That hair in your food might have been Sinatra’s
For nearly 30 years, Las Vegas restaurateurs Jimmy and Josie Fasolini loved surprising friends with their prize possession — a Frank Sinatra hairpiece.
"We use to show it in our restaurant," said Josie Fasolino, co-owner of Fasolini's Pizza Cafe, 222 S. Decatur Blvd., for 15 years before they sold it in 2004 and retired.
She even let Frank Sinatra Jr. in on it after the Fasolinis attended one of his performances.
Not taking any chances, they had the hairpiece insured, she said.
Then, seven years ago, in their early 70s, they had their son sell the famous wig online.
She declined to say what it fetched.
So how did it end up in their possession?
Her husband, now 80 and recently admitted to an assisted living facility, was an insurance agent when they lived in California, she said.
"Jim was writing an insurance policy for a man in Calabasas who made wigs," she said. "He took Jim downstairs and showed him all the wigs he made for famous people. He told Jim to pick out one."
Years later, the Fasolinis are sure they saw it "in some of Frank's older movies," she said.
Her husband told me about 10 years ago that he's convinced Sinatra wore it during a 1974 performance at Caesars Palace.
Josie Fasolini said her mother and Sinatra's mother were friends. "We came from New Jersey."
"His mother said Frank loved ricotta cheese pie. When Frank was in town I took a cheese pie to his hotel. Him and Dean Martin came up and got it."
They were very happy, she said. They didn't look like they planned to share it, she said.
Cage has role in 'Snowden'
Nicolas Cage, a Las Vegas resident since 2012, will play an ex-U.S. intelligence officer in the upcoming film "Snowden."
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who starred in "Third Rock From the Sun" in his teens, portrays whistleblower Edward Snowden.
Oliver Stone directed the thriller about Snowden, a former CIA employee who leaked classified information from the National Security Agency and United Kingdom for public disclosure two years ago.
A Dec. 25 release is scheduled for U.S. theaters.
The scene and heard
The seventh annual U.S. Marines Toys for Tots Celebrity All-Star Toy Drive will be held Saturday at the Tropicana. Because the event falls on what would have been Sinatra's 100th birthday, his music will be celebrated. Pia Zadora, who toured with Sinatra as his opening act, will open the show and share some of her memories. She will be accompanied by Vinnie Falcone, Sinatra's former musical director. Others performing will be Rich Little, Travis Cloer, Ben Stone, Jasmine Trias, Ruby Lewis, Tommy Ward, Rat Pack mash-band Reckless in Vegas with Jennifer Lier, Nieve Malandra and Gary Anthony of "Shades of Sinatra." Jonathan Scott is the executive producer for the fourth year. Red carpet activity begins at 6:30 p.m., with the show starting at 8. Tickets: $20; VIP seats $50. Some of the proceeds will also go to KLUC's 17th annual Chet Buchanan & The Morning Zoo drive, which kicked off last week with Buchanan camping out for 12 days atop 30-foot high scaffolding in the NV Energy parking lot on Sahara Avenue.
On this day
Dec. 7, 1985: The National Finals Rodeo, the Super Bowl of rodeo, opens at the Thomas & Mack Center. Benny Binion and other Vegas luminaries lured the event from Oklahoma City with bigger purses and more perks, and it has remained here ever since.
Dec. 8, 2011: Irish singer Sinead O'Connor marries Barry Herridge in a pink Cadillac at the Little White Chapel's drive-thru window. She announces 16 days later they're getting divorced because of family pressure on him and her passion for marijuana.
Sightings
Country sensation Sam Hunt, checking out the country-themed "Giddy up & Twerk" party at the Palms' ghostbar dayclub. ... Luke Perry and Stephen Baldwin, who starred in the rodeo film "8 Seconds," in the crowd at Saturday's session of the National Finals Rodeo. ... "Mike & Molly" star Melissa McCarthy, meeting "Absinthe" cast members after the show on Saturday.
The punch line
"In New York, Federal authorities have seized 274 pairs of shoes made from endangered species. The shoes were made from rhino horn, crocodile skin and Jeb Bush supporters." — Jimmy Fallon
— Norm Clarke's column appears Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He can be reached at 702-383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find more online at www.normclarke.com. On Twitter: @Norm_Clarke.
