Late Life Jazz: The Life and Career of Rosemary Clooney (47 page)

June
. Rosemary makes 16 appearances in nine days in Germany, France, and Italy.

July 25
. Flies into London en route to Monte Carlo and is met at the airport by José Ferrer.

July 26
. In Monte Carlo where she sings at a Red Cross benefit at Princess Grace’s invitation. Rosemary hints at a possible reconciliation with José Ferrer.

August
. Appears at The Cave, Vancouver, British Columbia.

August 31–September 4
. Performs at the World’s Fair of Music and Sound at McCormick Place in Chicago.

October
. Rosemary signs with the Reprise Records label.

October 29
. Sings at the Royal Variety Show at the London Palladium. Other stars appearing are Bob Hope, Eartha Kitt, and Sophie Tucker.

November 27–December 23
. Entertains at the Desert Inn, Las Vegas.

January 14
. José Ferrer returns to the matrimonial home.

January 20
. Rosemary entertains at the Victory Dinner following the Crosby Pro-Am at Pebble Beach.

February 26
. Press comments suggest that Rosemary is still in financial trouble.

March 14–31
. Performs at the Fairmont in San Francisco.

Rosemary Clooney bears a strong resemblance to the girl next door only she’s brighter and sexier. When she’s singing a love ballad there’s a sly gleam in her eye that gives the lyrics a tongue in cheek quality. She lets you in on her joke by kidding a group of songs motivated by male superiority. It’s a teasing game that she’s been playing with the public for twenty years and they show no sign of tiring of the flirtation. … Her act is refreshingly natural; a few quips, a lot of personality and 19 songs. When it’s over, you feel like you’ve known the attractive blonde singer all your life.

(Barbara Bladen,
San Mateo Times
, March 16, 1963)

May 17–30
. Appears at the Shamrock-Hilton in Houston.

August 9
. Rosemary and José Ferrer surprise friends by telling them they have canceled their California divorce before it became final.

August 19–23
. Entertains with Buster Keaton at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. They repeat the show the following week at the Minnesota State Fair in Minneapolis.

November 22
.
President Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas, Texas
.

December
. Rosemary is already hooked on prescription medication.

January 12
. Performs at the El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico.

March 23
. Sings in a benefit in Palm Beach for the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital.

June 5
. Rosemary Clooney files a countersuit against her former manager, Joe Shribman, who is suing her for back commissions in excess of $20,000.

July
. Rosemary appears at The Cave, Vancouver, British Columbia.

August 31–September 3
. Rosemary appears at the New Latin Quarter in Tokyo, Japan.

Clooney, a top recording artist whom few people around the world actually get a chance to see in person, is a pro down the line. She’s polished, self-assured and completely in control of the stage at all times. Those who are only familiar with her recordings should make it a point to catch La Rosemary in person to fully appreciate her talents. Her nicely paced repertoire is calculated to keep the customers in a nostalgic but-how-about-that mood that clicks with seasoned ease.

(Al Ricketts,
Pacific Stars and Stripes
, September 2, 1964)

November 4
. Opens at the
Royal Box
in the Americana Hotel, New York.

December 1
. Press reports about Rosemary’s income tax returns surface again.

February 2–7
. Entertains at the Hyatt Music Theater in Burlingame, San Francisco.

February 25–March 10
. Performs at the Flamingo, Las Vegas.

September
. Appears at the Park Sheraton, Chicago.

September 14
. Opens at the
Royal Box
in the Americana Hotel in New York.

October 21–November 3
. Performs at the Shamrock Hotel, Houston.

February 24–March 2
. Appears at The Vapors Club in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

April 28–May 1
. Appears at the International Boat, Trailer & Sports Show at the Portland Coliseum, Washington.

This was Miss Clooney’s first Portland appearance and promoter Tom O’Laughlin found her most uncooperative. She refused interviews to radio, tv, press and declined to make any personal appearance. Trailer Show committee was disappointed with the singer since she did nothing to hypo the take despite strong transient attractions near day and date. Headliner also balked at playing the huge arena-in-the-round and only worked to part of the customers.

(
Variety
, May 5, 1966)

May 26
. It is announced that Rosemary and José Ferrer have separated again.

June 17–26
. Appears at The Three Rivers Inn, Syracuse, New York.

August 17
. Rosemary sues José Ferrer for divorce.

August 28–September 5
. Appears at the Oregon State Fair.

September
. Signs a recording contract with United Artists Records.

September 8
. Opens at the
Royal Box
in the Americana Hotel, New York.

November
. Rosemary is sued in New York by attorney Samuel Siegel for $8,500. He says she owes him the money as part of his fee for winning a tax case.

November
. Appears at the Chequers nightclub in Sydney, Australia, for three weeks.

December 15–21
. Rosie appears at the Chateau Madrid in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Singer was not in particularly good voice or in best of moods, often sounding weak and cracking on ballads and upbraiding drummer onstage for tempo differences on one tune and publicly chastising light man for following her off-stage on first bow-off a few moments later. … She does long Billie Holiday medley which plays up and down, with little consistency. Medleys are well written, but pipes, either under strain from rehearsal and two sets, were below material.

(
Variety
, December 21, 1966)

January 24–February 12
. Appears at the Century Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles.

February 23–March 15
. Entertains at the Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco.

March 28
. Opens at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York.

August 1–29
. Entertains at the Desert Inn, Las Vegas.

September 12
. Rosemary and José go to Santa Monica Superior Court. Both charge the other with “extreme cruelty.”

September 13
. Rosemary is granted a divorce from José Ferrer.

September 20–24
. Entertains at the World Food Exposition in Madison, Wisconsin.

October 11–15
. Appears at the Mississippi State Fair in Jackson, Mississippi.

February 10–25
. Tours Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, and Taiwan. She has difficulty sleeping and her behavior becomes very erratic. Visits the
Clark Field hospital in the Philippines where the Vietnam casualties are housed. Gives two concerts in Manila.

April 4
.
Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. Rosemary is appearing in Germany at the time
.

Has a week off in London. Appears on a TV chat show and breaks down in tears when Martin Luther King’s death is discussed.

Performs in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

May 12
. Arrives in New York from Brazil. Goes on to give shows in Edmonton and Calgary, Canada.

May 30
. Takes part in a rally for Robert Kennedy in Oakland.

June 3
. Sings at a rally in San Diego for Robert Kennedy.

June 5
.
Robert Kennedy is shot at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles and dies the next day
.

July 2–25
. Rosemary is scheduled to perform at Harold’s Club in Reno, Nevada, but walks off stage during her performance on July 8

Rosemary Clooney Quits Night Club Show

Singer Rosemary Clooney has canceled what she said would be the last night club engagement of her career due to a case of acute influenza. A spokesman for Harolds Club, Reno, Nev., said Tuesday Miss Clooney was scheduled to appear at that downtown Reno casino until July 25 but walked off stage during her performance Monday night. A week ago Miss Clooney announced she would discontinue night club performances after the Harolds Club engagement but would continue to make records and television appearances.

(
Press-Telegram
, July 10, 1968)

Admitted to the psychiatric unit of Mount Sinai Hospital, Los Angeles with “drug-induced psychosis.”

Undergoes therapy with Dr. J. Victor Monke, three days a week for three years.

October 25
. Rosemary seeks increased alimony.

March 25
. Rosemary wins increased alimony from José Ferrer.

April 6–17
. Entertains at the Tropicana’s Blue Room in Las Vegas.

July
. Again appears at the Hotel Tropicana for a two-week season ending August 8.

August 14
. Open at Bimbo’s 365 Theater-Restaurant, San Francisco for a two-week engagement.

October 13
. Opens at the Royal York Hotel, Toronto.

November 7
. Rosemary returns to the Hotel Tropicana in Las Vegas for a two-week engagement.

October 24
. Guests on
The Andy Williams Show
and sings “Come On-a My House.”

February 5
. Opens at the Fremont in Las Vegas, giving two shows nightly.

April 13
. Guests on
The Merv Griffin Show
on CBS-TV with Mel Tormé.

February 21
. Rosemary sings at the Grand Executive Inn in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

February 23
. Entertains at The Blue Moon Restaurant in Chicago.

March 5
. Performs at the Kahler Hotel, Rochester, Minnesota.

May 5
. Appears at the Ramada Inn, Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

May 7
. Sings at the Red Coach Steak House, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

July 1–16
. Entertains at the Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, Denmark. After her return, Rosemary’s mother, who has been looking after the children, leaves the Roxbury house at Rosemary’s request.

August 6–12
. Rosemary sings at the San Mateo County Fair & Floral Fiesta.

December 13
. Marie Frances Stone, Rosemary’s mother, dies of emphysema. Rosemary and her children later attend the funeral in Maysville.

December
. Meets Dante DiPaolo again.

December 31–January 1
. Entertains at the Hilton Inn, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

February
. Performs at the Royal York Hotel, Toronto, Canada.

March 20
. Sings at the National Orange Show at San Bernardino, California.

March 30
. Appears in a CBS-TV show called “Grammy salutes Oscar.” In an interview given around this time, Rosemary reveals that she has lost 60 pounds on a special diet from a peak of 180 pounds.

July 5
. Appears at the Pheasant Run Ballroom in Chicago.

July 6
. Entertains at Sawmill Creek, Lake Erie, Ohio.

August 15
. Guests on
The Merv Griffin Show
. Discloses for the first time that she has had mental problems.

August 27
. Rosemary’s father, Andrew J. Clooney, dies at the age of 71. Rosemary and Dante go to the funeral in Milford, Ohio.

September 20–21
. Performs at the Top O’ The Harbor in Van Nuys, California.

September 22–October 5
. Sings at Taylor’s Supper Club, Denver.

October 8–13
. Appears at Nero’s atop the Holiday Inn, Torrance, California.

January 11
. Entertains on a seven-day Sitmar cruise on the
S. S. Fairsea
to Mexico.

January 30–February
. Appears at the Copa Room in Brooklyn, New York.

February 25
. Opens at the Centre Stage Dinner Playhouse in Milwaukee.

May 17–18
. Appears with Dick Haymes at the Silver Lakes Resort, California.

May 19–25
. Performs at the Town ‘N’ Country Cabaret in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

After her first few numbers it was obvious why the name Rosemary Clooney was once a household reference whenever singing stars were discussed. The lady has poise, grace and class plus a singing voice that projects with purpose and a clarity that has diminished very little since the days she was flying high on the entertainment scene.

(Jimmy King,
Winnipeg Free Press
, May 24, 1975)

July 12–13
. Performs at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles.