In the dead of winter, 1963, a shrill ring shattered the night. Publicist Jim Mahoney jolted awake, his heart racing. On the other end of the line was Frank Sinatra’s attorney, voice laced with urgency. “You need to get to Reno as fast as you can. Frankie, the kid, has been kidnapped.”
Jim Mahoney, a man who spent six decades navigating the treacherous waters of celebrity publicity, found himself at the center of one of the most dramatic moments in Hollywood history. From guiding Frank Sinatra through the media storm of his son’s abduction to supporting legends like Judy Garland and Johnny Carson, Jim’s career was nothing short of extraordinary. His recent memoir, Get Mahoney!, offers a glimpse into the world of managing fame under intense pressure, where every decision could make or break a star’s reputation.
As the chaos unfolded, Jim took charge, fielding calls from all corners. “Frank was a nervous wreck,” Jim recalls, his voice thick with memory. “He was chain-smoking so much that his voice didn’t sound like himself.” In that moment of crisis, friends rallied around Frank. Judy Garland, Debbie Reynolds, and Peter Lawford were among those offering their support. But the calls didn’t stop there. “I even got a call from the secretary of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. And then there was this mysterious guy named Momo.”
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“Frank said, ‘I’ll take Momo.’ Turns out Momo was none other than Sam Giancana, the most powerful mobster in the country. The kidnappers had no idea they’d attracted the attention of both the FBI and the mafia!” Jim chuckles, the gravity of the situation still palpable in his tone.
Meanwhile, the press swarmed outside Frank Jr.’s mother Nancy’s Bel Air home, hungry for any scrap of news. “I figured, let’s keep them happy. We weren’t giving them any real info, but they’d been out there all night. I thought, ‘Why not feed them?’ So, I called Chasen’s. Believe it or not, this kidnapping ended up being the first one ever catered!”
After three grueling days, Frank Sr. paid the demanded ransom of $240,000. “Frank would’ve paid them a million if they’d asked. Anything to get his son back safely,” Jim says. Thankfully, Frank Jr. was released unharmed that same day. Eventually, the bumbling kidnappers were caught, and most of the ransom money recovered.
From Gossip Columnist to Hollywood Insider: Jim Mahoney’s Journey
Jim Mahoney’s career didn’t start with high-profile crises. It began humbly, writing a Hollywood gossip column for the Los Angeles Herald-Express. “It was a blast while it lasted,” Jim reminisces. “I got to meet so many incredible people, and it really opened doors for me.”
One of those doors led to Debbie Reynolds, who became a close friend and ally. She invited Jim to visit her on a film set, despite Frank Sinatra’s notorious aversion to press on his sets. “I was hesitant at first, but Debbie insisted. When I walked onto the set, the entire room went silent. Debbie saw me and quickly introduced me to Frank. ‘Frank, this is my good friend Jim. Don’t give him any trouble,’” Jim remembers with a laugh.
That introduction sealed Jim’s fate. Before long, he was Frank’s go-to publicist, handling everything from media relations to personal crises. Over the years, his client list expanded to include Bob Newhart, Jack Lemmon, George C. Scott, and Lee Marvin. “Lee was definitely a character,” Jim says with a grin. “But Judy Garland was the only one who ever hit me. She wanted to hold a press conference to badmouth her husband. I told her it wasn’t the right move, and she didn’t take it too well.”
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Now 96, Jim reflects fondly on the golden era of Hollywood. “There’s something special about the stars from back then. You don’t see that same magic in today’s actors. No one compares to Clark Gable, Errol Flynn, or Spencer Tracy. Those were truly larger-than-life figures,” he says wistfully.
