Almost killed a prominent millionaire in a Beverly Hills brawl was Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin's friend, according to an author.
In his new book 'Beverly Hills Noir: Crime, Sin, & Scandal in 90210,' Scott Huver examines several true-crime scandals.
In Beverly Hills, a barroom brawl between Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin nearly resulted in a fatality, and the specifics of the incident remain unclear to this day.
A new book by Scott Huver, a longtime People magazine contributor, titled "Beverly Hills Noir: Crime, Sin, & Scandal in 90210," delves into some of the most shocking events that have taken place in the glamorous city.
"Huver stated to Planet Chronicle Digital that these two men were the most popular, well-paid, and iconic in 1966 when the incident occurred."
Huver stated that a minor incident like a few hurtful words and derogatory comments exchanged in a bar could escalate to a physical confrontation that jeopardized their careers if things took a dark turn.
"Both men's careers have a little-explored facet that centers on a night that should have been a celebration for Dean's 49th birthday."
On the evening of June 8, 1966, Sinatra, Martin, Jilly Rizzo, Richard Conte, and numerous women were present at the Polo Lounge.
At a booth, sat Frederick Rand Weisman, a notable art collector and ex-president of Hunt's Food, along with businessman Franklin H. Fox. After just 10 minutes, Weisman became increasingly irritated by the boisterous laughter of the famous attendees.
Weisman bravely requested that Sinatra and his companions tone down.
Huver wrote that Sinatra claimed Weisman told him, "You speak too loudly and your friends are also loudmouthed," before using "certain derogatory words that Italian Americans often find offensive."
Some alleged that Weisman reprimanded Sinatra for employing vulgar language in the presence of women.
Weisman allegedly assaulted Sinatra, causing him to fall and break the base of a cocktail table. Sinatra later claimed that Weisman had made an antisemitic remark before the incident.
Kitty Kelly, Sinatra's biographer, claimed that Fox stormed out of the room when things escalated.
Reports indicate that Fox and a hotel security guard attempted to separate the two men as Martin implored, "Let's leave, Frank!" At that moment, Sinatra threw one of the boothside telephones at Weisman, causing him to lose consciousness.
Huver's book suggests that Weisman may have fallen after everyone lunged at each other. However, it is certain that Weisman landed on the floor and was lying flat on his back with an upturned ashtray, a cast-off tablecloth, and broken crystal around him. He was snoring and did not get up.
According to Huver, Frank and Dean's language was objected to by Weisman, resulting in a typical barroom confrontation.
"The exact sequence of events leading to Frederick Weisman being clobbered over the head with a pink telephone in the Polo Lounge is unclear. However, it is known that the incident occurred in the lounge's booths."
"Huver continued, "He was revived but soon fell into a coma again. He was hospitalized and underwent surgery. The situation could have been dire; he might have even died. It was during this time that Frank and Dean left Los Angeles to wait for the news while the police investigated. This is where we encounter conflicting stories because no one witnessed the exact events that transpired.""
"Nobody gave the same story," Huver added.
The book states that Weisman underwent a nearly three-hour surgery to treat a skull fracture, and the doctors were uncertain about his survival.
Huver stated that Sinatra escaped to Los Angeles, where he was "sweating it out" with his much younger girlfriend, actress Mia Farrow. Meanwhile, Martin journeyed to Lake Tahoe to play golf. When interrogated by police, he remained silent.
"Huver stated that Frank was 50 years old at the time. Despite being successful and renowned, Frank struggled with his immense fame and the rumors that followed him. Additionally, he was in a relationship with someone significantly younger, which added to his stress. This led to occasional outbursts, as Frank was an emotional individual."
"Huver stated, "There is debate about whether he was mobbed up, and whether he was a violent character. However, there are incidents that suggest that if he lost his temper, things could go poorly.""
Over time, there were rumors that it was Rizzo, not Sinatra, who gave Weisman a near-fatal blow by hitting him over the head with a telephone.
Jilly Rizzo, Frank Sinatra's best and most loyal friend, was more devoted to him than any other members of the Rat Pack, according to Huver. Despite being less famous, Jilly remained by Frank's side until the end of his life. Their bond was so strong that they were like brothers. Jilly came from the New York nightclub world.
"Jilly was Frank's bodyguard, appointed himself, and was built like a tractor-trailer. If trouble started, it was easy to imagine that Jilly would step in and handle it. This pattern continued in subsequent years, with Jilly repeating the same actions."
"Was it because he was a violent man? Despite being adored and charmed by everyone in Hollywood, Jilly was not afraid to take a stance if he thought his best friend Frank Sinatra was in trouble or being threatened."
The 1966 brawl between Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin continues to raise questions.
Rizzo repeatedly denied ever being Sinatra’s bodyguard in any official capacity.
"Rizzo stated in Huver's book that Sinatra didn't require protection because he was capable of defending himself on his own, just like any man should."
Sinatra insisted to detectives that he didn’t initiate the fight.
"According to Huver's book, the man was swearing at me and using vulgar language. I told him, "I don't think it's appropriate for you to be sitting here with your glasses on and having that kind of conversation." The man then got up and attacked me. I had to defend myself, of course."
Weisman fell without anyone laying a finger on him after Sinatra contended that Fox tried to separate them following Weisman slugging him.
Sinatra stated, "I never witnessed anyone strike him, and I can confirm that I did not."
On his way out, he observed a man lying on the ground.
Weisman, who eventually regained consciousness but was still plagued by confusion and memory loss, was a prime suspect for the police.
Doctors diagnosed Weisman with retrograde amnesia, as he could recall only the events leading up to the altercation, and the rest of the incident was a blank for him.
The book states that Weisman's family was furious and considered pressing assault charges against Sinatra. However, they ultimately decided not to pursue it. Kelly claims that a family member received threatening phone calls from mysterious individuals.
The Weismans and their attorney, Grant Cooper, decided to put the incident behind them and move forward. The detectives, having exhausted their investigation, officially closed the case.
Huver managed to locate Sinatra's publicist, who was still involved in the story.
"Huver reported that Frank's publicist stated that money was exchanged. Despite being expected to be present with the group, Frank typically avoided involvement. If anything went wrong, he was well-positioned to handle the situation. The Polo Lounge staff, including patrons, bartenders, and waiters, received compensation to keep their stories vague."
Despite suffering from amnesia for several months, Weisman went on to lead a successful life and passed away in 1994 at the age of 82.
In 1966, after realizing that the ordeal wouldn't harm his career, Sinatra quickly bought an $85,000 nine-carat engagement ring and married Barbara Farrow.
Huver's book states that Dean Martin was the one who informed the Sinatra children, who were closer in age to Mia than their father, of the wedding just as the ceremony began.
Despite the mystery surrounding what happened at the Polo Lounge, Huver has his own theory.
"According to Huver, there are rumors that Frederick Weisman and his family may have received a payout because they did not pursue legal action. However, this is speculation, and it appears that the matter was settled with green paper."
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