ent001320-129

BUI WillardV zTalk of our Town: 1 TV SNAG: Mighty bleak picture for teevee in Las Vegas, with snarl over existing j channels tied up in courts. May be a couple of years beforejp*firsjt permit is granted. . . . Only two states are without TV okays ?╟÷ New Hampshire and Vermont, but total number of authorized stations in the U. S. and territories^ is 316, with 132 on the air. . . \ Texas leads with largest amount of video authorizations, having,29, and New York and Pennsylvania 28. California has 19, and Nevada ?╟÷ 1. Well ?╟÷ what're ya gonna do? ... Harry Manente, treasurer for March of Dime drive, sets today for mailing of coin <?ards to local HQ. . . . Soroptomists, meeting today in Trophy Room of Hotel Last Frontier, toss in more schemes for their annual Mardi Gras Feb. 13. Jeanne Roberts is heading entertainmeht for the big costume or "come as you are" ball to unroll at the Silver Slipper.... It's June in January, but conser- vationalists and foresters are beginning to get worried. No snow on the mountains in quantity to insure adequate water supply for this coming summer.... ft THE LONG WAIT: Final week for obtaining auto license plates finds a long line of weary standees from early ayem to late p. m.' in county courthouse corridors. . . . Mrs. Elizabeth Metcalf, waiting patiently for her plates and in conversation with a lady in line, agreed that maybe a mailing service could be set up for the tags. . . . Such a setup would be great for busy people ?╟÷ even work out fine for the lazy ones. . .. Leigh Gilson confined in bed on recuperation trial, anxious to be up, around and busy. Husband ! George informs she's hoping to ?√ß. get back to scripting and directing those fine Red Cross radio shows. . . . Jim Down, J_J Young, and John Lytle a co. sational parlay, with Down a^it ing tough test for real estate cence, Lytle bearing up under his i24-hour J. P. vigil for wedding couples plus other biz, and Jack Young poking around in courthouse offices for somepin' or Other. There's a buzz from back east that Sen. McCarran is to be quizzed in N. Y. Federal Court about his political plottings especially with gambling tieups in Nevada. ?? . . 1 ft j HONOR MIMI: Public is in- ivited to attend luncheon Friday jnoon at the Thunderbird with 'Opera Association and listen to I Mmi Benzell recount experiences sin her career. She'll down the ^coffers and belittlers of opera for Las Vegas by naming towns with far less population than this com- imunity which have sponsored live opera. And, she was there: . . . Les Seiffer, producer of new Youth Music Appreciation Hour to be presented by El Cortez Hotel Sundays from 1 until 2 p. m. over KRAM, sends a memo. "Please to advise," he jots, "a deletion in your column of Tuesday morning, said deletion being that Bill Willard will be permanent host and moderator for the program." Imagine ?╟÷ me forgetting to mention that guy! ... M aj^i o Lanza didn't want tf> !_80^*pr' viewed at the^Sand^pwSrnight. Getting away fWnTall the turmoil of Metro hassles, and settling a $20,000 deal (per week) to tenor- ize in the Copa Room.... ?√ßft I LONGEST MARCH: March of Dimes show at the Desert Inn ran far too long ?╟÷- from 8:30 until way past 1 ayem. Not only in brevity the soul of wit, but is the keystone for collections. . . . With the scramble reaching hectic proportions for new entertainment headliners and shows on j the I Strip, operators are sorely beset by sky-rocketing talent fees. Tisj said that Jose Ferrer will ask $25,000 for seven nights of his new act, and will play 14 here when and if signed. ... Abbott & Costello, prepping a nitery act, will not ask peanuts, and E z i o Pinza, now being wooed by a posh caravansarie, can make himself a nice chunk of change. . . . Gordon Jenkins "Manhattan Towers" revue will shuttle into the Thunderbird come springtime. With the maestro will be the Three Mc-| Guire Sisters, Bob Craig and] others. . . . Beldon Katleman isj sure that Guy Lombardo's orch and show will knock Vegas on coll lective ears when the "sweetest music this side of heaven" finds hayen this side of heaven, at E] Rancho Vegas^JiNfslI AND IN THIS CORNER; Ra^ Thorn piloting Kenmore biggiejj around town last week. Execs ojj the firm stopped at the Flamingo were shown delights of our var| ious attractions. In the visiting whirlpool were Kenmore's pre! Elisha Gray; veep Jack Palmer a v. p. of design* & engineering Pi E. Geldhof; California zone mana4 ger Harry Brown, and, John Hur-j ley, a Sears vice prez out. of Chicago, s . . Jack Gam ringsiding the Jimmy McHugh show at El Rancho, had the community smg! mike thrust into his face and gave} a very creditable job of warbling, \ "I Can't Give You Anything But! Love." He should've. As one time; vaude hoofer, hejbf$$^jgnd sang thoUsand^AS&^^^^formawces to I ?· ^ *7 Ip? /ear, I Another Hood Is [ Given Bum s. (Rush by Deputies Sties, it was reported tins 1 morning. . i \ This time it was John Stom- tenato, 36, former aide and me*. senger boy for Mickey Cohen, \ C with him, hut once they ,<M, i.r .:.4a&: -us*. wayw!m|p* &*L today that the &"haa been Metered at the ISkhotel andlhen the man- ffPfenfuncov^L his previous asked to-.Jggrand he compiiett, j without/ JMjrch of Dimes Jackpot [(Added to by Entertainers ! ?·fj?·m ibe? hearts for another L???b a??sby printed from a* I ,^?╟?xb uy tossing several thousand dollars into the growing 1953 fund drive of the March of Dimes last night during the all star benefit show cast at the Des- lert Inn. f/*^| The "standing room only" sign was hung on the door,, of the plush hotel's dining room where a four hour show, highlighted by some of the top names in show business, . took place. Early reports quoted "um f1?? \ a figure of $3500 contributed to the ?·??╟? tfte, gJ March of Dimes through ticket De Presentea sales of the gala affair. The auctl" The production officially got un- dollars j derway at 8:30 with the perfor- topped I mance of some of the country's man ?╟÷ I top ice-skaters who are appearing Bei in the Desert Inn's production, the, "Calander Capers on Ice." 1?║i| At 9:30 show business names -a- dorning the marquees of the Sjx other Strip 91 niteries were announced touching off a gala arraj| of stars,. i^^^^l The sex-sational warbling o| , Lena Horne, currently playing thq /Sands, drew a crescendo of ap- I plause. From the Last Frontier/ I the Sportsmen (quartet) steppeq ?√ß into the spotlight to do their rori] ginal rendition of "No m Roulette." And another Frontiej billing, Georgie Gobelg providei mirth and merriment. Compose! Jimmy McHugh currently at H Ranch)!, and his Stars of 1951 ;-pdfothy Coulter, Eve Marlee, Da! la Hood, Judy Clark and BeverJ Richards sprinkled the prograj with a grand medley of some j ?╜?╟?.?? v ~, ^uuernaires and his Club 15 Revue to present ..u.uc t<u present | added zest to the production and I Crosby's boss Jack Benny moved into the footlights to toss several quips for a shower of laughter. | The soprano voice of Mimi Benzell was imported from Hotel j Thunderbird to charm jhe jam , [packed audience, and ArthurvLee , 'Simpkins and Harold Stern's 30 I singing strings zipped to the'ffnn [from Hotel Flamingo to rouhf one of the sv.-"-*^*3 M