Legendary Beach Hotel Celebrates Sinatra Centenial
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - If the walls could talk at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach what a story they could tell.
Well actually they can right now, thanks to the Frank Sinatra photo gallery. A new exhibit at the hotel features 34 original authentic images curated by The Sinatra Family Archives and others.
Sinatra's granddaughters A.J. and Amanda, their mother is Nancy Sinatra, were on hand for opening of the exhibit which celebrate their grandfather's 100 birthday.
"It's exciting and wonderful in so many ways, for myself and my family, it's an amazing thing to see people celebrate in the way they have this year," said Amanda Erlinger.
"To be in touch with, you know, the spirit of him in this place where he spent so much time is really cool," said A.J. Lambert.
One photo of the "Chairman of the Board" shows him meeting fans before a concert. It is iconic for both Sinatra's family and the hotel.
"It shows not only my grandfather but the hotel's bow-ties floors and the banister and staircase that is still here," said Erlinger.
Sinatra and his celebrity pals taped The Welcome Home Elvis Show/Timex Hour in the hotel's Grand Ballroom.
"My grandpa here is performing with Bob Hope here in this shot," Erlinger said as she pointed to a picture which also included Elvis.
"'Tony Rome' was also movie he shot here at the hotel with actress Jill St. John," said Erlinger as she pointed to another photograph. "I love this shot because it's full color and its screams Miami Beach."
There are dozens of intimate photos of "Old Blues Eyes." Some in the exhibit weren't shot on Miami Beach. There's a legendary photo from the original "Oceans 11" movie which was filmed in Las Vegas. But the crème de la crème has to be the photo of Sinatra and Eleanor Roosevelt sharing a hearty laugh at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach.
"This is in the Fleur de Lis Ballroom. This is pretty awesome, they both look happy and it looks like something is going on," Erlinger told CBS4's Lisa Petrillo.
"I bet she had a mad crush on him," joked Petrillo.
The Frank Sinatra Gallery will be on display at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach through February of 2016. There is also a limited edition Frank Sinatra book for sale at the store in the hotel. Only 1,000 copies are available.