Thursday, May 14, 1998 | 10:29 a.m.
WHERE ARE YOU? ... You're out there somewhere I know, all one million-plus of you, living and working in Las Vegas, which has an unemployment rate that is even lower than the national average. ... Most of you are earning a decent living. ... Our per capita earning average is primarily middle-income and above. ... So, where are you?
Why don't you show up and spend a few dollars to see first-rate productions and performances at UNLV? ... Aren't you aware of the excellent happenings art-wise at the Flamingo Library, Whitney and Winchester community centers and in Summerlin? ... Actors Repertory Theatre, LV Little Theatre and the other community groups also deserve your attendance and support.
Last year's UNLV production of the Broadway hit "Falsettos" was just one of five college productions nationwide to be invited to perform to critical acclaim in Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center recently.
This weekend
Check the Emerging Artists & Talent in Music (EAT'M) events being held at various places around town today through Saturday. Call 253-0344 for locations and details. ... The "Jazz In The Park" series at the Clark County Government Center starts Saturday at 8 p.m. with the Jimmy Wilkins Big Band, admission is free. ... Jerry Blake and his Orchestra play for a Big Band Dance, 7 p.m. Saturday, Charleston Heights Center.
Saturday at 10:30 a.m. the Liberace Museum will observe the late superstar's 79th birth date with a huge birthday cake and the annual Liberace "Play-A-Like" competition. ... Boys II Men perform in the MGM Grand Garden Arena at 8 p.m.
Sunday at 3 p.m., The College Singers perform a Choir Concert on CCSN's Cheyenne Campus. ... Shakespeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream" starts next Thursday at Hills Park in Summerlin.
Star-policy rundown
It's Penn & Teller (Bally's); Tony Bennett (Caesars); Debbie Reynolds (her hotel); Patsy Cline Tribute (Gold Coast); Gladys Knight (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Everly Brothers (Orleans) and Danny Gans (Rio). ... Sam Butera & The Wildest are blowing up a storm nightly in the hot Orleans Hotel lounge.
Marv Koral's All-Stars with Marv on reeds, Carl Fontana, trombone; Carl Saunders, trumpet; Joe Romano, tenor sax; Gus Mancuso, piano; Rudy Aikels, bass and Santo Savino, drums, are now playing on Saturdays, 7-11 p.m., at the Park Avenue Steak House.
Radio-TV venerable Jack Kogan has also moved. ... Jack now does his Tuesday, 5-6 p.m. KLAV AM 1280 talk-radio show "live" from Paul Endy's Paulson Gaming and Gift Shop in the Las Vegas Plaza on the Strip. ... Visitors are welcome; stop by and chat with Jack.
On the records
New Orleans' Al Belletto is a brilliant band leader, reed soloist and arranger. ... He has a new landmark big band jazz CD on Louisiana Red Hot label, recorded in the Christ Church Cathedral. ... The CD is titled "Jazznocracy." ... The title cut is an update of the theme song of the great Jimmy Lunceford orchestra in the 1930s and 1940s.
Belletto played the Royal Nevada, now the Stardust, twice in the mid-1950s, introducing two great trombonists, Jimmy Guinn and Carl Fontana, both of whom stayed on in Las Vegas. ... Just prior to LV, we recorded the first version of "Fly Me To The Moon," then called "In Other Words," with Belletto, his quintet and vocalist Jerry Winters.
Jazz legend Anita O'Day will be honored this Sunday afternoon at the Jazz Bakery in Culver City, Calif. ... We're happy to hear Anita is well enough to sing a song or two.
Thursday addenda
Gladys Knight, opening tonight in the MGM Grand Hollywood Theatre, sings with Tom Jones, who closed there last night, on a new two-CD release of Jones' biggest hits, plus duets with Knight, Tina Turner and Dionne Warwick, among others, culled from his successful TV series. ... It's on the 32 Records label.
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