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Wednesday, December 24, 1952 $5,500^^mble and Gambol Spa Is f^MneSanfeof Las Vegas, Where a Prefflians Four Days By BILL WILLARD Las Vegas, Dec. 23. Skyrocketing onto the burgeoning Las Vegas Strip Of cushy hotels, the Sands bids fair to become the top gambling spa of the country. Built by Mack Kufferman and Jake Freedman at a cost of $5,5UU,- 000, and master-minded by Jack Entratter, the hospice is frankly out for heavy loot as well as buck play Spot took the ebb-time ot year for its preem, and with Danny Thomas presiding over the lavishly : mounted production in the Copa Room, is pulling in the bulk o?? pre-holiday biz. Not since advent of Wilbur. Clark's Desert Inn which preemed in April, 1951, has such razzle-dazzle been accorded a Vegas preem. Desert Inn opening coincided with Kefauvor investigations, thus cashing in on resultant publicity wave > directed toward gambling. Without such a natural intro to its birth, Sands pulled out $50,000 from the vaults to stage a hunk of. promotion surpassing palmy days of P. T. Barnum. All ingrediehts^fwere tossed into the flack salad, includ- four openings in one and all covered by reps of press, radio, TV and pix. . s Resident publicity head, Al Free- l man,* working closely with Bud Granoff of the Gene Eva||^ew York office, cannily begari$o won citizens of Las Vegas by cartoon ads stressing the "come as you are, we're not snooty" theme. Following the first "dry run" opening for Las Vegas, during which 10,000 I townspeople stormed the marble- Sands, tsm Vegas Danny Thomas-* Connie Russell (with Kenny Neumar & Ernie Preston), Lou Wilts? Jr., Ralph Strane, Peggy Dietrich Walter Povp, Copa Gir&iv.XlO), Ray Sinatra Orch (14); no cover or minimum. ?√ß t | . fronted bastions of the Sands and rode handles of slot machines?╟÷ the only gambling devices ready for action Sunday (14)?╟÷word-of- mouth along the rialto was all in ' favor of the new hospice. Official tape-snipping took place < next day (15), when officials of the State of Nevada and local dignitaries mingled with Hollywood celebs in the rites, later became first- nighters for the preem flporshow. I Both dinner and late presentations in the nitery were jampacked with creme de creme of gambling hierarchy, and special guests along with local businessmen who had I helped build! and stock the Sands. I Shakedown shows lasted for almost two hours in each case, but since the casino was so filled.with players, bosses didn't mind the excess time given over to Danny Thomas During the roll and toss of I cubes, whirl of the little white ball, I flip of cards, and slamming of one- libbed by Jimmy Durante, Ritz Bros., Frankie Laine, Jane Powell, Denise Darcel, Eddie Jackson, and Ray Anthony. All volunteered to help out the beleaguered Danny for free. Okayed by Eddie Rio, AGVA's western regional chief, as an "act of God," the top acts combined to put on a show never before displayed in such free-wheeling fashion within nitery confines, excepting for, perhaps, a, benefit. Thomas croaked the intros and made a light apology for his condition, but serious when he stated: "I hope the press doesn't think this is a fake. This is no publicity stunt." But, just the same, all the agents of the vast and varied publicity media were in the house with a solid phalanx of photogs rearing ringside to pop the unusual spec- "'Ry^he turning of another .24 hours, celebs, VIPs, and most of the Fourth Estaters had departed and the Sands settled down for the Rise of Danny Thomas from a $50 per week chore at the 5100 Club in Chi to his present pinnacle marked by upcoming preem of "The Jazz Singer," surrounds the Copa Room with strange prescience as he unfolds his class material. Success is stamped upon his every movement and inflection. His way with people, who swear he can do no wrong, is completely disarming and human. He is greeted upon entrance by salute of applause, and after acknowledging the tribute, launches his famous "Oath of Allegiance to the Bosses." Around a cutie I Hate Nate" story, he weaves a powder puff jab at his spouse for her overspending affliction. Parody "Getting to Be a Rabbit With Me, is in line with the satire having to do with modern diet fetishism and Gayelord Hauser in particular. Saga in soap opera vein is rib- tickling as he wails "Mamie Kock- enlacher, Girl Kleptomaniac." Thomas flays armchair critics, and parlor performers who steal comedians' best material, which leads into bray of "Amateur Competition Blues." Slaps on black Stetson for drawling highspot about the great west and. all its charms. Big seller is his medley from "The Jazz Singer." In answer to clamoring, he begs off with 'We're Strong for Toledo." Connie Russell, after playing around with routining for several shows, finally hit upon okay exposition. Copper-tressed thrush eased away from passive opener, "World on a String," in favor of "Fancy Free," revved up with some kinetic terp flourishes by partners Kenny Neumar & Ernie Preston. Gal has forceful stage presence with matching pipes, but can soften down as in "Why Don't You Believe Me?" Again, with males flanking, falls into song- choreo, "Who Couldn't Dance With You?," exiting afterward for cos away brocaded cloaks for peeps of flesh. *jm?╤&2&&P>?· , ?╟≤ Ralph $?½#?l%Mi*izes lyrics, with Peggy DJetrlM^w^rbling sec- \ ond refrain*?╟≤&?½LWQtifo> Edwards- Lyn Dudy^Speeial score. Second choreo is gold lame and russet affair in Spanish Gypsy stomps,j. Joy Healy fronts with fine ';?Mp>. ??* heel-and-toe for warm response. Strane again lends his vocalistics for descriptive value. i Ray Sinatra has 13 men on the I stand, and all are capable musi- jj cians, judging from excellent background supplied. Sinatra knows how to wield a baton for soloists, and after several more shows will have all cues and passages dove- j tailing for proper welded flow. Walter Popp takes over the Stem- way during Thomas period, doubling as accomper and conductor ] for careful a;id effective guidance. Future Copa Room extravaganzas will be insured of proper showcasing because of special care given this preem. Lighting panel, presided over by Joseph Mall, will bring forth increasing special ef-?√ß fects as intricacies of various combinations are utilized. Room itself is one of the most flattering?╟÷both to performer and guest?╟÷in the country. Unique two-dimensional plastic and wire wall murals depicting "Carnival in Rio," conceived by Tony .Duquette, add to interior decor and Copa theme. Seating 385 and designed for either in- time or lavish big-scale productions, Entratter's new domain is certain to acquire an enviable reputation quickly. , Following the 18-day booking ot Danny Thomas, Lena Horne is pacted for a two frame stay. Edith Piaf takes over top marquee space following this period. Plans_ for spring and summer encompass package revues, some built in New. York, a few on the Coast. Sands I will possibly be the first to upset i usual length of tenure grooved by J other resort hotels on the Strip. I To alleviate the current shortage I of top name talent, Entratter is I planning to keep his attractions in J for at least six weeks. This policy, if put into practice, will receive the acid test during summer months when Vegas jumps with heavy tourist traffic and turn-l over is constant. However, by watching the calendar closelft, jro-j ponents of the new longterm venture will be able to alternate shows lasting many weeks, With "fortnight bookings, and take advantage of pretty well established public tides! pouring into Vegas. If the jap. works, other hotels may folfe^S?$aat: Seven plushj niteries goijaypdl blast 52 weeks and hirla#||i#s practically m Wholesale'T3?½la^ities can Put a drain on (W Spent market quickly. The sfn#^scheme should be a boon to Many new acts seeking work, and booking for longer span will make the western trek worthwhile. ^Further, the multi-week pact will hasten the end of monopoe listic practices on the part of bon] faces wishiaPifgrab and hold ceil tain big name acts to 18-month "nd contracts-elsewhere-on - the - Strip! ?╟≤Sail and chaim_____ Home! Edition Y, NO. 16 LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1953 10c PER COPY SIXTEEN PAGES vsVegas Police Give "Rousting elcome to Visiting Chicagoans arm bandits, some $200,000 wenUo ggj. ^^"fads "ca'per"some r??enVno^e%?╜^j ?Σ≤?╜ >~ ine eiiu. ui ui<- ""'- "?╟÷?╟÷> _ hours from the first bet, house had recovered 99% of the moola. Second day's betting favored tables by wide margin, thus establishing the Sands as one of the few establishments along the Rue de la Pay to shell out and quickly. The second day was set for press preem. Given transportation via airlines from all parts off the coun- 1 try to Vegas, wire service scribes, ! columnist, mag reps, photogs, various name players from Hollywood, 1 and show biz moguls descended up- on this portion of the town-to gander Freedman's palace of pleasure. They were parked, dined, and given a sock shojpftifc the little nitery gem of a ro0|g||l&lth0ugh several facets of the Enmtter production were still in fflfcgthat night turned in another Thomas triumph. So keyed-up, 'tis said, was the humanist-comedian during the hectic double preem -?╜t he overstrained his vocal Cjibrds, bringing on a glandular disturbance and a slight case of laryngitis. Unable to smoothly intone the w.k Thomas nuances within his layout because of a finicky voice box, he begged for a night off upon his doctors advice. He was granted his respite. The Sands' fourth "opening took place when, on Wednesday (17), a $50,000 substitute show w Chirper emerges fr-om behind screen transformed from her previous Ernest Adler bouffant creation to a sexy, sequined, panel skirt job revealing nice gams Slithers around to "Mamie Is Mimi," in beguiling manner playing up to partners. Temperature and applause quotient rise for this bright exit.piece. Lou Wills, Jr., takes it away with session of legmania, but followup acroflips bring in key results. First preem viewing had Wills including a so-so impresh of Ray Bolger; however, he wisely tossed it out for direct segue from opening quickie and gab bit utilizing back- flips into specialty?╟÷walkovers, twirls and twists amid cleating from his recent musicomedy foray, "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." Ten Copa Girls were chosen by Entratter from covey of 500 hopefuls auditioned in Hollywood last month. Obviously|pieked for looks and frames rather than ability to become pundits of the pas-de- bourre, luscious dolls do as they were tutored by choreographer Robert Gilbert, with at least two or three possessing above-average knowhow. Sumptuous costuming adds to picture as they turn through "Good Old Days," receiving appreciative mitts after tossing DECRIES COMMUNISM ?╟÷ Colonel Llovero-Paez, that his country of Venezuelans^jsQtnjPlgtely^in^^^^ Live Operas yj For Vegas ^*m Live operatior Las Vegas will be the golf' Of the Las Vegas Opera association which will be formed at a meeting of those interested to be held, at tiheJSaads. hotel FiMay at noon, ,11 W<U 11- ported heff#iis morriiBg. Officers of the organization will be elected' at th%.Friday session and plans for fcrir&ing jpp?╜^s companies to this area wil$!re "trussed. It is hoped that, a the companies can be brou^b here that the new high schdoHmuBitorium will be available for staging them. All interested Las Vegans are invited to attend the organizational meeting, according- to those in charge. >^Xl n left, explains to newsmen imunistic activities. 'MSk< * * |H J^ * . "*g Yenezui Red Jkfl Praises'H Colonel Llovera.'- Ija&%iormer minister of the interior^ of Venezuela, and described"'.$?·& one of his country's leaders: .i^Me fight against communism, 5^^"day denounced Russian ag|p||pon, and in the same breathjptfpsed the American voter faffi&$).ecti n g Dwight Eisenhower ^Jgext president of the United stip|&.' In a press conference at the! S^ji^gpBtel, the refilled ^colonel declared /Mfcfcttiis country is "in '^munist in-