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The
red carpet was out for the stars at the Stardust 45th
anniversary party: Phyllis Diller, Wayne Newton (Mr. Las
Vegas himself), Robert Goulet, Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, Don
Rickles, Sonny King, Carrot Top, Valerie Perrine, Tim
Conway, and Marva Scott. Other local celebrities were
spotted: Breck Wall, the Kim Sisters, Tony Sacca, Monty
Rock, Jim Snyder (Channel 3 TV anchor man), and Robin Leach.
Our Lt. Gov. Hunt is now in the process of a divorce from
her long-time husband Blackie Hunt who was an entertainer in
Las Vegas in days of yore, as was Lorraine herself. Lorraine
is very visible all of the time in her political life and in
her position with the Nevada Film Commission. So of course
she is often seen many places and sometimes with another
male entertainer. Lorraine sometimes still sings at her own
club, the renowned Bootlegger on the Strip. Valerie
Perrine's past reads something like a mind- boggling comedy
drama from her showgirl days at the Stardust, her hippie
days and Hollywood days. Valerie landed a role as Lenny
Bruce's stripper wife and earned herself an Academy Award
nomination. This reminded me of the time while living in Los
Angeles. I was invited to a bizarre party at which we were
given a tour of Bruce's strange house, including the bedroom
where Lenny Bruce had killed himself on drugs. It was a very
eerie house, as I remember. It was a two-storey with strange
staircases here and there. It was at this party
actor-director Steve Nave introduced me to some of the most
beautiful girls in the world from his contest of the same
name. Out of that contest Nave "found" four or five future
Playmates who eventually were with me at different agencies.
The party was near my Playboy offices on Sunset Strip. A few
days after the Stardust party, Robert Goulet accompanied his
beautiful wife Vera to be sworn in as a U.S. citizen along
with many other new citizens. Goulet was so happy for his
wife that he sang a patriotic song for all to hear. It was a
very poignant time in the lives of the Goulets. One thing
most of us do know is that Robert Goulet's and Wayne
Newton's beautiful wives are very protective of them. If you
need to contact either one of them, you will need to get
past these delightful women, and that's the way their
husbands want it. What's this all about? Inviting press
members and lots of other notable people to a birthday party
and requesting we bring a contribution for a vacation--no
gifts, just money! Oh yes, and you pay for your own drinks.
Well, Las Vegas does have a big share of unusual people.
Not all of our tourists can spend $100 or more for some
of the pricey extravaganza productions. However they are
enjoying these smaller venues just as much: The new show
"Men" at the Riviera seems to be pulling in as many
outrageous gals as the more established male revues. Ray
Brown Jr. (Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Brown's son), also at the
Riviera, is pulling in music lovers of the past and present.
Sam Distenfano (the booking agent) exclaims that these
musicians and Brown were some of the very best in Las Vegas.
I was invited to the debut of "Little Anthony and the
Imperials" at the Riviera. They were right there at the top
in the 60s and 7Os with their great hits: "Tears on My
Pillow," "Shimmy, Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop," "I'm On the Outside
(Looking In)," "Goin' Out of My Head." They kinda faded from
view for a while. Then when they returned in the early 90s,
they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
Clarence Collins, founder of "Little Anthony and the
Imperials," was born in Brooklyn and had 10 brothers and
sisters. Clarence and wife Brenda have a total of 10
children. Clarence's brother-in-law Anthony Gourdine's wife
Linda is Brenda's twin sister. They have eight children and
are now residing in Las Vegas. Ernest Wright resides with
his wife and two daughters in Staten Island. He co-wrote
"Just Two Kinds of People in the World" which became one of
the greatest doo-wop songs of all time and was on the flip
side of "Tears on My Pillow." Sammy Strains and his wife and
two children live in Cherry Hill, N.J. Sammy rejoined the
group when he heard about the reunion show at Madison Square
Garden. He happily joined again with "Little Anthony and the
Imperials." These entertainers still have what it takes to
make you want to get up and sing and dance with them.
Lots of great conventions have been in town where Steve
Crespi snapped photos of Jackie Chan, Calvin Lane, Sylvester
Stallone, Playmate twins Carol and Darlene Bernaola, "Lana"
Hustler Honey, and Nikki Six of Motley Crue. Then at the
Black and White Party he snapped a photo of this fabulous
painted body. Exciting Club openings with the Ice House
Lounge in beautiful downtown Las Vegas and Ice Club opening
where Drink formerly was situated on Harmon. At the downtown
Ice Club Lounge there was just everybody including Mayor
Oscar Goodman with a Marilyn Monroe look-alike, and
prominent movie critic Victoria Alexander. James Caan and
actor Fred Williamson (The Hammer) were seen at the Ice Club
close to the Strip. Lots of fun to go to the luncheons of
the members of the local entertainers clubs. "The Cast," a
club of local entertainers, holds a luncheon party monthly
at the Greek Islands (the former Debbie Reynolds Hotel). You
will usually see Bill Acosta, sometimes Marty Allen, Marlene
Ricci, Buddy Greco, Lezlie Anders, and Frankie Randall. So
many talents and such great entertainment. The public is
invited to attend these functions and the price of the
luncheon is very nominal
Pilot film "Atomic City" premiered at The Palms. It is a
delightful fun-filled, light-hearted family show targeting
every demographic that promotes Las Vegas as the hippest
place on earth . Producer Markus Rothkranz shot the entire
film in Las Vegas. It is a look at Las Vegas starting in the
60s where aliens, underground top secret governmental
compounds and gadgets of the future are the norm. Every role
is filled by a Look-alike. Of course the star is "Elvis"
(Matt Lewis), Elizabeth Taylor is a cab driver and a tough
policeman is Jack Nicholson. It's a real hoot and so
original that hopefully it will be a big success. Playboy
had its 50th anniversary party at The Palms amid much ado.
Boys, Men, Males invaded the place with their desire to be
part of the scene. I remember the 25th anniversary party at
his Playboy Mansion. I was just awestruck by the scores of
top, top echelon of "movie stars." This anniversary was a
new ball game entirely. Hef was the star at this party amid
a bevy of beautiful Playmates and adorable Playboy bunnies.
Hef's long-time "right hand" lady, Mary O'Connor (since
Chicago days) came along and was as efficient and delightful
as ever. There were different parties all weekend at the
different "in" spots at The Palms. Two of the most favorite
local entertainers are Siegfried & Roy at The Mirage. These
guys have become such "regular" people with the press and
media that they have become buddies with many. They attend
and contribute to every charity, big or small, and were
recently at the party at The Flamingo for Breck Wall,
producer of "Bottoms Up."
Las Vegas is known as the most exciting city in the
world, and it is.
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2007 Las Vegas Hollywood Magazine. All Rights
Reserved