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ENTERTAINMENT ^ !N THE SUN 4 LAS VEGAS SUN Friday, October 14, 1960 Vegas Daze >*#/and Nites By Ralph Pearl- MR. NIKITA KHRUSHCHEV, THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW, RUSSIA, Dear Handsome: Forgive me for writing you like this on a typewriter. However I know you won't mind, especially so since you Russians invented the portable typewriter. Anyway, there was a hot time in our town a couple of nights ago, Wednesday to be exact, when the new edition of Lido de Paris premiered at the Stardust Hotel and stunned an opening night throng like it always does when these shindigs are unveiled. Rut, that's not why I'm writing. One of the big numbers in this lavish, eye popping spectacle titled, "Avec Plaisir," which you and I know means "Little RED Riding Hood Sells Girl Scout Cookies to the RED Troops," is entirely devoted to Russia. And for this reason alone I know you'll want to hustle that huge carcass of yours out to Las Vegas to see for yourself the tremendous propaganda given your country. So, is it all right if I go ahead and get you one of the hotel's popular $6 rooms early in January? I doubt if I can get you a reservation before that time. But more about the Russian number. Its costuming and staging will be the talk of this town long after you've been slowed down to a hoarse whisper. However, there was just one thing wrong with the number. It wasn't authentic. If that's the way people carried on in your country right now, I'd grab the first boat for there. The producers, Pierre Louis-Guerin and Rene Fraday, had to use loads of imagination, not to mention a stageful of whirling boy and girl dervishes superbly costumed and terribly talented. One scene would leave a lump in your throat, permanent one I would hope, when you saw the Stained Glass Cathedrals of a Russia long before your time. Swirling Cossacks and flashy dolls, led by a rather seductive looking, rather plump French doll by the name of Edith George who plays Catherine the Great, made it a gasp from start to finish. What else can I tell you except to pack that one lousy suit you always wear and come on out? You'll see a fireworks display that'll remind you of the Kremlin fire, a falling, live staircase, Dancing Waters, love in a swimming pool and the great Mexican juggler, Rudy Cardenas. A lean boyish looking lady, Lfly Yokoi, does some incredible things from a bicycle, a trio of acrobats, Les Curi- bas, bounce all over the place and a couple of sexy, thoroughly unclad kids, Aleco and Vera, make even the pit bosses in the gaming casino blush as they frolic about a swimming pool while a sturdy singing guy by the name of Christian Selva, who wears too much lipstick, makes things uncomfortable for them. But why go on? Get that big hulk of yours over here because $6 roams aren't easy to get ait the Stardust. And I'll only be able to hold your room a week. After all, you don't gamble, I mean with hard cash, so you're not too attractive to the casino. Best regards, Ralph Pearl f WELCOME TO TWO SMASHOWS ? The third edition of the Lido de Paris show, this an?½ tabbed "Avec Plaisir!" lives up to the reputation of its predecessors: it is obviously the most spectacular stage presentation?╟÷night club or otherwise?╟÷in America. Those who have seen all three Stardust editions may complain that this one lacks the verve & color in its first moments, that the pacing could be smoother, and that the vaudeville acts seem to be overlong. However, these faults are sure to be ironed out after opening night, and even with them, it's a heckuva hunk of entertainment* & STARDUST stage mechanization Is at times overwhelming. The outstanding production gimmicks from the first two editions appear here in new dress ?╟÷ the swimming pool scene from the first, and the waterfall from the second. In addition, the ice skating is retained, fend the "Dancing Waters" added, latter terping aqua being very effective to the tune of "Rhapsody In Blue," joined by the 16 spirited and beautiful dancing Bluebell Girls. With festive finesse, choreographer Donn Arden guides a stageful of girl and boy dancers through plushly costumed production numbers which include Tyrolean bell-ringers, a night with Catherine The Great, a falling staircase decorated with nudes, a rainstorm, and the inevitable fireworks finale. COMEDIANS Manetti & Beck get laughs with a collapsing full-sized automobile; singing leads Edith Georges and Christian Selva are admirable, Miss Georges trouping with opening night laryngitis; near-nudes Aleco & Vera are skilled acrobatic dancers; Powers & Parker display top level ice skating artistry; Rudy Cardenas, the only performer in the cast familiar to Vegas, scores with his speedy juggling; Rolando shows balancing skill on fingers and otherwise; Lily Yokoi is a pretty and talented cyclist; Fichtner's Tyroleans are handsome foot-stomping bell-ringers; and Les Curibas, an acrobatic trio, pull laughs with a woman "volunteer" from the audience. "AVEC PLAISIR!" was conceived by Pierre Louis-Guerin & Bene Fraday, staged by Donn Arden, with art direction by Harvey Warren. The Eddie O'Neal orchestra superbly backs the splash, in for an indefinite run. LENA HORNE, another of Jack Entratter's money-in-the- casino stars, returns to the Sands Copa Room in an act which strongly showcases her powerhouse status. She presents a fresh, exciting batch of songs, relying only once on nostalgia ("It's All Right With Me") for insurance applause. Selections include "Get Rid of Monday/' ".Some People," "Do I Love You?" and "Don't Commit the Crime." She get laughs with a * -lever bit of backward word toying, and her appearance is more exciting than ever. Lennie Hay- ton pilots the songalog with aplomb, fronting the Antonio Morelli orchestra. . . MARTY ALLEN & Steve Rossi balance, and the comedy team zooms to a new high in the science of laugh lure. Straight man singer Rossi and comic Allen are fresh from a successful engagement at London's Pigalle, bring with them mostly new material for this session. Rossi, a fine vocalist, also clicks in the celeb impression department, and Allen's "Hello Dere" character is a distinctive creation which is a natural for laughs. At their present pace. Allen & Rossi are nearing headline status in Vegas as they already enjoy elsewhere. TWO NEW Renne Stuart production numbers, featuring songs by Garr Nelson and terping by the Copa lovelies round out the delightful Sandshow. . * GIL GILBERT of The Mint saw a sign on the hack of a truck: Please don't hug me. I'm going steady. HOUSEGUESTS of Morris Jaeger, Stardust game warden, are his brother Arthur Jaeger, and the lad with the fascinatin' name, Billy Tilly. Both are from Covington, Ky. ?╟÷ Art is pit boss at the Beverly Hills Club, Bill is an electrical engineer and one of the VF's fellow honorary Kentucky Colonels. The Jaeger boys are nephews of Beverly owner, Sam Sch- raeder ... ROZ GALANE, Helen Stadler, and Doris Schwartz are a trio of the girls busy prepping the B'nai B'rith Sisterhood's upcoming fashion show. Morris Lansburgh, Flamingo prexy, has donated the use of the showroom for the Oct. 26 event. NO, it's not second childhood- it's "Back To School Night" for parents of John C. Fremont Jr. High school students, Mrs. W. R. Neustrom tells the VF. On Oct. 19, parents are to report to their child's Home Room and change classes, just as Junior does five days a week! (Don't be late for class ?╟÷ the bell rings at 7:30 p.m., otherwise you'll need an excuse note from Junior.) OOPS: Ed Christiernsson is manager of Christenson's ?╟÷ not Christiernsson's! . . . BETTY HARRIS is answering the phones at Bank of Las Vegas clear & loud?╟÷ she's well rested after a vacation in Pasadena & Glendale, two city-type places in our neighboring state to the west. . . IRV RABIN, the Dunes' perpetual weary-wart, made the most startling statement of the year immediately upon his return from a week's vacation: "I'M NOT TIRED!" GARWOOD VAN, the Music- land Van, man, contributes the profound observation: Hard work never killed anybody?╟÷but on the other hand there are few casualties from resting. # # # ?╟≤ ?╟≤ ?╟≤ ^jpf