Frank Sinatra Fighting With Casino Executives

Sinatra in two infamous fights at two iconic casinos.
Other Channel: ‪@VegasVisualTheater‬
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[@VegasVisual]

“I never really was a street fighter. I never fought one street. My fights became street fights - we started in the saloons and then we went out into the streets.” Frank Sinatra “The Way You Wear Your Hat: Frank Sinatra and the Lost Art of Livin’” By Bill Zehme

[@akrenwinkle]

Lauren Bacall's remark right here on YT: "Frank couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag. Have you seen him?" There's a lot of folklore about Frank that's accepted as truth, and being a brawler is one of them. The confrontation with Cohen is one of the rare times Frank wasn't in the middle of a scrum of bodyguards, and the result was predictable.

[@VegasVisual]

@@akrenwinkle Thanks for the quote.

[@akrenwinkle]

@@VegasVisual I know a lot of quotes by and about Frank, but my #1 favorite is what Frank told a female Korean-American croupier in Atlantic city when she, too, made the terrible mistake of not bending the rules for him: "You don't like it, go back to China!"

[@VegasVisual]

@@akrenwinkle wow!

[@chairlesnicol672]

Sinatra lived in Palm Springs as well!​@@VegasVisual

[@DrMatey215]

I've heard bits and pieces of this legendary era in Nevada gaming, but thanks for laying out this whole episode. Very interesting.:)

[@VegasVisual]

Most welcome!

[@simonsouth6184]

So interesting V.V. love these vlogs... I managed to slip in an emergency exit when Sinatra was in concert in London in the early 90's !!!😂😂 I saw him sing the last 2 numbers !!! A nite I will never forget .. 😁🇬🇧👍

[@VegasVisual]

I'm glad you got to see Sinatra Simon. Your night with Sinatra would make a great vlog!

[@LaMostraVia]

This is solid gold! I’ve never heard these stories. Hilarious stuff 🤣

[@VegasVisual]

Sinatra had another side when he was drunk, which was likely the case with both fights.

[@GamblinGranny]

This was fun to watch and listen to all that amazing history. As always thanks Kevin 🎉🎉

[@VegasVisual]

Thank you for being at the "missing files" premiere Granny.

[@marcd3659]

Frank suffered from a severe case of “little Man Syndrome”

[@VegasVisual]

He suffered from something.

[@joseyeastwood]

I heard Sinatra had a very bad temper, but welshing on bets and getting his fronts knocked out of his mouth gave me an entirely different picture of the man great video man.

[@VegasVisual]

Thank you, Sinatra had a dark side for sure.

[@FrontiersmanAdventures]

Brilliant! Excellent. I really enjoyed this!

[@VegasVisual]

Thank you Walt for watching.

[@Mr.CireSoprano]

I am always TEAM SINATRA since I was a 10 year old KID. It's just how crazy things wete back then. You never know what makes somebody tick.

[@VegasVisual]

Sinatra had two opposing sides, good and bad.

[@Blair_G]

Very interesting video. As always, you do great work VV 👍

[@VegasVisual]

Thank you Blair.

[@TomE-11]

Nice job. loved the picture of Frank and JFK

[@VegasVisual]

Thanks, I decided to add that iconic photo at the last moment. Sinatra & JFK had a long history together but I was hesitant to include that photo even at the end because JFK had nothing to do with both fights.

[@texcoast44]

Great vid! A+

[@VegasVisual]

Thank you!

[@Curlyblonde]

Carl Cohen was a "Made Man" in the Mafia and was one of the Chief Overseers in Vegas for "The Family". That is why he got away with hitting Frank and injuring him without repercussions. Frank knew that and was aware that he could not fight Carl back without major blowback, so he did not strike him back as he would have liked to and would have done with anyone else. Wherever Frank went, there was always brawls, damaged furniture, thrown food, broken doors and holes in the walls, along with abused staff who were sometimes also assaulted. Even for his Mob connections, he was an expensive, time-consuming, drama-filled "friend". At a certain point, especially when Sam Giancana was no longer around to back him up, Frank antics became too much for them. He was biting the hand that fed him.

[@VegasVisual]

That would be Frank, if Sinatra wasn't so popular with the general public he would not have gotten away with so much.

[@her2999]

Wwow. Bombshelly for those of us that were not aware of the full picture, it's packed full of so much information,, im going for another watch

[@VegasVisual]

Thank you for watching.

[@edgarsnake2857]

Great video. Frank was great at his profession, but no one likes a mean drunk.

[@VegasVisual]

Thanks, very true about Frank.

[@ronniec80011]

Great video with or without all of the pictures.

[@VegasVisual]

Thanks Ronnie.

[@tomlewis5542]

Grrrreat work!

[@VegasVisual]

Thank you!

[@DATo_DATonian]

18:37 I never understood, and I never will, how anyone who sings like _this_ was always considered to have a "great" voice. Now, Dean Martin ... DEFINITELY ... but not this guy. There must be a million guys who aren't even in show business who can sing better than Frankie.

[@VegasVisual]

Sinatra was a great entertainer, his voice quality does not match his popularity.

[@MrCtsSteve]

Totally agree ...Dean Martin could sing . The man had a beautiful voice .

[@tw364]

@@VegasVisual You obviously are clueless about singing. Stick to your mob stories.

[@VegasVisual]

@@tw364 The only point being made is that Sinatra's popularity was better, stronger, than his voice quality. I should have said Sinatra's popularity is greater than his singing even though is singing is very good. If Sammy Davis Jr. was white and 6' 0" he would have been the leader of the group. Sammy was a better singer.

[@ThomasQuigley-b1b]

Drummer Buddy Rich had sinatra beaten bloody between sets in about 1937 New Jersey. Played the set black and blue.

[@VegasVisual]

Wow!

[@akrenwinkle]

You have it backwards. I don't know what year it was, certainly later, but Frank had Buddy hit with a manhole cover. It was Frank's custom to have someone do these things for him. At one time, he had a beef with a casual girlfriend because she did the unthinkable- made a remark about politics. He had someone ring her doorbell, then pied her.

[@ThomasQuigley-b1b]

@@akrenwinkle The two things probably have a lot to do with each other. I got it from Buddy's biography; "Traps the drum wonder." Have a good evening sir.

[@ThomasQuigley-b1b]

@@akrenwinkle Ok man, no argument here. Supposedly this happened in the early 1930's in Atlantic city I think. Pretty sure they were in their twenties and not friends either way = didn't like the slow ballads. Buddy was known to be a total jerk all his life and his band notoriously disliked him. Funny note = later in life a band member had a cassette tape recorder on Buddy's bus and recorded a Buddy meltdown on tape at the band. It's on KZbin. We have no argument man. It's just funny. Please have a good night sir.

[@akrenwinkle]

@@ThomasQuigley-b1b Great talents like Buddy Rich and Mel Torme were almost always unpleasant, to say the least. But Frank, a bigger star than them combined, prided himself on absurdities that required us not to believe our own eyes and ears. His artistry was very real; everything else was phony.

[@texadonkey34]

Wow, this was fantastic. The best part was seeing Kenny Epstein in the video. He is Mr. Vegas 👍🎉👑. I was lucky enough to meet Kenny on my last trip in March. Sinatra could sing, but I wouldn’t tangle with him😳. Ava’s story is sad, she left the US & died in Mexico. Her housekeeper/assistant inherited everything. 🥹

[@VegasVisual]

I knew about the Caesars fight but I didn't realize that Kenny Epstein was the pit boss at Caesars during the fight until I read the oral history of Kenny Epstein awhile back.

[@texadonkey34]

hey VV, did you look into the David Berman mobster that ran the El Cortez after Bugsy left for Flamingo. His daughter was murdered by the crazy killer Robert Durst. Berman dedicated money for a Jewish synagogue in Vegas. I think his plaque is still there. He wanted to prove that Vegas has good hospitals back in the day and had heart surgery. He died on the table. Sad stuff. Bermans daughter wrote a good Vegas book. I gave a copy to Adam the el Cortez general manager. 👍😄

[@ryann.9636]

More more more!

[@VegasVisual]

Next video should be next Thursday.

[@ryann.9636]

@@VegasVisualTY!

[@TomE-11]

Hey VV...Though in a couple of recalls and FBI Memo...Sinatra lost his teeth to Cohen 3 different ways 🤔🤣

[@VegasVisual]

I have been sitting on this project for awhile because there are several sources that have different versions of the Sands fight between Cohen and Sands.

[@tonyd7601]

This whole thing sounds like Woltz and Johnnie Fontaigne in The Godfather. Except it came out the opposite way. I guess Mr Hughes was a real gangster.

[@VegasVisual]

Thanks for watching.

[@tonyd7601]

@@VegasVisual thank for the awesome video.

[@robertwomack6015]

Mean drunk for sure

[@VegasVisual]

Sinatra was a different person drunk.

[@KB-eo9bu]

There was a Story about Robert Mitchum Sleeping with Ava Gardner Franks Second Wife and Mitchum was asked if he Could take Sinatra in a Fight .Mitchum was a Pretty good Fighter but he Said I Really don't want to Fight Frank cause even if i Beat Him he would keep on Coming Another Day Week or Month and Mitchum didn't want that!

[@VegasVisual]

Very interesting!

[@rchbishop-l6h]

Bravo! This was fantastic! Like and subscribe everyone! Great vid!

[@VegasVisual]

Thank you!

[@MichelleJones-dh1ry]

Yeah I knew he was a hot head and somewhat of a bully, but I've never heard the story of him having his two front teeth knocked out 😊 Also wasn't really really aware of the tension between him and Howard Hughes that's crazy 😊 I still love Frank he was a phenomenal singer and performer. ❤

[@VegasVisual]

Frank was one of the best entertainer of all time but you didn't want to cross him, especially when he consumed adult beverages.

[@davidcrowder5679]

Nothing but a punk.

[@VegasVisual]

Frank was a punk and more.

[@edgarsnake2857]

He was a punk...who could sing his ass off.

[@davidcrowder5679]

@@edgarsnake2857 still a punk..

[@NickBottaro-j9k]

From my personal experiences with Frank Sinatra, I contributed a reply, comment, and several facts to this post. It's not to be found here anywhere, so I guess opposing views are not acceptable.

[@akrenwinkle]

You may have used a word that sets off the algorithm. I'm on these boards a lot, and still occasionally find out a word I thought was perfectly benign could trigger the very prim robot censor.

[@VegasVisual]

Not sure what happened.

[@VegasVisual]

This along with magically being unsubscribed to channels is frustrating.

[@MarisaAstorino-rl4oh]

Per favore mettete la traduzione mi fa' piacere capire

[@VegasVisual]

I'm not sure how to do that.

[@GanondorfsWife]

Huh... No wonder he sang My Way.

[@VegasVisual]

Quality comment.

[@GPW787]

Sinatra was a thug.

[@VegasVisual]

At times he was.

[@richardsimms251]

Sinatra has an abnormal personality

[@VegasVisual]

That would be true.

[@Djm8520]

“The FBI said…” That phrase has lost all meaning and credibility!

[@VegasVisual]

This is why I try to show the source of the information and let the viewer decide what they think of the information.

[@AnnacolleenEtters]

I love his voice, and the songs he added them to, but sounds like he had a massive tantrum, and liked to throw his weight around. If more people had known, he wouldn't have had as much money. I wish people would've stopped tolerating this behavior long ago. As far as his daughters comparison: doing something good for sick children, does not release one from decent, adult behavior

[@VegasVisual]

Spot on. To be frank, Sinatra would not have gotten away with so much if he was an entertainer today. Frank would have a different reputation if he was singing on the Strip in 2024.

[@WILLIAM1690WALES]

Sinatra did have power in Las Vegas in the 1950s, but don’t conveniently forget the power of Howard Hughes in conjunction with the Mormons who are behind a lot of the financing of Vegas in the early days?

[@VegasVisual]

The Mormons and the Mob built Vegas. On June 14, 1855 the Mormons arrived in Las Vegas to build their mission, part of which still exists downtown. Las Vegas Historical Moments: 1800's: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3S4e5Wifs-lg6Msi=OuP475o2Z6zsSg9g

[@angloaust1575]

He had trouble in australia 1974 the unions banned his Travel plans until they received an apology about his remarks On women The union.president bob hawke managed to negotiate A sort of compromise and Sinatra was allowed to fly out!

[@VegasVisual]

I didn't know that, thanks for the information.

[@marksamuelsen2750]

I’m kinda surprised that Elon Musk has not gotten into Las Vegas. I hope he eventually does because it would be exciting!!

[@VegasVisual]

Musk does have the Tesla Loop system that the Boring Company is building.

[@juanitawebb6102]

Trump told you , I did it my way

[@VegasVisual]

Thanks for watching.

[@bluzzedude8111]

He made a Jewish slur to the casino mgr and he punched him in the mouth.

[@VegasVisual]

Not a nice guy,

[@chezzachezza7325]

Mr mob Sinatra

[@VegasVisual]

The Mob protected Sinatra and in some ways made him.

[@zcvxs]

Ryan Garcia could easily b Sinatra in a movie

[@VegasVisual]

These two fights would make a great movie.

[@gino423]

Frank and his crew especially the original Oceans 11 crew Rocked.....i could give a fuck what he did off the clock.....REMEMBER ITS ENTERTAINMENT

[@VegasVisual]

Reasonable take.

[@petercole8798]

Today I saw a poor guy in a wheelchair with a half of body on oxygen, he was born with some kind of birth Defects. Then I look at Sinatra and successfully people who have everything money Fame Wealth and I think What kind of world is this. I mean I'm normal poor but have my heath. I just can't Figure out why some are more Lucky than others.

[@VegasVisual]

Different people from different backgrounds and lives. It's a combination of things

[@petercole8798]

@@VegasVisual well I beg to Differ. I just used frank sinatra as a example. I liked his movies Tony rome von Ryan's express none but the brave here to eternity.

[@STIFFLER............5]

😳 You can't figure out simple things?! Can you sing into a microphone while holding a glass of jack Daniel's and a cigarette? No you can't. That's why YOU aren't frank Sinatra. Get it? It's not luck. It's skill. Lol.

[@davedammann741]

Sinatra is not evan close as a talented vocalist.

[@VegasVisual]

Thanks for watching!

[@RodCalidge]

I could never stand the guy and always thought he was a fake tough guy.

[@VegasVisual]

Many people wouldn't like him so much if they knew his dark side. Sinatra is someone you have to remove the personal from the professional to enjoy.

[@Dingo-wc7my]

Sinatra was a good entertainer, but wasn't even a good crooner

[@VegasVisual]

He was certainly a better entertainer than singer.

[@jettsteari3062]

sinatra was always a tough guy wannabee

[@VegasVisual]

Sinatra liked being friends with the Mob.

[@smartbomb7202]

scrawny little man and wanna be tough guy

[@VegasVisual]

Sinatra was difficult to deal with at times, especially when he was drunk.

[@Prfdt3]

Frank had loads and loads of talent he was a perfectionist too.i will always be a fan of his.

[@STIFFLER............5]

😐 that's how it goes with gangster singers who hang out with real gangsters. Like every 5 foot tall rapper. Lol.