Sinatra's hats

babs · Sep 8, 2009

I guess this little guy is more like a Sinatra hat than I knew when I won it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370249497738&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Find one of these and you've got a typical 50's - '60's era "ole blue eyes" hat I guess.

Funny.. I can tell by the look of that brim, I'd definitely see it to be a cavanagh edge having seen mine close up. I gotta get some pics up. Gave me chills to pull a mint new hat out of it's own original box that was probably not far from that time period.. probably a little later, but still I'm sure quite a bit older than I am.

My ugly mug sure won't look like the Chairman though, nor can I carry a tune like that. hehehe

"when I was 21... It was a very good year.. " <--- That song rocks!!

Might have to pop in some CBS era Dean Martin I have in the car for the road this afternoon. ... One boy... One girl... Ah heck, here ya go for a little vintage mood.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MWN_duZfIs

jpbales · Sep 9, 2009

Well "Medalist" is the model name of this specific hat- but it is a porkpie-style fedora. Porkpie is one of many types of creases or styles that can be put into a fedora.

MisterGrey said:
So is that medalist a fedora or a porkpie? I'm still trying to figure out the subtleties that differentiate the two. I've seen several pictures of Sinatra in that hat/a similar hat, and have always believed that he was more of a porkpie wearer than a fedora one.

moontheloon · Jan 14, 2017

Sinatra in a Stratoliner

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Bird Lives · Jan 14, 2017

moontheloon said:
Sinatra in a Stratoliner

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Wow! Proof everyone looks good under a thin ribbon! And he has the brim up!

Wesslyn · Jan 17, 2017

Bird Lives said:
Wow! Proof everyone looks good under a thin ribbon! And he has the brim up!

Everyone except me!

This is the only pic I've seen Frank in that hat. I wonder why that is. Every other hat it seems got photographed a hundred times.

Bird Lives · Jan 17, 2017

Wesslyn said:
Everyone except me!

This is the only pic I've seen Frank in that hat. I wonder why that is. Every other hat it seems got photographed a hundred times.

I don't mean to derail the topic here...and I'm a big fan of Sinatra's hat style...
But for a quick one post defense of thin ribbons...
Hey man....there are alot of thin ribbons...
FROM:

To:

That covers a pretty broad spectrim...

But there are threads for thin ribbons....now back to our previous topic....

As we know....as Sinatra developed in many ways...his hats did aswell....mostly towards lower crowns and stingier brims....but it sure is cool to see him in that Strat ! Thanks Moon!

Benzadmiral · Jan 17, 2017

The title I gave these two pics when I saved them from the 'Net indicate they were taken about 1955. Not sure if they are of the same hat.

Let us not forget that Frank could be an outstanding actor. There were films he walked through, but then his performance as a drug addict in The Man With the Golden Arm and his work in The Manchurian Candidate show what he could do.

In 1966 or so he played Joe Leland, a former cop who is now a private detective, in The Detective. The novel of the same name had a sequel in 1979 called Nothing Lasts Forever. We all know the movie made of that novel: 1988's Die Hard. The story goes that Sinatra's contract for The Detective required that any film with the Joe Leland character should be offered to him first. Well, in '88 he was far too old for the role later made famous by Bruce Willis. But imagine if the novel had been written in 1958, and Sinatra had been cast as the cop in the skyscraper in 1961 or so? I think it would have been a solid thriller.

emigran · Jan 17, 2017

Yes, Ol Blue Eyes had it all... however it wasnt' because of the Rat Pack ... It was because of " the VOICE".. at its all time best from early '40's till '55... that's what made him the Huge star he was... his voice... cool came with his singing...

Bird Lives · Jan 18, 2017

emigran said:
Yes, Ol Blue Eyes had it all... however it wasnt' because of the Rat Pack ... It was because of " the VOICE".. at its all time best from early '40's till '55... that's what made him the Huge star he was... his voice... cool came with his singing...

I agree....but then many GREAT actors had very strong, unique vocal stylings that define their character like Sean Connery , Morgan Freeman, or Orson Wells...

But I also think, a big part of what made his voice so special was his timing....Frank told many, that tohim phrasing was everything in how to deliver a song. He used to study horn players, like Tommy Dorsey on how and when they would breath while delivering a melody.....Miles Davis said his three biggest influences regarding phrasing were, Frank Sinatra, Orson Wells, and Paul Robeson.....Whew! Pretty lofty praise from someone who knew a thing or two about phrasing himself.

That same style, voice and phrasing made him a fabulous entertainer and actor....and that sense of style, set a standart for dressing, suits and of course.....hats and how to wear them!

Fed in a Fedora · Jan 18, 2017

Wesslyn said:
Everyone except me!

This is the only pic I've seen Frank in that hat. I wonder why that is. Every other hat it seems got photographed a hundred times.

Considering that there is only one photo of him in that hat and the fact that it is far too tight for him, I would bet it is not his hat.

pilot error · Jan 18, 2017

Benzadmiral.......The picture on the left is 1960.......on the right a little later. brims way too stingy for '55. Btw, most of the hats were custom Cavanagh.

pilot error · Jan 18, 2017

Usually a snap brim Trilby......

Bird Lives · Jan 18, 2017

Fed in a Fedora said:
Considering that there is only one photo of him in that hat and the fact that it is far too tight for him, I would bet it is not his hat.

Bingo! We Got a Winner!

navarre · Jan 18, 2017

I agree. He has to be just clowning around.

Benzadmiral · Jan 18, 2017

pilot error said:
Benzadmiral.......The picture on the left is 1960.......on the right a little later. brims way too stingy for '55. Btw, most of the hats were custom Cavanagh.

Darned if I can recall what site I got them from, but they had the pics labeled that way. Good to know.

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