Francis Albert Sinatra was born on this date one hundred years ago.

As a young man, Sinatra idolized Bing Crosby. He did everything he could to emulate Bing’s style. It wasn’t long before Frank blossomed into a force of his own. There could be tension between the two outsized personalities, but I think it’s safe to say that theirs was a mutual admiration society.

“What a Swell Party This Is,” from “High Society” (1956):

Frank and Bing share a holiday bromance on “The Frank Sinatra Show” (1957):

Frank and Bing in “Robin and the Seven Hoods” (1964), with Dino:

Frank and Bing caricatured in the Warner Brothers animated short, “Swooner Crooner” (1944), with the added bonus of a Durante cameo and Raymond Scott’s “Powerhouse”:

http://www.criticalcommons.org/Members/sammondn/clips/swooner

Happy birthday, Frank Sinatra!

[This post is dedicated to Frank’s biggest fan – and regular Classic Ross Amico commentator – Kenneth Hutchins.]