become the âgo to guyâ for Frank, Dean and Sammy when they had a problem they needed handled discreetly. It was my own fault, really. Jack Entratter, my boss, had put me in that position a couple of times and I had come through. At the same time I liked to think I had formed a friendship with those guys, specifically Dino and Frank. Of course, I was never friends with each of them the way they were friends with each other, but when they were in town â together or separately â they usually invited me to dinner.
This time, however, Dean calling and inviting me to play golf was a surprise. More of a surprise to find that the invitation included Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.
Something was up.
When I got word in the afternoon that Entratter wanted to see me in his office I figured this was it.
âGo right in,â his girl said to me as I entered. For some reason I didnât rate the usual look of disdain I got from her.
âJack,â I said, as I entered.
Jack and I had always had a cordial boss/employee relationship, during which I had never referred to him as anything but âMr Entratter.â But ever since I had become âthat guyâ for him â the one who kept his âfriendsâ safe â I had become much more comfortable calling him âJackâ. Sometimes.
âSiddown, Eddie,â he said. âI heard you played golf with Dino, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.â
âThatâs right,â I said, taking a seat. âDean invited me.â
âYou didnât beat them too bad, did you?â
âOne stroke.â
âYeah,â he said, âI heard they gave you a thirty handicap and you beat âem by one.â He shook his head. âYou almost blew a thirty shot head start?â
âHey,â I said, âI just started playinâ a few months ago. I think I did pretty good.â
He started laughing.
âWhatâs so funny?â
âIâm sorry,â he said, âI can just see you struttinâ around the course like you accomplished somethinâ.â
âDid you bring me up here just to laugh at me?â
âPretty much. Want a drink?â
âIâve got to get back to my pitââ
âBourbon?â he asked, getting up.
âSure.â
He poured two bourbons, added ice and handed me one.
âDeanâs in town and heâs not playinâ anywhere,â I said. âWhatâs that about?â
âFrank Junior,â he said, sitting back down.
âWhat?â
âFrank Junior is opening next door,â Entratter said, âat the Flamingo.â
âWhy is he opening there and not here?â I asked.
âFrank didnât want any favors for the kid,â he said. âHe made Frankie get his own deal.â
âAnd he got it next door? Kidâs got balls. Is that why Hope and Crosby are in town?â
âThatâs about the only thing that would bring Crosby here,â Entratter said. âHe doesnât play Vegas. Doesnât want to play gaming establishments. But heâs stayinâ with us. So is Hope.â
âSo if Dean, Bing and Hope are here for the kidâs opening,â I said. âWhereâs Frank?â
âFrankâs playinâ a gig in Atlantic City for Skinny DâAmato. Heâs cominâ to Vegas in a few days to play two nights here, and see the kidâs last performance.â
âI didnât know he was cominâ here.â
âIt wasnât planned,â Entratter said. âWeâre movinâ Vic Damone back two nights to make it work.â
âVic doesnât mind?â
âNot when I told him it was Frank.â
I sipped my drink. So I was wrong about something being up. Dean wasnât here to ask for my help. He was just here to support Frankie.
âWait a minute,â I said. âHow old is the