Sinatra Still Does it His Way
by Nate Teisman
What the hell has happened to men? Ever since feminists declared war on the penocrity, many men have lost their bearings in society. Many, in rebellion, became beer cancrushing, fratboy types. Others totally surrendered and became overly sensitive, effeminate wimps. A majority wander the gender desert as refugees of the battle of the sexes which, by the way, we lost. We need a leader. A man who is larger than life. Someone who did it his way. We need Frank Sinatra.
In Esquire writer Bill Zehme's new book The Way You Wear Your Hat: Frank Sinatra and the Lost Art of Livin', Frank comes down from the mountain, like Moses from Sinai, to lay down his commandments of coolness. Why did Zehme write this book? He writes, "Men had gone soft and needed help, needed a Leader, need Frank Sinatra. I wanted to ask him the essential questions, the kind that could save a guy's life. I wanted what might approximate Frank's rules of order." Why did Frank do it? "I think my real ambition is to pass on to others what I know. It took me a long, long time to learn what I now know, and I don't want that to die with me. I'd like to pass that on to younger people."
What sets this book apart from other biographical accounts is the incredibly minutelydetailed account of Frank's everyday life. The reader gets a sense of what makes the Chairman of the Board tick. The majority of the book is culled from a fax relationship Zehme and Sinatra shared. The rest is taken from interviews with Frank's intimates and family. From all this, Zehme details Frank's views on life, love, style, friendship, and the neverending quest for ring-a-ding-ding.
Here is a sampling of Frank's wisdom:
ON BOOZE: "Martinis were to be taken seriously and made perfectly dry. Once, in 1949, he slugged a belligerent bartender who told him, 'If you want it so special, mix it yourself.'" And what does Frank think of men drinking white wine? "I don't drink that sissy stuff, for Christ's sake!" Frank prefers Jack Daniel's.
ON MANNERS: "I notice today that good manners like standing up when a woman enters the room ... letting her enter the elevator first, taking her arm to cross the street are sometimes considered unnecessary throwbacks. These are habits I could never break, nor would I want to ... no woman is offended by politeness."
ON SMOKING: "How does a smoker prevail in a world of nonsmokers? 'Tell'em, you die your way, I'll die mine.'"
ON STYLE: "I am a symmetrical man, almost to a fault. I demand everything in its place. My clothing must hang just so."
ON BROADS: "I'm supposed to a have a Ph.D. on the subject of women. But the truth is I've flunked more often than not. I'm very fond of women. I admire them. But like all men, I don't understand them."
Flanked by the legendary Rat Pack consisting of Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop Frank made the world his personal playground. The men that surrounded him strove to emulate his style and largesse. Women wanted him and men wanted to be him. Frank was "a nucleus among men his men especially he lent out the hubris, covered every ass, cleared the forest, rigged the tempo, made the rules."
Frank lived life on his own terms, which now considered selfish. But selfish is the last thing Frank was. His generosity and loyalty toward his friends and even complete strangers was unparalleled. Once actor George Raft found himself owing the IRS $80, 000 in back taxes. Without even blinking, Sinatra gave him a blank check. In most cases, his altruistic deeds were anonymous: the true mark of charity. Pope Paul VI told Sinatra's mother, who was visiting Rome, that her son was very close to God because he did His work and did not talk about it.
No man ever lived life more stylishly or confidently than Frank Sinatra. This legacy of his wisdom is the best gift Frank could leave this younger generation of men who seem hopelessly lost. Frank's best advice: "You've got to love livin', baby, because dyin' is a pain in the ass!" To praise the book in Rat Packspeak: For all you Harveys and Bunters out there, this clyde is your guaranteed ticket out of dullsville. Follow the Leader's rules and you'll be gasser ready for some ring-a-ding-ding and if you're lucky, a little hey-hey. MR