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New York, N.Y. Variety (Circ. W.) 1967 Los Angeles, Calif. Herald Examiner (Circ D 719,704 D-714,339 Sun 617,003 Sa) A ^ JUlens P.C.B. Est. 1888 Desert Inn, La?║ Vegas "Pzazz! '68," Jeremy Vernon, Snyder Bros. (2), Rudy Cardenas, Bambi McCormick, Agostinos (2), Gala Shawn, Shirley ' Kirkes* Showgirls(18), Girl Dancers(lB), Boy Dancers (9), Girl Singers '(6), Boy Singers (9), Carlton m Hayes Orch (19); produced by \ 'Frank- Sennes; staged, created, di-.' \rected by Donn Arden; art direction, Harvey'?√ß Warren; original music, arrangements, Jim Herbert; original lyrics, Leonard Adel- 'son; costume, design, Bill Camp- pell; special effects, Peter Foy; stage management, Esper Esau; $7.50 Minimum. Donn Arden's newest spectacular, "Pzazz! '68," could prove to be his most popular success, :s 't lis certain to draw many repeal patrons?╟÷especially among movi jbuffs. Like his previous marathon hi at the Dl, "Hello, America!" (ai unlike his Lido shows across the Strip at the Stardust), this lavish revue 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 Jablonski and Joyce Roberts) seen in a showroom. (And a special accolade should go to the j gorgeous costumes designed by Bill Campbell and executed by Berman's of Hollywood.) Overall theme of "Pzazz!" is a loving salute to Hollywood; its opening production, with four scenes, kisses Mae West, Carmen Miranda and Julie Andrews, socks across a clever title presentation with three screens showing clips from vintage films simultaneously, and adds a delightful "psychedelic delight" number populated with beautiful girls, featuring the terp artistry of lovely Shirley Kirkes. One production number, with Astaire-type dancing, is "a tribute to Fred." Lillian D'Honau is a typical movie queen in an amusing "Born A Star" skit, and in a strong "Hell's Angels" number, Arden has the leather-jacketed mob set fire to an oil boomtown for frightening effect. Impersonations of Bing Crosby, Eob Hope and Dorothy Lamour fit right into the festivities with a spoof on the "Road" pix, and the : overwhelming finale is an Arden version of "Beau Geste" involving t. entL-e company. Specialty acts are smoothly , sandwiched, and none run to?½ long. Included are comedian Jer- : em" V>rnon. who showcases why he's one of the faster-rising young standups; the Snyder Bros., who add more comedy with their very funny dialog, accurate im- preshes and superb singing by i brother Bob; more excellent sing- ; ing is done by beautiful blonde Bambi McCormick; the handsome ' Agostin. j?╟÷Frank and Denise?╟÷da ; startling balancing and their j famed "Roman Chair" display of 1 strength combined wieth delicate beauty; shapely looker Gala Shawn shows some incredible skill on the trapeze; and juggler Rudy Cardenas does with ease seemingly impossible feats. Carlton Hayes and his orch do the fine backing throughout; art direction is by Harvey Warren, and the just-right original songs were cleffed by Jim Harbert and Leonard Adelson. Frank Sennes produced the show, which is in for an indefinite run?╟÷probably at least 18 months. Sennes, at the b1 cktie preem, introduced attending VIPs, Arden and Robert Maheu. Latter, who reps all Howard Hughes' interests in Nevada, brought a personal greeting from the boss, who now owns the Desert Inn. Duke. Est. 1888 ^COBINA WRIGHT Mecca in the West: Las Vegas Socialites, celebrities and political and military figures from all over the world gathered in Las eral months ago. At the backstage party, producer Frank Sennes and director Donn Arden were widely congratulated on their new show. Among those from the world of show business was Dorothy Lamour, on a night off from "Hello, Dolly" at the Riviera. Her husband, William R. Howard III, returned the day before to their home in Maryland. Another guest receiving much attention was Gen. Phi- ' lippe Henri Maurin, chief-of- staff of the French Air Force. Also glimpsed enjoying the weekend activities on the desert were Nevada Gov. Paul Laxalt; Mr. and Mrs. Barry Goldwater, who arrived from La Jolla, where they were visiting; Lee Kaye, the Mc- Guire Sisters, Florabel Muir and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Taylor, both looking handsome in formal attire. Also attending were such prominent Las Vegas residents as Abe Schiller, Tony Zoppi, Mr. and Mrs. Fred McKenna, Dick Kanellis, Guy Barry, Dave Bradley, Maximilian Wolkoff, Mr., and Mrs. Ron Amos, Nicholas Naff, Bruce Banke and the Lee Fishers. ?╟≤ Meanwhile, back in Los Angeles, Bea Barron (a resident of Las Vegas for 20 years) entertained in her lovely home above Sunset Strip honoring entertainers Breck Wall, Nancy Austin, Bill Fanning and Joe Peterson, who flew here from Las Vegas on their day off from "Bottoms Up" at Caesars Palace. Guests included George Montgomery, who is building a five-bedroom cantilevered home with a pool near the home of the hostess. Others were handsome Jay Jetter of Las Vegas; Beatrice Kay, Ben Roscoe, Moon Mullen, Greta Peck (who is leaving for Africa this week), William Lundi- gan, Anne Hamilton Spalding and Robert Keys, Bobbie Perlberg and Jimmy Van Heusen, who is recovering from recent surgery; Guy Barry of Las Vegas; Lynn Starr, Julian Ludwig, Messrs. and Mmes. Jack Oakie, Casey Robinson, Arthur Lake, and Bob Wyckoff. ?╟≤ The Beverly Hills Yacht Club held their fall dinner party at the Luau. Cmdr. Ed Weiner and his wife, Barbara, were hosts. Among the 60 guests were recently married Arlene and Buzz Mahan, Steve Crane, Bill Holmes, Elizabeth Logue and Lee Hyatt, the Arthur Crowleys, Robert Petersons and Ray Hagamans. rett, Toni Mayer, the Doyle Cottons, Stuart Martins and Al Hunts. I received a letter from Earl Blackwell, who just returned to New York after a rest on a yacht in the Mediterranean. He reported the masked ball in Venice was a "vision of beauty." He said that over $100,000 had been raised before he left Venice, with checks still coming m. t I was invited by Mr. and Mrs. Charles Prince to attend the testimonial honoring Johnny Carson at the Masquers. Jack Benny was toastmaster. Allan Hersholt was Harlequin and Andy Albin, chairman. Others on the dais included Hal Kanter, Stan Irwin and Dave Tebet, Morey Amsterdam, Mel Blanc, Richard Brown, Eva Gabor, Joe Hamilton, Mayor Sam Yorty, Ed M c M a h o n, Alan Mowbray, Bob Newhart, and Rose Marie. At the end, Carson made a touching speech. # Opening of "Philadelphia, Here I Come" at the Stage. Society brought out a good crowd. Those congratulating producers Stephen Brown and John Harding included Mala Powers, the Ed Begleys, Ted Coulter, Delphi Lawrence, Les Sims, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Alerter '(Lee Meriwether), Zorina White and Matt Bennett. Walker (Moon) Mullen is becoming one of the city's most frequent hosts. His latest party in his Beverly Hills i penthouse honored New York's Fred Falhaber and his wife, Verone, who are visiting here. Alice Rand was hostess for the evening. Moon was beaming as his guests enjoyed themselves. Among them were Ann Miller, Kay Danzig, Dee Hawks and Arthur Spitz- er, Jerry Dunphy, Bill Hol- lingsworth, Anne Hamilton Spalding and Robert Keys, Marjorie Walker and Art Jar-