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Los Angeles, Calif. Times (Cir. 6-W. 861,350 - Sun. 1,212,983) * -Jllhni P.C.B. Est. 1H8H 'I^LAS VEGAS Red Skelton DueTat Sands BY JOHN L. SCOTT Times Staff Writer Durable comedian Red Skelton will give his 435th show Wednesday in the Copa Room of the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas. This marks the beginning of his 32nd week of Sands engagements in the past eight years. Featured with the clown prince will be songstress Prace Markay. Antonio Morelli and his orchestra provide musical backing. The same night another | veteran of the entertain- I ment wars, Louis Prima, opens in the Sands' Celebrity Theater. He's bringing in a new revue of wild sounds, starring Sam Butera and the Witnesses, Little Richie Varola, Jlm- ;- my Vincent and Ronnie Barron. Held over again in the plush lounge is "Play- l mates Revue '69," featuring Bob Fletcher and * Vicky Lano. Business Milestone i Another show business i milestone will be reached tonight when the Ritz Brothers begin their 35th year of comedy performances in Nero's Nook, Caesars Palace. Jimmy and Harry began their careers at the Fox Theater in Brooklyn, now long gone from the scene., Eddie Fisher and the Kids Next Door take over the Frontier's theater-restaurant stage Tuesday, following Peggy Lee and Larry Hovis. Jack E. Leonard and Frank Sinatra Jr. provide the laughs and vocals in the Post Time Theater. Susan Maro, longtime vocalist with Les Brown, appears with young Sinatra. Pepper Davis and Tony Reese, a ranking comedy pair, open Tuesday in the Desert Inn's lounge. They recently completed a month in New York's Royal Box Club. Present Definition The Mob (from Chicago, naturally) bows in the Rivera's Starlite Theater Wednesday. The musicians - singers - dancers appear dressed in chalk- striped suits, white ties and carnations. The Frank Sennes-Donn Arderj.. production of "Pzazz! '68" at Desert Inn, is living up to its present- day definition. "Pzazz" is synonymous with zip, force, flair and scintillation. But this wasn't always the meaning, or spelling. In the 1920's "Pzazz" was spelled "Pizzazza" and was described as an elixir used by a comic strip character to make a man or machine act with electrifying pow=" er. Later cartoonists used similar devices such as Big Chief Wahoo's tonic and Mammy Yokum'j turnips with similar results. Sahara Stand Speaking of "P z a z z! '68," a female tourist sat down in the Desert Inn coffee shop recently and ordered a pizza. When the waitress explained that pizzas weren't on the menu, the woman retorted, rather angrily, "Well, you've got a huge sign outside saying 'Pizzas, 68 cents'." Connie Francis brings her vocals to the Sahara beginning next Tuesday. Little Richard returns to the Aladdin's Bagdad Theater on the 14th, and Roger Williams will hold the spotlight the same night in the Tropicana's Blue Room. Kay Starr sings at the Fremont and Ella Fitzgerald does likewise at the Flamingo. Fred Waring, who for more than 50 years has been proving that music needn't be far-out, mechan- I ical or deafening to be appreciated, returns to the Circus Room of the Nugget in Sparks tonight. Ernie Ford opens Thursday at Harrah's Ta- hoe and Don Adams takes over at Harrah's Reno on Tuesday.