SHORT TAKES : Sinatra Changes Mind, Cancels Shows at Picketed Vegas Hotel
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LAS VEGAS — Singer Frank Sinatra has canceled an upcoming six-day engagement at Bally’s Hotel here, catching the resort and striking musicians by surprise.
Sinatra was scheduled to return to the resort Monday after canceling earlier performances because of a six-month strike by musicians. Sinatra said last week he was returning to the stage of the Strip resort because it was the holidays and “time for everyone to get back to work.”
His Los Angeles public relations firm announced Wednesday that he had changed his mind.
“I am informed that a settlement of the strike is possible before the holidays,” Sinatra said from his home in Rancho Mirage. “If such is the case, I do not want to jeopardize these conversations and am deferring my decision to perform in Las Vegas at the moment.”
Bally’s spokesman Tom Bruny said hotel officials were caught by surprise by Wednesday’s announcement. He said no replacement for Sinatra had been named.
Mark Tully Massagli, president of Musicians Local 369, said Sinatra’s announcement was good news and was unexpected.
Frank Sinatra Jr., who serves as musical conductor for his father, had been working as an emissary between Bally’s and the resort’s musicians, trying to bring the two sides together.
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