Sam Mullins

Her last marriage was still warm in the ground, and this would just ignite another new round of headlines. The last thing she needed were more stories written about her extending her lead on that damn Elizabeth Taylor in the Most Husbands competition. So the answer was no. When she turned him down though, Dante took it surprisingly well, like a gentleman.

Her last marriage was still warm in the ground, and this would just ignite another new round of headlines. The last thing she needed were more stories written about her extending her lead on that damn Elizabeth Taylor in the Most Husbands competition. So the answer was no. When she turned him down though, Dante took it surprisingly well, like a gentleman.

And he left shortly after for a run of shows in Arizona. He didn't call her for a few days, perhaps because he knew what a few days alone would do to one Lana Turner. Because the next time they were on the phone together, space given, insecurities stoked, he asked her to marry him for a second time. And this time, it was a yes.

And he left shortly after for a run of shows in Arizona. He didn't call her for a few days, perhaps because he knew what a few days alone would do to one Lana Turner. Because the next time they were on the phone together, space given, insecurities stoked, he asked her to marry him for a second time. And this time, it was a yes.

And so it was that a mere three months after meeting in the discotheque, just weeks after her last divorce was final, the two lovebirds met in a wedding chapel in Vegas to tie the knot. But tighter this time, Lana hoped. Husband number seven. And they were married. Whenever she could, Lana would go to see Dante's nightclub show. She worked in the day on a film set. He worked at night.

And so it was that a mere three months after meeting in the discotheque, just weeks after her last divorce was final, the two lovebirds met in a wedding chapel in Vegas to tie the knot. But tighter this time, Lana hoped. Husband number seven. And they were married. Whenever she could, Lana would go to see Dante's nightclub show. She worked in the day on a film set. He worked at night.

So hanging out in each other's dressing rooms was pretty much the only time the newlyweds had together. She'd sit in a low-profile spot in the club, but he'd always point her out proudly to the audience. And she'd be a good sport, giving a queen-like wave before sitting back down to watch her husband go to work. She'd stare with wonder as he'd induce his subjects.

So hanging out in each other's dressing rooms was pretty much the only time the newlyweds had together. She'd sit in a low-profile spot in the club, but he'd always point her out proudly to the audience. And she'd be a good sport, giving a queen-like wave before sitting back down to watch her husband go to work. She'd stare with wonder as he'd induce his subjects.

She'd watch him move around the stage like a matador, always with swagger, always in complete control. It was intoxicating watching her husband do his thing in the lights.

She'd watch him move around the stage like a matador, always with swagger, always in complete control. It was intoxicating watching her husband do his thing in the lights.

Sit up straight. But it was always Dante's closing bit that was most remarkable. At the end of nearly every show, Dante stands on the apron of the stage and calls for one last volunteer.

Sit up straight. But it was always Dante's closing bit that was most remarkable. At the end of nearly every show, Dante stands on the apron of the stage and calls for one last volunteer.

There was a time when this bit was commonly attempted among hypnotists, but you don't see it done anymore. And there's a reason for that. It's dangerous, it's difficult to pull off, and it often leads to lawsuits. And even if you were really good at it, it didn't work every time. The small woman would make her way to the stage and he'd make quick work of her induction.

There was a time when this bit was commonly attempted among hypnotists, but you don't see it done anymore. And there's a reason for that. It's dangerous, it's difficult to pull off, and it often leads to lawsuits. And even if you were really good at it, it didn't work every time. The small woman would make her way to the stage and he'd make quick work of her induction.

And once he had her, Dante tells her to tense her body, to become completely rigid, solid, a perfect steel beam. He then, with great ceremony, lays her, a perfect plank across the back of two folding chairs, her torso completely unsupported, like a board over a sawhorse.

And once he had her, Dante tells her to tense her body, to become completely rigid, solid, a perfect steel beam. He then, with great ceremony, lays her, a perfect plank across the back of two folding chairs, her torso completely unsupported, like a board over a sawhorse.

Dante would climb on one of the chairs with a theatrical intensity and focus, or perhaps an actual intensity and focus, and he would lift a foot and softly place it on the woman's stomach. In an instant, Lana, along with the rest of the audience, would imagine the 20 ways this could go wrong. If the chair buckles, she could land on her head, Dante falling on top.

Dante would climb on one of the chairs with a theatrical intensity and focus, or perhaps an actual intensity and focus, and he would lift a foot and softly place it on the woman's stomach. In an instant, Lana, along with the rest of the audience, would imagine the 20 ways this could go wrong. If the chair buckles, she could land on her head, Dante falling on top.

She could permanently injure her spine. She could hit her neck, million-dollar baby style. It felt dangerous because it was dangerous, reckless even. But Dante's face in the moment before would be placid. The way Dante would succeed at this where others would fail was that he never worried about consequences. Not here, not ever.

She could permanently injure her spine. She could hit her neck, million-dollar baby style. It felt dangerous because it was dangerous, reckless even. But Dante's face in the moment before would be placid. The way Dante would succeed at this where others would fail was that he never worried about consequences. Not here, not ever.