Such was the power of his Dallas After Dark column, that Ed Sullivan introduced the Dallas newspaper

Tony Zoppi, the former entertainment columnist for The Dallas Morning News and friend to acts like Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope and Elvis Presley, died Friday night at a Dallas nursing facility. He was 92.
In the 1950s, downtown Dallas was a sea of neon beckoning customers into movie palaces, nightclubs and hotel showrooms. discount car rentals orlando florida Attending and reviewing the shows, Zoppi became a personality in his own right and one of the best-known men in town.
Such was the power of his Dallas After Dark column, that Ed Sullivan introduced the Dallas newspaperman from the audience during his national television show. Tony Bennett often credited Zoppi's glowing review of a 1956 appearances at Dallas' Baker hotel for giving the singer the courage to expand his career nationally. Later, discount car rentals orlando florida working as a Las Vegas casino executive, Zoppi not only planned the wedding of Ann-Margret to Roger Smith, but he also served as a groomsman. "Ann was crying so much during the ceremony that the preacher stopped and asked, "Young lady, are you sure you want to do this?" he recalled in 2001.
Before the John F. Kennedy assassination, Lee Harvey discount car rentals orlando florida Oswald's killer Jack Ruby made one of his regular calls on the columnist at the downtown offices of The News . Zoppi recalled that he was always seeking free publicity for his striptease clubs. On that day, Ruby told Zoppi he planned to move from his cheap Oak Cliff apartment to a much nicer place at 21 Turtle Creek.
Raised in Long Branch, N.J., a teenage Tony Zoppi worked days as a telephone pageboy discount car rentals orlando florida at an elegant beach club. At night, at the same club, he was the band boy for the Abe Lyman Orchestra, often carrying bags for acts like Sophie Tucker or Milton Berle.
Taking a job at the Longview News Journal , Zoppi was hired in 1948 by Congressman Lyndon Johnson to do advance work for his senate campaign. After working for Johnson, he took a job at The Dallas Morning News .
In Dallas, Zoppi worked as PR director for the Fairmont Hotel and opened his own PR and entertainment agency. For years, he booked acts for the Red Cross Gala in Monaco, joining Sinatra in the principality the year The Chairman was the headliner. Even in retirement, he would get the occasional call from Bob Hope who would tell him a few jokes.