Frank Sinatra was the greatest entertainer The Sands ever had.

In the casino, he could, at times, be very difficult to handle. It depended on the mood he was in that night. He was a very volatile man because he let his emotions right out. He sang and played to the hilt. He didn't play near as much in the casino as people thought he did. Most people I hear talking don't realize he was at the Sands to work. He did two shows a night. He sang in the Copa Room, which was a show room designed a lot like a nightclub. The audience did a lot of drinking and smoking, making it a very difficult room to work. Frank had to be in great shape to do all these shows. And he was. He did a great job.

I cannot easily explain or describe (I ain't no writer) the atmosphere he would create to get to and reach everyone in that audience. Remember, the room is filled with loyal fans, casino high rollers (who either had won or lost a lot of money), some tourists who just want to see him sing, and a few drunks and malcontents who might cause trouble. Frank brought them all in. You might have a stockbroker from N.Y. at one table next to some bookmakers from Pittsburg next to some accountant next to a Catholic priest next to some woman who adored him. Every night, we in the casino watched the different kinds of people who would come to see Frank. It was very tough to get into. In the early days, The Copa Room only sat around 350. Everyone in the room felt a bit special just being there.

For 2 or 3 weeks (depending on how long he was in that time), he did two shows a night every night without a miss, and the people who were lucky enough to see these shows all walked out feeling they had just seen one of the greatest shows in their life.

And they were right.

I could tell many stories of the things I saw. Frank reached a lot of people, from all walks of life. I know, I got a lot of them in to see him.

I have a good casino player (bets high and plays a lot) at the 21 tables. He is very drunk and angry at the dealer (me) and the whole world. He is cursing and yelling at his wife and us in the casino. He is very drunk. He is like this most of the time he is at the Sands. I call Bucky Harris over to handle, no good. Call Carl Cohen over. Carl and I talk him away from the table and as we are walking to the restaurant, his wife wants to go see Frank. I go and set it up. So we think we have it under control. I got the wife in the showroom and the player in the restaurant getting some black coffee. But the guy leaves the restaurant and goes after his wife and ends up going in the showroom. Because he is a big player he is allowed right in and goes down to the front row to the "casino table" that is there for people we send in. I'm afraid there will be bedlam when Frank comes on and this guy starts his shit. I go in to the showroom to get him out and as I go down to the front, Frank comes out. So I move to the back. Frank comes out and with no formal intro, music starts, he sings the first song and at the end says, "Hi, I'm Frank Sinatra" and of course he's got them.

The guy in front yells something out, there is silence. I don't know if I should move in or not. Frank, like only he can, looks down at the man, eye to eye and says "Listen buddy, be nice - I work alone." The man sits up straight and Frank does his work.

When the guy comes out I talk to him. He IS COLD SOBER. I mean he doesn't look like he has been drinking at all. He is now dead sober and alert and talking with love and consideration to his wife and me. He is a changed man.

I have seen this man many times since through the years at the Sands and never saw him abuse or mistreat his wife again. I personally made the reservations for him whenever Frank came in.

I've seen Frank do this and other amazing things over the years.