Dream Lovers: Frank and Mia, 1966

On July 19, 1966, Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow were married at The Sands in
Las Vegas.

The bride was 21.  The groom was 50.  Despite the age difference, they were mad about each other.

His nickname for her was "Doll Face."  She called him "Charlie Brown." 

"I don't know, maybe we'll only have a couple of years together. She's so young. But we have to try."  -Frank to daughter Nancy on the day of the wedding.

Frank and Mia's marriage lasted just two years, but they remained close friends until his death.  Mia was said to be devastated when he died, and she has remained very good friends with the Sinatra children over the years, Nancy in particular.   Mia refused any sort of cash settlement from Frank when they divorced.  When Woody Allen wronged Mia with Soon-Yi Previn, Frank reportedly offered to have Woody "taken care of."  Mia was touched by the gesture...it was classic Frank, her one and only Charlie Brown...but she refused.

From 1967: More Precious Memories Involving Dristan

Quick question:
Where should I send my sinuses? I'm absolutely miserable with sinus problems right now and I'm smack dab in the middle of the Grand Canyon State!

I might send my sinuses to Nevada. Playing Pai Gow always seems to make them feel better, and maybe if I get them drunk, laid, and a couple of tickets to one of those Cirque du Soleil shows, they will behave.

1977: Charo!

The next time I am in Vegas, I am going to insist that we visit Fremont...not just because it is total sleazy fun (which it is), but because I simply MUST re-enact my own version of this video outside of Binion's.

Glamourous 1950's Poster For Las Vegas, Via TWA

I love vintage travel posters.

I'm guessing that this one is from the Fifties,

as the plane pictured is a Constellation.

Well, That's Enough Conspicuous Consumption To Spell Us For Another Year Or So

Had a splendid time. Ate too much, gambled too much, shopped too much (if there is such a thing), walked miles and miles across patterned carpet to the chirps and flashes of slot machines.

It's so much fun...for a time. We are glad to be home, though. It's good to see the cats.

Just a few photos for right now.

Ken met baseball great Pete Rose while we were at Caesar's Palace:

Because we were staying at The Venetian, we were just a stone's throw from Wynn, a casino we had never visited before. The landscaping there is stunning. However, it was so hot outside, the cooling effect of the waterfalls was almost nonexistent, and we were actually kind of bathed in steam!

Wynn is a very, very upscale place. Think Chanel, Gucci, Oscar de la Renta. I was also delighted to find a Jo Malone shop, and I did buy a bottle of her marvelous Grapefruit scent.


What impressed us the most at Wynn? The delicate, intricate mosaics embedded in the marble floors. I photographed them quite a bit. Skipping the flash really enabled me to capture the color and detail; even then, I caught some shine from the lights above.



The Venetian is a splendid place to stay. We loved it. Ken surprised me with a suite. 16 years together, 12 years married, and that man still is full of surprises.

Here, he relaxes in our room, primarily because he felt compelled to watch the huge flatscreen television that was mounted on the wall (the suite had three televisions: one in the bed area, one in the lounge, and one in the palatial bathroom). We were up on the 19th floor.


We grabbed a quick dinner yesterday, before departing for the airport, at an old favorite: The Noodle Shop at Mandalay Bay.

Unfortunately, it was not nearly as good as we remembered it being. The broths were weak, my noodles were a bit stuck together, and the elements of the soups (beef, onions, seasonings) were very skimpy.

We still had a lovely time, though, and it was a relaxing end to a relaxing trip. I'm wearing a silver locket that Ken bought for me at Brighton. Those shops are all over the place in Vegas. I was surprised when I looked at this picture; my hair is longer than I even realized. I have been growing it out for a while now.


At the airport, Ken just had to try his luck one more time, at a nickel slot machine right outside our gate! I especially had to capture that great sign affixed to the machine. Such a stern admonition for city devoted entire to the pursuit of fun.