BY LEE PEIFFER
Esquire has reprinted Gay Talese's legendary 1966 profile of Frank Sinatra. Esquire refers to it as "one of the most celebrated magazine articles ever published". Titled "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold", the piece covers some very intimate aspects of Sinatra's life both professionally and personally. Talese never got to interview Old Blue Eyes but was granted extraordinary access to his daily activities. Talese presents a masterfully written portrait of a controversial legend. The article isn't a hit piece on Sinatra, but it doesn't shy away from portraying him as occasionally ill-tempered, selfish and impulsive. On the other hand, while the article doesn't beatify Sinatra, it points out he was capable of acts of extraordinary kindness and a dedication to human rights. He was a complex man, to say the least. The article follows Sinatra around throughout the wee small hours of the mornings. He hated being alone and he was a creature of the night. Talese traces his carousing with Jilly, the famous New York restaurant owner whose name became legendary due in no small part to Sinatra's loyal patronage, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop and actor Brad Dexter, who is primarily remembered for being the one cast member of "The Magnificent Seven" who no one can remember by name. It's a remarkable (and very long piece) that represents American journalism at its finest.
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