Columnist Joe Delaney: High-time for local entertainment scene to make changes

Are there that many new high-end customers? ... Are there enough to keep Bellagio at 90 percent or better of capacity, and also fill 90 percent of the 12,000 rooms combined at Mandalay Bay, Paris-Las Vegas and the Venetian in 1999 and 2000? ... High-end customers at existing hotels will opt to try the newer high-end hotels; this is happening even now.

Will those existing high-end customers decide to stay with this year's new hotels? ... What will those existing hotels have to do to replace those lost customers? ... These are very serious considerations which could result in reduced rates during certain periods in an effort to keep the occupancy rate around 90 percent.

The LV pioneers correctly believed that success depended upon bodies; bodies occupying rooms, eating in the hotel restaurants and sitting on chairs in gaming and entertainment areas.

Re: entertainment

Now that LV is perceived as an entertainment destination first, it's time that entertainment become a seven-day-a-week event once more. ... Steve Wynn has also called for a theater district, making LV a factor in legitimate theater, original dramas and musicals, as well as revivals of theatrical classics of the past. ... Let's do it.

There are state-of-the-art showrooms that are dark twice as many days as they are currently offering entertainment. ... Las Vegas has to return to being creative, innovative. ... The talent is out there. ... Locate that talent, develop it here as we once did.

Try themes and packaging of performers. ... Why not use three, four or five acts rather than openers and closers? ... The Celine Dions will demand their price and be worth it at times, but there are others, old and new, who would gladly play Las Vegas at a reasonable fee.

The alternative

Back in the 1960s and the 1970s, the Sahara Congo Room would have an early show starring Jerry Lewis, Jim Nabors or Tennessee Ernie Ford at 8 p.m. ... The midnight show would star Buddy Hackett, George Carlin or Flip Wilson, aimed at a more adult market. ... Both shows would sell out, with the acts being paid accordingly.

The MGM Grand has "EFX," now starring Tommy Tune, star policy in its Hollywood Theatre, "Catch A Rising Star" for comedy, plus live entertainment in Studio 54, the Show Bar Lounge, The Brown Derby and Gatsby's. ... The Riviera has multiple offerings: "Splash," "La Cage," "Crazy Girls," a comedy club and lounge, plus special attractions.

This is the way it should be everywhere, multiple choices, excellent variety. ... We are an entertainment destination. ... The right entertainment can bring in those bodies; otherwise, it's reduced rates.

Star-policy rundown

Caesars has its Caesars Magical Empire alone this weekend; the Desert Inn is dark again. ... Elsewhere, it's the Patsy Cline Tribute (Gold Coast); Steve Wyrick (Lady Luck); Bill Acosta (Lxuor); Gladys Knight (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); the Smothers Brothers (Orleans); and Danny Gans (Rio).

Penn & Teller will be taping their "Sin City Spectacular" cable television show Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. (MGM Grand). ... The duo follows Gladys Knight into the Hollywood Theatre Jan. 27.

"Home Front" is a World War II revue inspired by oral history. ... It is a combined effort of the UNLV playwriting program, UNLV's senior adult theatre program and the Theatre Department Graduate College, today through Saturday at 8 p.m., 2 p.m. Sunday, UNLV's Paul Harris Theatre. ... Admission is only $3.

Trombonist Dick McGee, Rocky Lombardo, trumpet; Bob Pierson, saxophone; Dr. Tom Feguson, piano; Bob Badgley, bass; and Nick Stamanis, drums, will perform in concert Sunday at 2 p.m., Whitney Library Recital Hall.

Father's treat

Daughter Kathleen treated father to a movie, "Waking Ned Devine," and lunch at Grape Street Saturday, a belated birthday present. ... "Waking Ned Devine" ranks with "Local Hero," "Tight Little Island," and "Hear My Song" as a warm, real, mini-classic film with performances by Ian Bannen and David Kelly that warrant consideration by the various award ceremonies these next few months. ... See you Friday.

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