John Wayne Denies Confrontation With Sinatra

 

John Wayne and Maria Cooper, left, and Frank Sinatra at fundraiser.

May 15, 1960: Witnesses say John Wayne and Frank Sinatra nearly got into a fight during a benefit dinner at the Moulin Rouge over Wayne’s comments about Sinatra hiring blacklisted writer Albert Maltz for “The Execution of Private Slovik.” Later in the evening, Sinatra and a companion allegedly roughed up a valet. The next day, Wayne denied that there was any confrontation with Sinatra. “I like Frank,” he said. The city attorney declined to file charges against Sinatra in the incident, but his companion, John Hopkins, was convicted of battery and sentenced to 10 days jail and a year’s probation for hitting valet Edward Moran. Moran also filed a $100,000 civil suit against Sinatra, but The Times didn’t report the outcome.

Comments

[Arye (Leslie) Michael Bender]

Unfortunate caption beneath a picture of Frank Sinatra in drag: "... during a gay party for SHARE..."

Though if Cher were there, I'd attend gay or not.

[Cold in PHX]

The Duke shoves the Chairman of the Board, but he doesn't have a problem with the Times outing him for attending "a gay party"?

[fibber mcgee]

I think some of your correspondents, although they are really nice people, need to get out more. In 1960, "gay" meant "lighthearted" and "fun." I've been to several SHARE parties and they're terrific and all kinds of people show up. Groucho Marx and his GIRLfriend, for instance. Nothing to do with Cher, either.

[Paul M. Mock]

The press was all over Mr. S and the Maltz thing. It was national news. He was finally pressured by Joe Kennedy to get rid of Maltz, which he did with FULL pay. I'm surprised the Times didn't cover the Maltz Affair in 1960.