Thursday, June 4, 1998 | 11 a.m.
FRIENDS OF RHYOLITE, this columnist's favorite Nevada ghost town, will participate in the Beatty Museum and Natural History's 2nd annual Railroad Days, this Friday through Sunday. ... Rhyolite, with its unique and famed Bottle House, is four miles west of Beatty which is 100 miles northwest of Las Vegas and 10 miles west of Yucca Mountain.
Beatty, a crossroads town with less than 2,000 inhabitants, is a little bit of what rural America used to be: warm, neighborly people who got together for a Saturday parade, an open market fair, an antique and classic car show, a model train display, a talent show, plus guided tours to Rhyolite Saturday and Sunday. ... I'll be happy to show you around.
Rhyolite's heyday was 1905-1915 when it was Nevada's second largest city, a boom town. ... We are honored to serve once more as the unofficial mayor of Rhyolite. ... Please join us.
King of the Road
Las Vegan B.B. King, Boss Man of the Blues, had his latest album, "Decues Wild," reviewed earlier here, certified gold with sales of more than 500,000 units. ... King's latest album includes duets with Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt and the Rolling Stones, among others. ... B.B. is performing in Europe until Aug. 1, then goes on the road in this country with the B.B. King Blues Festival Tour.
The Neville Brothers, Dr. John, and Storyville will be featured with King on his Blues Festival Tour. ... Check for a Buffalo Bill's Star of the Desert Arena stop for the tour in September. ... King played the Desert Inn for the 1997 year-end holidays.
The Gipsy Kings are at the Hard Rock Hotel at 8 p.m. tonight and Friday. ... David Spade is set there for 8 p.m. Saturday, and the Wednesday and Friday Poolside Parties continue through the summer.
Star-policy rundown
Bally's and Caesars Palace are dark through June 10; it's Debbie Reynolds (her hotel); Patsy Cline Tribute (Gold Coast); Brenda Lee, Saturday at 8 p.m. (Flamingo-Hilton); Wayne Newton (MGM Grand); Paul Anka, Friday through Sunday (Mirage); Frankie Avalon, Fabian & Bobby Rydell (Orleans); Gallagher (Sahara); and Danny Gans (Rio).
Conductor-arranger-pianist Frank Leone is now performing Wednesday through Saturday, starting at 6 p.m. at Nicky Blair's Restaurant. ... Leone was the late Red Skelton's musical director. ... Leone also played piano and conducted on Frankie Avalon's 1950 recording hits. ... Frank and Frankie are fellow Philadelphians.
Anita O'Day did sing in public, two weeks ago in Culver City's Jazz Bakery Club, backed by the Paul Smith Trio, with John Poole on drums. ... We're rooting for Anita O'Day to come back all the way.
Mariachi update
World-renowned Mariachi Vargas de Tecatilan returns to headline the 8th annual LV International Mariachi Festival on Sept. 19, along with Jose Hernandez and his Sol de Mexico, Mariachi Los Arrieros de Mexico, Los Marimbas Nandayapa, the Ballet Folklorico de San Juan, and special guest performers, Pedro Fernandez and Yolanda Del Rio.
This year's festival is back at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center where it all started eight years ago. ... Vicente Fernandez will perform in the Luxor Hotel showroom at 11 p.m. on Sept. 18 and again at midnight on Sept. 19. ... Tickets are now available for both events.
With the Oscar De La Hoya vs. Julio Cesar Chavez welterweight championship rematch at Thomas & Mack Center on Sept. 18, this should be the biggest Mexican Independence Day weekend celebration yet for Las Vegas. ... We'll keep you posted on other happenings.
Thursday addenda
Congrats, Treasure Island's "Mystere," on welcoming your three millionth guest last Thursday. ... Noel Coward's "Hay Fever," a LV Little Theatre production, is worth catching, Thursdays through Sundays, closing June 14. ... Recommended: Dr. Douglas R. Peterson's Nevada Musical Arts Society's "Cole Porter On Broadway," at 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday, CCSN Cheyenne Campus. ... See you Friday.
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