Friday, March 12, 2004 | 8:32 a.m.
Fifty years ago Louis Prima rocked the Sahara's Casbar Theatre (he hated the word lounge).
Today his 41-year-old daughter, Lena, is rocking in her father's footsteps.
And so are a lot of other entertainers.
Ron Garrett, who took over as the Sahara's marketing and entertainment director six months ago, last week announced a lineup of performers who he says will infuse some life into the venerable venue.
"We have a whole new Sahara we are rolling out," said Garrett, who came to the 52-year-old hotel from the Greek Isles. "You will see a new image. What we're doing is creating a whole new atmosphere for the Casbar Theatre.
"Admission is complimentary. You can see some of the best acts in Las Vegas without worrying about the cost of a ticket, without worrying about buying a drink or anything else."
Among those scheduled to appear for the next few weeks on a rotation basis in the house that Prima built are Lena (performing her one-woman show, "Louis Prima: That's My Dad."); standup comedic Kathleen Dunbar, hosting "Divas of Comedy"; and Philadelphia crooner Harry Barlo.
Also in the cast are the band Sixtiesmania; vocalist Michaelina Bellamy; jazz saxophonist David Van Such; Bertie "Mr. Key Largo" Higgins; entertainer Paull Casas and Jay Leno impressionist Marcel Forestieri.
And, of course, in the Congo Room (which has an admission fee) is the show "The Platters, Drifters and Coasters" and in the Sahara Theatre (also requiring an admission fee) is "The World's Greatest Magic Show."
"X, An Erotic Adventure," formerly at the Aladdin, is scheduled to debut in the Congo Room in April.
"We're going to have lots of entertainment at the Sahara," Garrett said. "That hasn't happened in years."
Maybe not, but Gia Maione, Prima's widow and Lena's mother, recalled the years when the Casbar was one of the most exciting spots in town.
"It was just wide open," the 61-year-old Maione said during a telephone interview from her home in Toms River, N.J. "Anyone at anytime could walk into the lounges. I know now casino owners get upset if you can hear the music in the casinos, but in those days everyone loved it."
Prima (who died in 1978), Keely Smith and Sam Butera came to the Casbar in 1954 and created a sensation in the world of lounge entertainment.
They performed there until 1961, when Prima and Smith divorced and ended the act. In 1962 Maione replaced Smith as vocalist for the band, and a year later she became his fifth wife.
Maione says she performed with Prima at the Sahara from 1962-'67, when they moved to the Desert Inn.
"When I first opened at the Sahara, the foot of the stage was surrounded by a bar with very low seating," she said. "People's heads would be at the top of the foot of the stage if they were sitting at the bar, which surrounded the whole stage."
She said they performed five 45-minutes shows a night, beginning at 11 p.m. The last performance was a breakfast show at 6 a.m.
"The casino would bring in long steam tables and serve breakfast during the show," Maione said.
Maione remembered some of the celebrities who came to the lounges to listen to Prima in the '60s and '70s.
"The first one that comes to mind is Elvis," she said. "He came in with the Colonel (Tom Parker). Elvis would watch Louis all the time. The first time I saw him there I could barely speak."
She said Elvis credited Prima with the wiggle that enraged critics and excited fans.
"Elvis was gorgeous," Maione said. "I could not get over his eyes, and his eyelashes. They were so beautiful they looked false."
She said among the legions who enjoyed Prima's performances were Shirley MacLaine, Ann-Margret, Joey Bishop, Johnny Carson and Howard Hughes.
"Howard Hughes would always come and see us," Maione said. "I don't know why they said he had a germ fetish, though he did dress peculiarly for the desert -- white deck shoes, white pants, white T-shirt with a captain's hat. He looked like he just got off a boat.
"He would sit in the front row center and after the show he would hug Louis. He loved Louis. Everybody loved Louis."
Lounging around
Jimmy Hopper's final two nights as a lounge entertainer are tonight and Saturday at Bellagio's Fontana Bar. The popular vocalist and pianist will end his four-year gig to begin a tour as a headliner for Harrah's properties, including venues at Lake Tahoe, Atlantic City, St. Louis, San Diego and Phoenix. Show times at the Fontana are 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The Be A Legend Amateur Celebrity Impersonator Karaoke Contest at the Imperial Palace's Tequila Joe's has been moved to 7 p.m. Wednesday instead of the usual third Thursday of the month.
The temporary schedule change was prompted by a conflict with the opening day of the NCAA basketball tournament.
Heather Sato and Holley Dawson perform fearless acrobatics, sexy choreography and demonstrate several incredible poses with grace and agility, all while hanging from straps.
The pair have teamed up as "G-Force" and now are part of Air Play, a free show that performs in the casino at the Tropicana. Show times are 11 a.m., 1 p.m ., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. For more information call 739-2222.
March entertainment at Sam's Town's nightclub Roxy's include dance music by Latin Dance Party, Tony Marques, Tweed, Rhythm Nation, The Fab, Tineta & Electric Ave., Bobby K, Claudine Castro & DJ Leo and Next Movement. For information about time and dates call 456-7777.
Dance band Forward Motion will perform at Caesars Palace's Cleopatra's Barge starting at 9:30 p.m. through Sunday.
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