They may purchase new stamps at , by calling 800-STAMP-24 or by visiting their Post Office.

They should affix the stamps to envelopes of their choice, address the envelopes to themselves or others, and place them in a larger envelope addressed to: Frank Sinatra Stamp 1001 E. Sunset Rd., Rm. 1006B Las Vegas, NV 89199-9998 421 8th Ave., Rm. 2029B New York, NY 10199-9998 After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the envelopes through the mail. There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by July 12, 2008. How to Order First-Day Covers Stamp Fulfillment Services also offers first day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic catalog.

Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-STAMP-24 or writing to: Information Fulfillment There are eight philatelic products available for this stamp issue: Item 463299, Cancellation Keepsake w/two Digital Color Postmarks, $11.40. Item 463284, Uncut Press Sheets (six up), $50.40. Item 463261, First Day Cover — New York, $.80. Item 463269, First Day Cover — Las Vegas, $.80. Item 463265, Digital Color Postmark — New York, $1.50. Item 463279, Digital Color Postmark — Las Vegas, $1.50. Item 463289, Compact Disc w/Insert, $16.99. Item 463291, Ceremony Program, $6.95. Domestic customers will be charged a $1 shipping and handling fee per order, regardless of quantity.

As Sinatra’s popularity extends worldwide, international customers may purchase the stamp and related merchandise for an additional $5 fee by fax at 1-816-545-1201 or by calling (1-816-545-1100. International customers may submit orders through the mail by writing to: Stamp Fulfillment Services At this time international customer orders are not available through or through . Frank Sinatra Backgrounder An Oscar-winning actor who appeared in more than 60 motion pictures, Frank Sinatra was even more celebrated as a singer, admired the world over as a supreme interpreter of American popular song. The son of Italian immigrants, Francis Albert Sinatra was born Dec. 12, 1915, in Hoboken, NJ. As a boy he would sit on the docks, staring across the Hudson River at New York City’s skyline, pondering his future.

Decades later, when he first sang the theme from “New York, New York,” Sinatra might have remembered those times as he belted the line, “If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere.” By then, he had long since become an iconic figure, known as much for his visual image — particularly the jauntily cocked fedora and loosened collar of his classic album covers — as for his music. Street Corner Singer Inspired by Bing Crosby, a major vocalist of the 1930s, the youthful Sinatra set his sights on a career in music and began singing on street corners with friends. In 1935, he and three others auditioned for Major Bowes’ Amateur Hour, a popular radio program of its day. They performed as the “Hoboken Four” and won the talent contest. After touring for a season with the Hoboken Four, Sinatra decided to go it alone. In 1939, he was singing at a roadhouse in New Jersey when trumpeter and bandleader Harry James hired him to sing with his orchestra.

He made his first appearance with the James band in June 1939 and soon made his first commercial recording, “From the Bottom of My Heart.” Months after signing with James, Sinatra was invited by Tommy Dorsey to sing with his band. He sang with the famous trombonist, who then led one of the top swing bands in the country, from January 1940 to September 1942. Six months after joining the Dorsey orchestra, he hit number one with “I’ll Never Smile Again.” Other hits with Dorsey included “Polka Dots and Moonbeams” and “The Song Is You.” America’s First Pop Icon Sinatra made his breakthrough appearance as a solo performer on Dec. 30, 1942, when he debuted in New York at the Paramount Theater. The hysteria set off by his fans made headlines, and within weeks he had signed recording, movie and radio contracts. In this phase of his career, Sinatra was known primarily as a sensitive crooner whose musical style was perfect for the World War II era, when many couples were separated by circumstance. He worked hard at making his singing as conversational as possible and giving the melody and lyrics a flowing, surprisingly unbroken quality.

His wholehearted embrace of the technology of sound recording enhanced Sinatra’s talent. He effectively used the microphone, which brought intimacy and articulation to the forefront of the art of popular singing, as a prop to convey emotion and to expand his dynamic range. Academy Award Winner Highlights among Sinatra’s early musical films include Anchors Aweigh (1945) and On the Town (1949). In 1946, he received a special Academy Award for The House I Live In, a short film arguing in favor of racial and religious tolerance. In 1953, Sinatra’s popularity soared to new heights with the release of From Here to Eternity, in which he proved that he was an outstanding dramatic actor, winning an Academy Award for his supporting role as Maggio, a scrappy Italian-American soldier. For his dramatic performance in The Man With the Golden Arm (1955), Sinatra received a Best Actor nomination. Other highlights of his film career include the musicals Young at Heart (1955), Guys and Dolls (1955), High Society (1956), Pal Joey (1957), and Can-Can (1960).

He also excelled in non-singing roles in films such as the crime caper Ocean’s Eleven (1960) and The Manchurian Candidate (1962), a political thriller that addressed the Cold War. Darker, Emotional Singer Musically, Sinatra had entered another phase in the 1950s, an era that is generally considered his greatest period. The boyish crooner evolved into a deeper, more personal interpreter of pop songs who conveyed the meaning of a lyric with intensity and remarkable nuance. Sinatra had begun to express darker emotions that had not been previously acceptable, thus paving the way for the aggressive style of singers in the rock era. At the same time, his rhythmic acuity intensified, so that he sang with finger-snapping confidence that made him seem the essence of “cool” — a shift that mirrored postwar America’s newfound swagger. “Concept Album” Pioneer Sinatra did much to establish and preserve the great American songbook. He gave the classic songs new life by almost single-handedly inventing the pop album format. As the new medium of the long-playing record developed, Sinatra pioneered what was later known as the “concept album” — a musical album created entirely around a single concept.

Collaborating with such legendary arrangers as Nelson Riddle, Billy May and Gordon Jenkins, as well as personally choosing the songs for each album, the order in which they would appear, the microphone placement for the instruments — and in some cases even conducting the orchestra himself — Sinatra made some of his most important and inspired musical works. From 1955 to 1958, he released several albums now considered classics, including In the Wee Small Hours (1955), a selection of torch songs; Songs for Swingin’ Lovers! (1956), containing “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” a favorite of many fans; A Swingin’ Affair! (1957); and Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely (1958). Sinatra said the latter collection of moody ballads, including his signature “saloon songs,” “Angel Eyes” and “One for My Baby (and One More for the Road),” was his favorite.

Sinatra formed his own recording company, Reprise, in late 1960, and around this time became known as the “Chairman of the Board.” Now in his late 40s, Sinatra was famous not only for his musical talent and acting ability, but as the central figure in the so-called “Rat Pack,” a professional and personal circle that included Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Joey Bishop. During this period, Sinatra became closely identified with Las Vegas, which he helped to popularize as an entertainment center. Versatile Performer In the 1960s, Sinatra worked in almost every conceivable setting, from the great jazz orchestras of Count Basie (It Might as Well Be Swing, 1964) and Duke Ellington (Francis A. & Edward K., 1967) to the semi-symphonic settings of Sinatra & Strings (1962) and The Concert Sinatra (1963) to the gentle bossa nova of Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos Jobim (1967) and the jukebox pop of Strangers in the Night (1966) and My Way (1969).

Later in his career, Sinatra became an elder statesman on the music scene, and was known by the nickname “Ol’ Blue Eyes.” In 1985, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan. He had a number-one selling hit with Duets (1993), a collection of 13 standards pairing him with singers such as Tony Bennett, Gloria Estefan and Bono of U2. Sinatra is widely regarded by singers, musicians, critics and fans as the single most important and influential performer of the American popular song. In a career studded with accolades, he won several Grammys, received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1971 and was recognized at the Kennedy Center Honors in 1983. Sinatra gave generously to many charities and was noted for his philanthropy. He died May 14, 1998, at age 82. # # # Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at . For reporters interested in speaking with a regional Postal Service public relations professional on this issue, please go to .

A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 151 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. With 32,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, usps.com, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $65 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 35th in the 2011 Fortune 500. Black Enterprise and Hispanic Business magazines ranked the Postal Service as a leader in workforce diversity. The Postal Service has been named the Most Trusted Government Agency for six years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute. Follow USPS on Twitter @USPS_PR and at Facebook.com/usps.

An Amazing Story About Salon Capes, Barber Capes And Salon Apparel | Saloncapes.com | USA | Worldwide About Us The Amazing Story Behind Our Salon Capes, Barber Capes and Salon Apparel Back in 1981, our founder, Sig Abeles, was sitting in a hair salon in South Florida having his hair cut. Sig (known as Ol’ Blue Eyes to his friends and family) noticed that the cheap salon capes the stylist was using were falling apart and that the neck was too narrow for people with large necks like him. When asked the stylist agreed, but could only say "That's how everybody makes them." Having been a clothing manufacturer and a supplier of all types of garments to every major department store in the country, Ol’ Blue Eyes looked at the garment closer and realized that the quality of the fabric and stitching on the barber capes was poor. If this was the standard quality of hair salon apparel then something needed to change. Asking the owner of the salon how much the hair cutting capes suppliers had charged him, Ol’ Blue Eyes was shocked when heard the price.

Inspiration struck and he told the salon owner that he could make him a larger and better quality hair cutting cape out of a better material and sell it to him for a lower price. Skeptical but intrigued, the owner gave Ol' Blue Eyes his first order: one salon cape. When Ol’ Blue Eyes returned with his first salon cape, the owner was absolutely stunned. He could not believe how big the barber cape was or how good it looked, saying that he had never seen a cape with a neck that large or with that many snaps. It was exactly what he had always wanted in his hair cutting capes and that first order immediately turned into a dozen more. Still not fully committed to changing the industry for hair cutting capes suppliers and barber capes suppliers, but curious as to what the possibilities might be, Ol’ Blue eyes took the opportunity later that week to go to some local beauty supply stores and see what other companies in the industry were charging for both their expensive hair cutting capes and salon smocks, as well as their cheap salon capes…and what kind of quality they were producing at both levels.

What he found were basically two types of garments on the existing market: lower cost cheap salon capes of extremely poor quality and higher quality salon apparel at very high prices that still wasn't as professional, durable and stylish as it should have been. Sig knew that by selling directly to the salons and barbershops he could produce hair cutting capes & salon apparel of higher quality than anyone was making, and still offer them at a price that was comparable to the price that companies producing poor quality salon capes were charging. And Saloncapes was born. Revolutionizing the Cheap Salon Capes and Barber Capes Industry The business quickly picked up speed until Saloncapes.com was at the forefront of the wholesale salon apparel industry, providing high quality salon smocks at cheap salon capes prices. Ol' Blue Eyes started producing hair cutting capes and salon smocks and began to show them to local salon owners in South Florida. They were a little skeptical at first, but couldn't resist trying that BIG CAPE with the HUGE NECK, and they were even more intrigued by the wholesale prices he was offering despite the high quality material and construction.

The orders started pouring in and the salons and barber shop owners started requesting other items such as hair color capes, barber aprons, salon robes, and hair stylist aprons. Best of all, Ol' Blue Eyes didn't just make the salon apparel how he thought they should be made, but rather encouraged salon owners and hairdressers to tell him what they truly wanted in the items. He also questioned them about what frustrated them in the existing hair cutting capes, chemical capes, and salon smocks they currently used. This is why we say that Saloncapes.com garments are designed by salon professionals, for salon professionals… because many of our innovations have come from the suggestions (and frustrations) that our customers have encountered in their businesses. Meet Like Ol' Blue Eyes | Meet Like Ol’ Blue Eyes 'Do It Your Way' at Frank Sinatra's Favorite Hotels & Haunts Email Print The Frank Sinatra Centennial Exhibit by the Las Vegas News Bureau on display in the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Credit: Mark Damon/Las Vegas News Bureau Frank Sinatra’s rendition of “Fly Me to the Moon” was the first song ever heard from the moon when Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin played it on a cassette recorder after stepping onto the lunar surface in 1969. Fortunately, you don’t have to fly to the moon to play among the stars, or to meet and play in the places where the stars once played. Ol’ Blue Eyes frequented many of the great hotels across the country, singing in their famed lounges and cavorting with his cronies in the hotels’ well-known watering holes. Crowned by legions of critics and fans alike as “the greatest singer of the 20th century,” Sinatra was born on December 12, 1915, in Hoboken, New Jersey. Today, the man and his music are being celebrated from coast to coast to mark the 100th anniversary of his birth, reminding us that wherever corporate and incentive groups want to meet, there’s a hotel that exudes the style and panache Sinatra was known for. The moon? No. Las Vegas, LA, Chicago and New York? Absolutely.

Las Vegas Few cities had a more complex relationship with Sinatra and the Rat Pack than Las Vegas. Sinatra and The Strip rose together, and if it can’t be said that the singer made Las Vegas, it can be argued that he brought East Coast sophistication to a town rooted in the West. “For several glorious years, I had the chance to be associated with Frank Sinatra here in Las Vegas and also Atlantic City. Those moments and memories light up my life, even today.” — Steve Wynn Frank Sinatra and Las Vegas hotelier Steve Wynn were longtime friends. “For several glorious years, I had the chance to be associated with Frank Sinatra here in Las Vegas and also Atlantic City,” Wynn said in a statement. “Those moments and memories light up my life, even today.” Wynn Las Vegas and Encore are honoring Sinatra’s birthday in several ways, including a yearlong special five-course tasting menu at Sinatra at Encore, featuring many of the singer’s favorite Italian-American dishes. “This restaurant gives me a delicious opportunity to share Frank with my friends once more,” Wynn said. “I think he would dig this place.” The restaurant displays awards that showcase Sinatra’s long career and achievements, and plays a soundtrack of classic Sinatra music.

The Sahara Hotel opened in 1952. Its new tower in 1959 was the first high-rise on The Strip, setting the stage for what would come over the next half-century. Stars who performed at the Sahara are a who’s who of entertainment, and the hotel itself achieved stardom after appearing in the 1960 Rat Pack heist classic “Ocean’s 11.” The Sahara closed in 2011, and in 2014 the property reopened as sleek SLS Las Vegas. Mimi’s Cafe, part of Dallas-based restaurant group Le Duff America, booked its 2015 GM Leadership Conference at the hotel in February 2015, drawing 220 attendees. Tracy Cruz, senior manager, operations services, says Las Vegas worked because it’s affordable and a convenient location, and SLS Las Vegas was the perfect size. “It’s not too large a venue for our group size,” Cruz says. She also points to the hotel’s attributes, including that it offers excellent meeting space, provides a high level of service and has great dining options.

“SLS Las Vegas’ restaurants were definitely appealing,” Cruz notes, “as was our first site visit with Sasha Lee and Melanie. And the fact that the hotel had just opened and everything was new was a wow factor.” The hotel served as the primary venue. “Meeting spaces were perfect for our group. We used Foxtail Nightclub for our reception the first night and attendees still talk about that event,” Cruz says. “The attendees had a great time with good food, great drinks and a fun venue that opened up to the pool.” The group also hosted an awards dinner in its general-session space. “The room transformed beautifully,” Cruz says. “The staff was pleasant and quick with service. The food that was served for our dinner came from banquets and was delicious, and the service from the staff that night was quick and seamless.” To other planners considering a meeting at SLS Las Vegas, Cruz has two words: “Do it.” She calls the hotel a great venue, adding that, “The décor and rooms are very hip, trendy, unique and comfortable.” If there’s a downside, it’s how to top this event.

“They have set expectations high for our next conference.” Los Angeles The epitome of Golden Age glamor, the Beverly Hills Hotel was built in 1912, before there was even a city named Beverly Hills. In the 1940s the hotel received its now-famous pink exterior, and for decades the Polo Lounge has drawn Hollywood celebrities and business leaders. Sinatra and the Rat Pack infamously overindulged there in the 1960s. Sinatra liked to stay in the Paul Williams Suite (117), named for the architect who created the hotel’s logo and many of its signature venues. Today, the hotel melds classic and contemporary styles, offering 208 accommodations, 22,000 sf of indoor function space and 4,800 sf outdoors. Beth Braley, event planning specialist with Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, part of Daimler AG, set a September 2015 Dealer Appreciation Event for 40 attendees at the Beverly Hills Hotel. “Our attendees were all dealer principals/owners and as such live lifestyles similar to that of the residents of Beverly Hills,” she says.

“The location, culture and dining options worked very well for the group.” The hotel’s reputation for superior services and its location, history and renovated rooms played into the decision to hold the event there, and Braley calls the banquet staff “exceptional.” The welcome reception in the Sunset Ballroom was especially memorable. “The servers stood out,” she says. “The Sunset Ballroom is a great venue with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the pool. The size of the room was perfect for the group.” The only negative for Braley was a food and beverage minimum imposed for semi-private space at Bar Nineteen 12. “I felt this should not have been imposed as the bar was somewhat empty the nights the group was there. If this was an ultra-popular lounge, such at the Polo Lounge, then I would completely understand; however, the lounge was not losing any revenue by the group taking up a section of the space.” That said, Braley recommends the property without hesitation. “The entire experience,” she says, “was top notch.” New York and New Jersey Sinatra developed his cocky swagger and cool style growing up in gritty Hoboken, across the Hudson River from Manhattan.

Today, it’s one of Manhattan’s sought-after bedroom communities with a view of the city Manhattanites can only dream of. Margaret Frasher, regional administrative specialist with car brand Infiniti, calls Hoboken ideal for Infiniti East’s October 2015 organizational meeting with 35 attendees. “It all worked,” she says. “It was a combination of the convenient, fun location and beautiful setting on the Hudson River. The area was very safe and clean, and it was walking distance to great dining. Our group had a great time hopping from bar to bar.” The meeting was based at W Hoboken. “Everyone,” Frasher says, “was absolutely wonderful and very accommodating. Sherrin Thomas, first point of contact, was very pleasant and eager to work with our group. Ona Magnacavello has a wonderful personality, was easy to work with, made sure everything ran smoothly and was always checking in onsite. Julia Egli stayed on top of daily changes and updated me as far as room accommodations, and when we picked up the phone in the meeting room there was Christopher making everything better, like magic.” Meals were high on Frasher’s list of positives. “The breakfast was perfect but the lunch superseded my expectations.

We had the Fiesta package and among the things that stood out were the churros.” Monday evening’s welcome reception at Lulu’s went off without a hitch. “Everyone enjoyed the inside and outside areas since it turned out to be a beautiful night,” Frasher says, “and that really made it a great time.” She credits the team at the W for taking a lot of the pressure off. “The only suggestion I have for other planners is to not worry so much about it — any of it. The team at the W made sure that everything went smoothly.” While Sinatra was born in Hoboken, he made a name for himself in Manhattan and gave the city its enduring theme song. He wasn’t the first to sing “New York, New York,” but his version is the one most often heard at city events. The singer is closely associated with one of the most recognized addresses in the world, the Waldorf Astoria on Park Avenue. He performed three times a week in the Wedgewood Room, later called the Empire Room, and lived in the Cole Porter Suite (33A), a five-bedroom, 5.5 marble bath suite still in the hotel’s inventory.

The Waldorf Astoria New York has always been known for elegance and service, and that hasn’t changed. For Michael Taylor, president and CEO of Illinois-based M. J. Taylor & Company, whose clients include the American Football Coaches Foundation, the Waldorf is an exquisite venue — one he returns to time and again. “The American Football Coaches Foundation CEO Coach of the Year Dinner, which began in 2006, held its inaugural event at the Waldorf Astoria in the Grand Ballroom, and it continues to be held there,” he says. “The elegance, rich history and commitment to first-class service that exudes from the moment you walk through the doors and make your way to the main lobby create the type of experience we want for our event guests.” And when it comes to charitable events, the Waldorf has history. “The Waldorf is at the nucleus of where charitable events began in the United States when the original hotel opened in 1893,” Taylor says. “To be a part of that storied tradition is important to the American Football Coaches Foundation.” Taylor points to the hotel’s long list of illustrious guests, including royalty, presidents and leaders in the realms of business, politics, religion and sports.

In many ways the staff has been just as illustrious. “I have been working with the Waldorf staff since 1998,” Taylor says. “Many people have stood out for the American Football Coaches Foundation and for me. One person who embodied the history and character of the Waldorf was the former senior catering sales manager, Larry Amato, who was always quick to point out many historical pieces at the Waldorf. Jim Blauvelt made a great impression as well. From time to time he would smile and say, ‘Nothing is impossible at the Waldorf.’ I still get that feeling when I walk through the Park Avenue entrance.” The foundation’s primary event is set each year in the Grand Ballroom, and Taylor works with the hotel’s catering, décor, lighting and AV staffs. “Each one of these functions has been first-class in service and product,” he says.

“It is a luxury to have a team of dedicated people who are great at what they do but who can also change course quickly and adapt to new requests and changes without missing a step.” Taylor advises planners “to go beyond thinking about their event details and consider the opportunity to be part of the growing history that is the Waldorf.” Chicago Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel, the nation’s oldest continuously operating hotel, has hosted U.S. presidents, Charles Dickens and Oscar Wilde, among others. In 1933, the golden Empire Dining Room became an epicenter for entertainment, drawing such luminaries as Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Liberace and Sinatra. In recent years the hotel underwent a $170 million renovation, ensuring that it meets the needs and expectations of 21st century guests — guests such as the 450 attendees of Benjamin Moore & Company’s November 2014 North American sales conference. Lauren Errico, executive sales coordinator and analyst with the company, says they chose the hotel because of its staff, architecture, hospitality and prime location.

“We fell in love with the décor and meeting space throughout the hotel — the Grand Ballroom and Red Lacquer room made our event!” Errico says every staff member from the DOS down made the group feel welcomed and cared for. “You could tell that they are passionate about their jobs and their clients no matter how big or small the event. Staff that truly went above and beyond includes Flo Fougerouse, Jennifer Marszewski, Kevin Clifford, Sarac Vahap and all AV personnel. Because of their passion, it was an easy decision to return in 2016.” There was a challenge posed by having meeting spaces on different floors, but that became a positive. “The benefits of the architecture and location of the hotel outweighed the meeting space specs.” Errico says. “The hotel assured us that with their staff and blue-coat service, no attendee would ever feel lost. Staff members made sure attendees felt comfortable and knew where they were going at all times, some even bringing attendees to the appropriate space to make sure they were where they needed to be.” For Errico, the only surprise was the extraordinary dedication of the staff. “I didn’t know the dedication of the Palmer House team prior to our event,” she says.

“I know now that I am in great hands for 2016 and it will be as successful as our 2014 event.” Something all of these hotels have in common is an elite level of service and expertise. Groups can truly “do it their way” to paraphrase the song, with help from accomplished staff members. Sinatra would approve. C&IT Frank Sinatra dealing a Baccarat game at the Sands in 1959. Credit: Las Vegas News Bureau Three Sinatra movies were shot on location at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, where Ol’ Blue Eyes often performed. Credit: Terry O’Neill/Iconic Images Sinatra performing at the Waldorf Astoria, with an admiring Irving Berlin in the audience. Credit: The Waldorf Astoria More Sinatra Hot Spots LAS VEGAS “The Voice”began performing at Sands Hotel and Casino in 1953. One of his top albums, “Sinatra at the Sands,” was recorded live there in 1966, and like the Sahara, the Sands starred in the Rat Pack caper flick “Ocean’s 11.” The Sands was demolished in 1996.

In 1999, The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino mega-resort rose in its place. With a major renovation completed this year, The Venetian features 4,028 guest rooms and more than 2.25 million sf of convention space. After a feud with Howard Hughes who bought the Sands in the mid-1960s, Sinatra began singing at Caesars Palace, where he performed over many years. The hotel today has 3,960 guest rooms and 300,000 sf of meeting space. Sinatra’s final album, “Live From Las Vegas,” was recorded at the Golden Nugget but not released until after his death. The Golden Nugget Las Vegas has 2,419 rooms and 100,000 sf of meeting and event space. NEW YORK, NEW YORK Sinatra and friends often gathered in the top dining spots of whatever city they happened to be in. In New York, that included prohibition-era-speakeasy-turned-upscale-restaurant 21 Club and PJ Clarke’s, declared “the Vatican of saloons” by The New York Times, where Sinatra sat at table 20.

CHICAGO Before it was Ian Schrager’s Public Chicago, it was the swanky Ambassador East Hotel and home to the Pump Room, which began ushering in celebrities in 1938. Everyone from John Barrymore to Mick Jagger dined there, including Sinatra. The only place to sit: Booth One. Today, the reimagined Pump Room, helmed by James Beard-award-winning chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten (who customizes menus for private events), and the 285-room hotel provide a modern take on their rich heritage. You also can dine where Sinatra dined at Twin Anchors Restaurant & Tavern, opened in 1932 and a longtime favorite of the singer’s, and The Italian Village, where Sinatra celebrated one of his four wedding receptions, a fixture in Chicago since 1927. MIAMI Three Sinatra movies were filmed at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach: ”A Hole in the Head,” “Tony Rome” and “The Lady in Cement,” and Sinatra often performed in the hotel’s nightclub.

The Fontainebleau is marking Sinatra’s 100th birthday with events including the opening of the Frank Sinatra Photo Gallery, nightly toasts at the Bleau Bar, 1950s-inspired menus at the hotel’s restaurants and a Live Like Frank hotel package. With a design rivaling the extravagant fantasy of Hollywood sets, Eden Roc Resort Miami Beach opened in 1956 and immediately became a place to see and be seen. Sinatra and comedian Joe E. Lewis famously performed together there for two weeks in 1965. Today, the hotel’s 631 guest rooms and 70,000 sf of indoor and outdoor function space provide a striking setting for private meetings and events. Joining the list of iconic Miami Beach properties undergoing renovations is The Carillon Miami Beach, which opened in 1959 as The Carillon Hotel and regularly hosted Rat Pack entertainers Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. The Carillon, which was purchased and rebranded earlier this year as The Carillon Miami Beach by Z Capital Partners, will embark on an extensive property-wide $25 million renovation in spring 2016 to recapture a retro vibe, with a completion in winter 2016.

One of Miami’s most evocative venues is Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, where scenes from “Tony Rome” were filmed. The winter estate of James Deering, built along Biscayne Bay from 1910 to 1922, was modeled on an elaborate Italian villa. The National Historic Landmark provides an exquisite setting for private events of up to 300. LOS ANGELES The original Art Deco Sunset Tower Hotel has been a landmark since 1929. Among the celebrities who lived there were Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe, as well as gangster Bugsy Siegel. Sunset Tower Hotel features four event venues, including The Terrace, which accommodates up to 500 attendees in indoor/outdoor space with a private entrance off Sunset Boulevard. Sinatra aficionados can dine at Dominick’s, once a Rat Pack favorite and now returned to its Sinatra-era style, or Matteo’s Restaurant, another Rat Pack hangout where Sinatra once held court in a corner booth (station 8). Looking for a sweet amenity for attendees? Edelweiss Chocolate Factory in Beverly Hills is the longtime go-to handmade candy source for celebrities and presidents. Sinatra loved the maple creams.

LAKE TAHOE Historic Cal Neva Resort & Casino, once owned by Sinatra, is undergoing extensive renovation and is scheduled to reopen in spring 2016. The resort’s theater — The Showroom, originally imagined and built by Sinatra — will be carefully restored and upgraded. The 191-room hotel will have 16,000 sf of private event space. The resort straddles the California-Nevada state line from its enviable perch on Crystal Bay. PALM SPRINGS Palm Springs was Sinatra’s enduring haven. As an article in Architectural Digest put it, “Except for his music and his family, Sinatra loved the desert community at the foot of the San Jacinto Mountains longer than he loved anything or anyone else.” Frank Sinatra Drive, where the Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage sits, and the highly regarded Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center, which serves physically, sexually and emotionally abused children, are enduring reminders of his legacy in the city. Sinatra spent time at several hotels, including the Riviera Palm Springs, where he and his friends gathered and where he hosted charity fundraisers for which he donned an apron and cooked up pasta sauce in the Riviera kitchen.

This year, the Riviera is offering a “take over the property” $1 million buyout, during which a group can evoke the heady days of the Rat Pack and other Hollywood elite. The Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism has put together a special itinerary so fans can follow in the Chairman of the Board’s footsteps. It includes Twin Palm Estates where he spent time with Ava Gardener, The Purple Room where he proposed to fourth and final wife, Barbara Marx, and Melvyn’s Restaurant & Lounge at the Ingleside Inn, where the couple threw a pre-wedding party.  — CL how to 1000+ images about Ol' Blue Eyes on Pinterest | Jazz, My way and Eartha kitt Pinterest • The world’s catalog of ideas Ol' Blue Eyes

Question: Who was known as "Ol' Blue Eyes"?
Answer: Frank Sinatra