Let me set the scene for you. Picture this: it's June 8, 1966, in the early hours of the morning, and an ambulance pulls up to the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel. The paramedics are there to transport an unconscious man to the hospital. This wasn’t just some random guy—this was a businessman named Frederick Weisman, who ended up in intensive care after suffering a skull fracture. The very next day, the police launched a full investigation to figure out who put Weisman’s life in such serious danger.
The Book That Sheds Light on Hollywood’s Darkest Secrets
In the upcoming book, Beverly Hills Noir: Crime, Sin & Scandal in 90210 (out October 1), author Scott Huver dives deep into tales of Hollywood’s notorious behavior. Among the stories is the one about the night police questioned Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin regarding the Polo Lounge incident. Frederick Weisman, a prominent businessman, was left in a hospital bed fighting for his life. At the time, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin were at the peak of their careers. They were as famous as it gets, and with that fame came a lot of risks. “Frank and Dean were at the height of their careers,” Scott Huver reveals to Closer. “They were as famous and popular as anyone has ever been.”
The Birthday Bash That Turned Sour
It all started as a celebration. Dean Martin was turning 49, and Frank Sinatra, along with a group of friends, had gathered at the Polo Lounge to mark the occasion. They were having a great time, sitting in a booth with Frank's buddy Jilly Rizzo and three women, two of whom were Black. Frederick Weisman, seated at the next table, wasn’t enjoying the party vibe. He found the loud laughter and coarse language offensive and leaned over to request they tone it down. What followed was a chaotic scene that nobody could have predicted. “Ethnic slurs were tossed around,” recounts Huver. “An altercation came out of that.”
Read also:Valerie Bertinelli Opens Up About Split From Mike Goodnough A Heartfelt Reflection
Now, here’s the kicker—no one seemed to remember exactly who threw the first punch. Huver explains, “Someone clobbered Weisman. There were these boothside telephones—used by agents and producers to make deals—someone picked up one of those phones and cracked Weisman across the skull. He went down and crashed into a glass table.”
Dean Martin's Take on the Situation
Dean Martin, known for being a family man who once called the police to complain about his own party so he could get some rest, wasn’t one to seek out trouble. “Dean didn’t want any trouble,” Huver adds. “He didn’t like all the drama that came with being Frank’s friend.” Yet, when questioned by the police the following day, Dean wasn’t about to spill the beans. He claimed he didn’t see what happened. Privately, though, he told his daughter, “Frank lost his temper,” Huver reveals. However, Dean stopped short of saying Frank was the one who hit Weisman.
Frank Sinatra’s reaction was understandable. “Hearing an ethnic slur—whether aimed at him or the women at their table—wasn’t just a personal insult; it offended him deeply on principle,” Huver explains. Some theories suggest Weisman was responsible for Frank’s black eye during the fight, but the truth is, it was Jilly Rizzo, Frank's unofficial bodyguard, who actually injured Weisman. “Paul Anka, who was part of their circle, said Jilly did it,” Huver says. “But Frank never pointed a finger.”
Ultimately, Weisman, the victim, chose not to press charges. He survived the ordeal and told the police he couldn’t recall the events. “A further investigation as to whether he was hit, pushed, or fell is not necessary,” Weisman’s lawyer announced to the press. By the end of the month, the police dropped the investigation entirely.
