Sammy Davis Jr.'s last performance in São Paulo was marred by a dirty trick done by Mr. Paulinho Machado de Carvalho, who had brought Davis to São Paulo. TV Record announced in a big newspaper ad that May Britt, the so-called 'Blue Angel', would appear as an added attraction at Sammy's last show at Ginasio do Ibirapuera, an arena-like stadium. It was a bald lie. May Britt, a Swedish actress who had been going out with Sammy and was rumoured to become his lawful wife soon. Miss Britt had a night club act in which she impersonated Marlene Dietrich. But May Britt was back in Hollywood so Mr. Paulo Machado de Carvalho was a dirty liar when he announced her as part of Sammy's act.
Sammy flew off the handle and wanted to take TV Record to court but was eventually persuaded to forget the whole thing and he went back to the US. By the looks of it, Mr. Carvalho has probably paid Sammy some extra money for him to try and forget such an injury.
Sammy and May Britt finally married in 13 November 1960. Their wedding caused controversy in the USA. A rumour or myth was that John F.Kennedy and Robert F.Kennedy told Frank Sinatra to tell Sammy Davis not to marry May Britt until after the 1960 Presidential Election. At the time inter-racial marriage was forbidden by law in 31 U.S. states. The couple was married by Rabbi William Kramer.
Sammy flies off the handle... Sammy and his manager John Hopkins.
Zuza Homen de Melo was the man at TV Record who spoke English and could guide Sammy Davis, Jr. when he arrived at São Paulo airport.
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Sammy Davis, Jr. performs at Teatro Record from 20 to 26 May 1960.
26 May 1960 - a cartoon about the many faces of Sammy Davis, Jr. who had arrived in São Paulo; see there is a curiosity about his being Black in a racist country like the U.S.A. There is also a constant curiosity about his being married to a Swedish actress - May Britt.
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Sammy Davis, Jr. was back in São Paulo less than a year after - singing at the same Teatro Record from 27 to 30 April 1961.
