February 22, 2022 • 52 mins
You need money. You know the Sinatra family. Obviously, the only thing to do is kidnap the adult son of Old Blue Eyes and ask for a ransom. But not too much, just enough. You don’t want to seem greedy. Learn about one man’s bumbling crusade to raise money for his family and raise the ire of America’s most mobbed-up crooner.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Ridiculous crime is a production of My Heart Radio, Elizabeth Dutton.
You know what's ridiculous. The band name Cherry Pop and
Daddy's straight up ridiculous. Come at me, Cherry Pop and Daddy's.
Are they embarrassed about that? Now? I hope they are? Well,
are they playing county fairs? I think they are. I
(00:24):
hope they're doing something. God speed, Cherry Popping Daddy's. I
stopped getting the newsletter your loss. Yeah, I still got
all the stickers on my car. Okay, that's a good one.
That is. That is very ridiculous. Now, how about another
ridiculous one. A dude who's down on his luck, feeling
a little stuck, and he needs to make a quick score,
(00:44):
big cash. The best idea he can come up with
is to kidnap a famous person's child and hold that
kid for ransom. The famous person whose kid he decides
to grab is Frank Sinatra. You're like, wait, what, why
would you possibly? There's so many other celebrities with kids
to take. Bro. That is like probably the worst bad
life choice. You know, all his friends are like mob
(01:05):
bosses like Bro. Anyway, so it's dumb as this plan sounds,
Things go even wilder than you might imagine. This is
a strange cast of characters. We've got Sam gun Connor,
mob boss. We got jig Or Hoover, head of the FBI.
We've got Jan from Jan and Dean. Yeah, and uh,
this one will surprise you. So you're ready to hear
about the dumb lucky kidnapping of Frank Sinatra Jr. Bring
(01:27):
it on. This is Ridiculous Crime, a podcast about absurd
(01:49):
and outrageous capers and cons. It's always murder free and
one ridiculous. Okay, it's the seas. In fact, it's the
start of the nineteen sixties, and the coolest men in
the world are the rat Pack. You know where the
rat Pack are, right? Who are they? Your producer Dave
(02:12):
and also Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.
We're a swell group, right, So they were in nineteen
sixty like the Kreme de la Creme. The coolest people
their movie stars. They are singing all around the world.
They are carousing all the time in Vegas. They're living
up the high life that pretty much everybody who equates
(02:33):
is like, you know, the playboy lifestyle. That's them at
the time when America is at its peak prosperity. So
basically you're standing being the coolest men. It's the peak
of America's history, the rat pack, top of the heap.
I'm kid. So their lifestyle get turned into a film,
you know, the film as Oceans eleven. That film pretty
(02:55):
much captures a vibe that is stayed what America's idea
of cool, you know, it is like pretty much, you know,
Steven Soderberg has made a career out of kind of
aping the feelings that that conjurs. Maybe not exactly the visuals,
but the feelings, and you know, good for him. But
the elixir of it, yes, it's a good word. I
like that, the elixir of cool them anyway. So the
same year, Frank Sinatra also made a big switch from
(03:17):
Capitol Records and he started his own record company, Reprise Records,
and Reprise ended up being one of the first record
companies that an artist had as an independent holding. So
they were like, I now have my own record company.
Before Frank Sinatra, nobody could do that. And they you know,
they were involved in all the you know, payola and
these scams, and it was like everybody know, the mob
was involved the music industry was and remained really shady, right,
(03:40):
so he tried to kind of take control. So he
gets the mob to back him, and he gets the
reprise records of his own. Eventually he sells it for
a huge, like huge windfall for him. It works out great.
So now everybody else starts wanting to do it. It
doesn't go badly right now. I don't know. I grew
up in a house where my dad revered Frank Sinatra,
so I heard him and the Temptations and four Tops,
(04:00):
and like, I basically heard Motown and Frank Sinatra and
Dean Martin and Sammy David Jr. Actually all of them
all the time from my father. Just he just put
the needle on on the records. Five record five record
players make him compete, and I had to this dance
in front of each one and amuse him and his friends. No,
this is not at all. So he would just be
playing Frank Sinatra, and to me that was like the
(04:21):
height of cool. Basically it was Motown and the rat Pack.
Those are the two ideas of cool. I'm just stuck
on your dance. What do you do all these competing songs? Dance? There?
Uncle wants to see you move. So, but like, I
have no idea what other people like, how they view
like Frank Sinatra. To me, he is America. But what
do you he to you? Like when I see Frank Snatra,
(04:43):
what do you think of? I think of Las Vegas
most certainly, and I kind of was he like a
Palm Springs fixture? Yeah, late later in life, Frank Sinatra
that I always think of where he's like in like
a Kashmir Cardigan. Yeah, that's eight life Frank. So you know,
like sixties peaked Frank late, Like Frank, did you know
(05:05):
anything of like you know, Academy Award winning fifties Ava Gardner,
Frank or forties Tommy Dorsus. Okay, So do you think
of him as being like a central figure in American history? Oh? Certainly? Okay, Yeah,
that's good because he was, you know, he helps get
Kennedy elected? Is that the right answer? What if I
said no, I would have just gotten up and left.
Thank God answered correctly. But like you know, like, and
(05:29):
I want to everybody who's unaware that it seems silly,
but Frank Snatcher was a central figure of American history
in so many ways, right, So keep in mind that's
the person that this guy decides to kidnap his son. Now,
what's meet our kidnapper? Twenty three year old Barry Keenan
is a California kid. Grew up in l As. Father's
(05:49):
a stockbroker, goes to like Uni High and Santa Monica.
He has what we call a comfortable life right post
World War two fifties is his childhood. And Harriet very
austy and Harriet very much like you know l A
during the boom of the aerospace industry. So it's just like, oh,
go go and jets anyway, So he's like best friends
(06:12):
with Dean Torrance. This his kid, right. Dean Torrance turns
out to be later on be the other half of
the surf music duo Jan and Dean. He's also friends
with Nancy Sinatra. These are the kind of kids he's
growing up with, you know, in high school. Let's just
get you an idea. He goes off, leaves high school,
you know, graduates, goes to u c l A. He's
a bruin, doesn't really have it in him to do
(06:34):
the college life. He's like, I don't drop out. His
dad's he's like this father is like, look, son, we
need to get you set up in life. So here's
some stock tips and some money to get you started.
And why don't you go and make yourself a fortune?
And he does. The dude goes out, he dicks money
from his dad. At age one, he's the youngest member
of the l A stock exchange. By age two, he
(06:57):
is now a real estate developer. Dang Barry. Oh yeah,
Barry is killing it right, But unfortunately life is all
about change. So Barry has a real early peak and
then crashes real hard, real quick. Right. It's a lot
of stress. You know. He's going to leading a go
go active life, busy omical lifestyle, and he just couldn't
keep up. So he starts to lose money, and then
(07:20):
that leads to basically stress, which leads to an episode
of mental illness, and he starts drinking. He starts doing
more drugs. He gets injured, basically gets in a car
accident if a dog runs across the street, and then
he starts having to do Perkadan. So he's trying to, like,
you know, manage the pain. It's very common. You hear
about it now, but back then people weren't really thinking
about him as the victim is just like, oh, now
you got a drug problem, bro. So anyway, while he's
(07:42):
dealing with all of this, his father starts losing his fortune. Yes,
it gets real bad. So he decides, oh, man, I
need to do something to save myself, save my family.
You know what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna get two dollars.
That's what I need. He just picks this numbers. Now,
just to translate, that's about two million dollars in today's money.
(08:04):
I think most people would be like, you know what
I need. I just need two million dollars to get
everything running on track. My family would be saved, I'd
be saved. Mom would just finally smile. Dad would finally
talk to her again. We finally loved me. Also, by
the way, you have to keep in mind, Old Barry
remembers the thing about a little bit of an episode
of mental illness. God told him his plan of how
(08:25):
to get this money. So he's like, I need he
puts your prayers up. God's like, I hear your berry.
Here's the answer. So did he have like auditory hallucinations
you think, I don't know if he's internal like you know,
if he's hearing God's voice, like a little voice inside
and saying that's God telling him, or if he's literally
hearing a voice outside of himself. He's like, I see,
if I see a seagull in the next five minutes,
(08:46):
it means that God wants me to get I wouldn't
put that past. And then and like steals his French fries.
He's like, I know, like God, thanks God, thank you
so much. So God's like, here's the plan, Barry. You
need a kid nap a kid, make a kid someone's famous.
But by the way, it can't be a woman, and
it can't be a baby. It's got to be young.
When I say a kid, I'm not going like, you know,
(09:07):
a swinging cat, you know. And he's the kidnap a kid. Yeah, first,
kidnap a kid now because it's God. Though you know,
there's always gonna be restrictions. God's like, kidnap a kid,
but here's how you have to do it. Otherwise I'm
gonna be mad. You know what I do what I'd
get mad anyway that he makes a deal with God
and he's like, all right, let's do this God. And
so now he's like, you know, who do I kidnap.
(09:29):
It's nineteen sixty three. You're looking around. Who would you kidnap?
Whose kid would you kid nap? Brother? I was like,
I keep thinking of terrible things, Tote. I mean, I'm
thinking of vulnerable JFK Jr. But aside from that one,
I'm so sorry about that sixty three. Who would I kidnap?
(09:49):
Maybe Frank Sinatras kid. Now I don't know. I'm taking
John Wayne's boy. Oh yeah, he wasn't as tough and
real like, no, I don't. That's why I'm taking his kid.
I'm thinking he would pay through the knows. I take
him to Mexican co Come find me, b Yeah, you
gotta go with the cash and maybe not the swiftest
know and somebody who's gonna be a little bit like scared.
But then also maybe like FBI is gonna get involved
(10:10):
to like complicate things so I can like get them
thinking they're gonna help him. He thinks, every and then
I just you know, here's your kid back, and I
take the money. So Barry, He's like, okay, three, I
need to get someone famous. It's got to be a kid.
But it can't be a baby, can't be a woman.
I know Bob Hope's kid, Tony Hope. Yeah, Tony Hope.
(10:32):
That's Bob Hope's kid anyway, Tony Hawks stunt double Tony Hope.
Bro So Tony Hope is like, you know this, you know, nice,
nice enough kid. He thinks he's probably worth you know,
at least two dollars, right and uh And he's like,
you know what, Bob hopes, he's a g He's like
over there in Vietnam, I guess you know back this
would be Vietnam over there entertaining the troops. You know,
(10:55):
he's an all American guy. I can't take his kid.
He doesn't need that hassle. And the man knows how
to wield a golf club. This is very true. So
he's like, you know, I need somebody who's a little tougher,
who can take it, who understands how the world is.
And if I take the kid, they won't just crumbled
fall to pieces. So he's like, you know, who can
do it? Frank Sinatra. I'm taking his boy. But you
(11:15):
have to understand this is interesting because he grew up
with Sinatras, right. He grew up in Nancy Sinatra and
her boots were made for walking. Yeah, that's just what
they're gonna do. One of these days, these boots might
walk all over you, buddy. Let me watch my step.
So Nancy Sinatra is so tight with this dude, Barry,
she would like have him in the car that Frank
(11:36):
would drive. So Frank would drive like Nancy and her
girlfriends down to like a party or whatever, and he
would be in the car. So he drank. He's that
close to the family. He's not just like I see
him occsually at my school. He's like, I'm in the
station where it wasn't that his first choice? Inside job? Baby?
Why would you go, Bob Hope. So he decides, like,
you know, I'm gonna I'm gonna get this kid. I
(11:59):
know where he is. This shouldn't be too hard, and
Frank can take it. He's tough, he's a he understands
this is you know, because basically, remember he's got a
deal with God. But he also Barry Keenan thinks of
this as a business deal. He's like, hey, Frank, he
knows the mob. He knows how. It's a business deal.
It's not personal. He went to He's in his early
twenties or mid twenties. At this point, he goes to
(12:20):
school with Nancy. How old is the boy? He's nineteen,
so it's not really a kid. Well he is in America,
maybe the son of wealth is a nineteen Yeah, I'm
taking legally, you're you're you're the daughter of a lawyer.
So you're thinking, oh, he's nineteen, he's and I'm like, no,
I'm I'm also thinking at nineteen, I don't know a
nineteen year old man. Well, well, you know, basically, if
(12:45):
he's a nineteen year old man, it just doesn't like
I like describing. Have you ever seen a picture of
he looked because his father was very baby faced when
he was very young, and he followed in his father's
footsteps are being very baby faced. So if you look
at him, he looks like a ager. So I like
to imagine him baby face, meaning he's bald and has
one curl on the top of his head like the
(13:05):
Gerber baby, and he's wearing a suit and the baby's
head in a passing fire. Yeah, and he's just like
that's like he's on the edge of tears all the time.
That's what I'm seeing. He's looking around for Yeah, he's
moody right now. He's a typer change. So my man
Barry Keene, he's got his plans set, he's got his
(13:26):
targets set. He's decided Frank can take it. So now
is time to put his plan into action. And I'll
tell you all about that after this short break. Okay, So, Elizabeth, yes,
(13:57):
you're an amateur kidnapper. I'm an amateur pretty much hip.
But let's say you're looking to go pro as a kidnapper. Okay,
where would you turn? What would you what would be
your first move? I want to go pro as a kidnapper.
You want to get paid? Get that brad Sun. How
you gonna do it? You know, I don't know. I'd
maybe like try and get a mentorship, going go find
(14:22):
can apply for an apprenticeship program with another kidnapping outfits
and the Kidnapper Guild everything. You know. Well, Barry goes
to the library. Oh that's that's okay, right, He reads books,
he reads newspaper articles. He really focuses on j Edgar
Hoover in the article because back then Jaeger Hoover was
writing newspaper articles because he was trying to win over
(14:42):
the populace to the idea of the FBI. So in
the thirties and the forties, he is writing updates about
like you know, shootouts with bank robbers and like, oh,
we almost got you know, top machine gun Kelly. We're
after baby Face Nelson and he got away. And then
he's like this is why you need the FBI. Right.
And then also they have like the g men on
the radio. It's like a whole advertising ca paying for
the FBI essentially. Anyway, he loves these articles. Very Berry's
(15:05):
just hitting the micro feast. Yeah, he's in the micro
feast in the library, going give me all the Jagger
Hoover I can get, right, But he doesn't just living
himself to Hoover. He also goes all the way back
to a real high point of kidnapping biblical time. Is
this where he gets the notion of God telling him,
you know, God already told him. Let me hit the
reference book. Yeah, He's like me to check the blueprint.
(15:28):
He's like, well, he wants to know like basically why
kidnapping works, but importantly why it also fails. He wants
to know like when kidnappings have gone wrong. Smart guy,
smart guy, I mean, you know, for somebody who's like,
you know, edging on reality. It's a smart approach. So
once he's schooled on kidnapping and he feels like I
gotta handle on that. He's like, Okay, now I need
some money. So where is he gonna go? Where are
(15:49):
you gonna go to get some money to fund my kidnapping? Exactly,
it's a tough one. You can't go to the bank
for a loan. So get a job at a soda
fountain and hard work and bootstraps. I don't know, rob somebody.
October nineteen sixty three, He's like, let me hit up
my best friend Jan. But hold on, how great would
it be if he broke into Sinatra's house and stole
(16:10):
money in order to the kidnapping at his kid? Just
putting that out there barriers a missed opportunity. I'll just
put something else out there. You just wait. October nineteen
sixty three, calls up his friend Dean Torrance of Jan
and Dean. He's like, Dean, my man, I got a
business opportunity for you. Dean's like too busy, right, and serftain.
(16:32):
You know, He's like, because you have to understand, Remember
I said he became an investment broker and twenty one
and so forth. He was given. He was taking his
parents money, his friend's parents money, his friends money, and
making money for them on investment. He made a ton
of money for Dean Torrance because Dean Torrance had money
after making poppets like Surf City. So he's like, I'll
take that invested. So Dean's like, do you want to do? What? What?
(16:54):
What is it? He's like actually curious to know, and
he's like, I got this great new business plan. You're
gonna love it. It's a big money year in it, right.
So Barry's like, hey, Dean, meet me at usc and
he's like all right. So they meet over there and
he's like, Okay, now I'm gonna tell you this plan.
But hear me out, don't interrupt me, just wait till
the end, then interrupt with whatever you gotta say. This
(17:14):
is like when you tell me a story. I'm just
wait till the end. So he's like, okay, here's the plan.
He lays it out to him. I'm gonna take Frank
Sinatra's son and I'm gonna ranting him off and I'm
gonna make a bunch of money and then we'll all
be fabulously wealthy, and I'll say my family. He's like,
this is your plan? Okay, No, he gets like, you know,
to be quiet, honest. Uh, he kind of like plays
(17:35):
along and I quote that all sounds great, Barry, very entertaining,
But what happens if you get caught? That's a reasonable thing, right,
It's like the most honest question, best question to ask.
Barry has an answer. He's like, I'm prepared for that,
bro well, Dean, and I quote, I'm not going to
get caught. That's not part of the plan. I have
such an iron clad alibi. My plan if I get
(18:00):
caught is just tonight, not get caught. I've got that
check taken care of. So he's like, okay, well lay
it on me. What's your alibi? And he's like, well,
you know, I'm gonna go to uh you see l
a Bruins game, and everybody will see me there and
then they can just say that's where I was. And
he's like, that's your plan, okay, all fifty people are
going to be your eyewitnesses. Deal. So Dean's like, you
(18:22):
know what, and I quote, I'll tell you what. This
is too bizarre for me to even relate to. But
I will give you five hundred bucks. Now you try
to get your life together and let me know how
things go. So Dean also, by the way, has he
like you think like he has never spoken about this publicly.
He has. He's willing to talk about the time he
financed Frank's and after June kidnapping, and he recalls and
(18:43):
I quote, I don't think I ever took him seriously.
It was so insane. That's his defense. Got this friend
who's not all there, and and it's his best friend
from high school. So he's like, look, I'm doing well
well in surf music. You used to be doing well
with the maybe yeah. So then he's like, okay, now
I got my money, I got a steed money, got
(19:03):
five hundred bucks. Now it's time to my plan into actions.
He's like, I need to go and get a team together.
His first ask old high school buddy Joe and Total Berries.
The dude is an abalone diver professional boxer. Wait, that's
the most amazing peak California employment that resume. What do
(19:24):
you do? Abaloni diver also a professional boxer, by the way,
really struggling with the Employment's like, look, you get a
job or you get out so and uh my man.
Barry's like, hey, man, I got a hundred bucks a
week if you want to be part of my heist.
He's like, cool, I'm into it, right, So he agrees
(19:46):
to the high for a hundred dollars a week. Then
he's like five weeks of employment. He's like, I need
also somebody who caused a tough guy, right, somebody who can, like,
you know, really bring this home. So and he's like, oh,
I know my mom's ex boyfriend he brought at home.
So he's this forty two year old World War Two veterans,
a navy man, and he's like, hey, John earwhen you
(20:07):
want to help me, kid Frank Sinatras Jr. He's like,
m hmm, well, how much is in in it for me?
He's like he kills him hundred bucks a week. He's like,
all right, two and a half weeks of employment exactly. Well,
this is our team. So they're like, okay, let's get
to it now. Their first attempt is that month. They
(20:28):
decide in October three, we need to go grab You
can't pay him beyond that, you've done the math. It's
right there. So he's like, all right, I need to
move but he's got a problem. He's he's got uh
that kind of a big problem. He fell in love. Yeah,
and he's wondering, how do I tell my girl that
I'm gonna steal Frank Sinatra's son and make us some
big money. She may not be into that. That That may
(20:49):
scare her away. That may be what the kids is
the future will call the red flag. I don't know.
That would be the best Reddit relationships from either one
of them. I want to steal Frank Sinatra Jr. It
would be like Reddit relationships, Like my boyfriend keeps disappearing
for periods of time and I think he's cheating, and
(21:09):
then the update, well it turns out he was trying
to kidnap Frank Sinatra, not cheating. So his girlfriend Pam
surprises us. All she's into it. She's like, what Pam's writer,
Let's get that, dude. I'm telling you, I'll drive right.
So they're like all lined up and they go heading
over to Arizona because Frank Sinatra Junior is gonna be
(21:30):
playing the Arizona State Fair. Wait, playing the Arizona Singing
he's a musicians. Oh yes, I forgot to tell you that.
Following in the footsteps of his father. He is a musician,
and he's like teen sensation at nineteen Yeah, exactly, this
is a really good comparison. Actually is good. So he's like,
you know, basically conjuring that feel and people are like, oh,
(21:52):
it's just they love that. And he's playing the Arizona
State Fair. Yeah, there's a part of a generational issue
there because you have to remember nineteen six three and
not a lot of people are like, you know what
I would love right now is a young Frank Sinatra.
So he kind of missed his window there. His father
really hit it though, But anyway, so he uh, Barry,
Pam and the gym, and uh, we got Jim Irwin.
(22:13):
It sounds like you're making so Joe John or John Wamsler,
John Irwin, Pam and Barry. They all go cruising over
to Arizona. But they decided to abort mission because Barry
he's like, you know, he's basically freaked out of about
the fact he touched the phone when he went to
(22:34):
like do somethings like touched the phone, I left I
left fingerprints. We gotta leave into like okay. So then
they drive back to l A and He's like, okay, guys,
I know that that probably didn't seem cool. How I
freaked out, But I trust me. I got a really
good plan. Like he basically thought he left the oven
on exactly and everyone was like, oh, man, I don't
(22:55):
know about this. He's like, look, we'll grab him here
in l A And they were like, Barry, I don't know, bro.
He's like, look, guys, try me. This is gonna happen.
It's gonna be amazing, it's gonna be magical. We're gonna
do this. How about this. Put on your best suit.
We're going to the Ambassador. And they're like what. It's like, yeah,
do it up, man. So they go and they put
on their best suit. They go down to the Ambassador
Hotel where Frank Sinatra Jr. Is performing and they get
(23:20):
to watch him headline a like nightclub act, and sitting
a few tables away from them is Frank Sinatra Senior,
Dean Martin and Sammy did do you think that's that's
why people went to that show because they thought they
and that's why Frank Sinatra went to that show that
exact same reason. So anyway, everything now these guys are like, oh,
it's ordained. We're gonna do it. We're gonna take that
(23:42):
man's son, that was their seagulls son. They decided, right
they Frank Sinatra flies across this room and steals my
French fries. It's on. Remember I'm channeling Berry here and
he's not playing with eye to eye with him as
I'm amazing. So I remember. Their alibia is they're gonna
(24:03):
go to a u c l. A football game. So
they set the day they're gonna kidnap Barry on a Friday,
go to the u c l. A football game on
a Saturday. Everyone will see them do Like, how could
they kidnap him on Friday? If they're at the u
c l A game on Saturday, bro, nothing can happen exactly.
So that's their plan, and they set the day for Friday,
November twenty two. So plans get interrupted when JFK gets
(24:27):
assassinated that day in Dallas. Oh boys, So Frank's and
Not Your Junior Show gets canceled that night, and Barry's like,
damn it, man, this is not fair. This is just
not fair. So anyway, he's he's really upset and he's like,
but I'm not going to give up on the dream.
He's like, I've I refuse. This is my moment, right.
So he's like, okay, I'm gonna have to go up
(24:50):
to uh Tahoe because he sees that's where Frank's not
your junior, is going to be performing in December. He's like, okay,
it's a perfect place to grab He's out there at
the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I can just go up because
all those little back roads. I can drive down to Reno,
I can drive down to San Francisco. There's no way
to stop me. I could go south in the ninety nine.
This is great. I got December in the in Tahoe. Okay. Yeah,
but he's thinking, you know, he's he's from you know,
(25:12):
down south, so he doesn't really know that it's going
to be most likely snow. He's not thinking about that, right.
But he calls up his mom is actually it's like, hey,
John Irwin, you want to go up north to Tall
He's like, bro, I got a job. I gotta, I gotta.
I got work as a house painter. I don't need
your hundred dollars a week. He's like, okay, just don't
tell anyone I'm doing this okay, So then he goes
he grabs up his buddy Abaloni diver turn boxer Joe
(25:32):
Ams Learns like, hey, Joe, let's go north. And he's like, oh, man,
I can't. My wife's not about on me. I haven't
been able to collecting the abalone, haven't fought anybody. I
mean just things are tough, and I guess some work.
He's like, yeah, there's construction jobs. People are building casinos.
Let's go up to Tahoe. And he's like, all right, bet,
let's go. He's all, where your abalone short shorts? Exactly?
So they finally they drive north and they're going up
(25:55):
there and they get a Tahoe and all of a sudden,
Joe notices on the marquee at Harris Casino. Frank's out
your junior now headlining the whatever room. He's like, bro,
what's up with this? You just brought me here to
grab Frank Sinatri junior. You're not getting construction jobs. He's like, yeah,
that's true. We're doing it, man, we're doing it. So
I will be back in one moment to tell you
(26:16):
the mad cap grabbing of Frank Sinatra Jr. It's December
(26:41):
eight We're just weeks after the assassination of JFK. The
nation is morning, but Frank Sinatr Junior is like, the
show must go on. So he's out there at Harris
Casino getting ready to perform. Yeah, Frank Sinatra Junr. So
then we enter to the scene Barry and Joe Amsler
(27:01):
Abaloni diver turn boxer who they pull up into the
Sierra Nevadas and they decide, you know what, we're gonna
do this thing. After they have a little falling out
about the fact that Joe was lied to by Barry,
He's like, all right, I'm here though, Let's do this.
So they pull up in their sixty three Chevy and
Paula and uh, now, mind you, they have to like
(27:22):
get his routine down. So like for about a week
they just kind of shade Frank Sinatra Jr. They're like,
you tracking them. Now we've spent that week up. Now
we are at December eight, So for the last week
they've been there doing the most dangerous game on exactly
just tracking. Wanted to know all of his routines, where
is it anything he does right? So now they got
it down to they pull up in their sixty three
(27:42):
Chevy and Paula cut the lights and they go, Okay,
it's the moment, let's do this. He's like, you ready, Joe,
He's like, I don't think him and he's like, oh,
here's an unloaded gun. Let's do this. Sorry, God, he
gives him unloaded gun. He doesn't trust Joe with bullets,
so then he has bullets in his gun. He's like, hey,
let's go in there. So Barry's like, you know what,
(28:02):
I got an idea. I'll be a delivery man. So
he takes a wine box, fills up a pine cones
he gathers from like just trees, and goes up and
knocks on the door. It's like Martha's Stewart. Yeah, He's like,
I gotta exactly here are the pine cones. They're decorative.
What if he opens the door and Frankie Jr. Is like,
I've been waiting on those and just like starts chewing
them up. It's that good. They didn't know. I've noticed
(28:26):
that he only eats pine pine cones and that's why
he's such a beautiful voice. So he goes up and
he knocks on the door and he said, hey, Joe,
be cool. Ready, Okay, knock, knock, and then Frank stunts
Junior rich kid did. He was like, come in. So
they push open the door and walk in with the
pine cones like delivery, sir, he said, set him down
over there. He sets him down and he's like, Joe,
come on in, and he tries to pull out his gun,
(28:46):
but he can't get his gun out of his pocket.
So the two of them were both fumbling. One guy's
got the unloaded gun, he's aiming it at them. One's
got his gun in his pocket, Barry. He finally gets
the gun out of pocket, forces it into Frank snutr
Junior's face and is like, all right, this is a robbery, right,
Because he's decided he doesn't want it to think it's
a kidnapping, so he doesn't tell him it's a kidnapping.
He's like, don't make any noise and nobody will get hurt.
And he just keeps repeating this over and over again,
(29:08):
and Junior is like, okay, now, mind you. I left
that a key detail. When they burst into the room,
Franks and not your junior and his trumpet player, this
guy Fast. They're hanging out in their underwear eating fried
chicken as you do, you know, just before the show,
trying to Yeah with the trumpet player eating some fried chicken.
(29:29):
That sounds lovely, right, So they're just sitting there now
and their underwear eating fried chicken with guns in their faces.
They just continue eating. They do. He literally continues. He
takes a bite of thigh. He's like, I'm what's going on, man?
That's incredible. So then he's like, give us some money,
and he's like, now he's made the terrible mistake of
trying to rob musicians. The trumpet players like, bro, I
don't got anything. Good luck. You don't want to know why.
(29:55):
So he's like, I got twenty bucks. Frank's run was
like here, I got twenty bucks. And the reason why
they decided to rob him is because Barry has spent
up all their money. They don't have gas money to
make it back to l A. They need this money.
Once they get done robbing him, then they go, okay,
now back to kidnapping. Okay, this is side quest. It's amazing.
(30:16):
So they tell the dude Foster chumpet player, look, you're
gonna stay here. Bro, We're gonna tie you up ten
minutes after we leave. You can go tell people that
we took Frank Sinatra Junr. He's like to tie him
up with a minute. So that happens after ten minutes,
and they just wanted to head start so and they
thought he's a man of dignity and she's not going
(30:36):
to get caught because he's not going to get caught. Exactly.
This is all part of the plan. I don't know
why you have questions. So they shuffle Frank Sinatra Junior
out of the room. They go and they take him
down to the sixty three Chevy and Paula toss him
in back, blindfold him. They get ready to go and
they're like, oh, I forgot the gun. Barry. He has
to go back upstairs and fetch his gun. And he
sees that Foster is like trying to get free to
(30:57):
like bro I thought I told you. He's like, okay, look,
just give me five minutes. And he was like, okay,
I'll give you five minutes. Like cool. So then he
leaves exactly. So then they go run back downstairs and
he's like, oh cool. And they're get in the car
and Joe is not taken off. Joe's still in the
car sitting there. Joe's like man, we got really got
to get out of here. So they're like, oh cool,
and he's like, hey, Frank sinatr Jr. Be cool, bro,
(31:20):
just just be cool. And he's like, what's going on.
You guys robbed me and your kid, but what's really
going on. It's like, so this is a quote from
Barry and I quote. We're in the car maybe three
or four minutes. I say, Frank, what we should do
is make you look like you're drunk. So here, take
these sleeping pills and no be tall to be precise,
take a swig of this whiskey. And Frank he was
(31:42):
very cooperative. I love this for so many reasons. One
what we should do is kidnappers. Kidnappy is making you
look drunk like he's gonna be like, oh yeah, tots
like that. And then they're like, here, take these take
these pills in some whiskey. He's like, don't got as exactly,
(32:04):
you know. The Frank's Latr Jr. Did have to be
kind of like convinced because they told him, look, we
got these guns and if anything happens, if cops show up,
there'll be gunfire and you might get shot by the cops.
We don't want that to happen. He's like, that's true,
give me the booze, right, But if I'm like kidnapped
and shoved in the back of a really cool looking
sixties three, well, I imagine brand new. They shoved me
in there, and they've got guns in my face. I'm
going to say, can I have those pills in that whiskey?
(32:26):
Because I just want to check out on this one
right now. That's what Joe is doing kill myself. But
I'm like, I, you know, lights out London. I want
to go to sleep. I don't want to see this,
and then you can deal with my limp body and
you try and move me around. Just pour me in
the footwell and I'll be fine. Yeah, So did Joe
hit up the pills and whiskey. Yeah, Joe and Frank
(32:47):
were passing back to the one at the bottle because
they're both little tents right now right there, just not
He's not sure this is gonna go well, this is amazing,
So Foster trumpet player works himself free. He runs down
to the manager. He's like, look, they grab Frank's not
your junior managers, Like what he's gonna get killed? He's
still eating a piece of chicken. He like his teeth.
You're like, I'm killing you just one second. This is
some good chicken. So anyway, the manager calls the you know,
(33:09):
the sheriff. The Sheriff's like, what, I'm gonna get killed
by Frank Sinatras. Everyone's afraid to get killed by Frank Sinatra.
So they shut down the roads, they shut down the freeway.
He has all these deputies going like block off any exits,
and they do it fast enough. He's like, I want
you boys out there because I don't think they got
out of the out of this area. There's no way.
It's only been like five ten minutes. So he sends
his guys out with sawed off shotguns and pistols into
(33:31):
the dark and cold and goes go find me the
kid nappers of Frank Sinatra Jr. And Uh. The sheriff
is right about one thing. They have not left the area.
What do they all take? Pills and berries? Like you
know what, man, I told you, I got the plan.
I thought of everything. He says, I just need to
put these snow chains on. God he does, but he
(33:53):
gets the snow chains on. They're driving along and they're
like he notices in the distance, these headlights, and he's like, oh,
that's a police roadblocks. He pulls over. He's like, I
just need the time to think. Guys, I didn't think
about this part. And they're like, okay, that's cool. Cool.
He's like, okay, here's my plan. The cops think that
there are three people because one's one is Frank Sinatra
and the two are the kidnappers, so they're looking for
(34:15):
a car with three people. Joe, you need to get out.
It was like, ok ok okay. Now meanwhile, it's a
blizzard has started to fall, the snow has gone. There's
like a light snow at first, and now it's starting
to build. Now we're getting actual blizzard conditions. And he's like, Joe,
run out into the blizzard. Joe is in his abalone
hunting out. He's like barefoot, short and and a good
(34:36):
whiskey drunk at this and he's slurring his speech. So
he's like, okay, he runs onto into the knife, right.
So then Barry gets out and starts working on on
the car tire chains, and then these cops pull up.
They're like hey there. He's like, what's going on? Officer
(34:59):
and cops were like, Amana, what are you doing. He's like, oh,
just fix him a change card. And I was like, oh, yeah,
we're just out looking for some people. And then he's
like cool. And the cops get back in their patrol
card and drive down the road, just out looking for
some people. And he was like, yeah, you're not it. Apparently,
so Barry, he's like hey, Frank, junr nice job, but
playing along like I'm just drool that exactly. He's soiled himself.
(35:24):
He's like, okay, you know, we need to get out
of here. And so Frank's juniors like, well, what about Joe?
And he's like okay, fine, wait, Frank's not tenors writing
about the kidnapper. He's like, we need to go save Joe.
He's like okay, fine. Frank calmed down his drug and
induced haze. He thinks of Joe. So he gets out.
He's like oh screaming and shouting into the darkness and
(35:46):
he's like hey, and then Joe comes running back. She
was like, oh, man, I ran into a fence post.
I knocked myself out for a while. Stop it. Yeah,
ran into a fence post, knocked himself out, and then
he comes to and then runs back when hears his
name being shouted into the darkness. So then this is exactly.
So then he gets backed. He's like, look, we got
(36:08):
the same problem though, Joe. You can't be here. You
got to be in the trunk. He's like, but I'm
so cool, and he's like, just get in the trunk, Joe.
I was like, okay, So Joe gets trunk. Now they're
gonna drive down to a roadblock. And then he's like, hey, officers,
and this cops is like pull that. The shot goes.
You get out of that car. Because he doesn't know that.
He he just sees a car coming at him and
he's like they decided this must be the kidnappers. And
(36:30):
then and you know, Barry's like, hey man, cool down.
I don't know what the problem is. We already got searched.
And the other cops like, oh, yeah, I searched them,
don't worry about it. He's like, I don't know about that.
He's like, no, I want to care. I'm gonna search
you again. He's like you can't do that, man. He's
like no. Other cops like it's cool man. He's like,
all right, let them go. What is going on? People?
Just tell someone something and it becomes true exactly. That's
(36:51):
how it works. Now they're off to l A and uh,
you know, they get into the dark of the night
as the blizzard is falling. They turn on the radio
and they hear Frank Sinatra junr it's been kidnapped. And
the news is blaring and he's like, wait, you guys
kidnap me, man, I thought we were just on a
road trip. He doesn't quite understand what's happening to him, right,
So then Frank Sinatra has to listen to his dad
(37:13):
because they're playing Frank Sinatra music because it sounds been kidnapped.
So then just listen to Frank Sinatra tunes that they
drive south in California and they've gotten away with it.
So what comes next, I'll tell you after this very
very short break. So what comes next, Well, for these
(37:44):
three young men, it's basically a road trip south. I
mean they're having some fun. They're chucking down some pills
or drinking some booze or listen to Sinatra tunes. It's
basically like that scene from Swingers. It's just like all right.
So then they get back to l A and reality
finally sets in for poor Frank Sinatra Jr. He's like,
wait a minute. You guys totally to me, like out,
like I have a show to play, and like this
is messed up. Man. They're like, okay, yes, we kidnapped you.
(38:06):
What's your dad's numbers? We can get some money for you.
And he's like, I'm not telling you my dad's number.
They're like, no, you have to and he's like, I'm
not doing it, and they're like, I didn't think about
this part of the plan, so I have no answer.
So he's like Joe hit him. He's like, I'm not
hit and he's ever, buddy, man, I'm not gonna mess
you up. Yeah, we're cool, and so they're actually really
getting tight to do him right, Yeah, exactly. So Frankine
(38:26):
he's like, yeah, I'm a tough guy. Ain't gonna tell
you my dad's number. They're like, god damn wait, doesn't
need know, Nancy? Why can you be? Like well, Frank
was around all right? So luckily he's like, well, I've
already had some bad news, so I got some time
to kill. I need to go back up to because
I didn't pay off the hotel bill. You can't just
go ahead and not pay it. Well, no, then they'll
(38:47):
know it's him. He's worried, right, He's like, they'll have
the idea that he has this hotel that's never build anyway. Well,
the way things are working, call him and tell him
you paid it. One he calls Dean Torrance and he's like, Dean,
I need five hundred dollars more because I got Frank
SINATR Junior Downhill. He's like, whoa, whoa wait, you did it.
He's like yeah. It's like, okay, you need to stop
calling me, right man. So but he's like, when here's
(39:08):
five hun dollars, never call me again. He's like, thanks,
I needed the money. And he drives back up to Tahoe,
pays off his hotel bill, and he takes Pam, his
rich girlfriend, with him. She actually ends up paying most
of the hotel bill. He needs the five hut of
dollars so he can pay gas and not have to
ask Pam for money for gas. I guess. They actually
spend the day skiing after they pay off the hotel bill,
and then then they drive back down south. Meanwhile, once
(39:29):
he's back in l A, he discovers Barry, discovers that
Joe and Frank Jr. Have gotten real tight, and they're
they're kind of like, basically they don't want to go
through with it anymore. And he's like, what the hell, man,
It's like, you guys, okay, look so he got he
got him call in the outside ringer again. He calls
his mom's ex boyfriend. He's like, John Irwin, I need
you to come in and be tough for me. He's like, okay.
(39:50):
So the old World two veteran comes in. They're like, look,
I found out Frank how to get ahold of Frank Sinatra.
He's got this casino, this hotel and reno he's staying
at and everybody's been talking about on the news. I'm
just gonna call there. And then you asked to talk
to Franks. Did we have the cal Neva? Was that his?
He owned the Colniva with Sam Gi and Conum. That's right.
He was like basically the front person for it. And
(40:10):
so yes, good job, darnal. They all, yeah, you see
that in The Godfather they have the whole scene up
and tild that's kind of like a nod to the Caliva.
So now Barry's like, okay, I can't really count on Joe,
but at least he'll hopefully keep franksin out to junor
safe in the hideout while John Irwin and I go
take care of this. Come on Mama's X. And so
they go and they're like, okay, let's call Frank sr.
(40:31):
They call up the hotel and Frank Stinior was like, okay,
these are the kidnappers. Let me hear from him right,
and he's like okay, boom, hey Frank, we got your boy.
And they're like what. Frank's freaks out. He's like, I'll
give you a million dollars from from my son. And
he was like, oh, just a second, friend, you're geting
ahead of yourself. We're gonna call you at the Chevron station.
And they give him an address. They go go there,
we'll call you in a couple of minutes and he's
like okay, so then hang up. So then Frank, you
(40:54):
know you're going an FBI agent drive off to the
Chevron station. Meanwhile, John Irwin calls the Chevron station. He's like, hey,
Frank Sinatra. There the guy working in the gas stations like,
uh no, hangs up, Frank. So John Earwin calls back, Hey,
Frank Sinatra, there this guy at the gas stations like
what the hell pal. He's like, listen, pal. Mr Sinatra
is not in the habit of taking calls at this
(41:15):
chevron station. Hangs up. Then a car pulls up. Outsteps
Frank Sinatra, the dude from the Chevron stations like what.
He's like, Hey, I'm Frank Sinatra. Have I had any calls?
Can you imagine that moment for that too, He's like,
gets called one, called too, called three just Frank and
I it's Frank Sinatra. There's Frank Santra there. Hey, I'm
Frank Sinatra and he calls Oh my god. So you
(41:38):
know that guy, he's been getting free drinks for life
on that anyway, Irwin calls again. Frank gets this call
and he's like, yeah, I'm Frank Sinatra. He's like, thank goodness.
And so then now he's like, Frank's like, look, I'll
give you a million dollars with my boy. He's like,
uh no, Barry only wants two dollars. So they low
ball Frank Sinatra and it has for two two thousand
(42:00):
dollars according to their plan. He goes, here's the deal.
You know, you get an FBI courrier to go to
a phone pay phone in l A and then we'll
call that pay phone and tell him to go on
to another payphone, and then we'll call that pay phone,
and then we'll go to another pay phonel we'll call
that pay phone, and we'll keep doing that till we
decide that you can go to the right drop and
he's like okay, So then they do this. They set
it up this drop and on December eleven, the money
(42:21):
is left by the FBI at a drop spot on
Sunset Boulevard. Joe Amsler and Barrier driving around and looking
for the drop spot, they see the money is there
between two school buses in a black bag, just like
they asked. He goes, Joe get out, grab the money.
Joe gets out, he sees something doesn't feel right. Joe
just runs away, just takes off the wood exactly. Barry's like, man,
(42:43):
so now he drives. When he drives around the block,
he finds parking. He gets out, he goes to get
the money. He was like, you know what, I saw
these like ice cream trucks and like all these cabs.
Was like, those guys are the FBI. I don't care.
I'm getting the money. He always gets so money anyway,
drives away, right, he gets away with it. Meanwhile, John
Irwin's like, I've had it, I'm done with this. So
he's like Frank getting the car. He calls Frank Senior.
(43:04):
He's like, look, i'm taking your boy. I'm giving him
back to you. You'll find him on this overpass over
the four or five freeway and he's like click, hangs up.
It's like Frank Junior getting a car. We're go on.
He cos he drives. He drops Frank Junior off on
the overpass over the four or five. He's like get out.
It's like okay, and he just starts from you know,
running off on his own. Meanwhile, Frank Senior is looking
for him, driving around, but Frank Junior doesn't know to
(43:25):
wait there, so he runs to bel Air and a
security guard sees Him's like hey, Frank Junior. And he
tried to get him past all the reporters and and
he takes them all the way to his house. The
family rejoices everything is golden now so far, all is good.
Everything has worked. The press, which has been after Frank
Sinatra Senior for being mob affiliated, also for like you know,
(43:48):
basically there's a whole issue about the Kennedy's basically brobby
Bobby Kennedy was going after him for the mob stuff,
and so he was looking bad about this. Now he's
this forefather and also he worked with the FBI. S
fbis that we're tight with Frank. It's cool. He let
us at the house. Yeah, So now all of a sudden,
all those problems go away. So he's actually kind of
been done a solid by Barry. Barry's like, look, I
(44:09):
just like God said, everybody wins. So he's like convinced
everything's cold, and he's like, okay, let's go celebrate. So
Barry and Joe go back to the hide out. They
take all the money they got, they throw it on
like the ground and around. I quote literally we all
we laid all the money out, danced on it, lit
cigarettes with it, did all the things we've seen in
the movies. We had a money war, throwing wads of
(44:30):
bills at each other. I think I figured out why
Barry's business acumen wasn't so hot. I think he let
the money on fire to light cigarettes when yeah, you've
ever done that, you don't you know cigarettes anyway? And
I'm not a moron steal, like get money, then light
it on fire. It's very much like, you know, a
cartel dream I think some young boys have. Anyway, John
(44:53):
Irwin's like, look, I'm out. I'm so done with you guys.
So he's like, I'm forty two, I'm a navy vet.
I ain't got time for this. So he's like, I'm
going to New Orleans and I'm gonna go be safe
and happy there. So he goes like, first, I gotta
go see down my boy, my my brother down in
San Diego. So he pops down to San Diego. He's like, hey,
my brother, I'm I'm leaving the area. We gotta go
(45:14):
to New Orleans. But first I want to tell you
a little secret, a little funny story, what your brother
has been up to. I grabbed Frank Sinatra Junior. I
did it me and my friends. I got all this
money and that wild is brothers like, are you kidding me? Well,
you can't do that. Frank Sinatra's boy, He's like, okay, well,
I'm i'm tired. Let me just take a nap and
I'll get out of your hair. And he's like okay.
So he lays down to go to sleep. His brother
(45:36):
immediately calls the cops. The cops show up and arrest him.
So his brother has a higher allegiance to Frank's exactly,
his brother snitches on him. He's like, look, I gotta
look out for Frank. So then now we got Joe
Joe Amsler. He gets popped while he's like playing chess
weight at a friend's house. He's playing chess, and then
Barry eventually gets arrested at his girlfriend's place. So Pam.
(45:57):
They all have dear old Pam. So they all now
have to o to court cases. The trials last for
about four weeks. Barry refuses to plead guilty by insanity
because he's like, no, I'm I meant to do this,
God told me to do it. I don't know what
people are talking about. And so his lawyers put forward
this other whack theory that is Frank Jr. This is
a hoax. He arranged this, he was he was in
(46:18):
on it, and they put this out and they say
this before the press, which is messed up because now
for the rest of his life. Frank. Yeah, it is
crazy smart, but it doesn't get the guys off. They
go down for seventy five years each. Oh yeah, but
the one dude thing is I have to get Frank
Junior credit. When he goes up on the witness stand,
he says the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth. He's even admits that I hope you guys
(46:38):
get away with This is one of the quotes he
admits to in court. So that's part of the reason
why he kind of he kind of messes himself up
because he says that before the hoax gets put forward anyway,
he gets burned. The three guys all get sentence to
seventy five years plus life for Amsler and Um Barry
Irwin only gets seventy five years anyway. Eventually the people
like that's cruel, unusual, ridiculous. It gets talked down to
(47:00):
three and a half years for Amsler and Irwin, four
and a half years for Berry, cut from a half years.
Berry is out by three. He's got a fortune of
seventeen million dollars. Remember he was good at business. Yeah,
he just needed that two dollars he could get back
on top. It sounds like Barry was just going through
(47:23):
a time. He was spinning out a little bit, real
rough time for him. Anyway, I feel like we've all
known a berry. I think I've known a few berries. Yeah,
I just try not to be a berry. Just don't
be a berry. So eventually he opens a substance abuse
clinic for other addicts to get clean. He wants to
put his fortune to good use. In the late nineties, though, interestingly,
Barry and Frank Sinatra Junior used to see each other
(47:43):
Beverly Hills social like events like you know, fundraisers and
so forth, and they would se each other across the room.
They never talked, they would just yeah, they would. They'd
give each other a nod and like a friendly like
do you remember that trip? So Frank Sinatra he died
in At his funeral, his youngest daughter Tina, she slipped
ten dimes into his pocket because she knew that her
(48:04):
dad had always carried ten dimes on him at all times.
This was like something that really meant something to her,
and she chalked it up to the kidnapping and a quote,
Tina Sinatra, I think it came from Frankie's kidnap and
maybe before he never wanted to get caught, not able
to make a phone call, he always carried ten dimes. Nice,
I just like that as a father. Yeah, And I
(48:26):
mean he's Frank Sinatra. He could just say to someone
call yeah, hey, big Jilly, get that phone. Yeah. You
don't even need a pay phone. You just walk into
any establishment or someone's home. Hey, I'm Frank. Frank Sinatra
kicks in your front door like I need to make
a phone call. You're like, yes, Mr Sinatra, can I
get you anything? Else? You start mixing drinks, panicking or
anything for your two hood friends. You're like hiding all
(48:48):
your abalone hunting equipment. Cool. Cool? So what's a ridiculous
takeaway from this one? Um? I think that again, everybody
knows a berry like some of the ridiculous stuff that
he pulls off and his I'm really stuck on the
I'll give you a million dollars now you know I need.
All I need is to forty. Yeah that's the number
(49:10):
I wanted. I'm going to low By. Your friend Lord
told me this is a business deal. I'm a businessman.
I mean, why wouldn't you just be like, yeah, that'll work.
Did he feel like maybe if he was honest about
how much he needed that all he needed? He didn't
want anymore. He wanted to keep to his deal, so
he's not really greedy. And the mission from God, yeah
he was in Seagulls. My ridiculous takeaway is wasn't life
(49:34):
wild before cell phones? Oh yeah, so much of this
could be settled with. I love the screaming into the
Chevron station thing, like, yeah, that's a totally Joe almost
dying in a blizzard just because they don't have cellphones. Joe,
I feel like we're two kids talking about a movie
and all our favorite scenes. But Joe running into a
fence post is the chef's kiss on this one, especially
(49:58):
because in my mind he's dressed like he's abalone diving
and he's in the snow. So I like that a lot.
But yeah, Joe, Joe, just as his own thing is amazing.
Joe is just a spectacular being. So we all know
a berry, don't be a berry. Don't be a berry.
Try to be a Joe, but not a hundred percent,
because like, if you're going to run into the woods,
(50:19):
don't run into a fence post. I also like the
Joe be friends Frank Sinatra Jr. They're just like doing drugs. Oh,
they were like chilling out. When he gets back to
the hideout. They've worked out like whole like dances and
the like. They're like it's like a thing they had,
like a dance routine. And before we start this again,
watch what we came up with, like one to three exactly.
(50:44):
But thank you for joining us. I'm Elizabeth Dutton, I
am Zara and Burnett. You can find us online a
Ridiculous Crime on both Twitter and Instagram. You gotta tip
for us about a ridiculous crime you'd like to hear about.
Hit us up with it. You want to get a
fester ridiculous crime. I don't recommend that, but do it anyway.
Do it. Just email us a Ridiculous Crime at gmail
dot com. Thank you for being with us. Thank you.
(51:12):
Ridiculous Crime is hosted by Elizabeth Dutton and Zaron Brunette,
produced and edited by Dave Flyimey to the Moon Kustin
researches by Marissa New York New York Brown. The theme
song is by Thomas I've Got You under My Skin
and resident Keeper of the Groove Travis Quincy Jones just
(51:35):
calls me Trap. Dutton. Executive producers are Ben the Best
is yet to come and Babe, won't it be Bowling
and No Get a Kick out of You Brown from
(51:56):
Ridiculous Crime is a production of my heart Radio. For
more podcast to my heart Radio, visit the i heart
Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your
favorite shows.
Ridiculous crime is a production of My Heart Radio, Elizabeth Dutton.
You know what's ridiculous. The band name Cherry Pop and
Daddy's straight up ridiculous. Come at me, Cherry Pop and Daddy's.
Are they embarrassed about that? Now? I hope they are? Well,
are they playing county fairs? I think they are. I
(00:24):
hope they're doing something. God speed, Cherry Popping Daddy's. I
stopped getting the newsletter your loss. Yeah, I still got
all the stickers on my car. Okay, that's a good one.
That is. That is very ridiculous. Now, how about another
ridiculous one. A dude who's down on his luck, feeling
a little stuck, and he needs to make a quick score,
(00:44):
big cash. The best idea he can come up with
is to kidnap a famous person's child and hold that
kid for ransom. The famous person whose kid he decides
to grab is Frank Sinatra. You're like, wait, what, why
would you possibly? There's so many other celebrities with kids
to take. Bro. That is like probably the worst bad
life choice. You know, all his friends are like mob
(01:05):
bosses like Bro. Anyway, so it's dumb as this plan sounds,
Things go even wilder than you might imagine. This is
a strange cast of characters. We've got Sam gun Connor,
mob boss. We got jig Or Hoover, head of the FBI.
We've got Jan from Jan and Dean. Yeah, and uh,
this one will surprise you. So you're ready to hear
about the dumb lucky kidnapping of Frank Sinatra Jr. Bring
(01:27):
it on. This is Ridiculous Crime, a podcast about absurd
(01:49):
and outrageous capers and cons. It's always murder free and
one ridiculous. Okay, it's the seas. In fact, it's the
start of the nineteen sixties, and the coolest men in
the world are the rat Pack. You know where the
rat Pack are, right? Who are they? Your producer Dave
(02:12):
and also Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.
We're a swell group, right, So they were in nineteen
sixty like the Kreme de la Creme. The coolest people
their movie stars. They are singing all around the world.
They are carousing all the time in Vegas. They're living
up the high life that pretty much everybody who equates
(02:33):
is like, you know, the playboy lifestyle. That's them at
the time when America is at its peak prosperity. So
basically you're standing being the coolest men. It's the peak
of America's history, the rat pack, top of the heap.
I'm kid. So their lifestyle get turned into a film,
you know, the film as Oceans eleven. That film pretty
(02:55):
much captures a vibe that is stayed what America's idea
of cool, you know, it is like pretty much, you know,
Steven Soderberg has made a career out of kind of
aping the feelings that that conjurs. Maybe not exactly the visuals,
but the feelings, and you know, good for him. But
the elixir of it, yes, it's a good word. I
like that, the elixir of cool them anyway. So the
same year, Frank Sinatra also made a big switch from
(03:17):
Capitol Records and he started his own record company, Reprise Records,
and Reprise ended up being one of the first record
companies that an artist had as an independent holding. So
they were like, I now have my own record company.
Before Frank Sinatra, nobody could do that. And they you know,
they were involved in all the you know, payola and
these scams, and it was like everybody know, the mob
was involved the music industry was and remained really shady, right,
(03:40):
so he tried to kind of take control. So he
gets the mob to back him, and he gets the
reprise records of his own. Eventually he sells it for
a huge, like huge windfall for him. It works out great.
So now everybody else starts wanting to do it. It
doesn't go badly right now. I don't know. I grew
up in a house where my dad revered Frank Sinatra,
so I heard him and the Temptations and four Tops,
(04:00):
and like, I basically heard Motown and Frank Sinatra and
Dean Martin and Sammy David Jr. Actually all of them
all the time from my father. Just he just put
the needle on on the records. Five record five record
players make him compete, and I had to this dance
in front of each one and amuse him and his friends. No,
this is not at all. So he would just be
playing Frank Sinatra, and to me that was like the
(04:21):
height of cool. Basically it was Motown and the rat Pack.
Those are the two ideas of cool. I'm just stuck
on your dance. What do you do all these competing songs? Dance? There?
Uncle wants to see you move. So, but like, I
have no idea what other people like, how they view
like Frank Sinatra. To me, he is America. But what
do you he to you? Like when I see Frank Snatra,
(04:43):
what do you think of? I think of Las Vegas
most certainly, and I kind of was he like a
Palm Springs fixture? Yeah, late later in life, Frank Sinatra
that I always think of where he's like in like
a Kashmir Cardigan. Yeah, that's eight life Frank. So you know,
like sixties peaked Frank late, Like Frank, did you know
(05:05):
anything of like you know, Academy Award winning fifties Ava Gardner,
Frank or forties Tommy Dorsus. Okay, So do you think
of him as being like a central figure in American history? Oh? Certainly? Okay, Yeah,
that's good because he was, you know, he helps get
Kennedy elected? Is that the right answer? What if I
said no, I would have just gotten up and left.
Thank God answered correctly. But like you know, like, and
(05:29):
I want to everybody who's unaware that it seems silly,
but Frank Snatcher was a central figure of American history
in so many ways, right, So keep in mind that's
the person that this guy decides to kidnap his son. Now,
what's meet our kidnapper? Twenty three year old Barry Keenan
is a California kid. Grew up in l As. Father's
(05:49):
a stockbroker, goes to like Uni High and Santa Monica.
He has what we call a comfortable life right post
World War two fifties is his childhood. And Harriet very
austy and Harriet very much like you know l A
during the boom of the aerospace industry. So it's just like, oh,
go go and jets anyway, So he's like best friends
(06:12):
with Dean Torrance. This his kid, right. Dean Torrance turns
out to be later on be the other half of
the surf music duo Jan and Dean. He's also friends
with Nancy Sinatra. These are the kind of kids he's
growing up with, you know, in high school. Let's just
get you an idea. He goes off, leaves high school,
you know, graduates, goes to u c l A. He's
a bruin, doesn't really have it in him to do
(06:34):
the college life. He's like, I don't drop out. His
dad's he's like this father is like, look, son, we
need to get you set up in life. So here's
some stock tips and some money to get you started.
And why don't you go and make yourself a fortune?
And he does. The dude goes out, he dicks money
from his dad. At age one, he's the youngest member
of the l A stock exchange. By age two, he
(06:57):
is now a real estate developer. Dang Barry. Oh yeah,
Barry is killing it right, But unfortunately life is all
about change. So Barry has a real early peak and
then crashes real hard, real quick. Right. It's a lot
of stress. You know. He's going to leading a go
go active life, busy omical lifestyle, and he just couldn't
keep up. So he starts to lose money, and then
(07:20):
that leads to basically stress, which leads to an episode
of mental illness, and he starts drinking. He starts doing
more drugs. He gets injured, basically gets in a car
accident if a dog runs across the street, and then
he starts having to do Perkadan. So he's trying to, like,
you know, manage the pain. It's very common. You hear
about it now, but back then people weren't really thinking
about him as the victim is just like, oh, now
you got a drug problem, bro. So anyway, while he's
(07:42):
dealing with all of this, his father starts losing his fortune. Yes,
it gets real bad. So he decides, oh, man, I
need to do something to save myself, save my family.
You know what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna get two dollars.
That's what I need. He just picks this numbers. Now,
just to translate, that's about two million dollars in today's money.
(08:04):
I think most people would be like, you know what
I need. I just need two million dollars to get
everything running on track. My family would be saved, I'd
be saved. Mom would just finally smile. Dad would finally
talk to her again. We finally loved me. Also, by
the way, you have to keep in mind, Old Barry
remembers the thing about a little bit of an episode
of mental illness. God told him his plan of how
(08:25):
to get this money. So he's like, I need he
puts your prayers up. God's like, I hear your berry.
Here's the answer. So did he have like auditory hallucinations
you think, I don't know if he's internal like you know,
if he's hearing God's voice, like a little voice inside
and saying that's God telling him, or if he's literally
hearing a voice outside of himself. He's like, I see,
if I see a seagull in the next five minutes,
(08:46):
it means that God wants me to get I wouldn't
put that past. And then and like steals his French fries.
He's like, I know, like God, thanks God, thank you
so much. So God's like, here's the plan, Barry. You
need a kid nap a kid, make a kid someone's famous.
But by the way, it can't be a woman, and
it can't be a baby. It's got to be young.
When I say a kid, I'm not going like, you know,
(09:07):
a swinging cat, you know. And he's the kidnap a kid. Yeah, first,
kidnap a kid now because it's God. Though you know,
there's always gonna be restrictions. God's like, kidnap a kid,
but here's how you have to do it. Otherwise I'm
gonna be mad. You know what I do what I'd
get mad anyway that he makes a deal with God
and he's like, all right, let's do this God. And
so now he's like, you know, who do I kidnap.
(09:29):
It's nineteen sixty three. You're looking around. Who would you kidnap?
Whose kid would you kid nap? Brother? I was like,
I keep thinking of terrible things, Tote. I mean, I'm
thinking of vulnerable JFK Jr. But aside from that one,
I'm so sorry about that sixty three. Who would I kidnap?
(09:49):
Maybe Frank Sinatras kid. Now I don't know. I'm taking
John Wayne's boy. Oh yeah, he wasn't as tough and
real like, no, I don't. That's why I'm taking his kid.
I'm thinking he would pay through the knows. I take
him to Mexican co Come find me, b Yeah, you
gotta go with the cash and maybe not the swiftest
know and somebody who's gonna be a little bit like scared.
But then also maybe like FBI is gonna get involved
(10:10):
to like complicate things so I can like get them
thinking they're gonna help him. He thinks, every and then
I just you know, here's your kid back, and I
take the money. So Barry, He's like, okay, three, I
need to get someone famous. It's got to be a kid.
But it can't be a baby, can't be a woman.
I know Bob Hope's kid, Tony Hope. Yeah, Tony Hope.
(10:32):
That's Bob Hope's kid anyway, Tony Hawks stunt double Tony Hope.
Bro So Tony Hope is like, you know this, you know, nice,
nice enough kid. He thinks he's probably worth you know,
at least two dollars, right and uh And he's like,
you know what, Bob hopes, he's a g He's like
over there in Vietnam, I guess you know back this
would be Vietnam over there entertaining the troops. You know,
(10:55):
he's an all American guy. I can't take his kid.
He doesn't need that hassle. And the man knows how
to wield a golf club. This is very true. So
he's like, you know, I need somebody who's a little tougher,
who can take it, who understands how the world is.
And if I take the kid, they won't just crumbled
fall to pieces. So he's like, you know, who can
do it? Frank Sinatra. I'm taking his boy. But you
(11:15):
have to understand this is interesting because he grew up
with Sinatras, right. He grew up in Nancy Sinatra and
her boots were made for walking. Yeah, that's just what
they're gonna do. One of these days, these boots might
walk all over you, buddy. Let me watch my step.
So Nancy Sinatra is so tight with this dude, Barry,
she would like have him in the car that Frank
(11:36):
would drive. So Frank would drive like Nancy and her
girlfriends down to like a party or whatever, and he
would be in the car. So he drank. He's that
close to the family. He's not just like I see
him occsually at my school. He's like, I'm in the
station where it wasn't that his first choice? Inside job? Baby?
Why would you go, Bob Hope. So he decides, like,
you know, I'm gonna I'm gonna get this kid. I
(11:59):
know where he is. This shouldn't be too hard, and
Frank can take it. He's tough, he's a he understands
this is you know, because basically, remember he's got a
deal with God. But he also Barry Keenan thinks of
this as a business deal. He's like, hey, Frank, he
knows the mob. He knows how. It's a business deal.
It's not personal. He went to He's in his early
twenties or mid twenties. At this point, he goes to
(12:20):
school with Nancy. How old is the boy? He's nineteen,
so it's not really a kid. Well he is in America,
maybe the son of wealth is a nineteen Yeah, I'm
taking legally, you're you're you're the daughter of a lawyer.
So you're thinking, oh, he's nineteen, he's and I'm like, no,
I'm I'm also thinking at nineteen, I don't know a
nineteen year old man. Well, well, you know, basically, if
(12:45):
he's a nineteen year old man, it just doesn't like
I like describing. Have you ever seen a picture of
he looked because his father was very baby faced when
he was very young, and he followed in his father's
footsteps are being very baby faced. So if you look
at him, he looks like a ager. So I like
to imagine him baby face, meaning he's bald and has
one curl on the top of his head like the
(13:05):
Gerber baby, and he's wearing a suit and the baby's
head in a passing fire. Yeah, and he's just like
that's like he's on the edge of tears all the time.
That's what I'm seeing. He's looking around for Yeah, he's
moody right now. He's a typer change. So my man
Barry Keene, he's got his plans set, he's got his
(13:26):
targets set. He's decided Frank can take it. So now
is time to put his plan into action. And I'll
tell you all about that after this short break. Okay, So, Elizabeth, yes,
(13:57):
you're an amateur kidnapper. I'm an amateur pretty much hip.
But let's say you're looking to go pro as a kidnapper. Okay,
where would you turn? What would you what would be
your first move? I want to go pro as a kidnapper.
You want to get paid? Get that brad Sun. How
you gonna do it? You know, I don't know. I'd
maybe like try and get a mentorship, going go find
(14:22):
can apply for an apprenticeship program with another kidnapping outfits
and the Kidnapper Guild everything. You know. Well, Barry goes
to the library. Oh that's that's okay, right, He reads books,
he reads newspaper articles. He really focuses on j Edgar
Hoover in the article because back then Jaeger Hoover was
writing newspaper articles because he was trying to win over
(14:42):
the populace to the idea of the FBI. So in
the thirties and the forties, he is writing updates about
like you know, shootouts with bank robbers and like, oh,
we almost got you know, top machine gun Kelly. We're
after baby Face Nelson and he got away. And then
he's like this is why you need the FBI. Right.
And then also they have like the g men on
the radio. It's like a whole advertising ca paying for
the FBI essentially. Anyway, he loves these articles. Very Berry's
(15:05):
just hitting the micro feast. Yeah, he's in the micro
feast in the library, going give me all the Jagger
Hoover I can get, right, But he doesn't just living
himself to Hoover. He also goes all the way back
to a real high point of kidnapping biblical time. Is
this where he gets the notion of God telling him,
you know, God already told him. Let me hit the
reference book. Yeah, He's like me to check the blueprint.
(15:28):
He's like, well, he wants to know like basically why
kidnapping works, but importantly why it also fails. He wants
to know like when kidnappings have gone wrong. Smart guy,
smart guy, I mean, you know, for somebody who's like,
you know, edging on reality. It's a smart approach. So
once he's schooled on kidnapping and he feels like I
gotta handle on that. He's like, Okay, now I need
some money. So where is he gonna go? Where are
(15:49):
you gonna go to get some money to fund my kidnapping? Exactly,
it's a tough one. You can't go to the bank
for a loan. So get a job at a soda
fountain and hard work and bootstraps. I don't know, rob somebody.
October nineteen sixty three, He's like, let me hit up
my best friend Jan. But hold on, how great would
it be if he broke into Sinatra's house and stole
(16:10):
money in order to the kidnapping at his kid? Just
putting that out there barriers a missed opportunity. I'll just
put something else out there. You just wait. October nineteen
sixty three, calls up his friend Dean Torrance of Jan
and Dean. He's like, Dean, my man, I got a
business opportunity for you. Dean's like too busy, right, and serftain.
(16:32):
You know, He's like, because you have to understand, Remember
I said he became an investment broker and twenty one
and so forth. He was given. He was taking his
parents money, his friend's parents money, his friends money, and
making money for them on investment. He made a ton
of money for Dean Torrance because Dean Torrance had money
after making poppets like Surf City. So he's like, I'll
take that invested. So Dean's like, do you want to do? What? What?
(16:54):
What is it? He's like actually curious to know, and
he's like, I got this great new business plan. You're
gonna love it. It's a big money year in it, right.
So Barry's like, hey, Dean, meet me at usc and
he's like all right. So they meet over there and
he's like, Okay, now I'm gonna tell you this plan.
But hear me out, don't interrupt me, just wait till
the end, then interrupt with whatever you gotta say. This
(17:14):
is like when you tell me a story. I'm just
wait till the end. So he's like, okay, here's the plan.
He lays it out to him. I'm gonna take Frank
Sinatra's son and I'm gonna ranting him off and I'm
gonna make a bunch of money and then we'll all
be fabulously wealthy, and I'll say my family. He's like,
this is your plan? Okay, No, he gets like, you know,
to be quiet, honest. Uh, he kind of like plays
(17:35):
along and I quote that all sounds great, Barry, very entertaining,
But what happens if you get caught? That's a reasonable thing, right,
It's like the most honest question, best question to ask.
Barry has an answer. He's like, I'm prepared for that,
bro well, Dean, and I quote, I'm not going to
get caught. That's not part of the plan. I have
such an iron clad alibi. My plan if I get
(18:00):
caught is just tonight, not get caught. I've got that
check taken care of. So he's like, okay, well lay
it on me. What's your alibi? And he's like, well,
you know, I'm gonna go to uh you see l
a Bruins game, and everybody will see me there and
then they can just say that's where I was. And
he's like, that's your plan, okay, all fifty people are
going to be your eyewitnesses. Deal. So Dean's like, you
(18:22):
know what, and I quote, I'll tell you what. This
is too bizarre for me to even relate to. But
I will give you five hundred bucks. Now you try
to get your life together and let me know how
things go. So Dean also, by the way, has he
like you think like he has never spoken about this publicly.
He has. He's willing to talk about the time he
financed Frank's and after June kidnapping, and he recalls and
(18:43):
I quote, I don't think I ever took him seriously.
It was so insane. That's his defense. Got this friend
who's not all there, and and it's his best friend
from high school. So he's like, look, I'm doing well
well in surf music. You used to be doing well
with the maybe yeah. So then he's like, okay, now
I got my money, I got a steed money, got
(19:03):
five hundred bucks. Now it's time to my plan into actions.
He's like, I need to go and get a team together.
His first ask old high school buddy Joe and Total Berries.
The dude is an abalone diver professional boxer. Wait, that's
the most amazing peak California employment that resume. What do
(19:24):
you do? Abaloni diver also a professional boxer, by the way,
really struggling with the Employment's like, look, you get a
job or you get out so and uh my man.
Barry's like, hey, man, I got a hundred bucks a
week if you want to be part of my heist.
He's like, cool, I'm into it, right, So he agrees
(19:46):
to the high for a hundred dollars a week. Then
he's like five weeks of employment. He's like, I need
also somebody who caused a tough guy, right, somebody who can, like,
you know, really bring this home. So and he's like, oh,
I know my mom's ex boyfriend he brought at home.
So he's this forty two year old World War Two veterans,
a navy man, and he's like, hey, John earwhen you
(20:07):
want to help me, kid Frank Sinatras Jr. He's like,
m hmm, well, how much is in in it for me?
He's like he kills him hundred bucks a week. He's like,
all right, two and a half weeks of employment exactly. Well,
this is our team. So they're like, okay, let's get
to it now. Their first attempt is that month. They
(20:28):
decide in October three, we need to go grab You
can't pay him beyond that, you've done the math. It's
right there. So he's like, all right, I need to
move but he's got a problem. He's he's got uh
that kind of a big problem. He fell in love. Yeah,
and he's wondering, how do I tell my girl that
I'm gonna steal Frank Sinatra's son and make us some
big money. She may not be into that. That That may
(20:49):
scare her away. That may be what the kids is
the future will call the red flag. I don't know.
That would be the best Reddit relationships from either one
of them. I want to steal Frank Sinatra Jr. It
would be like Reddit relationships, Like my boyfriend keeps disappearing
for periods of time and I think he's cheating, and
(21:09):
then the update, well it turns out he was trying
to kidnap Frank Sinatra, not cheating. So his girlfriend Pam
surprises us. All she's into it. She's like, what Pam's writer,
Let's get that, dude. I'm telling you, I'll drive right.
So they're like all lined up and they go heading
over to Arizona because Frank Sinatra Junior is gonna be
(21:30):
playing the Arizona State Fair. Wait, playing the Arizona Singing
he's a musicians. Oh yes, I forgot to tell you that.
Following in the footsteps of his father. He is a musician,
and he's like teen sensation at nineteen Yeah, exactly, this
is a really good comparison. Actually is good. So he's like,
you know, basically conjuring that feel and people are like, oh,
(21:52):
it's just they love that. And he's playing the Arizona
State Fair. Yeah, there's a part of a generational issue
there because you have to remember nineteen six three and
not a lot of people are like, you know what
I would love right now is a young Frank Sinatra.
So he kind of missed his window there. His father
really hit it though, But anyway, so he uh, Barry,
Pam and the gym, and uh, we got Jim Irwin.
(22:13):
It sounds like you're making so Joe John or John Wamsler,
John Irwin, Pam and Barry. They all go cruising over
to Arizona. But they decided to abort mission because Barry
he's like, you know, he's basically freaked out of about
the fact he touched the phone when he went to
(22:34):
like do somethings like touched the phone, I left I
left fingerprints. We gotta leave into like okay. So then
they drive back to l A and He's like, okay, guys,
I know that that probably didn't seem cool. How I
freaked out, But I trust me. I got a really
good plan. Like he basically thought he left the oven
on exactly and everyone was like, oh, man, I don't
(22:55):
know about this. He's like, look, we'll grab him here
in l A And they were like, Barry, I don't know, bro.
He's like, look, guys, try me. This is gonna happen.
It's gonna be amazing, it's gonna be magical. We're gonna
do this. How about this. Put on your best suit.
We're going to the Ambassador. And they're like what. It's like, yeah,
do it up, man. So they go and they put
on their best suit. They go down to the Ambassador
Hotel where Frank Sinatra Jr. Is performing and they get
(23:20):
to watch him headline a like nightclub act, and sitting
a few tables away from them is Frank Sinatra Senior,
Dean Martin and Sammy did do you think that's that's
why people went to that show because they thought they
and that's why Frank Sinatra went to that show that
exact same reason. So anyway, everything now these guys are like, oh,
it's ordained. We're gonna do it. We're gonna take that
(23:42):
man's son, that was their seagulls son. They decided, right
they Frank Sinatra flies across this room and steals my
French fries. It's on. Remember I'm channeling Berry here and
he's not playing with eye to eye with him as
I'm amazing. So I remember. Their alibia is they're gonna
(24:03):
go to a u c l. A football game. So
they set the day they're gonna kidnap Barry on a Friday,
go to the u c l. A football game on
a Saturday. Everyone will see them do Like, how could
they kidnap him on Friday? If they're at the u
c l A game on Saturday, bro, nothing can happen exactly.
So that's their plan, and they set the day for Friday,
November twenty two. So plans get interrupted when JFK gets
(24:27):
assassinated that day in Dallas. Oh boys, So Frank's and
Not Your Junior Show gets canceled that night, and Barry's like,
damn it, man, this is not fair. This is just
not fair. So anyway, he's he's really upset and he's like,
but I'm not going to give up on the dream.
He's like, I've I refuse. This is my moment, right.
So he's like, okay, I'm gonna have to go up
(24:50):
to uh Tahoe because he sees that's where Frank's not
your junior, is going to be performing in December. He's like, okay,
it's a perfect place to grab He's out there at
the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I can just go up because
all those little back roads. I can drive down to Reno,
I can drive down to San Francisco. There's no way
to stop me. I could go south in the ninety nine.
This is great. I got December in the in Tahoe. Okay. Yeah,
but he's thinking, you know, he's he's from you know,
(25:12):
down south, so he doesn't really know that it's going
to be most likely snow. He's not thinking about that, right.
But he calls up his mom is actually it's like, hey,
John Irwin, you want to go up north to Tall
He's like, bro, I got a job. I gotta, I gotta.
I got work as a house painter. I don't need
your hundred dollars a week. He's like, okay, just don't
tell anyone I'm doing this okay, So then he goes
he grabs up his buddy Abaloni diver turn boxer Joe
(25:32):
Ams Learns like, hey, Joe, let's go north. And he's like, oh, man,
I can't. My wife's not about on me. I haven't
been able to collecting the abalone, haven't fought anybody. I
mean just things are tough, and I guess some work.
He's like, yeah, there's construction jobs. People are building casinos.
Let's go up to Tahoe. And he's like, all right, bet,
let's go. He's all, where your abalone short shorts? Exactly?
So they finally they drive north and they're going up
(25:55):
there and they get a Tahoe and all of a sudden,
Joe notices on the marquee at Harris Casino. Frank's out
your junior now headlining the whatever room. He's like, bro,
what's up with this? You just brought me here to
grab Frank Sinatri junior. You're not getting construction jobs. He's like, yeah,
that's true. We're doing it, man, we're doing it. So
I will be back in one moment to tell you
(26:16):
the mad cap grabbing of Frank Sinatra Jr. It's December
(26:41):
eight We're just weeks after the assassination of JFK. The
nation is morning, but Frank Sinatr Junior is like, the
show must go on. So he's out there at Harris
Casino getting ready to perform. Yeah, Frank Sinatra Junr. So
then we enter to the scene Barry and Joe Amsler
(27:01):
Abaloni diver turn boxer who they pull up into the
Sierra Nevadas and they decide, you know what, we're gonna
do this thing. After they have a little falling out
about the fact that Joe was lied to by Barry,
He's like, all right, I'm here though, Let's do this.
So they pull up in their sixty three Chevy and
Paula and uh, now, mind you, they have to like
(27:22):
get his routine down. So like for about a week
they just kind of shade Frank Sinatra Jr. They're like,
you tracking them. Now we've spent that week up. Now
we are at December eight, So for the last week
they've been there doing the most dangerous game on exactly
just tracking. Wanted to know all of his routines, where
is it anything he does right? So now they got
it down to they pull up in their sixty three
(27:42):
Chevy and Paula cut the lights and they go, Okay,
it's the moment, let's do this. He's like, you ready, Joe,
He's like, I don't think him and he's like, oh,
here's an unloaded gun. Let's do this. Sorry, God, he
gives him unloaded gun. He doesn't trust Joe with bullets,
so then he has bullets in his gun. He's like, hey,
let's go in there. So Barry's like, you know what,
(28:02):
I got an idea. I'll be a delivery man. So
he takes a wine box, fills up a pine cones
he gathers from like just trees, and goes up and
knocks on the door. It's like Martha's Stewart. Yeah, He's like,
I gotta exactly here are the pine cones. They're decorative.
What if he opens the door and Frankie Jr. Is like,
I've been waiting on those and just like starts chewing
them up. It's that good. They didn't know. I've noticed
(28:26):
that he only eats pine pine cones and that's why
he's such a beautiful voice. So he goes up and
he knocks on the door and he said, hey, Joe,
be cool. Ready, Okay, knock, knock, and then Frank stunts
Junior rich kid did. He was like, come in. So
they push open the door and walk in with the
pine cones like delivery, sir, he said, set him down
over there. He sets him down and he's like, Joe,
come on in, and he tries to pull out his gun,
(28:46):
but he can't get his gun out of his pocket.
So the two of them were both fumbling. One guy's
got the unloaded gun, he's aiming it at them. One's
got his gun in his pocket, Barry. He finally gets
the gun out of pocket, forces it into Frank snutr
Junior's face and is like, all right, this is a robbery, right,
Because he's decided he doesn't want it to think it's
a kidnapping, so he doesn't tell him it's a kidnapping.
He's like, don't make any noise and nobody will get hurt.
And he just keeps repeating this over and over again,
(29:08):
and Junior is like, okay, now, mind you. I left
that a key detail. When they burst into the room,
Franks and not your junior and his trumpet player, this
guy Fast. They're hanging out in their underwear eating fried
chicken as you do, you know, just before the show,
trying to Yeah with the trumpet player eating some fried chicken.
(29:29):
That sounds lovely, right, So they're just sitting there now
and their underwear eating fried chicken with guns in their faces.
They just continue eating. They do. He literally continues. He
takes a bite of thigh. He's like, I'm what's going on, man?
That's incredible. So then he's like, give us some money,
and he's like, now he's made the terrible mistake of
trying to rob musicians. The trumpet players like, bro, I
don't got anything. Good luck. You don't want to know why.
(29:55):
So he's like, I got twenty bucks. Frank's run was
like here, I got twenty bucks. And the reason why
they decided to rob him is because Barry has spent
up all their money. They don't have gas money to
make it back to l A. They need this money.
Once they get done robbing him, then they go, okay,
now back to kidnapping. Okay, this is side quest. It's amazing.
(30:16):
So they tell the dude Foster chumpet player, look, you're
gonna stay here. Bro, We're gonna tie you up ten
minutes after we leave. You can go tell people that
we took Frank Sinatra Junr. He's like to tie him
up with a minute. So that happens after ten minutes,
and they just wanted to head start so and they
thought he's a man of dignity and she's not going
(30:36):
to get caught because he's not going to get caught. Exactly.
This is all part of the plan. I don't know
why you have questions. So they shuffle Frank Sinatra Junior
out of the room. They go and they take him
down to the sixty three Chevy and Paula toss him
in back, blindfold him. They get ready to go and
they're like, oh, I forgot the gun. Barry. He has
to go back upstairs and fetch his gun. And he
sees that Foster is like trying to get free to
(30:57):
like bro I thought I told you. He's like, okay, look,
just give me five minutes. And he was like, okay,
I'll give you five minutes. Like cool. So then he
leaves exactly. So then they go run back downstairs and
he's like, oh cool. And they're get in the car
and Joe is not taken off. Joe's still in the
car sitting there. Joe's like man, we got really got
to get out of here. So they're like, oh cool,
and he's like, hey, Frank sinatr Jr. Be cool, bro,
(31:20):
just just be cool. And he's like, what's going on.
You guys robbed me and your kid, but what's really
going on. It's like, so this is a quote from
Barry and I quote. We're in the car maybe three
or four minutes. I say, Frank, what we should do
is make you look like you're drunk. So here, take
these sleeping pills and no be tall to be precise,
take a swig of this whiskey. And Frank he was
(31:42):
very cooperative. I love this for so many reasons. One
what we should do is kidnappers. Kidnappy is making you
look drunk like he's gonna be like, oh yeah, tots
like that. And then they're like, here, take these take
these pills in some whiskey. He's like, don't got as exactly,
(32:04):
you know. The Frank's Latr Jr. Did have to be
kind of like convinced because they told him, look, we
got these guns and if anything happens, if cops show up,
there'll be gunfire and you might get shot by the cops.
We don't want that to happen. He's like, that's true,
give me the booze, right, But if I'm like kidnapped
and shoved in the back of a really cool looking
sixties three, well, I imagine brand new. They shoved me
in there, and they've got guns in my face. I'm
going to say, can I have those pills in that whiskey?
(32:26):
Because I just want to check out on this one
right now. That's what Joe is doing kill myself. But
I'm like, I, you know, lights out London. I want
to go to sleep. I don't want to see this,
and then you can deal with my limp body and
you try and move me around. Just pour me in
the footwell and I'll be fine. Yeah, So did Joe
hit up the pills and whiskey. Yeah, Joe and Frank
(32:47):
were passing back to the one at the bottle because
they're both little tents right now right there, just not
He's not sure this is gonna go well, this is amazing,
So Foster trumpet player works himself free. He runs down
to the manager. He's like, look, they grab Frank's not
your junior managers, Like what he's gonna get killed? He's
still eating a piece of chicken. He like his teeth.
You're like, I'm killing you just one second. This is
some good chicken. So anyway, the manager calls the you know,
(33:09):
the sheriff. The Sheriff's like, what, I'm gonna get killed
by Frank Sinatras. Everyone's afraid to get killed by Frank Sinatra.
So they shut down the roads, they shut down the freeway.
He has all these deputies going like block off any exits,
and they do it fast enough. He's like, I want
you boys out there because I don't think they got
out of the out of this area. There's no way.
It's only been like five ten minutes. So he sends
his guys out with sawed off shotguns and pistols into
(33:31):
the dark and cold and goes go find me the
kid nappers of Frank Sinatra Jr. And Uh. The sheriff
is right about one thing. They have not left the area.
What do they all take? Pills and berries? Like you
know what, man, I told you, I got the plan.
I thought of everything. He says, I just need to
put these snow chains on. God he does, but he
(33:53):
gets the snow chains on. They're driving along and they're
like he notices in the distance, these headlights, and he's like, oh,
that's a police roadblocks. He pulls over. He's like, I
just need the time to think. Guys, I didn't think
about this part. And they're like, okay, that's cool. Cool.
He's like, okay, here's my plan. The cops think that
there are three people because one's one is Frank Sinatra
and the two are the kidnappers, so they're looking for
(34:15):
a car with three people. Joe, you need to get out.
It was like, ok ok okay. Now meanwhile, it's a
blizzard has started to fall, the snow has gone. There's
like a light snow at first, and now it's starting
to build. Now we're getting actual blizzard conditions. And he's like, Joe,
run out into the blizzard. Joe is in his abalone
hunting out. He's like barefoot, short and and a good
(34:36):
whiskey drunk at this and he's slurring his speech. So
he's like, okay, he runs onto into the knife, right.
So then Barry gets out and starts working on on
the car tire chains, and then these cops pull up.
They're like hey there. He's like, what's going on? Officer
(34:59):
and cops were like, Amana, what are you doing. He's like, oh,
just fix him a change card. And I was like, oh, yeah,
we're just out looking for some people. And then he's
like cool. And the cops get back in their patrol
card and drive down the road, just out looking for
some people. And he was like, yeah, you're not it. Apparently,
so Barry, he's like hey, Frank, junr nice job, but
playing along like I'm just drool that exactly. He's soiled himself.
(35:24):
He's like, okay, you know, we need to get out
of here. And so Frank's juniors like, well, what about Joe?
And he's like okay, fine, wait, Frank's not tenors writing
about the kidnapper. He's like, we need to go save Joe.
He's like okay, fine. Frank calmed down his drug and
induced haze. He thinks of Joe. So he gets out.
He's like oh screaming and shouting into the darkness and
(35:46):
he's like hey, and then Joe comes running back. She
was like, oh, man, I ran into a fence post.
I knocked myself out for a while. Stop it. Yeah,
ran into a fence post, knocked himself out, and then
he comes to and then runs back when hears his
name being shouted into the darkness. So then this is exactly.
So then he gets backed. He's like, look, we got
(36:08):
the same problem though, Joe. You can't be here. You
got to be in the trunk. He's like, but I'm
so cool, and he's like, just get in the trunk, Joe.
I was like, okay, So Joe gets trunk. Now they're
gonna drive down to a roadblock. And then he's like, hey, officers,
and this cops is like pull that. The shot goes.
You get out of that car. Because he doesn't know that.
He he just sees a car coming at him and
he's like they decided this must be the kidnappers. And
(36:30):
then and you know, Barry's like, hey man, cool down.
I don't know what the problem is. We already got searched.
And the other cops like, oh, yeah, I searched them,
don't worry about it. He's like, I don't know about that.
He's like, no, I want to care. I'm gonna search
you again. He's like you can't do that, man. He's
like no. Other cops like it's cool man. He's like,
all right, let them go. What is going on? People?
Just tell someone something and it becomes true exactly. That's
(36:51):
how it works. Now they're off to l A and uh,
you know, they get into the dark of the night
as the blizzard is falling. They turn on the radio
and they hear Frank Sinatra junr it's been kidnapped. And
the news is blaring and he's like, wait, you guys
kidnap me, man, I thought we were just on a
road trip. He doesn't quite understand what's happening to him, right,
So then Frank Sinatra has to listen to his dad
(37:13):
because they're playing Frank Sinatra music because it sounds been kidnapped.
So then just listen to Frank Sinatra tunes that they
drive south in California and they've gotten away with it.
So what comes next, I'll tell you after this very
very short break. So what comes next, Well, for these
(37:44):
three young men, it's basically a road trip south. I
mean they're having some fun. They're chucking down some pills
or drinking some booze or listen to Sinatra tunes. It's
basically like that scene from Swingers. It's just like all right.
So then they get back to l A and reality
finally sets in for poor Frank Sinatra Jr. He's like,
wait a minute. You guys totally to me, like out,
like I have a show to play, and like this
is messed up. Man. They're like, okay, yes, we kidnapped you.
(38:06):
What's your dad's numbers? We can get some money for you.
And he's like, I'm not telling you my dad's number.
They're like, no, you have to and he's like, I'm
not doing it, and they're like, I didn't think about
this part of the plan, so I have no answer.
So he's like Joe hit him. He's like, I'm not
hit and he's ever, buddy, man, I'm not gonna mess
you up. Yeah, we're cool, and so they're actually really
getting tight to do him right, Yeah, exactly. So Frankine
(38:26):
he's like, yeah, I'm a tough guy. Ain't gonna tell
you my dad's number. They're like, god damn wait, doesn't
need know, Nancy? Why can you be? Like well, Frank
was around all right? So luckily he's like, well, I've
already had some bad news, so I got some time
to kill. I need to go back up to because
I didn't pay off the hotel bill. You can't just
go ahead and not pay it. Well, no, then they'll
(38:47):
know it's him. He's worried, right, He's like, they'll have
the idea that he has this hotel that's never build anyway. Well,
the way things are working, call him and tell him
you paid it. One he calls Dean Torrance and he's like, Dean,
I need five hundred dollars more because I got Frank
SINATR Junior Downhill. He's like, whoa, whoa wait, you did it.
He's like yeah. It's like, okay, you need to stop
calling me, right man. So but he's like, when here's
(39:08):
five hun dollars, never call me again. He's like, thanks,
I needed the money. And he drives back up to Tahoe,
pays off his hotel bill, and he takes Pam, his
rich girlfriend, with him. She actually ends up paying most
of the hotel bill. He needs the five hut of
dollars so he can pay gas and not have to
ask Pam for money for gas. I guess. They actually
spend the day skiing after they pay off the hotel bill,
and then then they drive back down south. Meanwhile, once
(39:29):
he's back in l A, he discovers Barry, discovers that
Joe and Frank Jr. Have gotten real tight, and they're
they're kind of like, basically they don't want to go
through with it anymore. And he's like, what the hell, man,
It's like, you guys, okay, look so he got he
got him call in the outside ringer again. He calls
his mom's ex boyfriend. He's like, John Irwin, I need
you to come in and be tough for me. He's like, okay.
(39:50):
So the old World two veteran comes in. They're like, look,
I found out Frank how to get ahold of Frank Sinatra.
He's got this casino, this hotel and reno he's staying
at and everybody's been talking about on the news. I'm
just gonna call there. And then you asked to talk
to Franks. Did we have the cal Neva? Was that his?
He owned the Colniva with Sam Gi and Conum. That's right.
He was like basically the front person for it. And
(40:10):
so yes, good job, darnal. They all, yeah, you see
that in The Godfather they have the whole scene up
and tild that's kind of like a nod to the Caliva.
So now Barry's like, okay, I can't really count on Joe,
but at least he'll hopefully keep franksin out to junor
safe in the hideout while John Irwin and I go
take care of this. Come on Mama's X. And so
they go and they're like, okay, let's call Frank sr.
(40:31):
They call up the hotel and Frank Stinior was like, okay,
these are the kidnappers. Let me hear from him right,
and he's like okay, boom, hey Frank, we got your boy.
And they're like what. Frank's freaks out. He's like, I'll
give you a million dollars from from my son. And
he was like, oh, just a second, friend, you're geting
ahead of yourself. We're gonna call you at the Chevron station.
And they give him an address. They go go there,
we'll call you in a couple of minutes and he's
like okay, so then hang up. So then Frank, you
(40:54):
know you're going an FBI agent drive off to the
Chevron station. Meanwhile, John Irwin calls the Chevron station. He's like, hey,
Frank Sinatra. There the guy working in the gas stations like,
uh no, hangs up, Frank. So John Earwin calls back, Hey,
Frank Sinatra, there this guy at the gas stations like
what the hell pal. He's like, listen, pal. Mr Sinatra
is not in the habit of taking calls at this
(41:15):
chevron station. Hangs up. Then a car pulls up. Outsteps
Frank Sinatra, the dude from the Chevron stations like what.
He's like, Hey, I'm Frank Sinatra. Have I had any calls?
Can you imagine that moment for that too, He's like,
gets called one, called too, called three just Frank and
I it's Frank Sinatra. There's Frank Santra there. Hey, I'm
Frank Sinatra and he calls Oh my god. So you
(41:38):
know that guy, he's been getting free drinks for life
on that anyway, Irwin calls again. Frank gets this call
and he's like, yeah, I'm Frank Sinatra. He's like, thank goodness.
And so then now he's like, Frank's like, look, I'll
give you a million dollars with my boy. He's like,
uh no, Barry only wants two dollars. So they low
ball Frank Sinatra and it has for two two thousand
(42:00):
dollars according to their plan. He goes, here's the deal.
You know, you get an FBI courrier to go to
a phone pay phone in l A and then we'll
call that pay phone and tell him to go on
to another payphone, and then we'll call that pay phone,
and then we'll go to another pay phonel we'll call
that pay phone, and we'll keep doing that till we
decide that you can go to the right drop and
he's like okay, So then they do this. They set
it up this drop and on December eleven, the money
(42:21):
is left by the FBI at a drop spot on
Sunset Boulevard. Joe Amsler and Barrier driving around and looking
for the drop spot, they see the money is there
between two school buses in a black bag, just like
they asked. He goes, Joe get out, grab the money.
Joe gets out, he sees something doesn't feel right. Joe
just runs away, just takes off the wood exactly. Barry's like, man,
(42:43):
so now he drives. When he drives around the block,
he finds parking. He gets out, he goes to get
the money. He was like, you know what, I saw
these like ice cream trucks and like all these cabs.
Was like, those guys are the FBI. I don't care.
I'm getting the money. He always gets so money anyway,
drives away, right, he gets away with it. Meanwhile, John
Irwin's like, I've had it, I'm done with this. So
he's like Frank getting the car. He calls Frank Senior.
(43:04):
He's like, look, i'm taking your boy. I'm giving him
back to you. You'll find him on this overpass over
the four or five freeway and he's like click, hangs up.
It's like Frank Junior getting a car. We're go on.
He cos he drives. He drops Frank Junior off on
the overpass over the four or five. He's like get out.
It's like okay, and he just starts from you know,
running off on his own. Meanwhile, Frank Senior is looking
for him, driving around, but Frank Junior doesn't know to
(43:25):
wait there, so he runs to bel Air and a
security guard sees Him's like hey, Frank Junior. And he
tried to get him past all the reporters and and
he takes them all the way to his house. The
family rejoices everything is golden now so far, all is good.
Everything has worked. The press, which has been after Frank
Sinatra Senior for being mob affiliated, also for like you know,
(43:48):
basically there's a whole issue about the Kennedy's basically brobby
Bobby Kennedy was going after him for the mob stuff,
and so he was looking bad about this. Now he's
this forefather and also he worked with the FBI. S
fbis that we're tight with Frank. It's cool. He let
us at the house. Yeah, So now all of a sudden,
all those problems go away. So he's actually kind of
been done a solid by Barry. Barry's like, look, I
(44:09):
just like God said, everybody wins. So he's like convinced
everything's cold, and he's like, okay, let's go celebrate. So
Barry and Joe go back to the hide out. They
take all the money they got, they throw it on
like the ground and around. I quote literally we all
we laid all the money out, danced on it, lit
cigarettes with it, did all the things we've seen in
the movies. We had a money war, throwing wads of
(44:30):
bills at each other. I think I figured out why
Barry's business acumen wasn't so hot. I think he let
the money on fire to light cigarettes when yeah, you've
ever done that, you don't you know cigarettes anyway? And
I'm not a moron steal, like get money, then light
it on fire. It's very much like, you know, a
cartel dream I think some young boys have. Anyway, John
(44:53):
Irwin's like, look, I'm out. I'm so done with you guys.
So he's like, I'm forty two, I'm a navy vet.
I ain't got time for this. So he's like, I'm
going to New Orleans and I'm gonna go be safe
and happy there. So he goes like, first, I gotta
go see down my boy, my my brother down in
San Diego. So he pops down to San Diego. He's like, hey,
my brother, I'm I'm leaving the area. We gotta go
(45:14):
to New Orleans. But first I want to tell you
a little secret, a little funny story, what your brother
has been up to. I grabbed Frank Sinatra Junior. I
did it me and my friends. I got all this
money and that wild is brothers like, are you kidding me? Well,
you can't do that. Frank Sinatra's boy, He's like, okay, well,
I'm i'm tired. Let me just take a nap and
I'll get out of your hair. And he's like okay.
So he lays down to go to sleep. His brother
(45:36):
immediately calls the cops. The cops show up and arrest him.
So his brother has a higher allegiance to Frank's exactly,
his brother snitches on him. He's like, look, I gotta
look out for Frank. So then now we got Joe
Joe Amsler. He gets popped while he's like playing chess
weight at a friend's house. He's playing chess, and then
Barry eventually gets arrested at his girlfriend's place. So Pam.
(45:57):
They all have dear old Pam. So they all now
have to o to court cases. The trials last for
about four weeks. Barry refuses to plead guilty by insanity
because he's like, no, I'm I meant to do this,
God told me to do it. I don't know what
people are talking about. And so his lawyers put forward
this other whack theory that is Frank Jr. This is
a hoax. He arranged this, he was he was in
(46:18):
on it, and they put this out and they say
this before the press, which is messed up because now
for the rest of his life. Frank. Yeah, it is
crazy smart, but it doesn't get the guys off. They
go down for seventy five years each. Oh yeah, but
the one dude thing is I have to get Frank
Junior credit. When he goes up on the witness stand,
he says the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth. He's even admits that I hope you guys
(46:38):
get away with This is one of the quotes he
admits to in court. So that's part of the reason
why he kind of he kind of messes himself up
because he says that before the hoax gets put forward anyway,
he gets burned. The three guys all get sentence to
seventy five years plus life for Amsler and Um Barry
Irwin only gets seventy five years anyway. Eventually the people
like that's cruel, unusual, ridiculous. It gets talked down to
(47:00):
three and a half years for Amsler and Irwin, four
and a half years for Berry, cut from a half years.
Berry is out by three. He's got a fortune of
seventeen million dollars. Remember he was good at business. Yeah,
he just needed that two dollars he could get back
on top. It sounds like Barry was just going through
(47:23):
a time. He was spinning out a little bit, real
rough time for him. Anyway, I feel like we've all
known a berry. I think I've known a few berries. Yeah,
I just try not to be a berry. Just don't
be a berry. So eventually he opens a substance abuse
clinic for other addicts to get clean. He wants to
put his fortune to good use. In the late nineties, though, interestingly,
Barry and Frank Sinatra Junior used to see each other
(47:43):
Beverly Hills social like events like you know, fundraisers and
so forth, and they would se each other across the room.
They never talked, they would just yeah, they would. They'd
give each other a nod and like a friendly like
do you remember that trip? So Frank Sinatra he died
in At his funeral, his youngest daughter Tina, she slipped
ten dimes into his pocket because she knew that her
(48:04):
dad had always carried ten dimes on him at all times.
This was like something that really meant something to her,
and she chalked it up to the kidnapping and a quote,
Tina Sinatra, I think it came from Frankie's kidnap and
maybe before he never wanted to get caught, not able
to make a phone call, he always carried ten dimes. Nice,
I just like that as a father. Yeah, And I
(48:26):
mean he's Frank Sinatra. He could just say to someone
call yeah, hey, big Jilly, get that phone. Yeah. You
don't even need a pay phone. You just walk into
any establishment or someone's home. Hey, I'm Frank. Frank Sinatra
kicks in your front door like I need to make
a phone call. You're like, yes, Mr Sinatra, can I
get you anything? Else? You start mixing drinks, panicking or
anything for your two hood friends. You're like hiding all
(48:48):
your abalone hunting equipment. Cool. Cool? So what's a ridiculous
takeaway from this one? Um? I think that again, everybody
knows a berry like some of the ridiculous stuff that
he pulls off and his I'm really stuck on the
I'll give you a million dollars now you know I need.
All I need is to forty. Yeah that's the number
(49:10):
I wanted. I'm going to low By. Your friend Lord
told me this is a business deal. I'm a businessman.
I mean, why wouldn't you just be like, yeah, that'll work.
Did he feel like maybe if he was honest about
how much he needed that all he needed? He didn't
want anymore. He wanted to keep to his deal, so
he's not really greedy. And the mission from God, yeah
he was in Seagulls. My ridiculous takeaway is wasn't life
(49:34):
wild before cell phones? Oh yeah, so much of this
could be settled with. I love the screaming into the
Chevron station thing, like, yeah, that's a totally Joe almost
dying in a blizzard just because they don't have cellphones. Joe,
I feel like we're two kids talking about a movie
and all our favorite scenes. But Joe running into a
fence post is the chef's kiss on this one, especially
(49:58):
because in my mind he's dressed like he's abalone diving
and he's in the snow. So I like that a lot.
But yeah, Joe, Joe, just as his own thing is amazing.
Joe is just a spectacular being. So we all know
a berry, don't be a berry. Don't be a berry.
Try to be a Joe, but not a hundred percent,
because like, if you're going to run into the woods,
(50:19):
don't run into a fence post. I also like the
Joe be friends Frank Sinatra Jr. They're just like doing drugs. Oh,
they were like chilling out. When he gets back to
the hideout. They've worked out like whole like dances and
the like. They're like it's like a thing they had,
like a dance routine. And before we start this again,
watch what we came up with, like one to three exactly.
(50:44):
But thank you for joining us. I'm Elizabeth Dutton, I
am Zara and Burnett. You can find us online a
Ridiculous Crime on both Twitter and Instagram. You gotta tip
for us about a ridiculous crime you'd like to hear about.
Hit us up with it. You want to get a
fester ridiculous crime. I don't recommend that, but do it anyway.
Do it. Just email us a Ridiculous Crime at gmail
dot com. Thank you for being with us. Thank you.
(51:12):
Ridiculous Crime is hosted by Elizabeth Dutton and Zaron Brunette,
produced and edited by Dave Flyimey to the Moon Kustin
researches by Marissa New York New York Brown. The theme
song is by Thomas I've Got You under My Skin
and resident Keeper of the Groove Travis Quincy Jones just
(51:35):
calls me Trap. Dutton. Executive producers are Ben the Best
is yet to come and Babe, won't it be Bowling
and No Get a Kick out of You Brown from
(51:56):
Ridiculous Crime is a production of my heart Radio. For
more podcast to my heart Radio, visit the i heart
Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your
favorite shows.
Hosts And Creators
Zaron Burnett
Elizabeth Dutton
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