Sinatra's Troubled Past Revealed by Former Publicist's Memoir

Frank Sinatra, the legendary singer, was privately a hot-headed individual who resorted to violence and intimidation, as revealed by his former publicist and Hollywood fixer, Jim Mahoney. In his book, "Get Mahoney! A Hollywood Insider's Memoir," Mahoney shares shocking stories about Sinatra's temper and lifestyle.

According to the memoir, Sinatra, known for hits like "My Way," engaged in nightly activities involving "booze, women, and smoking" that lasted until dawn. Growing up in Hoboken, New Jersey, Sinatra was influenced by childhood friends who later became gangsters, adopting their rough demeanor.

Mahoney's book details a particularly troubling incident that occurred just before Sinatra married actress Ava Gardner in 1951. Upon discovering that Howard Hughes was pursuing Gardner, Sinatra, in a fit of rage, armed himself with a gun to confront the billionaire. "Ava told him to take a hike, but he wouldn't take no for an answer," Sinatra confided in Mahoney. "It got a little out of hand, so one night I got a gun and went looking for him." Fortunately, Sinatra never found Hughes.

In another incident, Sinatra defended 12-year-old Liza Minnelli, who was heckled while performing with her mother, Judy Garland, during a Las Vegas concert. Mahoney recounts that Sinatra located the man outside a restroom and "dropped [him with a] well-executed left-right combination."

Following his 1957 divorce from Gardner, the book reveals that a 43-year-old Sinatra demanded "some action" in his Miami hotel suite. He reportedly made a threatening phone call, demanding, "Unless you send half a dozen of your best girls within an hour, your joint will be a parking lot by midnight." Six girls arrived at his suite in mere minutes.

Mahoney also discloses in his memoir that the Oscar-winning star of "From Here to Eternity" had his teeth knocked out by a bouncer in Las Vegas and was banned from Mexico.

The revelations in Mahoney's book offer a stark contrast to Sinatra's public image and provide insight into the turbulent private life of the iconic singer.