Seeing Frank Sinatra ‘our way’

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NYPL photo

NYPL photo

One of the beautiful things about New York City is how one can visit any of the public galleries even with very little money in your purse. One scorching day in August, my friend Marivir Montebon and I decided to go down to the New York Public Library’s Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center to catch the Sinatra centennial exhibit before it closes on September 4.

For two Filipina journalists raised on Sinatra music, it was an exhibit worth seeing and experiencing. The space offers a rich and revealing collection of Sinatra memorabilia, including a pitch-dark booth where one can sing “New York, New York” with just you, your guts, and Ol’ Blue Eyes on a TV screen!

As fans, we know much of the narrative: Boy from Hoboken with beautiful voice rises to become one of the iconic musical artists of his generation. But the exhibit, “Sinatra: An American Icon,” offers more rare images about the singer’s films, records, and mementos. On display were some of his oil paintings of the abstract and realist styles.

Marivir, the editor of OSM magazine, adores the complexity of this man’s many talents: “I like Sinatra’s voice and his being a spectacular total performer…singer, actor, and artist.” And how the song “New York, New York” — originally written for Liza Minnelli – came to be identified with him because, as Marivir noted, of the “bullish, courageous attitude” in his legendary version. – Cristina DC Pastor

Here are some photos from the exhibit.

Untitled painting, 1989

Untitled painting, 1989

arivir awaits her turn at ‘Come Sing With Me’ booth

Marivir awaits her turn at ‘Come Sing With Me’ booth

A snapshot of his life

A snapshot of his life

A montage celebrating his film career

A montage celebrating his film career

The shoes he and actor Gene Kelly wore in the 1949 movie, Take Me Out to the Ball Game.’

The shoes he and actor Gene Kelly wore in the 1949 movie, Take Me Out to the Ball Game.’

He will always be larger than life

He will always be larger than life

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