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Las Vegas, Nevada Vegas Visitor (Cir. W. 45,000) JUL U 1 JtL Est. 1888 A MILLION BUCKS OF "PZAZZ 70" I / Theatrical history was made at the Desert Inn when the world's first million dollar night club presentation, "PzazzTfi and All That Jazz, Baby,'' previewed (July 9) in glittering fashion at the hotel's elegant'Crystal Room. After seven weeks of intensive rehearsals, the opulent extravaganza, heralded as the first musical superspeetacular, opened with the nation's top celebrities, political leaders, editors, along with a host of the city's most prominent citizens on hand for the gala festivities. The Frank Sennes production which was created, staged and directed by Donn Arden surpasses anything ever presented in a nightclub, anywhere. Lavish costumes designed by Bill Campbell, beautiful girls, exciting dance routines, breathtaking scenery and imaginative special effects highlight the gigantic stage presentation. No theater on Broadway is large enough to accommodate the massive Harvey Warren sets which are so brilliantly lighted that a new half million watt transformer had to be added to the hotel's electrical sub-station to carry the increased power output. Thirty stage hands are required to position the motorized scenery in addition to a control room technical staff of 10 handling?╟÷ the lights and special sound mixes. From the wildly psyche- j delic opening number "Las I Vegas Today" featuring beautifully gowned girls amid the splendor of 18,- | 000 lights to the conclud- ing salute to New York's famed Cotton Club, "Pzazz f 70" is a memorable look j at America's great musical | tradition "turned on" by the music of Jimmy Harbert and the lyrics of Leonard Adel- son played by the Carlton Hayes orchestra. The Hollywood salute to the "Golden Girls," another of the spectacular produc- j tions features a flying bal- ! let of lovely showgirls [ against a background of pink | and gold while a cascade of water comes thundering I down from two giant water- I falls. Colorful fountains add ! a crowning touch to this; picturesque setting. The scene is capped off by a j multi-colored array of birds descending on stage as the curtain closes. A beautiful blue background complete with soft candlelight and rich velvet drapes is the setting as "Pzazz 70" visits "San Francisco." The opening scene is an intimate cocktail lounge which smoothly changes to reveal a penthouse on Nob Hill overlooking historical San Francisco Bay. "Blue" is the romantic theme and is featured in most of the exciting musical arrangements. The entire scene has the elegant air of a sophisticated cocktail party. It's a regal moment as lovely girls, one with a trio of live lavender poodles, display breathtaking creations from the couture world of high fashion .which were flawlessly executed by Berman's of Hollywood. The fifth major scene within the spectacular production is a feature on "Chicago" during the flamboyant roaring twenties which is a triumph of set design by Harvey Warren coupled with the imagination of the famed "Ardentouch." Opening with a street setting in the speakeasy district with ladies of the evening and gin peddlers, the scene expands to reveal a greater projection of the street. Later all of the buildings transform in a triple revolve and the scene becomes the interior of the speakeasy with a floor show in progress. This dramatic scene is highlighted when "Pretty Louis" meets his doom at the hands of rival gangsters. The number closes with the speakeasy engulfed in flames and rocking with a volley of explosions as the backroom still explodes. Additional special effects for "Pzazz '70" are achieved through the use of fog machines, bubble machines, black lights, endless drops, unusual waterfalls, elevators, skrims, projections and a number of new devices. Also included in the stage presentations is a salute to some of the musical greats of the past. The musicians honored are Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Les Brown/ Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman, Spotlighted throughout the show are some noted featured acts including comedian Will Jordan, The Little Steps, Monroe & Whiting, Marvin Roy and Montego. Planning for "Pzazz 70" began a year ago. Blueprints for the stage presentation started before the Desert Inn's highly successful "Pzazz '68" closed early this year. An elite team of talent that reads like the "Who's Who" of show business was required to spend months in planning and development. Showman Frank Sennes is probably the only one who could have produced an ex- travaganza of this magni- tude. His hallmark is spectacular on the most lavish of scales with massive regiments of beautiful showgirls and production numbers that are breathtaking in execution and costumes. And only Donn Arden could create, stage and direct this extraordinary attraction into the most lavish extravaganza in the annals of stage entertainment-one which will set a standard that may never be duplicated. "Our presentations are expensive shows-for those with expensive tastes," Arden said. "If a person goes for the best, then this is the show for him." "Pzazz 70" is slated to run a year-at least! ' ?√ß'XyiX:^ : :?√ß:.: \ M:i:mM:v:; GUTTER-BUG BEAUTIES ?╟÷ That' ying nightly