Frank Sinatra

The Timex Shows Vol 1 And Vol 2

EAGLE VISION. DVD/BR

Vintage archival footage of Ol’ Blue Eyes.

Between 1959 and 1960, Frank Sinatra hosted four TV specials sponsored by watchmaker Timex. They are now available on two separate DVDs. Vol 1 pairs two 1959 shows, the first featuring Dean Martin and Bing Crosby; the second illuminated by the glowing presence of Ella Fitzgerald. Undoubtedly, the most interesting show appears on Vol 2, where Elvis Presley is guest of honour following his army discharge. Given that Sinatra loathed rock’n’roll (once describing it as “brutal, ugly, degenerate and vicious”) and regarded Presley as his potential nemesis, the latter’s appearance is supremely ironic and perhaps a bitter pill for ‘The Chairman’ to swallow (but it boosted his ratings). The two do duet, but the truly dynamic Sammy Davis Jr steals the show. The footage is grainy, the jokes are lame, but these antique timepieces are well worth a look.