April 28th, 2006

Steve and Eileen’s Trip Report is now posted here: http://www.everythinglv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1986

I am heading back to Las Vegas this Tuesday for the media event for the Reba McEntire show atThe Las Vegas Hilton and for the Kentucky Derby Party also at The Hilton.
There will be no newsletter until May 12th.

My itinerary includes: Reba, Forever Plaid, Dragapella-The Members Meeting Show and The Sopranos Last Supper.
I am winging it with dining but I do have The Las Vegas Hilton Steakhouse as a definite and have an invitations to the Harrah’s Dinner Buffet, Aladdin Buffet, Flamingo Buffet and TI Cafe.
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NORM: Gordie Brown lands show at Venetian.

After months of rumors, the deal’s done: Singing impressionist-comedian Gordie Brown is moving into The Venetian’s new 800-seat theater in August.

Brown, who has spent most of the past five years headlining in Lake Tahoe and Reno, and at the Golden Nugget, has landed a multiyear deal “in the pre-eminent hotel in this town at the moment,” said his manager-producer, Bernie Yuman.

Brown’s time has arrived, said Yuman, longtime manager of Siegfried & Roy.

“To be center-Strip in a new theater, with two shows a day, five days a week, 48 weeks a year, and multiyear contract,” said Yuman, who, uncharacteristically, ran out of words.

A Montreal native, Brown was a political cartoonist in Ottawa, Canada, when he was inspired by show business idols and fellow Canadians Paul Anka and Rich Little.

“They were the light bulbs that went off in my head,” he said.

After years of crafting his own style, Brown said he has a special act for the Strip. “I want Hollywood to come to town and say, ‘Wow, this is different.’ ”

One of his “wow” elements involves going into the audience, chatting up the crowd, then, after returning to the stage, singing “My Way,” with the names and information he just gleaned.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Apr-28-Fri-2006/news/7093500.html
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PLAYER’S EDGE: Sahara offering Thursday night drawings.

Every Thursday through the end of June, the Sahara will draw the names of 30 players to pick a number on a 100-number prize board and win cash (up to $500), prizes or free slot play. On Sundays and Thursdays, players will receive one entry for every 20 Club Sahara points ($200 coin-in on slots, $400 on video poker) earned on their cards, for every suited blackjack (minimum bet $5) or for every 30 games of Keno. Five names will be drawn every hour beginning at 2 p.m., and if the winner is not present, another name will not be drawn. Participants may win only once every hour and twice per drawing day.

More PLAYERS EDGE here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Apr-28-Fri-2006/weekly/7052802.html
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Steve’s Las Vegas Quickies:

Every Tuesday through May 30, Terrible’s will draw the names of 25 players to receive $250, $500 or $750 in cash as part of the $100,000 Spring Shower of Cash. Participants have a choice of three tickets they can earn.

We’re hearing rumors that has the ageless Cher signing on to take over the Coliseum stage after Celine Dion ends her run next year. Although she has just completed her (at least) third ‘farewell’ tour, the big payday (rumored to be $60 million) and opportunity to rub shoulders with Sir Elton John has the star contemplating the deal.
http://www.lasvegasfoodservice.com/newsletter.shtml

Last Saturday, Las Vegas Hilton SuperBook Executive Director Jay Kornegay and team members Rosemary Rocco, Mary Padilla, and Charlie Ludlow presented the winners of the Santa Barbara Handicap the trophy for their exciting win at Santa Anita Park in California. Jockey Cory Nakatani rode Sharp Lisa to a close victory in the feature stakes race and joined trainer Doug O’Neil and owner Paul Reddam along with the representatives of the SuperBook in the winners circle. “It was a great opportunity for the Las Vegas Hilton to support our sponsorship with this wonderful facility and these great people in the racing industry,” said Jay. And he wasn’t horsing around.

The Las Vegas Hilton will be starting daily gaming classes in Craps, Blackjack, Roulette, Pai Gow Poker, Mini Baccarat, Three Card Poker, Crazy 4 Poker, and Texas Hold’em Poker some time in May. (Hours: 10 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.). Valerie Thrower will be teaching the classes. Valerie started her career at the Las Vegas Hilton in the Finance Department in 1985. After eight years, she became interested in the gaming side and became a 21 dealer trainee. The rest is history.

It’s official, Mel Brooks’ Broadway masterpiece ‘The Producers’ will be the next Tony-winning musical to hit the Vegas Strip. The Paris Hotel & Casino will open the show this summer and both Brooks and Susan Stroman will be involved with the show. Stroman has served as director and choreographer during The Producers’ five-year New York City run.
http://www.lasvegasfoodservice.com/newsletter.shtml

VH1 is gearing up for their Classic Rock ‘n’ Roll Celebrity Poker Tournament that will take place at the Flamingo Las Vegas in June. Rockers already signed include Ace Frehley of KISS fame, Jane Wiedlin of the Go-Gos, Sully Erna of Godsmack and Vinnie Paul of Pantera.
http://www.lasvegasfoodservice.com/newsletter.shtml

Rumors have ‘Lord of the Dance’ creator Michael Flatley again eyeing an Irish-themed entertainment complex on the Strip. The 47-year old Irish dancer and choreographer has apparently decided to sink his own money into the deal after finding limited investor interest.
http://www.lasvegasfoodservice.com

Ira David Sternberg talks with female impersonator Frank Marino, Review-Journal columnist Norm Clarke, creative director Jeff Kutash, and Steve Harwell from Smash Mouth this Monday at noon (May 1). “Lunchtime with Ira” is a weekly radio show broadcast live from the Las Vegas Hilton on KDWN AM 720 TALK RADIO in Las Vegas, carried nationally on Cable Radio Networks (CRN), streamed live (and archived) on www.lvhilton.com, and aired on the Watchit Television Network (Watchit Media, Inc.) channels on hotel in-room television sets.

Las Vegas Hilton headliner Barry Manilow was terrified about accepting his sin city gig until he was reassured by Coliseum headliners Celine Dion and Sir Elton John, says a new report. “I called them and they were loving it,” the Copacabana star stated. “Las Vegas has turned very young. It’s like a combination of New York City and South Beach in Florida and I
just lucked into this. I’m there for three more years and I love it!”
http://www.lasvegasfoodservice.com/newsletter.shtml

Lon Bronson and his All-Star Band are returning to the Strip on Sunday with a 10:30 p.m. preview show at Margaritaville at the Flamingo Las Vegas. A Las Vegas institution, they return in June, with a regular Sunday night gig.

The Hogs & Heifers Saloon downtown started weekly Hard Hat Fridays earlier this month. The Friday events offer $2 pints of Bud / Bud Light drafts for workers in the construction and maintenance industry from 3 to 6 p.m. Participants must present proof of vocation to receive the discount card and bring in a hard hat to receive a Hogs & Heifers sticker for it.

A happy “Viva Las Vegas” birthday to Ann-Margret, who turns 65 today.

Madame Tussauds is unveiling a wax version of The Beatles on June 3, the week the Beatles-themed Cirque du Soleil show opens at The Mirage. On loan from the London museum, The Beatles will be on display until July 4.
reviewjournal.com — News – NORM

It’s not the new math, it’s the menopause math.Menopause The Musical, the show that is a celebration of women who are on the brink of, in the middle of, or have survived “The Change,” just added an 11th show to their ten-show lineup at the Las Vegas Hilton. Effective May 8, there will be a 7 p.m. show on Mondays. In other words, no rest for the successful. Luckily, the new seven-night a week show has two casts that can share the success.

The “Avenue Q” showroom will be undergoing a $10 million conversion to increase seating from 1,200 to 1,499 for the Broadway show “Spamalot” that will be opening at the Wynn resort. Work on the showroom will begin in June.
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`THE SOPRANOS LAST SUPPER’ HONORS MOTHER’S DAY ON SUNDAY, MAY 14

With each paid admission to “The Sopranos Last Supper” on Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 14) you can bring mom for free if she can produce a photograph of her son or daughter at the box-office. No other discounts will be honored and guests must be at least 21 years old. Reservations are suggested by calling (702) SEE TONY or 733-8669. Just valet park at KRAVE Theatre on the south side of the Desert Passage on Harmon east of The Strip and you’re only steps from the far left door where the fun is about to begin. The doors open early and if you arrive early you will be greeted with a glass of wine Old Italy style. There’s a four-course dinner far that so come hungry because it’s all you can eat with renowned Chef Bill Huggins. There will be singing, dancing during this dinner interactive show in a state-of-the-art theatre with posh seating. It’s a spoof on “The Sopranos” – the hit TV series. It’s the newest show in Las Vegas. Trip Sheet Magazine (7,000 circ. for limo and cab drivers) said, “Finally a Las Vegas show opens in Las Vegas.” This is a party type of show with some of the best actors in the business. This two-hour extravaganza party begins at 6 p.m. show and you can be home in time to see “The Sopranos.” Just present a photo of your kids and your in free.
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VegasTalk Radio Show – April 27, 2006

This week’s show for Thursday, April 27, 2006 contains:

An interview conducted at the 2006 National Association of Broadcaster Convention with Sports Talk Radio Show host Ron Gerrard and Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Rollie Fingers!

“Show Happenings” with Chuck Rounds – Chuck reviews the events happening this week in Las Vegas. http://www.igoshows.com

The “Vegas Confidential” call with Norm Clarke, Norm is voted “Most Connected” person in town and daily columnist for the Review Journal and author of the best selling “1,000 Naked Truths”. http://www.NormClarke.com

“Fine Dining” with Les Kincaid. http://www.LesKincaid.com

“The Godfather of Las Vegas”, Mark Wayman’s Insider Report http://www.godfatherlv.com

The weekly variety and entertainment show broadcasts LIVE and will be archived online at the VegasTalk Radio website (http://www.vegastalkradio.com/?a=1327) by midnight the same day it plays.
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TABÚ ULTRA LOUNGE TOPS TECHNOLOGY…AGAIN
Excite the Senses With New Interactive Tables.

Las Vegas’ premier ultra lounge continues to break new ground with one-of-a-kind technology that stimulates the senses and livens up the imagination. The first venue to bring interactive tables, Tabú now proudly introduces patrons to the “Human Locator” system.

This new layered interactive technology, exclusively by Realisations, Inc., allows the club to manipulate any image or video projected on the tabletops to become a playful element of the nightlife experience. Using infrared technology, the system reacts to body heat sensitive motion sensors to bring to life the image or video reflected on the tabletops.

“We are excited to be at the forefront of this new advancement in nightlife. Tabú prides itself on being a unique venue and with the recent additions the club will offer guests an experience they can’t get anywhere else in the world,” said Barry Morgan, acting director of nightclubs at MGM Grand.

With the addition of these five new “Human Locator” systems, Tabú now offers a complete row of interactive tabletops on the main lounge floor.

A hotspot since its inception in February 2003 as the city’s first ultra lounge, Tabú has elevated the Las Vegas nightlife scene to a new level of sophistication and style. With its distinctive design and special effects technology, Tabú sparked a nightlife trend capturing attention of people all over the country. The club was recently honored with its third consecutive Club World Awards for “Best Lounge” and continues to be at the forefront of Las Vegas nightlife.
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Doo-wop festival by Jerry Fink
Las Vegas Sun

Vegas will be awash with doo-woppers July 28-29.

Cool Bobby B (Bob Backman, host of the nationally syndicated “Doo Wop Stop”) has announced a national Doo Wop Convention at Sunset Station and the Henderson Pavilion. The radio show, which originates in Cincinnati, airs locally from 9 p.m. until midnight Sundays on Kool 93.1-FM. Cool Bobby B also hosts “Cruisin’?” from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Sundays on Kool.

The doo-wop weekend begins with a reception at 5 p.m. July 28, where fans can meet and mingle with artists. From 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. July 29, at Sunset Station there will be an autograph session, an amateur doo-wop contest and other events. At 7 p.m. July 29 there will be a concert at Henderson Pavilion.

Among the dozen groups scheduled to attend the event are Kenny Vance and the Planotones (”Looking For An Echo”); Jay Seigel and the Tokens (”The Lion Sleeps Tonight”); The Penguins (”Earth Angel”); and The Harptones (”Sunday Kind of Love”).

Early bird tickets are $149 per person. Envelopes must be postmarked by May 10 to take advantage of this special offer. After that, ticket prices will be $179. Send checks to Cool Bobby B Doo Wop Convention, P.O. Box 43461, Cincinnati, Ohio 45243.

Backman said only 1,000 tickets will be sold. For more information call (513) 307-4429.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/do/2006/apr/28/566698194.html
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‘Cats’ By Jerry Fink

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s award-winning musical “Cats” will be staged June 7-11 at the Aladdin Theatre for Performing Arts, coinciding with the play’s 25th anniversary.

The production debuted on May 11, 1981, at the New London Theatre in London.

In 1982, “Cats” opened at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City and became the longest-running musical in Broadway history in 1997. Its run there ended in September 2000.
Source: Las Vegas Sun
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Brett’s Vegas Views By Jackie Brett

The new Red Rock Resort in northwest Las Vegas opened last week after two years since its groundbreaking on a 70-acre patch of land near Charleston Blvd. and the Las Vegas Beltway in Summerlin. The plush resort opened with 415 of its planned 850 hotel rooms and suites. A 435-room expansion is expected to open by December.

The 87,000-square-foot casino includes 3,000 slot machines, 62 table games, a poker room, a race and sports book, and a bingo room. In the dining arena, there are nine restaurants and a seven-tenant food court.

Additional amenities include a 16-screen cinema, a three-acre pool area, 94,000 square feet of meeting space, a luxury spa and the Cherry nightclub.

The Broadway musical “Hairspray” at the Luxor is preparing to usher in two new lead stars on May 1. Comic actor and “Mad TV” sketch comedian, Paul Vogt, and veteran theater actor and “Laverne & Shirley” alum, Eddie Mekka will join the star-studded cast as the devoted and thoughtful parents of plus-size trendsetter Tracy Turnblad. Vogt stars in the role of the caring and concerned mother, Edna Turnblad with Mekka by his side as the loveable and quirky Wilbur Turnblad.

Vogt, best known for his recurring role on “MAD TV,” first received Hollywood recognition when he starred on NBC’s “The Rerun Show.” His theater credits include “The Grand Duchess,” “Happy Days The Musical” and “Beanstalk.” His film credits include “Princess Diaries II,” “Raising Helen” and “Lilo & Stitch 2.”

Mekka debuted on Broadway in 1974 starring in “Jumpers” followed by his big break as the lead in “Lieutenant,” earning him a Best Actor nomination from both the Tony Award and Drama Desk committees. His television credits include “24,” “The Guiding Light,” “Happy Days,” and his most memorable role, Carmine “The Big Ragoo” Ragusa, from the hit television series “Laverne & Shirley.”

Las Vegas Helldorado Days will take place this year from May 5-14, with all the action happening at the new South Coast Hotel/Arena. The one constant will be the Western Village Exhibits and continuous entertainment.

Special equestrian events will include: the Silver State Paint Horse Show May 5-7; the Mexican Rodeo May 8-10; and the WRCA Ranch Rodeo May 11-14.

Other featured events include the Whiskerino Contest on May 11 and the Helldorado Days Parade from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 13.

Barry Manilow, who is headlining at the Las Vegas Hilton through 2008, will kick off the NBC “Today Show” Summer Concert Series onboard the world’s largest ship, the Royal Caribbean International’s Freedom of the Seas, when she debuts in New York Harbor on May 12.
http://www.lasvegas-nv.com/brett/index.htm
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MIKE WEATHERFORD: Make a trip downtown to see a production show at a nice price.
By Mike Weatherford from The Las Vegas Review Journal

Amid all the talk about big-budget Broadway musicals on the Strip, a little production of “Ain’t Misbehavin’ ” slipped into the Plaza downtown with a $20 ticket price.

Louis Jarrett’s Jarrett-Martini Productions is backing the rent-the-room venture directed by A.J. Phillinganes, who also is one of the five principal performers.

The show was scheduled to open Wednesday night after a weekend preview for an invited-guest audience that included Gladys Knight. The non-Actors Equity production plans six shows per week, one of them a Sunday matinee.

More Here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Apr-27-Thu-2006/living/6928515.html
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“LOVE” Website

Those who just can’t wait to learn more about “Love,” the Beatles-themed Cirque du Soleil that opens in June, might be surprised at how much they can find on the show’s Web site (www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/showstickets/love/about/about.htm). A batch of rehearsal photos and costume sketches give away more of the show than similar advance publicity did for “Zumanity” or “Ka.” More informed Beatles fans might even be able to make educated guesses about some of the songs that will be included.
Source: Mike Weatherford/Las Vegas Review Journal
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Apr-27-Thu-2006/living/6928515.html
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Upcoming Las Vegas Entertaiment From The LVRJ.

Latin pop superstar Shakira will perform at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Aug. 12 with Wyclef Jean. Tickets are $19.50, $55, $75 and $100 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Mandalay Bay box office, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, and Ticketmaster outlets.

Reunited blues rock favorites the Black Crowes will shake their money makers at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel on June 16. Tickets are $75 and go on sale at noon Saturday at the Hard Rock box office, 4455 Paradise Road, and Ticketmaster outlets.

Platinum popster Ashlee Simpson will play the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on June 10 with the Veronicas. General admission tickets are $35 advance, $37 day of show and reserved tickets are $45. They go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the House of Blues box office, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, and Ticketmaster outlets.

Country outlaw Hank Williams III and his band Assjack will tear into the House of Blues on May 30 with the Murder Junkies. General admission tickets are $15 advance, $17 day of show and go on sale at 10 a.m. today at the House of Blues box office and Ticketmaster outlets.

Honky-tonk throwback Dwight Yoakam will stop at Buffalo Bill’s Star of the Desert Arena on June 30. Tickets are $25.95 and $35.95 and are on sale at Buffalo Bill’s box office in Primm, and Ticketmaster outlets.

Pop songstress Olivia Newton-John will get physical at Buffalo Bill’s Star of the Desert Arena on Aug. 5. Tickets are $24.95 and $39.95 and are on sale at Buffalo Bill’s box office and Ticketmaster outlets.

Country chart-topper Trisha Yearwood will play The Club at the Cannery on July 2. Tickets are $49.99 and $59.99 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the ticket sales counter located at the Cannery front desk, 2121 E. Craig Road.

The “Young Guns of Comedy II” tour, headlined by D.L. Hughley, will yuck it up at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts on Sept. 4. Tickets are $40.50, $45.50, $55.50 and $75.50 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Aladdin box office, 3667 Las Vegas Blvd. South, and Ticketmaster outlets.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Apr-28-Fri-2006/weekly/7063433.html
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Slots of Problems
Anyone else getting gouged by the machines?
By Len Butcher/Lenny’s Las Vegas

Is it just me, or are our casinos putting the screws to their slot machines, and I don’t mean in a good way? I’m talking about tightening them up, which means reducing their payout percentage. I see signs in almost every casino touting high payback machines. They scream out “98% return” or “100% return”. I’ve even seen the claim that some machines in a casino pay out more than 100%. The day you see a casino lose money on a slot machine is the day you’ll see tickets to see Celine or Elton, or just about any Strip show, selling tickets for $5.

I was sitting at home the other night, feeling bored, so decided to go and play some video poker. It was a choice between Sunset Station to the south or the Cannery to the north. I decided on Sunset. I parked myself at a poker machine and immediately went 41 hands without a winning hand. I moved to another machine. Much better. Only 34 hands in row without a winner. Thirty minutes after I first sat down, I was out $100. Time to move, but this time right out of the casino and into my car.

Instead of going home, I took the 95 to I-15 and made my way to the Cannery. Found a machine that looked lucky (don’t they all?) and dropped another hundred in less than 20 minutes. I was not a happy camper. In less than an hour playing video poker on quarter machines, mind you, I had lost $200.

By law in Nevada, slot machines, and I imagine this includes video poker machines, have to have a minimum payback of somewhere around 80 percent. I realize that doesn’t mean that every time you sit down to play a machine, the most you can lose is 20% of whatever you put in. But I would like to think that it is impossible to go 41 hands in a row — and more, as I have often done — without getting one winning hand.

From e-mails I get and people I talk to, this complaint is getting louder and angrier. Most of us are smart enough to know we are not going to beat the house, but we do expect to get a fair run for our money. High prices for show tickets or for meals in its restaurants aren’t going to hurt our casinos as much as the gouging that’s going on at the slot machines. More people, both visitors and locals alike, should let their feelings be known to the casinos’ management.
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lenny/2006/0426.html
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SHOW REVIEW: Anthony Cools

If It’s Funny, It Isn’t Dirty: Anthony Cools’ adult hypnotism show is outrageously funny, but beware of the chair-cam. By Mike Weatherford.

You know Las Vegas tourism isn’t going back to a family focus anytime soon when Excalibur, a gleaming shrine to that ill-fated era, now hosts the raunchiest show on the Strip.

You won’t see paid showgirls simulate oral sex anywhere on the Strip. I think there’s a statute against that. But you can see a volunteer audience member, a sort of matronly one at that, do that very thing in Anthony Cools’ dirty hypnotism show.

And when the “chair-cam” angle of this amateur performance is replayed immediately after the show at the merch stand? Well, let’s just hope the kiddies are in bed, or at least downstairs playing carnival games, by 10:45 p.m.

More from “The Las Vegas Review Journal here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Apr-28-Fri-2006/weekly/7029534.html
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Vegas Values Report for 4/23/06

The below information is supplied by Scot Krause, our roving reporter, who supplies us each week with information on the best Las Vegas promotions. It’s only available here on the americancasinoguide.com web site so be sure to come back each Monday morning to find out about the best values in Las Vegas.
http://www.americancasinoguide.com/Promotions/VEGAS-VALUES.shtml
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Scintas moving by Jerry Fink From The Las Vegas Sun

After five years at the Rio, the Scintas are headed for the Strip.

The final performance at the present venue by the popular family of entertainers will be May 3. They hope to debut at the Sahara on or around May 23.

“That’s our target date,” said Frankie Scinta, who has been performing with brother Joe and sister Chrissie for more than 30 years. Drummer Peter O’Donnell is an honorary member of the family.

“We loved the Rio,” Scinta said. “What Harrah’s (owner of the Rio) did for us was make us a household name in Vegas. We are extremely grateful to them for that.”

There was some talk of the group possibly going to the Golden Nugget, which is undergoing major renovations – including the showroom.

But the Sahara was more appealing to the Scintas.

“It’s a chance to perform on the Strip, which is something we have always wanted to do,” Scinta said.

“We’re making some changes,” Scinta said. “A little more high-end lighting and sound and overall production.”
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/do/2006/apr/24/566682238.html
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Production brings Fats Waller’s jazz music to life
By Jerry Fink From The Las Vegas Sun

“Ain’t Misbehavin’ ” is a diamond in the rough, but a gem nonetheless.

The revue, featuring the music of jazz legend Fats Waller, debuted last week at the Plaza.

The production is rather large for such a small stage, forcing a curtailment of choreography that should otherwise be a highlight of the evening. With a cast of 17, the performers are cramped for space and must tone down their movements to avoid bumping into one another.

However, spatial issues aside, this production is one worth seeing – and hearing.

More Here:
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/do/2006/apr/26/566661472.html
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April in Vegas History By Rick Garman

When Red Rock Resort opened last week it became the latest of many Las Vegas hotel/casinos that have made their debut in the month of April: The very first resort on what would eventually become The Strip opened in April of 1941. It was called El Rancho and was located at the corner of what is now The Strip and Sahara Avenue, just across the street from the Sahara hotel (yes, where the big empty lot is now). It was the prototype for a Las Vegas resort complete with a then remarkable 63 rooms, a big pool, a casino, and what may have been the city’s first all-you-can-eat buffet. The hotel burned down in 1960.

The next April debut came in 1950 with the Desert Inn. The place was built by Wilbur Clark, partially through funds he earned when he sold his interest in El Rancho. It was a tremendous success and became a favorite for movie stars and those that liked to be around them. The hotel closed in 2000 and was demolished to make way for Wynn Las Vegas, which opened in…wait for it… April of 2005.

Five years later there were two big April bows, less than 24 hours apart. On April 19, 1955 the Royal Nevada opened and the next day The Riviera cut the proverbial ribbon. Both hotels struggled financially in the beginning with the Royal Nevada folding a few years later. It was incorporated into neighboring resort The Stardust and became part of the convention center.

The Riviera, on the other hand, made it through the difficult early years and grew to become one of the premiere resorts on The Strip. Although it has suffered a major decline in the zeitgeist of the city in the last decade or so, it is still open for business more than 50 years later.

In 1957, April was the chosen month for the birth of The Tropicana, then known as “The Tiffany of The Strip.” Although it never quite gained the stature of some other hotels of the era (think The Sands and The Dunes), the Trop nevertheless has outlasted almost all of them. It is currently being bid upon by several casino companies who will most likely tear it down at some point but for now The Tropicana is still bringing in the tourists and their gambling dollars.

April Fool’s Day of 1966 was no joke for the owners of The Aladdin, the next major hotel to make its debut during that particular month. Most noteworthy as the place where Elvis and Priscilla got married, The Aladdin was imploded in 1998 to make way for a bigger, better Aladdin. Unfortunately that hotel has had its share of problems, sinking into what was the largest bankruptcy in the state’s history. The hotel is still there but is currently getting a makeover to turn it into the Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino.

It would be thirty years before another April opening but it was a big one. The Stratosphere opened in April of 1996 with an observation tower soaring over 1,000 feet above the Vegas skyline. Like many Vegas hotels, it faltered at first and also sank into bankruptcy. Billionaire Carl Icahn rescued the place and turned it around, allowing it to celebrate its 10th Anniversary this month.

For more history on Las Vegas hotels, please visit the Vegas4Visitors.com Museum. It’s packed with photos, memorabilia, and more from the city’s past.
http://www.vegas4visitors.com
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How to Play Omaha Poker by Bill Burton

Omaha may resemble Texas Hold’em in the fact that it is a game played with five community cards but the game is quite different. There are two variations of the game, Omaha High only and Omaha Hi/Lo split. It can be played with the betting being a structured Limit game or you can find No Limit and Pot Limit games. I will use the Limit Omaha High game in the explanation about how to play.

More Here:
http://casinogambling.about.com/od/poker/a/omaha.htm
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Doing Las Vegas on the Cheap
By Len Butcher
From The Las Vegas Review Journal

In a recent study, Las Vegas has been named the third most expensive destination in the country, but if you take advantage of the “deals” and coupons offered by our hotels and restaurants, it can be one of the least expensive. Here’s a few that will save you money and allow you contribute more to our slot machines.

The Sopranos Last Supper Show, in the Krave nightclub next to the Aladdin on Harmon Avenue, has a $20 off coupon. This is a fun show.

Another fun show is at O’Shea’s, between the Flamingo and the Imperial Palace. The casino is offering a coupon for free admission to the Vinnie Favorito Show if you buy a Favorito CD or T-shirt for $15. You can save 25 bucks a person on this deal and have a great time as well. Gotta warn you, though, comedian Favorito is another Don Rickles, so beware.

One of the best, if not the best buffets downtown, is at Main Street Station and the hotel is offering a 2 for 1 coupon to the buffet for out-of-state members or new sign-ups to their slot club.

If you’re in the mood for some music, the House of Blues in Mandalay Bay has a coupon for free admission to any of these following shows: Monday & Tuesday nights Rockstar Karaoke; Friday Nights Flashback to the 70’s,80’s and 90’s Dance Party; Saturday Nights Boogie Knights Dance Party; or Sunday nights Purple Reign (Prince Tribute).

Want to wash down a hearty meal with a great beer? Then take advantage of the Hofbrauhaus coupon that gives you a free 10-ounce beer with the purchase of any lunch or dinner entrée. Or you can get a free gift if you make a purchase of $25 or more in the gift shop.

Here’s a good savings and an interesting place to visit, especially if you were a Liberace fan. The Liberace Museum is offering a 2-for-1 coupon to the museum. Tickets are normally $12.50 per person.

If you want a great view of the Strip and beyond, the observation deck on the 50th floor of the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas is the place to be, so you might as well take advantage of a coupon that will give you $2 off the admission for the ride to the top.

The Second City Comedy Club at the Flamingo is offering a 2-for-1 coupon to the very funny show that features some great improvisational comedy.

As the hot weather approaches, what could be better after walking the Strip than a waffle cone, frozen drink or sundae from Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream? They’re offering a two-part coupon for these goodies. The first part is a 2 for 1 on any size waffle cone. The second part gives you $1 off any frozen drink or sundae. You can find them in the Aladdin or Casino Royals.

All of these coupons are good for at least the next few months. Who says Las Vegas doesn’t have a heart?
http://www.reviewjournal.com/eNewsletters/eNeon/only/coupons.html
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From: EYE ON VEGAS

Savoy Sneak Peek

When three-star Michelin Chef Guy Savoy announced that he would be opening a secondRestaurant Guy Savoy in Las Vegas, foodies rejoiced. Less than a month before opening, the team behind Savoy has been finalized and is ready to push the boundaries of haute cuisine in the desert. Keeping the continuity and stamping the restaurant with the Savoy name will be the restaurant’s general manager, and Guy’s only son, Franck Savoy. Heading up the kitchen team will be a pair of talented, young chefs in Damian Dulas and Adam Sobel. Dulas, who has spent the last several years refining his skills under Savoy himself, has been handpicked as the outlet’s executive chef. Sobel, who helped win a Best New Restaurant James Bead Award with Bradley Ogden’s, will serve as chef de cuisine and help the transition process for France’s dynamic duo Savoy and Dulas. The beverage team has also come together with the assistance of Caesars Palace’s new director of wine, Stu Roy. We already announced that young-gun sommelier Michael Shearin would be working the dining room as lead sommelier but we have now learned that he will have a heady co-lead Paul Ellis who has plenty of experience having served as the director of wine for theMGM Grand in a past life. Also joining the beverage team will be Blake Gilbert, formerly of Fleur de Lys, who will serve as champagne/cognac/cigar sommelier while Julia Moretti (formerly of Tao Asian Bistro) will serve as mixologist and barista.

The outlet itself is a beautiful space that combines old school elegance with classic Savoy touches (such as the rectangular-laden doorways and walls) and new school technology. Hidden away with a second floor entrance in the new Augustus Tower, the restaurant will allow high-end diners to eat without even entering the casino if they wish. The menu will include Savoy classics like the Artichoke Soup with Truffles but will also have some new dishes better crafted to the American palate. As guests enter they will find a 950-wine-bottle wall indicating the serious 1,200 selection wine list adjacent to the special sommelier-serviced champagne bar. The dining room opens in front of guests as they continue into the restaurant where four-top tables await patrons to give diners more room. The Eiffel Tower is clearly in view from the dining room, a trademark as all Savoy restaurants are near monuments in Paris; ironically none near the real Eiffel Tower. The best view from the eatery might be for those lucky enough to grab a lounge seat during boxing matches that will take place in the outdoor pavilion below.

Proving an ability to cater to all guests, no matter the size of the party, Restaurant Guy Savoy will offer three private dining rooms, one that seats 8, one that seats 12 and a larger one that seats 32. The prime table in the outlet however, doesn’t reside in the dining room. The classic six-person chef’s table signifies a return to roots for Savoy as it sits right in the middle of an amazingly gorgeous kitchen (seriously, the kitchen might win awards in its own right. “Everything we couldn’t do in France, we did here,” Franck Savoy exclaimed during our tour!)

Restaurant Guy Savoy opens on May 17 in the Augustus Tower at Caesars Palace. Be prepared to be blown away, visually and gastronomically! For more on the team behind Restaurant Guy Savoy stay tuned for Bryan Bass’ up-coming article in the next issue of 944 Magazine.

Palms Pool Nears Completion
When The Palms and N9NE Group announced that they would be closing their popular Skin Pool Lounge for some serious renovations it had the collective imagination of pool-hopping regulars swimming with possibilities. With the first opening phase only weeks away, a full opening of the pool won’t happen at least until Memorial Day weekend, insiders can’t stop raving about what to expect from the new pool deck, or should we say pool decks! From what we hear the new Palms pool will actually have three swimming pools that will increase in credit line necessary to enjoy them the deeper you get into the pool grounds. The second pool, which will also be on a second-level, might just be the most intriguing with an alleged glass bottom providing a curious view from the gaming tables that will be located below. Further pushing the boundaries of the pool area will be three, two-story bungalows that will be available for overnight stay. These aren’t to be confused with the two-story penthouse being constructed in the Fantasy Tower for Hugh Hefner. This suite will be available for rent when the Playboy Czar isn’t present, although we strongly recommend changing the sheets.

Independent Eateries Taking it to the Bank
Earlier this month Restaurants and Institutions Magazine released their list of the 100 highest grossing “independent” restaurants in the country in 2005 and several Vegas goliaths finished very near the top of the list. Tao Asian Bistro’s New York outlet ranked in third place behind only Tavern on the Green (NYC) and the original Joe’s Stone Crab Miami outlet. However, Tao topped the list in alcohol sales accounting for a staggering 40 percent of cash flow! Proving the buying power of a city buoyed by tourism, nearly two dozen Las Vegas eateries dominated the list, often with a less meals served rate but at a higher average check. Other Vegas restaurants on the list include: #6 – MIX Las Vegas (Mandalay Bay), #12 – Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab (Forum Shops), #13 – rumjungle (Mandalay Bay), #14 – Mon Ami Gabi (Paris), #17 – Delmonico Steakhouse (Venetian), #18 – PRIME Steakhouse (Bellagio), #23 – China Grill (Mandalay Bay), #27 – Top of the World (Stratosphere), #36 – Commanders Palace (Aladdin), #58 – Aureole (Mandalay Bay), #60 – Eiffel Tower (Paris), #63 – Spago (Forum Shops), #66 – Harley Davidson Café (Free Standing), #74 – Zeffirino Ristorante (Venetian), #80 – Lutece (Venetian), #81 – N9NE Steakhouse (Palms), #90 – craftsteak (MGM Grand), #93 – America Café (NYNY). To qualify as “independent” the restaurant needed to be an eatery with no more than five locations.

Century Old Eatery Coming to Vegas
One of New York City’s most storied eateries has set its sights on a Las Vegas expansion. The 110-year-old Rao’s Restaurant has signed on to open a second outlet at Caesars Palace in the space that formerly housed another Italian eatery, Terrazza. Rao’s, which has occupied the same East Harlem location since 1896, is believed to be one of the oldest family-owned and run restaurants in the country. One reason for its success is the intimate 10-table setting and “table rights” reservation system that has New York City’s elite fighting to “get” a seat for authentic, Southern Italian fare. “We are delighted to bring Rao’s to the heart of the Roman empire,” said Rao’s owner Frank Pellegrino Jr. “More than anything, Rao’s is about family, and we look forward to welcoming Caesars’ guests into the Rao’s family.” Family attorney Ron Straci also added, “Our New York regulars already have begun to request their tables.” While it would be extremely difficult to fore-see the Caesars outlet operating in the same manner as Rao’s original, we can still expect excellent Italian fare in the classic New York style.
http://www.lasvegasfoodservice.com/newsletter.shtml
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MGM GRAND CASE: Two more held in beating.
Police arrest second teen, juvenile after raid.

Police made two more arrests Friday in the MGM Grand group beating case, after a massive late-night SWAT raid at the home of the first teen charged in the attack.

Demarcus Smith, 18, and a teenager whose name was not released because he is a juvenile were taken into custody shortly after midnight, Las Vegas police said. Smith remained jailed at the Clark County Detention Center late Friday.

Authorities say five other beating and robbery attacks last weekend were committed by many, if not all, of the 10 to 15 young people who pummeled two MGM landscapers about 2:30 a.m. Saturday, an incident that was caught on tape by security cameras.

More from the LVRJ here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Apr-22-Sat-2006/news/6989952.html
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The Enchanting Anatomy Of KÀ Going behind the scenes
By Justin Jimenez

KÀ CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
Where: MGM Grand
When: 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. Tues.-Sat.
Cost: $99, $125, $150
Info: (702) 492-3960 or (866) 80-SHOWS

Cirque du Soleil constructs new universes, letting us forget the perils of our original, guiding with a brilliant panoply of talent and genius. The acrobatics, the unfathomable artistic concept, the mystery — all stimulate inquiring minds. Would seeing under the magician’s table tarnish the trick? Would a glimpse behind the scenes humanize the body of fantasy that KÀ has created?

No, witnessing the backside of the majestic production only elevates the enigma and fuels more praise: There is nothing in the world like this show.

The anxiety of further enlightenment comes on the premise that KÀ stands as one of the most expensive stage shows in history. My backstage pass to the show, which was designed and built for an estimated $165 million, solidified the notion that the technological sorcery detracts none from the intellectual genius. (Such unfettered access has been given to a select few. Only 60 Minutes has had such freedom.)

The elaborate backdrop is merely an atmospheric portal into the amazing group of artistes. The exorbitant performing complex serves as a beautiful complement to the thespians playing in and on it, not a tool to upstage them. KÀ excels … far beyond merely spectacular.

Perhaps half expecting to find people doing back-flips off the walls and handsprings out of the bathroom, the calm sense of peace that echoes throughout the green roombefore the first show is surprising. Most of the noise comes from the clanging of a row of washing machines, imitating a laundromat — but your local coin-op doesn’t wash tens of thousands dollars worth of costumes every day.

Around the 7 p.m. call time, the 160 custom-made safety harnesses hanging in the main corridor start to fly off the racks and around tiny waists of acrobatic artists. Performers scurry in: The 30- to 90-minute makeup session begins in a series of dressing areas that resemble an athletic locker room but with individual mirrors for self-application.

The large multilevel break area comes complete with two prodigious-screen televisions, a kitchen and a pool table. The crew is first to break out the omnipresent dominos. A billiard game is already in progress, and performers in full makeup are surfing the Web, using all five computers in the back of the room. This is artistic bliss: fun and games.

Donning a utility belt Batman would be envious of, each technician has a specialized job and a corresponding group of gadgets. Dangling carabiners clink; gloves, knives, radios and assorted gizmos are visible as the competition at the pool table heats up. The vernacular of a basement poker game starts to build as the puppeteers get more serious about the dotted domino tiles.

Fully dressed performers start to trickle in; the transition from reality to fantasy starts to seize. The mostly local tech crew blends with the performers culled from 17 different countries; it looks like a truck stop that was invaded by Olympians.

This waiting room of theatrical nirvana is almost as fascinating as the public forefront. A closed-circuit camera gives a view of the incoming audience, a waiting tool for performers before their call to places. A smaller TV displays one of 26 closed-circuit live video feeds that monitor the area and makes channel surfing a whole lot more interesting.

Another flash of the amazing international dynamic hits. Hysterical trash talk spills out in different languages as the artists fill in the domino spots vacated by the crew. Performers are lining up to have their makeup airbrushed, their hairpieces glued on. The marriage of technology and art starts to come into focus.

The stage manager sits atop the back of the theater, hidden behind an arch of windows in the control booth. She is OZ, the one pulling the strings from inside the amazing creature. Looking up from the audience, the room resembles the deck of the USS Starship Enterprise, and the interior circuitry lends even more to the sci-fi feel. Two large control boards sit below an eerie big red button — the emergency stop. It has never been pressed.

Making one of her memorized 800-plus cue calls to the staff and the majority of performers wearing wireless earpieces, the stage manager guides the show with precision and grace. “Snake, stop,” she calls mid-show through the internal intercom. The 80-foot-long puppet freezes in midair during the forest scene, the hidden performer controlling it heeds the ubiquitous voice of the manager. Keeping on schedule every night, a stopwatch sits on the table. “Snake, go.” The beast slithers down into the void below.

The view from the booth provides a vantage point where the gargantuan complex can be taken in as a whole. Two moving platforms operate independent of each other, twisting and turning horizontally and vertically, thus creating the most unusual performing space in the world. The Sand Cliff Deck is one of the main platforms. It is manipulated by the gantry crane, which is what allows it to move up and down and rotate 360 degrees — all at the same time. The namesake sand that pours off it is actually granular cork from Portugal.

The Tatami Deck, weighing another 100,000 pounds, resonates like an industrial shipyard from the wings when moving into a new position. The audience never hears the racket as each of the 1,950 seats in the theater have two individual speakers, blaring the voices and the live music coming from several floors down in a separate sound room. A total of 524,150 watts of amplifier power fill the space in 16 different seating zones, allowing for the state-of-the-art sound effects to be targeted and directionally customized.

Not long after the first show comes to a close does the green room erupt into a sea of different scents. In the lull before the 10:30 performance, microwaved Chinese noodles mix with Subway sandwiches, and chopsticks are unwrapped next to sporks. Running upstairs to work out, trampolines bounce and barbells leave the rack in the second-floor gym. Resembling a health club that had a Halloween party, artists in full maquillage break into various exercise routines while passing the time before another physically exhausting show. Specific types of training are offered every night, something as calming as yoga, as complicated as the martial art Capoeira or as dangerous as falling and climbing on the pulley system.

Witnessing the underbelly of KÀ embodies the essence of theater. Any worry that opening the door behind the stage would spoil the artistic bliss is unfounded. Tricks are revealed, and secrets exposed. And through it all … KÀ remains true magic.

Source: Las Vegas Magazine
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MIKE WEATHERFORD: Gangsta rap not big on casino circuit

Isn’t something pretty laughable being overlooked in the recent uproar about banning gangsta rap from casinos?

Clark County Sheriff Bill Young’s recently excavated letter to gaming controllers from last summer, asking “the gaming industry to not book gangster rap here,” has the ACLU and Las Vegas-based hip-hop icon Morey Alexander all riled up.

But when the casino heads caught wind of the request, they must have been rolling on the floor saying, “Please don’t throw us in that briar patch.”

More Here:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Mar-05-Sun-2006/living/6143930.html————–
NORM: Plans could leave Strip all shook up.

Details of an Elvis attraction planned opposite MGM Mirage’s $7 billion CityCenter will be announced this month.

New York billionaire Robert F.X. Sillerman, in a Sunday New York Times interview, hinted that an interactive museum and Elvis theme show might be only the beginning, just as “Heartbreak Hotel” in 1956 was the first of 18 No. 1 hits.

That’s the plan for one of Sillerman’s two parcels of land. Suspicious minds envision an Elvis hotel and casino on the other plot.

Sillerman closed a $100 million deal last year with the Presley family for control of The King’s name and likeness, but not his music.
reviewjournal.com — News – NORM: Plans could leave Strip all shook up
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SHOOTING STARS: Poker series moves into final rounds.
By Carol Cling

It’s showdown time as NBC’s second “National Heads-Up Poker Championship” moves into its final rounds today in Caesars Palace’s new poker room.
The 64-member, invitation-only field — each of whom paid $20,000 to enter — represents “the best of the best,” according to Jon Miller, NBC Sports’ senior vice president of programming.

Although the tournament moved to Caesars from the Golden Nugget, Las Vegas was the first and only choice as a location, Miller notes.

“We always felt this is where it should be,” he says, “to do it and do it right,” he says.

The six-part, 10-hour series begins a Sunday-afternoon run April 16 on NBC; prime-time reruns will be shown on NBC’s cable network CNBC.

“Mindfreak” mania: A&E’s “Criss Angel: Mindfreak” returns to Las Vegas this week, launching production on a second season of magical (sur)reality.

Based at the Aladdin, the second season of A&E’s top-rated series is expected to continue production through May.

The Aladdin pool is slated to provide the backdrop for a Friday stunt, but the series will film throughout the casino, as well as on the Strip.
reviewjournal.com — Living – SHOOTING STARS
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Karaoke at Tequila Joe’s Is The Best.
On-The-Strip-Sidewalk Club Wins Top Honor

For the second year in a row, the Imperial Palace Karaoke Club at Tequila Joe’s has been named Best Karaoke Bar in Las Vegas.

Singing its praises is James Bartholet, host of “L.A. Nitelife,” a Los Angeles-based television program carried on cable outlets from coast to coast. TJ’s karaoke club won the distinction based on popularity with clientele and the décor, ambience, staff, sound and lighting of the club.

Tequila Joe’s karaoke host Rusty Varney will accept the plaque from Bartholet at 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 8.

Since the club’s beginning in September 2003, about 60,000 crooners, divas and American Idol wannabes have taken center stage nightly at 8 p.m. to warble and belt out tunes to their hearts’ content – many of them even in key. With more than 15,000 songs from which to choose, there is music for every taste – from acid rock to zydeco and Alabama to ZZ Top.

Varney says the songs most frequently requested are “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond, “Viva Las Vegas” by Elvis and Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.” He describes these three as “signature crowd pleasers that give karaoke singers a sense of stardom.”

Men also like to sing “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks and “You Never Even Call Me By My Name” by David Allan Coe. Women always request Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” and Joan Jett’s “I Love Rock N Roll.” About 5,000 songsters have purchased a DVD of their performance.

Tourists hoping that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas aren’t the only ones who have sung karaoke at TJ’s. Among the club’s celebrity singers are World Series of Poker champion Scotty Nguyen, pro bowler Liz Johnson, former World Wrestling Entertainment’s hardcore champion Pat Patterson, Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia and actor Ethan Hawke.

The Karaoke Club at Tequila Joe’s also has hosted the quarterly “Be A Legend” Celebrity Impersonator Contest since November 2003. The first-place winner of each contest earned an audition with the Imperial Palace’s “Legends in Concert” celebrity tribute spectacular.

By early summer, Tequila Joe’s will make way for the way-out Beacher’s Rockhouse Bar.

The Imperial Palace is home to the Dealertainers, celebrity impersonators who deal blackjack. The hotel also hosts The Auto Collections, the world’s largest classic car lot with $100 million worth of inventory for sale. Imperial Palace is the most central stop on the Las Vegas Monorail. In addition, the resort is famous for “Five-Star-Friendly Service” and includes a race and sports book, 2,640 rooms and suites, world-class gaming and amenities, a seasonal poolside luau, 40,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space, 10 specialty restaurants, 10 bars and lounges, state-of-the-art spa and fitness center, business center, concierge service, medical center, chapel and reception facilities.
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Updated Review: Blue Man Group by Rick Garman

The Blue Man Group has been a phenomenon in this country, going from underground, bizarre, avant-garde, performance art to nationally recognized, bizarre, avant-garde, performance art. Much of that success had to do with their long run in Vegas, first at the Luxor and now in a new space at The Venetian. Whether it was because some of the originality has worn off, what with their omnipresent television commercials and Jay Leno appearances, or the fact that this is the third time I’ve seen the show and it hasn’t changed all that much, but I didn’t get the same heady kick that I did the first time I saw it. Mind you, it’s still fun and an enormously entertaining evening at the theater, but it just doesn’t as fresh.

Just in case you’ve been living in a cage somewhere, the Blue Man Group consists of three men whose bald-shaven heads are painted cobalt-blue, giving them the air of visitors from another planet. Their antics over the course of their show only reinforces this feeling, bringing to mind some sort of bizarre mix of Buster Keaton, Ernie Kovacs, and Mork from Ork.

The show opens with the Blue Men surrounding a pair of tall drums. As one of the guys does the percussion, the other two pour fluorescent paint on top, creating multi-hued sprays that fly up in their faces and cover a conveniently placed canvas. It sounds odd, and it is, but their behavior throughout – as if they are children discovering some bizarre and surprising new toy – is still hilarious.

That’s the through-line for the entire show – these serene and expressionless blue beings that come across as super-intelligent, yet are perplexed and overwhelmed by something as simple as the wrapping on a snack cake.

Other scenes involve catching marshmallows and paintballs in their mouths, a series of messages printed on three different sets of posters that will have you reading faster than you ever have in your life, a symphony done with Cap’n Crunch cereal, a couple of stunts involving unsuspecting audience members (including the aforementioned snack cake bit), and music that they perform on various drums, pipes, and PVC tubing including a brief medley of everything from Gary Newman to Madonna.

It all ends with giant, twisting, neon tubes dropping from the ceiling and the audience buried in paper streamers. The guy sitting next to me asked, “What’s the point of the paper?” and I responded, rightly I believe, that there is no point really. It’s just all part of the nonsensical weirdness that is the Blue Man Group.

The new theater at The Venetian is nowhere near as comfortable as their former digs at Luxor, with the seats tightly packed both to your left and right and front to back. I was getting claustrophobic long before I was buried in paper streamers.

If you’ve never seen the Blue Man Group, you owe it to yourself to experience it at least once. If you have seen them, this new production in a new home is simply not new enough to warrant going back a second (or a third) time unless you are a fanatic about the bald blue guys.

Blue Man Group
The Venetian
3355 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
877-883-6423
website
Price:

$85-110
Showtimes:
Nightly 7:30pm
Additional show Sat at 10:30pm
Vegas4Visitors Grade: B+
http://www.vegas4visitors.com/column/index.htm
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Show Review: Xtreme Magic starring Dirk Arthur by Rick Garman

It’s official: I think I have become too jaded to do this job anymore. Having written extensively about Las Vegas for nearly 10 years, I have stayed at almost every hotel, eaten at a lot of the restaurants, visited all of the major attractions, and seen virtually all of the shows that have played the stages in and around town. Many of those shows have been of the magic variety and this is where I am running into trouble. You see, I just don’t get traditional magic shows anymore, primarily because after having seen every single one of them that ever played in Las Vegas they have become rote and predictable to me.

So my biggest problem with “Xtreme Magic starring Dirk Arthur,” now playing at the Tropicana, is not really with Dirk Arthur, but with myself. I choose to blame Gob Bluth in “Arrested Development.”

Arthur’s show is as traditional magic as they come, from sawing a woman (or two) in half to suddenly appearing and disappearing objects, people, and animals. There are no surprises here and nothing original, at least to my jaded eyes.

Having said all that, Arthur is a capable illusionist most of the time. If I had to assign a percentage to it, I’d say that roughly 75% of the tricks are done well, with all of the attendant smoke and mirrors hiding whatever may be up his proverbial sleeve. The set pieces where a lovely assistant hops in a box and moments later is replaced by a jungle cat of some kind are executed flawlessly and at least one of his big illusions, where a helicopter seems to appear out of nowhere, is impressive.

The other 25% has some issues. The use of look-a-likes for the lead magician is a time-honored tradition but it’s usually a good idea to have the look-a-like actually look like the person they are trying to make you believe they are. Arthur’s body double was wearing a bad wig, looked about 20 years younger, and may have been female. Granted you have to know where to look to see it but that leads me back to my whole jaded thing – I know where to look. In fact one trick was leading to the inevitable resolution where Arthur appears in the middle of the audience and I saw it coming a mile away – I even turned around in my seat to watch him jump up onto the booth behind me long before anyone else noticed he was there.

And then there’s the whirling blades of death. Okay, in Arthur’s case it was more of a giant corkscrew of death, but the concept is the same: the magician is locked in a box and some dangerous looking instrument of medieval torture is lowered toward the box. Will he survive?!

SPOILER ALERT: He survives.

There are very few magic shows left in Las Vegas and Dirk Arthur’s suffers by comparison. He has none of the wit or originality of Penn & Teller, none of the charm or style of Lance Burton, and even though there are “wild” animals, the show lacks the spectacle of Siegfried and Roy’s former extravaganza.

Of course, Arthur’s show also doesn’t have the ticket prices of any of those aforementioned acts (2-for-1 pricing brings it to about $20). Plus, playing twice daily (except Friday) during the afternoon makes this one of the few options for daytime entertainment. And as one of the last traditional magic acts left in Las Vegas, Dirk Arthur seems to represent a dying breed.

So what it comes down to is this: if a magic show featuring women being sawed in half and helicopters appearing out of nowhere sounds like something you’d like to see, Dirk Arthur’s show is the one to go to in Las Vegas. If you’re looking for more originality in your illusions, you’re going to have to look elsewhere.

Vegas4Visitors Grade: B-

Xtreme Magic starring Dirk Arthur
Tropicana Las Vegas
3801 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
800-829-9034

Showtimes:
Sat-Thurs 2 & 4pm
Tickets:
2-for-1 tickets $30-$40
http://www.vegas4visitors.com/column/index.htm
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Thanks for all you wonderful support for the Newsletter and Forums.

Steve

Posted on April 28th, 2006 by MrVegas98
Filed under: Uncategorized