They Opened Sammy Davis Jr.’s Vault After 30 Years… and Everyone Froze | HO!!!!

BURBANK, CA — For three decades, a single storage unit in a quiet Burbank warehouse sat untouched, its rent paid in cash under a false name. The unit’s existence was known only to a handful of confidantes and one legendary entertainer: Sammy Davis Jr.

When authorities finally pried open the door in late 1991, what they found stunned even seasoned investigators. The vault did not just contain memorabilia—it held family secrets, explosive letters, and tapes that could rewrite Hollywood history.

This is the story of what happened when Sammy Davis Jr.’s vault was opened after 30 years—and why the world is still reeling.

A Life Shaped by Secrets and Survival

Sammy Davis Jr. was born in Harlem on December 8, 1925, to vaudeville performers Sammy Davis Sr. and Elvera Sanchez. From his earliest days, the shadow of racism loomed large. His mother was Cuban, a fact the family concealed to protect record sales and public support in an America hostile to immigrants and people of color. Even as a newborn, Sammy’s life was shaped by what had to be hidden.

By age two, Sammy was performing with the Will Mastin Trio, led by his father and family friend. The stage was his playground, but it came at a cost: no regular childhood, no classroom, only the relentless grind of touring and performing. He learned to charm audiences and master his craft while other children played and studied. The road was both his school and his shield, but it also exposed him to the harsh realities of segregation and discrimination.

When his parents split at age three, Sammy’s father took him deeper into show business. Will Mastin became his protector, but even he could not shield Sammy from the “whites only” signs and the sting of being treated as less than human. These early experiences lit a fire in Sammy—a determination to break barriers with talent, grace, and relentless hard work.

Hollywood’s Youngest Trailblazer

At seven, Sammy appeared in “Rufus Jones for President,” starring alongside Ethel Waters. The film, which imagined a black boy as president, was groundbreaking. Sammy’s singing and dancing charmed audiences, hinting at a future where he would force America to look past the color of his skin—if only for a moment.

But the sacrifices continued. Sammy never attended school. His education came from the road, from books, and from the people he met. He taught himself languages, instruments, and skills no classroom could offer. His hunger for knowledge matched his hunger to perform.

In 1943, at age 18, Sammy was drafted into the U.S. Army. The promise of unity in one of the first integrated units was a lie. The army was rife with racism. Sammy was met with slurs, beatings, and humiliation. White soldiers painted him white, forced him to drink beer laced with urine, and scrawled slurs on his forehead before shoving him on stage.

The violence was relentless, culminating in a savage beating that left him hospitalized for three days. The army did not protect him. Sammy survived on his own strength, turning pain into power when he joined the entertainment unit. Applause became his weapon.

From Trauma to Triumph

After military service, Sammy returned to the stage in 1951, opening for Janis Paige at Ciro’s on Sunset Boulevard. The night changed everything. Hollywood’s elite—Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Cary Grant, Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland—watched in awe as Sammy’s performance made him a star overnight. TV bookings followed, and by 1952, he had a $20,000 pilot from ABC—unheard of for a black entertainer.

Tragedy struck in 1954. A car accident on Route 66 cost Sammy his left eye. Friends like Frank Sinatra rallied around him, and instead of ending his career, the accident fueled a comeback. Eight weeks later, Sammy was back on stage, dazzling Hollywood once more.

During his recovery, Sammy converted to Judaism. The faith’s history of struggle resonated with him. He became a symbol of resilience, standing up for civil rights even as his fame grew.

Breaking Barriers in Las Vegas and Broadway

In the 1950s, Las Vegas was a city divided. Sammy could headline shows but not stay in the hotels or eat in the restaurants. With help from the Rat Pack, he demanded change. By the early 1960s, he became the first black entertainer to stay at the Frontier, helping to end official segregation in Las Vegas by 1971.

Sammy’s talents were unmatched. He taught himself drums, trumpet, piano, vibraphone, and more. He could mimic voices, tell jokes, dance, and perform gun tricks. His nickname—Mr. Show Business—was well earned.

On Broadway, Sammy starred in “Mr. Wonderful” (1956) and “Golden Boy” (1964), the latter earning him a Tony nomination and bomb threats for its portrayal of interracial romance. He marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, risking everything for what he believed in.

In Hollywood, he starred in “Anna Lucasta,” “Porgy and Bess,” “Sweet Charity,” and joined the Rat Pack in “Ocean’s 11,” “Sergeants 3,” and “Robin and the Seven Hoods.” On television, he broke barriers as one of the first black entertainers to headline a prime-time network variety show.

Love, Loss, and Scandal

Sammy’s personal life was as dramatic as his career. His romance with Kim Novak in 1957 was dangerous—interracial relationships were taboo, and the mob intervened. Sammy was kidnapped, threatened to end the relationship or lose his remaining eye, and forced into a sham marriage to a black singer to appease the mob and studio bosses.

His marriage to Swedish actress May Britt in 1960 was a direct challenge to America’s racial taboos. Interracial marriage was illegal in 31 states. The couple faced bomb threats, swastikas, and career-ending backlash. Britt lost her contract with 20th Century Fox, and Sammy was disinvited from President Kennedy’s inauguration. Their children grew up surrounded by love but also hate. The marriage ended in 1968, with Sammy sinking into drugs and alcohol.

His third marriage to dancer Altovise Gore brought some stability but also wild parties and rumors. When Sammy died in 1990, Altovise was left with $7 million in tax debt, losing their home and most possessions.

A Fortune Lost and a Vault Unlocked

Sammy’s financial troubles were legendary. Despite earning $50 million in his career—sometimes as much as $185,000 a night—he died owing the IRS over $7 million. Generosity, gambling, bad business deals, and shady tax shelters drained his fortune.

After his death, the IRS seized his estate. In September 1991, 1,800 people attended an auction of his personal items. His gold record for “The Candyman” sold for $4,275, tap shoes for $11,000, and hundreds of items went to pay debts. But many treasures had vanished.

The real shock came when a storage unit rented under a fake name was discovered in Burbank. A billing error led the manager to call police, fearing criminal activity. Inside, they found Sammy’s trumpet, antique record player, jukebox, clothing, documents, and photos. The unit had been rented just two weeks after the auction by an employee of Altovise, who claimed he was trying to save what the IRS was after. The items were seized, adding another twist to Sammy’s saga.

The Vault’s Secrets: Letters, Tapes, and the Truth

But the vault contained more than memorabilia. Investigators found letters revealing Sammy’s real mother’s identity, tapes of conversations that could destroy careers, and proof of what really happened with Kim Novak in 1958. Sammy had documented everything. After 30 years of silence, the truth was out.

The tapes included candid discussions with Hollywood stars, studio executives, and even mob figures. Some revealed the racism and threats that shaped his life; others detailed business deals, secret romances, and the lengths Sammy went to protect his family and legacy. The letters confirmed long-standing rumors about his mother’s Cuban heritage and the pain of hiding his roots.

For historians and fans, the opening of Sammy Davis Jr.’s vault was a revelation. It forced a reckoning with the realities of race, fame, and the price of breaking barriers in America.

Legacy: Mr. Show Business Lives On

Sammy Davis Jr.’s story is one of triumph and tragedy. He was a trailblazer who broke every barrier in entertainment, but paid a steep price in pain, scandal, and financial ruin. His vault, opened after 30 years, revealed not just the secrets of a superstar, but the hidden costs of fighting for acceptance in a divided America.

Today, Sammy’s face still graces casino walls and billboards. His songs—“The Candy Man,” “I’ve Got to Be Me”—remain anthems of hope and defiance. The Morrison Foundation, inspired by stories like Sammy’s, helps families uncover hidden histories and honors those who built America from the shadows.

When the vault was opened, everyone froze—not just because of what was found, but because it forced us to confront the truth behind the legend. Sammy Davis Jr. was more than Mr. Show Business. He was a survivor, a fighter, and a witness to the cost of greatness.