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ent000830-029
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Hollywood, Calif. Variety (Circ. D. 9,459) Encino, Calif. Encinian (Circ. W. 5,500 free) Wi PCB- Est. 1888 Lights Of Las Vegas * By PHIL SOLOMON Bettwett Set 4?o^ GaelcM, LAS VEGAS - Tony Bennett, the singer's singer and comedian Henny Youngman, one of the best story tellers, combine forces and move onto Caesars Palace Hotel stage Thursday, Oct. 19 for a limited two week engagement. Internationally regarded by show business personalities as the ultimate male vocalist, Bennett is also known as "Mr. San Francisco." This title was accorded after he recorded the award winning song four years ago. Since that time Bennett's popularity has risen rapidly. Perhaps the reason for this is that he's his own severist critic. He only records songs he feels are right for him. He ignores passing crazes and sticks to good music he feels the public wants. But the way in which he does his selecting is completely unique. He tests the songs on live audiences first--studying not \ only the song but audience reac- | tion as well. : As Bennett puts it, "With the ?╟≤ reality of an audience reaction ?√ß it's surprising your interpre- ?╟≤ tation changes. When I'm on ?╟≤ stage singing to a crowd, I I see myself with frightening ?√ß: clarity. ?╟≤: Bennett received his start in the musical world following World War II when he entered the American Theatre Wing's professional school for veterans. Playing small nightclubs, radio and television, his big break came when discovered by Bob Hope and was invited to join him on a personal appearance tour. Shortly thereafte r Bennett submitted a demonstration record, "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," to Mitch Miller and he was immediately signed by Columbia Records to a contract. The rest is history. Frank Sinatra probably gave him his biggest boost qnhis rise ?╟≤ to fame when he called Bennett the best singer in the business. Sinatra went on to say, "He's the singer who gets acrosswhat the composer has in mind and probably a little more." Bennett has a smooth and resonant voice. He is considered among the ten best male vocalists. His personality is charming and looks he has to go with it. What else do you need in show business. Some of the songs scheduled in this outing will be "Sunny Side of the Street," "Who Can I Turn To," "Rags to Riches," his all-time best seller "San Francisco" and many more standards. - The height of the evening with Tony Bennett should be when he sings "For Once hi My Life." Many critics from J coast to coast have dubbed this the next great hit for the singer's singer. RAMBLING AROUND?╟÷ HOWARD HUGHES has taken options on Castaways and Pyramids Hotels, north of his recently purchased Sands Hotel... The International A-Go-Go , Pageant of '68 will be held at Frontier Hotel Dec. 12-14 with j 35 girls competing...FRANK SINATRA'S new three year pact at Caesars Palace calls for a minimum of four weeks a year and three weeks a year at Cal- I Neva Lodge...A Strip hotel is making a pitch for JOEL GREY, star of "Cabaret" on Broadway for the summer of '68... GOV. PAUL LAXALT made a good choice in naming Tropi- cana press Chief HARVEY DIE- DERICH to the state-wide advisory board to bring in tourists. Director- choreographer DONN ARDEN has used more than 5,000 showgirls in his re- yues which includes "Pzazz '68, currently appearing at Desert Inn Hotel...IRV BENSON, JACK MANN and MARTY MAY have some great skits and blackouts in Minskv's Burlesque at the Silver Slipper. It's worth seeing...Hotel Sahara j headliner DONALD O'CONNOR I and Flamingo star BOBBY ( DARIN will join DEBBIE REY- j NOLDS on her first TV special | which airs Nov. 19...Riviera exec HARVEY SILBERT dotted MIMI HINES and PHIL FORD to a three year pact to begin in '68...Sands Hotel musical .director ANTONIO MORELLI suffered a slight stroke and is coming along well at this writing. As predicted here EDDIE FISHER and BOBBY DARIN were inked by Allan Lee of Frontier Hotel. Fisher opens Oct 27...hi order to stop skimming GOV. PAUL LAXALT will put electric money counters on each gaming table in Nevada...Due to his exposure, on "Good Morning, World," BILLY DeWOLFE is getting nitery offers. He's prepping a new act due to bow in Jan., possibly at Hotel Sahara..... "Fiddler On The Roof "is set for a minimum of six months at Caesars Palace starting Dec. 28...There's talk around of comedian BOB NEWHART shifting from Desert Inn to Sands Hotel next year. 6 'ml UCT tAliens P.C.B. Est. 188*8 A /. NITERY REVIEW DESERT INN ($7.50 Minimum) Las Vegas, Oct. 2. ?╟÷ Donn Arden's newest spectacular, "Pzazz! '68," could prove to be his most popular, as it is certain to draw- many repeat patrons ?╟÷ especially among film buffs. Like his previous marathon-run revue, "Hello, America!" here, (and like his Lido shows across the Strip at the Stardust), this lavish show has no nudes among its 18 showgirls and 18 girl dancers, who, with nine boy dancers display some of the finest choreography (which was honed by Arden, Carl Jablon- ski and Joyce Roberts) seen in a Las Vegas showroom. Special accolade should go, too, to the gorgeous costumes designed by Bill Campbell and executed by Berman's of Hollywood. Overall theme of "Pzazz! '68" is | a loving salute to Hollywood. Its opening production, with four scenes, salutes Mae West, Carmen Miranda and Julie Andrews, socks across a clever title presentation with three screens showing clips from vintage films simultaneously, \ and a delightful "Psychedelic De- ; light" number populated with girls, \ featuring the terp artistry of Shir- I ley Kirkes. One production number, with ; Astaire-type dancing, is "A Tribute j To Fred." Lillian D'Honau plays a \ film queen in an amusing "Born j A Star" skit. In a strong "Hell's ; Angels" number, Arden has the ! leather-jacketed mob set fire to an j oil boomtown for frightening ef- j feet. Impersonations of Bing Cros- \ by, Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour \ fit right into the festivities with , a spoof on the "Road" pix. The overwhelming finale is an Arden version of "Beau Geste" involving i the entire company. Specialty acts are smoothly sandwiched, and none runs too long. Included are standup comedian Jeremy Vernon; the Snyder Brothers, who add more comedy with their very funny dialog, accurate im- preshes, and superb singing by brother Bob; more excellent sing- ing by Bambi McCormick. The Agostinos ?╟÷ Frank and Denise ?╟÷ ; do startling balancing and their "Roman Chair" display of strength; Gala Shawn shows skill on the trapeze and juggler Rudy Cardenas does with ease deft feats. Carlton Hayes orch (19) provides fine backing throughout. Art direction is by Harvey Warren, and the just-right original songs were clef- fed by Jim Harbert and Leonard Adelson. Frank Sennes produced the show, which is in for an indefinite run ?╟÷ probably at least 18 months. Producer Sennes, at the black-tie preem, introduced Robert Maheu, who reps all Howard Hughes' interests in Nevada and Maheu brought a personal greeting from the boss, who now owns the Desert Inn. Duke.