Frank Sinatra owned Memorabilia Collectibles, props, autographs For Sale
Frank Sinatra
His Personally Owned Monogrammed "FS" Onyx Pinky Ring
Astonishing intimate piece of Frank Sinatra DNA and History worthy of the Smithsonian.
About 10 years ago we acquired and sold what was the most extraordinary Frank Sinatra treasure ever found. His personally worn Fedora Hat acquired directly from famed NY City Talk Show host and Mr Sinatra’s friend Joe Franklin. So to say we are excited about our most recent extraordinary and historical Frank Sinatra find, is an understatement..
A vintage 1950s era personally owned and worn gold filled onyx ring artistically monogrammed with Mr Sinatra initials “FS” . This ring was personally gifted to Joe Franklin from Frank Sinatra during one of Joe's visits to Mr Sinatra's penthouse apartment in the famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The classic 1945 film "Weekend at the Waldorf" actually has a line mentioning Mr Sinatra's apartment at the famous hotel. .. We sold the ORIGINAL Contract signed by Mr Sinatra giving his permission to use his name in this classic film). ..
*Incudes Joe Franklin original signed Certificate of Authenticity on his personal letterhead, detailing how and when he acquired this ring, along with a photo of Joe holding the ring.
Like the Fedora hat we sold about 10 years ago, this amazing Ring is one of the most personal and prized Frank Sinatra possessions to ever appear on the market. Countless photos from the 1950s show Mr Sinatra had a penchant for Onyx pinky rings during that time period, just like this one we are offering here. Below are images of him wearing rings very similar if not exactly like this one. Based upon images and personal possessions from his estate and the estate of his best friend Jilly Rizzo, Mr Sinatra also fancied jewelry and cigarette lighters with his initials monogrammed on them. This vintage ornate ring shows extensive wear and uniquely marvelous design, monogrammed “FS”. .
We rarely acquire unsigned objects, because unlike autographs, they cannot be authenticated. It all comes down to provenance. So if you know the history of Joe Franklin, you know this is about as good as it gets to being unquestionably authentic. Joe spent over 50 years acquiring personal mementos and memorabilia from his thousands of his celebrity friends and talk show guests. And he became close friends with Mr Sinatra who would invite Joe to meet him at the hotel. During a couple visits Joe helped Mr Sinatra clean out his Astoria Apartment during which Mr Sinatra gifted several items to Joe including this Ring that Mr Sinatra wore in his younger years.
* See enlargeable images above and below
JOE FRANKLIN (1926-2015)
"The only guy who remembers more than I do is Joe Franklin, because he's been around longer than me. Joe's showbiz collection is the most outstanding I've ever seen and there's a history behind every single acquisition" ~ Regis Philbin
If you are not familiar with Joe Franklin, here are a few highlights :
1. Many up and coming stars from the 1950s to the 1980s got their first mass exposure, first television appearance on The Joe Franklin Show including Woody Allen, Andy Kaufman, Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand, Julia Roberts, Bruce Springsteen, Robin Williams, John Belushi and Richard Pryor. Frank Sinatra reportedly appeared four times
2. Other Joe Franklin guest claims include John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe (with whom Franklin co-authored "The Marilyn Monroe Story" in 1953), Jayne Mansfield, The Beastie Boys, Cary Grant, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, Rudy Vallee, Jimmy Durante, Madonna, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Bing Crosby, The Belmonts, Elvis Presley, The Ramones, Lou Albano and five US presidents (including John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon).
3. A&E's documentary It's Only Talk, The Real Story Of America's Talk Shows credits Franklin as the creator of the television talk show. Franklin was listed in the Guinness World Records as the longest running continuous on-air TV talk show host, more than a decade longer than Johnny Carson's run.
4. Franklin's show was first parodied by Billy Crystal during the 1984–1985 season of Saturday Night Live.
5. Joe was an American radio and television host personality, author and actor from New York City. His television show began in January 1951 on WJZ-TV (later WABC-TV) and moved to WOR-TV (later WWOR-TV) from 1962 to 1993
6. Joe was called “The King of Nostalgia” because he was an obsessive collector and was known to ask guest for a piece of memorabilia. His offices including several rooms were cluttered with an endless drove of treasures he collected from the famous. A book written in 1985, “Joe Franklin's Show Biz Memorabilia” chronicles to Joe’s massive collection of movie and entertainment memorabilia he acquired directly from his celebrity guests and friends..
Joe Franklin was a national treasure in the talk show and entertainment industry. Watching old videos of the Joe Franklin Show I realize Joe may be one of the Best interviewers I've ever seen. Better then Carson, better than Leno or Letterman. Certainly far better than any of the late night “hosts” today..
UPDATE: A jacket given to Joe Franklin from John Lennon in the 70s just sold at auction for almost $40,000!
Watch the Master interviewing the golden age movie star Virginia Mayo below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBqJO5cMiE4
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He was a walking encyclopedia in the entertainment genre. And he never had to read a card... Although I got to know Joe and had talked to him on the phone a few times, I wish I had got to know this national treasure better before he passed away two years ago this month... We discussed meeting up in NY City but I procrastinated too long.
Whether he was interviewing Bing Crosby, Bob Hope or Virginia Mayo, he was a master and a class act.
Below are a few video highlights of the Joe Franklin Show..
Milton Berle:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06X1-fu78Ys
Bing Crosby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=RD06X1-fu78Ys&v=Mfl0JHE4D_E
Bob Hope:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KL9KsvMPqmY
Billy Crystal interviewing Joe Franklin, Bing Crosby, Bill Cosby:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9N_UAEbM1w
40th Anniversary in Show Business:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSNZIjzeClI
