Thursday, March 23, 2000 | 9:26 a.m.
Joe Delaney's column appears Thursdays and Fridays. Reach him at [email protected] or 259-4066.
MGM Grand's acquisition of Mirage Resorts, if it does go through, has a positive aspect as far as entertainment is concerned. ... Kirk Kerkorian and Steve Wynn have in common an appreciation of entertainment as part of Las Vegas' continuing success. ... Entertainment once again ranks No. 1 as the reason people visit Las Vegas in the most recent surveys compiled by UNLV for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Wynn has been the more innovative of the two with his Cirque du Soleil hits, "Mystere" (Treasure Island) and "O" (Bellagio); plus Siegfried & Roy's 10-year run at the Mirage and the signing of Danny Gans.
Kerkorian built the town's largest showroom at the International, now the LV Hilton, plus a mini-showroom.
More comparisons
When Kerkorian built the first MGM Grand, now Bally's, there were two new showrooms plus several lounges. ... The 1,400-seat star-policy Celebrity Room and the 900-seat showroom that housed the Donn Arden productions. ... At his second MGM Grand, there is the 600-seat star-policy Hollywood Theatre, the 1,700-seat Grand Theatre, the huge MGM Grand Garden Arena and the newly christened "Wheel of Fortune" theater.
Wynn has spent approximately $100 million on attractions on the outside of his Strip hotels, Bellagio, Mirage and Treasure Island. ... New York-New York, now wholly owned by MGM Grand, was a hit before it opened its doors with replicas of various Manhattan landmarks.
A recent published story claimed that "Wynn's exit could end the era of the mavericks." ... Kerkorian, a maverick of sorts, is still a hands-on operator with both his MGM Grand and Tracinda corporations.
More mavericks
Sheldon Adelson certainly qualifies as a maverick and sole proprietor with his Venetian and his battles with the Convention Center Authority, his political involvements and anti-union posture. ... Bob Stupak certainly qualifies as both a visionary and a maverick. ... We cannot see Wynn retiring. ... Most of the other visionary-mavericks are no longer with us.
Park Place is rumored as eyeing acquisition of the Mandalay Resort Group, formerly Circus Circus. ... Unlike MGM Grand-Mirage, neither Park Place nor Mandalay Resort Group, since the departure of Joel Fischman as director of entertainment, seem to be aggressive when it comes to entertainment. ... Example: The dark showroom at Mandalay Bay.
A return to marquee-name performers in key roles in "Chicago" could have kept that show going until a theatrical replacement was found or a change to star-policy attractions been put into effect.
Big step back
Closing of the venerable Caesars Palace Circus Maximus, Caesars Magical Empire, Palace Court and the Bacchanal in September, eliminating a major star-policy venue, a profitable dinner-show concept and two of our town's most famous dining rooms is a typical indication of the Park Place bottom-line, anti-entertainment posture.
A Park Place-Mandalay Resort Group merger would be more of the same. ... Perhaps neither is yet aware of the UNLV-Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority results declaring entertainment the No. 1 reason people come here.
There is a new major player in Las Vegas, more mercenary than visionary, Carl Icahn, who now controls the Stratosphere, Arizona Charlie's and what is about to become Arizona Charlie's East on Boulder Highway. ... We'll save Harrah's and the Boyd Group, two more major Las Vegas players, for coverage in a future column.
Star-policy rundown
It's Gladys Knight starring in "Smokey Joe's Cafe" (Caesars Palace); Lorna Luft, plus Bob Anderson in the Starlight Lounge (Desert Inn); Rip Taylor, starring in "Great Radio City Spectacular" (Flamingo Las Vegas); Patsy Cline Tribute (Gold Coast); Reba McEntire (LV Hilton); Bill Acosta (Luxor); Carrot Top, plus Tommy Tune starring in "EFX" (MGM Grand); Siegfried & Roy (Mirage); and Lance Burton (Monte Carlo).
Plus David Cassidy-Sheena Easton (Rio); Wayne Newton (Stardust); and Andre-Phillipe Gagnon (Venetian). ... This would be a good week to send in your check for the Sun Summer Camp Fund. ... See you Friday.
archive
