Thursday, Feb. 21, 2002 | 8:25 a.m.
This column should complete our analysis of various Las Vegas hotel properties, a bit of the past, a touch of the present, and a thought for the future ... We begin with what was first called Bob Stupak's Vegas World (now Stratosphere), basically a merchandising promotion, where a person put up a basic sum of money and received values worth more than that in return for staying at the hotel for a stated period of time.
Stupak's dream was to build a space needle, upgrade the hotel and clientele, making the property an attraction on its own ... Stratosphere opened poorly, prematurely, and Stupak and his investors parted company ... He left; they stayed ... Then along came billionaire investor Carl Icahn to take over the Stratosphere and also assume control of the faltering Arizona Charlie's property.
A third property was included, which has become Arizona Charlie's East; the original on Decatur Boulevard near Alta Drive is Arizona Charlie's West ... The Stratosphere completed its additional rooms, spruced up the property and is beginning to look like a long-range winner ... Both Charlie's properties need a return to the entertainment policy that gave the name an identity.
Bring back original entertainment consultant Joe Guercio and Mrs. Guercio, Penny France and her Naughty Ladies, make it a happening place once more ... Many of the top new country acts made their Las Vegas debut for Guercio at the original Arizona Charlie's ... Don't take the money and run just yet, Mr. Icahn. You've got much more good you can do right here.
It's hard to believe that what has become the Station Casinos colossus started with Bingo Palace, now Palace Station ... Credit the Boyd Group with showing the way with Sam's Town ... Take a run out on Rancho Drive these nights, there's Texas Station, Fiesta and Santa Fe Station.
Boulder Station gives Sam's Town a run for its money and has seriously hurt the Castaways, formerly the Showboat ... Henderson has become an eastern anchor for Stations with Fiesta Henderson (formerly the Reserve), Sunset Station and, most recently, in conjunction with the Greenspun family (which owns the Sun), the upscale yet very friendly Green Valley Ranch Station Casino.
Good food, excellent service, well-selected entertainment, an ambiance that makes for regular attendance by locals and prices for visitors who don't want to spend all of their vacation money on their room ... Are the Fertitta's moving too fast? The consensus should be, "Not so far."
Casino Center: Binion's Horseshoe is not what it was during Benny Binion's era ... It is still noted for good food and as a gambler's place to play ... There's speculation that Fitzgeralds may move away from its Irish theme ... Four Queens got to a certain point then seemed to pull back and settle into a quiet, pleasant, food-featured ambiance.
The Golden Gate and Las Vegas Club have loyal followings ... Under new management, Lady Luck with showroom action at night, as well as a strong afternoon show, quality restaurants and a fresh look to the casino and public areas, is giving its area an updated look.
Golden Nugget was covered previously as part of MGM MIRAGE; the Fremont, California and Main Street Station as part of the Boyd Group; and the Plaza as part of Coast Resorts ... Octogenarian Jackie Gaughan is still the man at the Plaza and still has his all-time cash cow, El Cortez, and a few other places in the area.
That concludes our hotel analyses, which began on Jan. 3 ... Omissions were not deliberate; it could also mean there was nothing much worth reporting ... Next Thursday we'll take your responses to the best of the best in the last century and see if we can achieve a consensus ... As always, your comments are welcomed.
Star-policy rundown
It's Gladys Knight (Flamingo Las Vegas); Tony Orlando, 8 p.m., Amazing Johnathan, 10 p.m. (Golden Nugget); Mac King, afternoons, Clint Holmes, evenings (Harrah's); The Righteous Brothers and Sheena Easton in separate theaters (LV Hilton); Blue Man Group (Luxor); Paul Anka, plus Rick Springfield starring in "EFX Alive" (MGM Grand).
Plus Siegfried & Roy and Danny Gans in separate theaters (Mirage); Lance Burton (Monte Carlo); Rita Rudner (New York, New York); Eddie Money (Orleans); Ronn Lucas, 3 p.m., Scintas, 8 p.m., and Penn & Teller in the Samba Theatre (Rio); and Jay White as Neil Diamond, 7 p.m., and Marlene Ricci, 8:30 p.m. (Riviera).
There's more: Wayne Newton (Stardust); Bobby Rydell-Steve Rossi (Suncoast); Dom Irrera, Saturday only (Sunset Station); Don Cornell, Friday only (Texas Station); Rick Thomas (Tropicana); and Melinda, First Lady of Magic, 7 p.m. and "Bravo" starring Charo, 9 p.m. (Venetian) ... Attention, Cornell fans, the evening should take you back to the halcyon days in the Stardust lounge.
Reminder: Celebrate Bernie Allen's birthday, 2-5 p.m. Monday at the Bootlegger restaurant ... Sonny King and Blackie Hunt will co-emcee ... Scheduled performers include Lezlie Anders and Buddy Greco, Peter Anthony, Freddie Bell, Carme, Phil Ford and Mimi Hines, Sandy Hackett, Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, Tony Orlando, Rose Marie, Rick Michael, Ricci, Rossi, Tony Sacca and Nelson Sardelli.
There will be many more stars, count on it ... Admission is a blanket, articles of clothing or canned goods with everything going to help the homeless ... Let's make it a real Las Vegas birthday party ... See you Friday.
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