The Sinatra Files (43 page)

At 3:16 AM, September 26, 1962, PHYLLIS MC GUIRE was
observed departing from a private plane at Palm Springs Airport and was met by three unknown males in a station wagon determined to be a 1962 Buick, bearing California License XDP318. This wagon is registered to the Essex Productions, 9229 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, an enterprise of FRANK SINATRA. After Miss MC GUIRE entered this wagon, it proceeded to the vicinity of the Tamarisk Country Club, Cathedral City, California, and the vehicle was observed shortly thereafter parked in the carport of the residence of FRANK SINATRA.

On September 26, 1962, at 4:55 PM, PHYLLIS MC GUIRE and an unknown male Negro were observed proceeding to a Cessna 310 plane, Registration Number N6848T, belonging to Alamo Airways. This plane is the same aircraft in which MC GUIRE arrived earlier that day. After the above plane departed, the Buick Station which delivered Miss MC GUIRE, proceeded from the airport at Palm Springs to the FRANK SINATRA residence in Cathedral City, California.

It would appear from the observation of surveilling agents at the Palm Springs airport that GIANCANA was one of the individuals who met Miss MC GUIRE upon her arrival at the Palm Springs Airport at 3:16 AM, September 26, 1962.

advised
that GIANCANA as of that date was in Hot Springs, Arkansas, with PHYLLIS MC GUIRE and was scheduled to remain there until August 12, 1962.

It is noted that the MC GUIRE sisters singing team made an appearance at the Vapors Club, Hot Springs, Arkansas, on August 4, 1962, and on that date after the completion of the first show of the MC GUIRE sisters, GIANCANA was observed by Bureau Agents at Hot Springs, entering an automobile at the Velda Rose Motel with the MC GUIRE sisters at approximately 9:20 PM on August 4, 1962, and traveled to the Coy’s Steakhouse, in Hot Springs, where this party had dinner. After dinner, GIANCANA drove the MC GUIRE sisters to the Vapors Club and then returned to Room 64, Velda Rose Motel, which at the time was occupied by PHYLLIS and CHRISTINE MC GUIRE. GIANCANA was not observed from
that time until the evening of August 6, 1962, when he departed Room 64 of the Velda Rose Motel and took a short walk.

    
By then, it had become clear what Giancana had meant many months back when he told his underling, Johnny Formosa, that he had “other plans” for Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack. He wanted their services for a gig at the Villa Venice, a supper club outside Chicago. Continuing their investigation of Giancana, FBI agents picked up on the story and recounted it in various memos about his business enterprises
.

Villa Venice Supper Club,
Milwaukee Avenue,
Northwest Suburban Cook
County, Illinois

    This well-known restaurant and lounge was owned and operated by ALBERT “PAPA” BOUCHE, until October, 1956, at which time BOUCHE was bought out by the MEO brothers, with backing of “the Syndicate.” Although the ostensible purchasers of the property were the MEO brothers and their wives, ALFRED and TRIP (TRIPOLINA) and JAMES and STELL, the real operator of the Villa Venice is SAM GIANCANA, commonly referred to as “MOONEY,” while JIMMY MEO is the “front.” When GIANCANA appears on the scene, it becomes obvious to all he is the “top dog” in the operation of the place, as all the others, including JIMMY MEO, become subservient to him and jump at his command. GIANCANA regards the Villa Venice as his toy and insists on it being run strictly according to his dictates, and he personally rebukes employees when their dress or conduct are not up to his standards.

CG T-37 [a confidential informant] continued that although GIANCANA was frequently at the Villa Venice prior to the … hearings of the Senate Rackets Committee (McClellan Committee or more properly, the Senate Select Committee on Improper Activities in the Labor or Management Field), he went to Cuba
while the hearings were in progress and did not return until the hearings ended. GIANCANA and other “wheels in the Syndicate” held a private party at the Villa Venice to celebrate the conclusion of the hearings. At this gathering, in one of the many private rooms in the Villa, several guards were posted at strategic points on the grounds to challenge anyone not known to them. The Villa has gradually been becoming a headquarters for “the Syndicate,” as indicated by closed meetings complete with “lookouts” and by frequenting of the Villa by friends of GIANCANA, who are paid considerable deference by the MEO brothers.

One of the principal attractions of the Villa for the “hoodlums” was the fact it was a “floating house of prostitution.” The “floating” aspect of the Villa refers to the canals and gondolas which comprise part of the Villa’s seven or eight acres of grounds. Prostitutes were brought to the Villa by hustlers and turned their tricks on the gondolas with the male customers. Most of these sexual activities did not follow conventional patterns.

The Maitre d’ of the Villa, known to the informant only as “LOUIE,” knows extremely little regarding the duties of a Maitre d’, but the word has gone around that he is the son of one of the better known syndicate “hoodlums,” who requested that GIANCANA give his son the job, and GIANCANA obliged.

It has been reported that the Villa Venice Supper Club has been an enterprise of GIANCANA since approximately 1960. From April 1960 through the spring of 1962, the Villa Venice was utilized primarily for private parties, weddings, etc., and was not considered as a money-making proposition. During the summer months and early fall the Villa Venice underwent a remodeling and reopened on November 9, 1962. The featured entertainer for the opening date was EDDIE FISHER. He was followed by SAMMY DAVIS, Jr., and then by FRANK SINATRA and DEAN MARTIN. During the week
of the engagement of MARTIN and SINATRA, the act was joined by SAMMY DAVIS, Jr. Following the appearance of MARTIN and SINATRA, SAMMY DAVIS, Jr., remained at the Villa Venice through December 4, 1962. Following December 4, 1962, the Villa Venice was closed and plans are not known at this time as to their reopening.

advised
that SAM GIANCANA advised that the Villa Venice will definitely be a “going” proposition and was keeping in close contact with the operation. Advance reservations were made at the Villa Venice for the entire booking of SAMMY DAVIS, Jr., and FRANK SINATRA.

advised
that SAM GIANCANA is definitely the owner of the Villa Venice, and has spent many hours overseeing the remodeling operation of the Villa Venice during the past several weeks. GIANCANA is referred to at the Villa Venice as “Mr. FLOOD.”