Thursday, Oct. 31, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
"VIVA LAS VEGAS," the most successful long-run afternoon production show in LV's history, is now ensconced in the Broadway Theatre at the Stratosphere Hotel; show times are at 2 and 4 p.m. ... This is a top quality show with a marketing method that should result in improved slot play just as it did for the Sands for five years.
Dick Feeney's production will be in Danny Gans evening bailiwick, every day but Sunday. ... Comedian Dave Swan, master magician Valentino, our favorite Elvis, Golden Joe Baker, vocalist Laurie Caceres and a line of comely, talented dancers make up the cast. ... At $10, it's a show best-bargain.
Judy Tenuta, self-proclaimed "Love Goddess," is back in the Sahara showroom doing 8:30 shows nightly (8 and 10:30 Saturdays) through Nov. 11. ... Her act is unusual. ... Another unusual comedy act: Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling, Friday and Saturday night (Riviera).
A sad story
Ireland's Nick O'Neill, a poet with a camera and the cinematographer on our six documentaries, was responsible for the brilliant photography on the Irish portion of last Friday's ABC "20/20" report on "The Lost Children of Ireland." ... It was a sad commentary on adoption procedures in that country, 1920s through the 1960s, no longer the fact.
Column favorites Mario & Daniel have put together their own show, playing Wednesday through Sunday in Laughlin's Riverside hotel-casino, worth the trip for that reason alone. ... Look for this talented comedy duo to break through with a TV sitcom shortly, most likely on the ABC network.
Comedian Pat Cooper and his wife, Patti Prince, have their own TV talk show on KTNV Channel 13, late-night Tuesdays at 1:05. ... They're next show is on election night. ... Pat always has something to say. ... We find him funny and very much his own man.
Birthday bests
LV sports and race book pioneer Sonny Reizner had a surprise 75th birthday party last Friday at the Desert Shores Yacht Club. ... Top local sportscaster Lee Pete -- the best -- emceed. ... Lem Banker, Keith Glantz, Marty Mendelson, Mort Olson and Howard Schwartz joined Sonny's family and 100 others in wishing Reizner well. ... We add our belated best.
More than two decades ago, Reizner made the sports book in the Castaways the talk of the town. ... Sonny pioneered, among other things, the concept of NFL football handicapping contests. ... It started with media contests. ... We won the $1,500 prize one year. ... It went directly to the Kathleen Ellen Delaney Scholarship Fund.
Today, the football contests are big business at most hotels. ... The trick is that most of us visit the book twice a week, picking up tickets and turning them in, making a laydown each time.
Artist rap update
Bill Willard, executive director of UNLV's Arnold Shaw Research Center for Popular Music, called with the good news that the "Rap With the Artist" series will resume Nov. 8, this time at the Gold Coast, 3 p.m. Fridays. ... Bill will interview the Four Lads, co-starring with the Four Freshmen and the Blues Brothers in the Gold Coast Ballroom, Nov. 6-10, start of a new policy under producer Harry Seybold.
Loretta Kaye will be working with Bill Willard. Our schedule prevents our participating through next January. ... We did enjoy working with Bill at the Desert Inn and the Debbie Reynolds Hotel.
National Public Radio's Susan Stamberg will speak on the talk-show phenomenon, at 7:30 p.m. Friday in UNLV's Ham Hall, part of the Barbara Greenspun Lecture Series. ... Susan's subject: "Talk, Talk and More Talk: But What Do We have to Say?" ... Highly recommended.
Star-policy rundown
It's Barbara Mandrell, second week (Bally's); David Copperfield, first week (Caesars); Dennis Cole, opening Friday (Debbie Reynolds Hotel); Gladys Knight (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Judy Tenuta (Sahara); Danny Gans (Stratosphere) and Marty Allen & Karon Kate Blackwell (Westward Ho). ... Catch the Treniers for sure this weekend (Aladdin lounge). ... See you Friday.
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