Jack Bettridge

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An Offer You Can't Refuse

Posted: 04:43 PM ET, June 09, 2009

I appreciate fine watches as much as the next guy (as long as the next guy isn't James Suckling), but this item from Antiquorum, the premium auction house for timepieces, caught my eye for other reasons. Antiquorum is having a huge auction Thursday that includes—get this—“Rat Pack” memorabilia.

Included is Sammy Davis Jr.'s watch with a money clip featuring a Star of David over a menorah, set with a total of eight small diamonds, mounted over a pair of scrolls representing the Torah. The scrolls open on hinges to reveal the Ten Commandments underneath. But the interesting thing is the engraving on the back: “To—Sammy Davis Jr. Good Luck Always/Jack Entratter/1957."

Seems Entratter was a notorious Vegas mafia figure in charge of the Sands. The story goes that he was an integral part of the "persuasion" of Columbia Studio boss Harry Cohn to give Frank Sinatra the role of Maggio in From Here to Eternity, for which Sinatra won an Oscar.

Sound familiar Godfather fans?

I wonder if there were any horses' heads in the story.

The auction also includes Davis's personal hardbound presentation book of the 1960’s heist film, Ocean’s Eleven, presented to him by the director, including photos of Davis and the rest of the cast taken during the movie’s production. There's also Sinatra’s “HH” cufflinks given to him by Hubert Humphrey to acknowledge the Chairman of the Board's efforts for Humphrey’s presidential campaign in 1968.

If you think you might have an offer they can't refuse visit www.antiquorum.com

(3 comments on this post) Submit your comments >

Reader Comments

User Name: Paul Lewis Benfer, Hazlet NJ Posted: 03:39 PM ET, June 18, 2009

Jack: I see you are hosting a bourbon tasting in Vegas. Is it possible that Blanton's will be served? If so, I just may have to buy a ticket.

User Name: Jack Bettridge Posted: 03:58 PM ET, June 19, 2009

Is this a deal breaker? Should we set the bar, as it were, at the Blanton's level?

User Name: Paul Lewis Benfer, Hazlet NJ Posted: 10:02 AM ET, June 20, 2009

Life's too short to settle, so why not Blanton's or perhaps Blanton's Gold? We had an interesting and surprisingly excellent bourbon at the card game last night; a bottle of Old Forrester with a green U.S. bond seal. The bourbon was bottled at 100 proof in 1966. The gentleman who carried it in has a tremendous collection of sealed bourbons inherited from his father. Brian said he has at least one case of Four Roses bonded going back to 1956 still unopened. We are planning another card game soon to mooch more mid-20th century bourbon off Brian.

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