It's December 1960, Sinatra and the guys are filming Ocean's Eleven at the Sands. Rickles is in the Sahara lounge, I know your read it happened in the main room but that book is not correct. Rickles did not go into the Main room till the mid 60's. So he's doing his usual 5 shows a night. 8,10,midnight,2 and 4am. These guys worked hard in those days. Rickles was a hot act, very much talked about because of his "insults". He was very clever and very good at what he did.

So one night after the last show at The Sands, Sinatra and a group of guys go down to see Rickles. I had heard Sinatra has seen Rickles one or twice in LA but nothing out of the ordinary happened.

I missed the first night but I caught the second time they connected and of course many, many times after that.

This is what happned the first night. It's around 3am. Sinatra and the guys have completed all the mainroom shows at the Sands and go down the Strip to the Sahara and into the lounge.

As they come in, Rickles is on stage, Sinatra comes in with, as I remember it, Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis, Joey Bishop, Hank Henry, Henry Silva. Rickles sees them and starts right in. "What are you guys lost? This isn't the Sands. Honey, (to the cocktail waitress) get them a drink. You guys do drink, don't you?" The audience is laughing a bit.

Sinatra and the guys do not break a smile. "Frank, buy them a drink you got plenty of money" Lawford gives the girl some money. "Hey that's good Frank, you got him trained" Lawford is still standing after tipping the girl. "Peter, you can sit down now." "Frank, let Peter sit down." Lawford sits down. "Very nice, Peter, now be a good boy and Frank will let you live." There is a uncomfortable feeling in the room. Almost a complete silence.No one is sure what is going to happen. They can't believe Rickles is taking on Sinatra. The casino guys move from the Pit to the back of the lounge. They realize they better keep an eye on this. They are worried Sinatra is going to lose it and the will be a fucking war.

Rickles doesn't stop. He turns his back to the audience, talking out loud to his backup band. "Is Frank smiling? See any guns? He starts shooting, everybody duck."

Sinatra starts laughing out loud. He is really enjoying this. Everyone is laughing now, many just out of relief.

Rickles keeps on comming with some very funny and inside stuff.

This is how they first connected.

That meeting caused quite a stir.

The whole town talked about it. A few days later, Frank and his group go again to see the Rickles show. The 2am show. This time I make sure I am there.

I will give more detail here as I was present this time. Frank got there early. When I arrive he is already seated down front. I sit in a booth in the back. Rickles comes on. Remember this is the tiny stage behind the bar. You saw it in Ocean's Eleven when Dean sings to the two woman and gets up and goes across the bar plank to leave.

Rickles goes into his act. He starts "insulting" some people in the room and doing his usual. "Excuse me sir, what is you nationality? I know it's a big word. Seriously where are you from" (Of course he picking out people on purpose.) Guy answers "Mexico". Rickles, "Please check this guys papers." He spots a very pretty girl "Lady, you here on vacation? (she says something.) "Sure, you are and the guy with is just a friend." "Excuse me sir, you have taken shots, right?"He gets around to Sinatra and the guys.

"Frank, you're back. Can I start my car myself now?"

"Richard, (Conte, the actor,) It's over. Nobody goes to your movies anymore. Can I tell you something, I mean seriously, you can't act. Go home and watch TV like old people do."All the guys are laughing at this."Frank, don't laugh, you're no spring chicken.""Dear" (he's talking to Shirley Maclaine, sitting next to Frank. I don't think he recognizes her.) "Dear, how does it feel to be with Frank Sinatra. He's going to put you in the movie. Sure he is." "Frank, can't you find somebody your own age.""Honey, how old are you? Let me see your ID"Everyone is laughing out loud. It's a nervous laughter. Sinatra and the guys love it. It's the audience that is worried how far is Rickles going to go with Frank.

"Oh, Richard (Conte) you like playing tough guys, gangsters. Now does it feel to be with a real one?"

"Tell him Frank, the guys at the Sands who speak funny and have those bulges under their jackets are really boyscouts. Right Frank?"

"Sammy, you get permission to be out this late?"

"Peter, (Lawford) it's alright to laugh. Frank says it's ok." "Joey, (Bishop who tend to be so serious, in person) relax, you in with the big guys, Frank likes you, can't you tell by the big part you got in the movie." Joey is not laughing, Frank and Sammy are on the floor.

"Frank, don't worry, while your here, Dean is at the Sands, telling the woman he just auditioning them for the movie."

He does this kind of thing for an hour. An amazing thing to see.

He starts ending his act as usual with his "explanation". "Show business is my life.....I pick on the big people, not the small ones.....We can all laugh at ourselves......."

He starts getting serious. This is not the loud, insulting guy he does in his act but the soft, really nice guy he is off stage."Ladies and gentleman, I want to introduce some people that are here tonight. You have probably saw in the papers that I insulted these guys. I didn't know if they would be back., I didn't know if I was in trouble. I didn't know if I would be back." Rickles is very serious.

He, so nicely introduces some of the people. "Ladies and Gentleman. a true movie star. Richard, I have watched your movies all my life and I admire you skill. A big hand for Richard Conte."

Ladies and gentlemen, (he has been told or now recognizes Shirley Maclaine) a great young actress.............

Ladies and gentlemen, one of the great entertainers that regularly plays the Sands.......... Sammy Davis Jr.

He introduces some others and saves Sinatra for last."Ladies and gentlemen, there is a man is the audience I want to thank."Remember this was before Rickles was the major star he is now. He was now only a up and comming act, trying to make it in Vegas and he is going toe to toe with the supreme heavyweight of the town. The papers had a story about Rickles "insulting" Sinatra etc.... Lets not kid ourselves, if there is a war. Rickles will lose, certain people in this town will order Rickles out and he will go. But Sinatra is really a champion of the underdog. He takes the blows and Rickles is so thankful."Frank, thanks for coming back. You are one of the great artists of our time. I know you get bad press. I do too. I'm not in your league but they will write that I said something just to hurt someone. You know that I wouldn't do that"Rickles in very serious and close to tears. He is talking directly at Sinatra."Frank, you know I appreciate your comming in and I will never, never forget it."

Sinatra is visibly moved. The audience is very silent.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please help me thank him for being here. Ladies and gentlemen, appearing at the Sands, Mr. Frank Sinatra."

The place erupts in applause. Frank get up and waves to everyone. By now the lounge is packed and many people have left the casino games and are at the back watching it all. They are all applauding.

Frank sits down and everyone else is standing and clapping. It goes on for 3-4 minutes. It's still going strong.

The show over, no Rickles takes the mike, "Let's keep it down. Don't encourage him. He will never leave. ........ Frank you need to to go back to the Sands.... Sammy show him the way out. Jesus looked who I picked, they follow Sammy, they'll be bumping into walls..."

Now Sammy and Frank are doubled over in laughter. Frank is falling out of his chair Rickles won't let up. "Frank, get off you knees, it doesn't look good."

"Richard, help Frank get up. Show him the way out." They all get up and are heading out. There leaving. "Ladies and gentlemen lets thank them for helping out. All great stars and of course, Frank Sinatra."

They are all leaving, their at the entrance to the lounge, Rickles very politely says " Mr. Sinatra, can I say something?" Sinatra stops and turns around expecting a nice goodby.

"Frank, when you come back, don't come back with that riff-raff."

Sinatra, caught by surprise, laughs and yells, "you, son of a bitch."

They all head out.

Of course, this combat between the two becomes the talk of town.

Rickles becomes a big lounge star and eventually moves into the Main room where he does fantastic business for every Vegas Casino/Hotel lucky to get him.

It becomes a "thing" in Vegas for stars and entertainers to come to the late shows Rickles does. I've seen many and Don never fails to nail them and yet they go out laughing.

Rickles is right, laughter is so important. If you get too big to laugh at yourself then your going to become too serious and tight and not be able to bend with the blows of this life.

I've seen many a person go to a Sands show and come out laughing.

They are happier and healthier and many look years younger.

Don Rickles is a true treasure. He deals in making people laugh. He is one of the Vegas heavyweights. This town and especiallly us casino Pit Bosses owe him a lot.

We in the casino business consider him a really nice, easy guy to deal with. He is very honorable.

But I promise you, if Frank and Rickles meet anywhere, they will go at it. And they love it. We in Vegas were so fortunate to see so many of these encounters. I for one, will never forget them.

For those that have never been here, I hope you got a small picture of some the things that could happen in those days. For the many who have seen these two in action, I hope I've brought back some nice memories.

... Here's another story with these two guys:

It's about July 1996 or so . Frank is in at the Sands, he's has Mia with him. He appears very happy and content. Mia looks so fragile, so bewildered by this Vegas scene. But they are both happy and of course Frank is in the Copa Room and doing the great job, only he does. So we in the Casino are very pleased.

I've been asked about some the outrageous things Rickles has done that no one else has. The following actually happened.

So... After a show one night, the early show, Frank and Mia are talking to Carl Cohen. There standing near the lobby, next to the door to the backstage area. Of course there is a crowd of people standing nearby getting a glimpse of Sinatra.

Sinatra is as usual, looking just great. He has on a custom tailored Tux, probably by Sy Devore. A custom shirt, probably by Nat Wise. Custom tailored shoes. He is immaculate as usual.

I walk up to them to say something to Carl Cohen about a customer. As I'm talking, Rickles comes through the crowd, up to us and looks at all of us and then right at Frank, and says "Frank, you look terrible, you have to dress better." He actually grabs Frank's hand and continues " I'm serious Frank, It's getting embarrassing."

Mia is shocked, has her hand to her face. She's not sure this is all real or not.

Rickles looks at Carl, "Carl, how can you let a guy like him in here?"

Back to Sinatra, " Frank, you need some clothes, just ask me."

And he walks off, through the crowd....

Rickles loves it and so does Frank.