WITH DIGNITY
~ By Anthony Venutolo
This is one of my favorite pictures of Frank Sinatra. Oozes atmosphere. It was taken on the set of "Marriage on the Rocks," a 1965 movie comedy with Sinatra, Deborah Kerr and Dean Martin. The film centers on an ad-agency president who flies to Mexico to celebrate his nineteenth wedding anniversary, but ends up divorced by mistake.
While Frank Sinatra divorced Ava Gardner in 1957, I've always imagined him getting a quickie divorce from her over the border whenever I see this pic. In fact, for the longest time, that's what I actually thought.
On that note,
it may have gone a little something like this...
# # #
"We can't even take care of ourselves, Francis. How were we going to take care of a baby?"
That's what Ava said to me. I knew that was the beginning of the end for us. If she only knew how much I loved her. I left my wife for her.
That's what Ava said to me. I knew that was the beginning of the end for us. If she only knew how much I loved her. I left my wife for her.
She said it again and I fluffed it off. It repeated in my head but I didn't know what the fuck it meant. I already had three kids and they were just fine. She would have ours and he, she -- it -- would be fine, too.
We've been down this road before. About a year ago, she didn't tell me about the first abortion and I never let her forget it. That was her first and last warning.
This time when she was knocked up, the studio got involved. Some bullshit about penalty clauses.
I tried to reason with her. "Baby, you're one of the biggest movie stars in the world. Do you think that schnook Harry Cohn is gonna fine you?"
"He'd do it. Never liked you..."
My blood boiled. Any other time or place, I would snap his back like a toothpick and then use it for lunch. "Me? He was a bum when I got into town and he's still one."
She nodded, half-afraid. She knew I was right.
"I'll take care of it, baby," I said as I poured the Jack.
"Frankie... Don't...," was all she said and looked away.
I bit my bottom lip and headed out to the pool with the Jack. Her "don't" told me a lot. It said that those silly Hemingway movies were more important to her than anything else. It also told me she had no confidence - maybe in me as a father, herself as a mother - I dunno.
Yup, I knew what that "don't" meant. I went back inside to convince her that this baby would save us, but it was too late.
And as I watched her walk out the door to get her second abortion, I knew we'd be in Mexico this time next week signing the papers.
It wasn't long before I started to dread the heat.
We've been down this road before. About a year ago, she didn't tell me about the first abortion and I never let her forget it. That was her first and last warning.
This time when she was knocked up, the studio got involved. Some bullshit about penalty clauses.
I tried to reason with her. "Baby, you're one of the biggest movie stars in the world. Do you think that schnook Harry Cohn is gonna fine you?"
"He'd do it. Never liked you..."
My blood boiled. Any other time or place, I would snap his back like a toothpick and then use it for lunch. "Me? He was a bum when I got into town and he's still one."
She nodded, half-afraid. She knew I was right.
"I'll take care of it, baby," I said as I poured the Jack.
"Frankie... Don't...," was all she said and looked away.
I bit my bottom lip and headed out to the pool with the Jack. Her "don't" told me a lot. It said that those silly Hemingway movies were more important to her than anything else. It also told me she had no confidence - maybe in me as a father, herself as a mother - I dunno.
Yup, I knew what that "don't" meant. I went back inside to convince her that this baby would save us, but it was too late.
And as I watched her walk out the door to get her second abortion, I knew we'd be in Mexico this time next week signing the papers.
It wasn't long before I started to dread the heat.
# # #
(c) 2011 ~ Author Anthony Venutolo
RAT PACK REVUE ~ AT THE BIJOU
And now, just listen to the pain in Frank's voice as he sings "I'm A Fool To Want You," undoubtedly to Ava. Gives me chills...
Not that far from Hoboken, this slick cat knows his Joisey stuff. Acclaimed Editor at a Pulitzer Prize winning daily newspaer, afficiando of everything that swings cool, Mr Venutolo only tells it like it is with characteristic flair. Of all the gin joints in all the world, he wandered into mine one day and I've been wondering since how the lights got a little brighter, the beat ever snappier. We know him as the host with the most down the stairs at BUKOWSKI'S BASEMENT. As Ant spiels it ~
"It's primarily a showcase for nuggets that can range from Skid Row to the Savoy as well as gritty creative posts in the form of prose poems and flash fiction. So pour yourself some cheap hooch and settle in because this is a place to celebrate all things wonderous in the gin-soaked literary landscape of Chuck Buk, Jack Kerouac, Tom Waits and Raymond Carver."
"Thanks pally,"
~ Absolutely*Kate
SCOOP! Watch for Anthony Venutolo's first Amazon releases to Kindle your fires. Announcements coming soon. Some of his finer pieces
AT THE BIJOU are here, including our very first "talkie",
RAT PACK SHOWS
PLAYING AT THE BIJOU
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PACKREVUE
Tuesdays.
Thursdays.
Saturday Matinees too.
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RATPACKREVUE
Always swell to see you here.
~ Absolutely*Kate,
and our swanky staff of renown
THE PACK DON'T WANT YA TO MISS A SHOW:
Sinatra: "If power doesn't mean that you have the opportunity to work with the people that you love, then you haven't really got any."
Opening Night: "RAT PACK REVUE TO YOU"
RAT PACK REVUE: ROBERT J RANDISI TAKES THE STAGE
RAT PACK REVUE: "How Did All These People Get Into My Room?" By Robert J Randisi, working the lounge before he hits the main room
RAT PACK REVUE: "Ain't That A Kick In The Head" By Robert J Randisi, paying homage to Ocean's 11, the original . . . for all the right reasons
RAT PACK REVUE: "Who's Got The Action" By Kevin Michaels, knowin' more than the night club scene
RAT PACK REVUE: "STAR" By Julie Morgan, hitchin' TinselTown to a dick's star
RAT PACK REVUE: "OH SOUL O'MIO" By Absolutely*Kate, mirroring more than Dorsey
BIJOU AUTHORS ~
BIJOU DEBUT ~ 
JULIE (LEWTHWAITE) MORGAN ~ SEAN PATRICK REARDON
PLUS STAGE AFTER PAGE AGAIN ~ OUR HEADLINER ~
MORE OF RAT PACK MYSTERY AUTHOR ROBERT J RANDISI
WITH A
STAY TUNED.
PLAY GOOD TUNES.
POUR. ENJOY.
14 comments:
Absolutely, thanks and as always Anthony... yet another swingin' piece.
Wonderful,sad. bittersweet.
What a fantastic photograph! I love it, and it set up the story perfectly. And what a great story - I felt like I was eavesdropping on Frank and Ava. Powerful stuff.
Cool story. I've missed enjoying all the different stories. Sorry for my absence.
Hey, Frankie! If you can't stand the heat, get out the condoms! (Sorry...I couldn't resist.)
What I really meant to say was how much I love this story. Especially this line: "Any other time or place, I would snap his back like a toothpick and then use it for lunch." Any other time or place, no one could croon a tune like Francis.
Very smooth - think you captured the feel, mood, and voice of Sinatra. Love the last line - excellent way to end an excellent (and well written) story.
Anthony you do seem to channel that era and Ol' Blue Eyes in particular. Well done!
I've always wondered if Ant could have been related to Sinatra. Now this story gave Ant one more star over his dressing room door.
Jeanette
Nice job, Anthony. Enjoyed it. Frank wrote the lyrics of that song for Ava.
RJR
Anthony- Wow that was awseome. I dug the whole thing but the line MadameZ refered to was over the top. Great job!
Marriage on the Rocks indeed, Ant. Life imitating art imitating life and You so aptly interpreting it - true to sense of Sinatra.
Your pic told a sad story. Your refrain was pitch-perfect and then Frankie's lament to Ava torched the tender. Superb Mr V. But we knew it'd be. It's your range -- it always reaches higher.
Thank*you my colleague, my friend for all you've done behind the scenes on our RAT PACK REVUE. You're no bum.
~ Absolutely*Kate
Hey! Nice jolt to see you return to your fave red velvet seat Carrie, among our raucous regulars and RatPack afficiandos, Paul, Jools, Z, Kev, Har, JC and Sean Patrick.
WELCOME Jack Varnell (saw you behind the curtain) ... and ALWAYS WELCOME Mr Randisi, er, pally.
FOLKS, come THURSDAY ~ RJR has some intrepid answers to some of your questions I slid under his door. Lucky son-of-a-gun, he said he'd shoot out more. So come and banter or bash back and forth as Authors-to-Authors tend to slew.
Then, Mr Paul D Brazill takes the stagelight. His personna of great grata? Ahhhh DINO! That's our weekend matinee ~
The RAT PACK REVUE
playing now ~ AT THE BIJOU
Thank*you all for making our theatre for great minds all it is and to be.
~ Absolutely*Kate
I love this one, it's uncanny how dead on the voices are. Smooth even when things are rocky.
I appreciate everyone stopping by and for the kind words...
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