Columnist Joe Delaney: Independence Day a banner one for LV entertainment

JULY FOURTH is one of our favorite holidays. ... One feels cheated when it falls on a Saturday, as it does this year. ... Making Friday part of the holiday helps. ... This week's new showroom arrivals are worth celebrating as well. ... Michael Flatley's "Lord of the Dance" (New York-New York) and "Tap Dogs" (Stratosphere) are most welcome; likewise Dorothy Hamill, starring in "Enter The Night." (Stardust).

There will be a Fourth of July Concert at Hills Park, Summerlin this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with the Las Vegas Philharmonic, 71-piece all-Las Vegan orchestra under the direction of Hal Weller. ... Mayor Jan Jones serves as master of ceremonies.

Comedic fireworks will also be available Saturday with combustible Pat Cooper at Boulder Station, plus Patti Prince, the very talented Mrs. Pat Cooper, as his opening act. ... Recommended.

There's hope

The LV Sun headline on Gary Thompson's June 23 front page story, "LV resorts agree: Entertainment must improve," an in-depth update, gave new hope to local entertainers and musicians alike. ... Perhaps other hotels will follow the lead of Steve Wynn at the Mirage and Joel Fischman at Circus Circus, as reported in the Sun.

Entertainment deserves to co-exist as an equal with the marketing department. ... Sales and marketing people are not usually entertainment oriented; accountants and attorneys are even less qualified. ... They are really "after-the-fact" people, used more for curative purposes.

"Creative" accountants and attorneys usually end up defending their clients and themselves in court. ... In entertainment matters, their advice should be limited to contracts and possible legalities.

Belatedly

Caesars Palace in Atlantic City unveiled more than $200 million in expansion and improvements that were completed this past weekend. ... During our visit with our East Coast family and some quality time with new grandaughter Caitlin Mae Aldridge last month, we stayed in the recently completed, plush Centurion Tower at Caesars and were accorded a preview of things to come.

During the eight days, we did check out various hotels and feel that Caesars, Atlantic City will be the class of that seashore area at least until the end of this century, when a number of new projects should be completed. ... Urban Atlantic City still needs much improvement.

Miriam Mulkern was a gentle, talented human being with a sense of humor who passed away recently after a valiant battle and many years of pain . ... It was Miriam who created the St. Patrick's costume we've worn on March 17 these past 27 years.

Year Thirty-Two

This column is our first, starting year 32 with the Las Vegas Sun. ... This fall begins our 26th year teaching a three-credit course in Hotel Entertainment at UNLV's William Harrah School of Hotel Administration. ... Time passes nicely when you enjoy what you're doing and the people with whom you're working. ... It's always good to be back in action.

This past two-week vacation found us home alone, taking care of Scott and the bassets and checking on daughter Kathleen's house and bassets. ... Roberta and Kathleen attended a wedding in North Carolina, spent a week in Oslo, Norway, and a second week in London, attending tennis at Wimbledon. ... Things are back to normal.

Roberta and Kathleen returned home Saturday with some horror stories about the airline they flew.

Thursday addenda

Happy second anniversary, Lance Burton, at the Monte Carlo; may each ensuing year exceed the previous one. ... Marv Koral's All-Stars are now at Carollo's, on Sunset Road, Sundays from 5:30-9:30 p.m., featuring Carl Fontana, Gus Mancuso, Joe Romano and Carl Saunders plus special guests. ... Food is good, too. ... Have a safe and sane Fourth. ... See you next Thursday.

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